GEO OPTIPINION THE

Volume 47 Issue 3

www.gardenaoptimist.org

December 2010

A MONTHLY BULLETIN OF THE GARDENA EVENING OPTIMIST CLUB ZONE 2 – PACIFIC SOUTHWEST DISTRICT OF OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL

President’s Message — Time is going by so quickly this year and it’s hard to believe that we just celebrated Thanksgiving with our families. Thank you to all who attended this past month’s Youth Appreciation Dinner, chaired by Mike Tsuge, , as we honored three young individuals their families, and their sponsors. Our See’s Candies Fundraiser is in full swing and the deadline is quickly approaching to get in all of your orders. As mentioned before, 50% of the See’s Candies Fundraiser proceeds will benefit the GEO Basketball program for new equipment. Here’s an opportunity to give a gift to someone special for the holidays. The deadline to submit orders has been changed to December 7th at our Dinner Meeting at Happa’s Restaurant at 7pm. You may pick up your orders at our Food and Toy Drive on December 12th.

to benefit the Gardena Food Pantry. I am looking forward to seeing you all there to enjoy the night. For those who want to help make our event a success or need more information, please contact Emily Lopez or Jeanette Mena. The GEO Essay and Oratorical Contests Committees are now seeking entries for the 2010-2011 Optimist International Contests. The complete rules are on the GEO website. This is an opportunity for young people to express themselves and win college scholarship money. Please pass this information to anyone you think is interested in writing or speech. The topic for the Essay Contest is “How My Education is the Key to a Successful Future.” For the Oratorical Contest, this year’s topic is “If I Were Leader of the Free World, the First Issue I Would Address Would be…” There is a lot of fun to enjoy as we wrapped up 2010. Please enjoy this holiday season safely with family and friends! Yours In Optimism,

In addition to the See’s Candies Fundraiser, GEO also offers an easy, online resource for getting your shopping done before the Holidays. Click on the Skyhouse Mall link on our GEO homepage to get your holiday shopping done online. The proceeds from Skyhouse Mall will go to benefit our Youth Programs. In case you don’t remember last December, we had a blast with family and friends at the GEO Holiday Party. This year’s GEO Food and Toy Drive is on December 12th at JCI from 5pm-8:30pm. Please bring non-perishable food items and unwrapped toys to JCI

Eric

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This Month Dec. 5 – Optimist Youth Homes “Festival of Trees” Dec. 7, 7:00 p.m.-Dinner Meeting at Happa’s

kids”. All members in attendance were introduced, recognizing their year of installation, with Burt Nakamura leading the pack.

See’s Candies orders due. Dec. 12, 5:00 p.m.- Christmas Party, Toy and Food Drive and See’s Candies Fundraiser pick up at JCI, Nisei Veteran’s Hall Dec. 14, 7:00 p.m. – GEO Board Meeting at the JCI

Dec 25th MERRY CHRISTMAS CHECK CLUB CALENDAR AT http://www.gardenaoptimist.org/calendar.htm FOR MORE INFORMATION & MAPS

GEO Nisei Week Princess Lauren Weber

Club in Action

New Member Corner

GEO hosted the “Club in Action” dinner program at Sushi Sei on November 2nd. President-Elect Ron Hom presided over the program, getting a lot of practice in ringing the club bell. The restaurant was lively and a great group gathered to recognize the Optimist goals and recruit new members for the club. Mike Tsuge introduced Ryan Yahata’s neighbor, Bob Asada as his guest. Emily Lopez carpooled from the San Fernando Valley with her salsa dancing entourage, Jesenia Contreras, Blanca Mendoza and her Clambake horseshoe partner, Javier Cepeda. Sam Sarria trekked from Huntington Beach with his wife and carpool partner, Joanne. Nisei Week Princess, Lauren Weber stopped by with a framed photo from the Coronation with President Eric and The Loft Co-Sponsor, Tad Kawasaki. She brought us goodies from her trip to Japan with the Nisei Week Court. She shared some of the highlights of her trip-visiting with the Mayor, being in a parade and enjoying the onsens in Japan. She said they were treated like royalty, staying in the Emperor’s suite at their hotel. We enjoyed the apple flavored Kit Kats and strawberry milk candies-oishi! Jim Carroll and Dave Allen did an outstanding job in presenting the program, announcing the various activities and fundraisers of the club and the Optimist International programs, where we have the opportunity to recognize and “bring out the best in

Our newest member is Julie Nagano. She is a great cook and baker and has been instrumental in enhancing our fundraisers with some delicious dishes that she and her “bff” Joanne Alfonso cook up. They have pitched in at Casino Night and the Golf tournament fundraisers. Julie’s husband, Don was also a GEO member and we continue to remember him fondly. Sponsored by Deryck Koga, Julie is certainly an asset to the club and we look forward to tasting her onolicious dishes at our upcoming events

Charter Member Burt Nakamura with GEO’s newest member Julie Nagano

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President Elect Ron Hom

Jeanette Mena

Youth Appreciation Chair Mike Tsuge

Lynecia Davis Chief Ed Madrano

Jeanette Mena

Miles Akiyama IPP Jeanette Mena

Gary Range

Charlie Oyagi

Derek Matsushita

“Festival of Trees”, which benefits the Optimist Youth Homes. Cast members from “Glee” and Disney characters will be on hand taking part in this great fundraiser for the Youth Homes. You are invited to view an array of beautifully decorated holiday trees complete with gifts under them and to have an opportunity to take home one of these awesome trees. Contact Pam Duben (661 257-6867) for tickets.

Gardena Evening Optimist Club

GEO Annual Food and Toy Drive For the City of Gardena

Sunday, December 12, 2010 3:30 pm to 8:30 pm Drop off location: JCI Nisei Veterans Hall 1964 W. 162nd St. Gardena, CA What to donate: Non-Perishable Food Products, Unwrapped Toys All donated items will be delivered to the Gardena Food Pantry. The Gardena Evening Optimist is having their Annual Food and Toy Drive on Sunday, December 12, 2010. All items collected will be delivered to the Gardena Food Pantry. Thank you to GEO Members and GEO Youth Organizations for your continued support with your donations especially with the upcoming holiday season. The Gardena Food Pantry does a great job in getting assistance to those families and individuals in need in our community all year around For further information email: [email protected]

GEO Christmas Party It’s time again for the GEO Annual Christmas Party. So gather up the kids and grandkids, and join in the fun. Santa and friends will be joining us on Sunday, December 12th from 5:00 pm till approximately 8:30 pm at the Nisei Veterans Hall at the JCI at 162nd Street and Gramercy Pl. Festivities will start with a activity for the kids from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. This will be followed by a great meal of turkey, ham and all the trimmings, cooked by our great GEO Chefs. Be sure to bring a wrapped gift with your child’s name permanently attached for Santa to pass out. Maximum cost of the gift should be $10.00. Mark your calendar now! always.

It will be a fun-filled evening as

GEO Food and Toy Drive We will also be having a Food and Toy Drive for the Gardena Food Pantry. You may drop off non-perishable food items and unwrapped toys from 3:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the JCI. Dinner $5.00 per Adult, Kids are FREE For more information or to HELP, contact Emily Lopez, or Jeanette Mena. See you there!

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OFFICERS

THE OPTIMIST CREED

President ................................................. Eric Takaki President Elect ........................................... Ron Hom Vice President .................................... Robin Arakaki Vice President .................................... Terry Terauchi Secretary ............................................. Stacy Zimmer Treasurer .............................................. Sid Halushka IPP ...................................................... Jeanette Mena

BOARD OF DIRECTORS First Year Members

Dave Allen Deryck Koga Ron Shintani Mike Tsuge

Second Year Members

Ricky Arakaki Bill Coonce Glenn Shimizu Scott Tojo Ryan Yahata

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Jim Carroll-Chairman Ed Kambe-Assistant Robin Arakaki Sid Halushka Jeanette Mena

THE OPTIPINION P.O. BOX 2132 GARDENA, CA 90247

PROMISE YOURSELF: To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. To make all your friends feel that there is something in them. To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best. To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile. To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble. —Christian D. Larson