Okotoks is getting an Optimist Club, joining the ranks of High River, Calgary, Red Deer and almost 3,000 other clubs in over 20 countries.
Amy Giroux, a stay-at-home mom of two children under the age of five, is starting the club out of a desire to serve her community and help other children and families.
“I just wanted to do something else with my time that would help my kids and other kids and the community, and I thought Optimist was a good choice for that,” said Giroux.
“I love Okotoks for the community, and I thought Optimist would be a good extension of that.”
The Okotoks Optimist Club had its first meeting on March 4 at the Okotoks library.
The meeting focused on the basics of setting up a club, such as fees, fundraising, what the club can do and how often the club should meet.
The cost to join is $415, followed by much smaller quarterly fees of around $6.50, though these costs can be offset by the club, depending on size.
Minimum club size to be chartered is 15 members. Optimist clubs participate in community service programs that are dedicated to helping children better themselves, according to the Optimist International website.
Each club is autonomous and run by community members, so they can serve their communities in whichever way is needed.
“In all, Optimist is just a bunch of optimistic people who want to help and make a difference any way they can. And I think that’s the beauty of it,” said Giroux.
Optimist is versatile in involvement as well, according to Giroux, who said the community can volunteer however they are interested without needing to be members.
“Optimist helps kids better themselves, and will help with going to schools and tutor children, help bring more awareness to kids that need special attention, or families that need help,” she said. “It just helps raise money and funds for the people of the community.
“All the money that Okotoks Optimist would raise would stay within the community, so anyone who is part of the community would get to seek help from Okotoks Optimist.”
In starting the club in Okotoks, Giroux was put in contact with Guy Gibson, the club-building chair for the Alberta, Montana, Saskatchewan and northern Wyoming District of Optimist International, and member of the Red Deer Optimist Club.
Having been an Optimist since 1992, Gibson has served as a club president, chair member and past-governor of the district.
“The Optimist Club is a service club, and our focus is on the youth in the community,” he said. “We want to form this club, but we’re looking for a purpose down there.”
Whether it’s raising money for a hockey team, a new playground, tutoring children that are falling behind in reading, or helping a family who has fallen on tough times, Optimist clubs are there to help.
Gibson said fundraising for Optimist clubs is appreciated by communities, because they know that those funds will be going directly to the community, so there is never any doubt of where your money is going.
The Club will meet weekly for the first month, and then bimonthly after.
The next meeting will be March 10 at 3:30 in the Okotoks Public Library. Further meetings have yet to be set.
