Latest Announcements: • Report on March 28 meeting - Monnie Bush, Victory Project • Northridge Schools "Dividends" publication for April (see below) • April 4 - Planning for Optimist Kids Day • Sept. 28 - 34th Annual Scholarship Scramble Golf Outing (CLICK HERE) See full schedule below. |

• April 11: Open
• April 18: Speaker - Whitney Saleski, NAMI Montgomery County (The National Alliance on Mental Illness)
(also a few minutes of club business on the Kids Day planning - SueEllen)
• April 25: MVCTC Northridge Optimist Scholarship Luncheon, at MVCTC, 11:30 AM (no meeting at Brixx)
• May 2: Open
• May 9: Open
• May 11 (Thursday): Outstanding Club Member Breakfast (Presidential Banquet Center - 7:00AM).
• May 12 (Friday): Bob Chiles Golf Classic fundraiser presented by Dayton Presidents Club and MVMAA
• May 16: Open
• May 23: Open
• May 27 (Saturday): Optimist Day at the Dragons, 7:00 PM
• May 30: Open
• August 5 (Saturday): Optimist Kids Day in the Park
• September 28 (Thursday): Northridge Optimist Club 34th Annual Scholarship Scramble fundraiser
• The 37th Annual Bob Chiles Golf Classic will be held on Friday, May 12, 2017. This is presented by the Presidents Club of Dayton in conjunction with The Miami Valley Military Affairs Association. The event is a fundraiser for the WPAFB Fisher/Nightingale House. It will be held at Twin Base Golf Club with check in time at 8:15AM, and tee off at 9:00AM. The cost is $100 per golfer, and includes greens fee, cart, dinner & goody bag. Registration deadline is April 28. For registration information see the Presidents Club website: http://www.presidentsclubdayton.org or contact Holly Beard at 937-572-3409. • More information on Presidents Club events, and events of other area service clubs, can be seen on their newsletter, which can be downloaded from the following link: http://www.presidentsclubdayton.org/index.php/media-archive/current-newsletter. |

As a freshman at Northridge he was a winner of our club’s Optimist Oratorical Contest. The theme that year was “My Responsibility Involvement”, and although he couldn’t remember the content of his winning speech, he told of how the theme influenced his approach to life. He stressed the importance of “taking ownership of what you do” and expressed his gratitude for the valuable role that Northridge High School played in his education. He started at Cargill through the high school’s Youth Enrollment Program, which places students in part time jobs during their schooling. He worked there through college, and it developed into a career at the company. His advice for students is to “take responsibility for your life, and make it happen”.
Doug also spoke about Cargill’s, commitment to community involvement. Besides providing monetary support to many community needs, the company encourages its employees to actively volunteer in support of community activities and events.
Some links of interest to the Northridge area are posted in the panel at the right (see the red buttons under "Other Northridge Links"). They are for The Northidge Alumni Bear Facts website, the Northridge Schools website, and the Northridge Schools facebook page. One good way to show support of the community is to patronize the alumni businesses that are listed on the alumni website: http://www.northridgealumni.org/id11.html. |
The date for our annual Pass/Shoot/Dribble basketball skills contest for kids is scheduled for Saturday, March 4, 2017. It will be held at the Northridge High School gym beginning at 9:00 AM. Registration materials are being distributed in the Northridge elementary schools. Registration materials are also available for downloading by clicking on the button at the left, or from the 2017 Pass/Shoot/Dribble page under the Activities menu tab. Photos from last year's event can also be see on that page. |
The Februaryissue of the Northridge Schools publication "Dividends" featured a story on our club's 2016 Denny Mantel Christmas Sharing program. Download a copy of this issue by clicking on "Northridge Optimist Club in the News", and then selecting the button for the February 2017 issue of "Dividends". It can also be downloaded from the Northridge Schools website. |

• Other Red Cross programs include training and certification in CPR and First Aid, installing free smoke alarms, a Red Cross Emergency App for smart phones, and many other services. The Red Cross Dayton Chapter is seeking donations to help replace their Emergency Response Vehicle. Information on these programs, and for donations, can be found on their website: http://www.redcross.org/local/oh/dayton. The Red Cross Dayton Chapter is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
Several Northridge Optimist Club members attended the Muse Machine performance by the First Grade classes at John N. Morrison Elementary School on Thursday morning, February 16. The performance was funded by Cargill. The club donated $250 to the Cargill "giving campaign" in October, to which Cargill added another $250 in matching funds. The donation was designated for the Muse Machine program, on behalf of Cargill and the Northridge Optimist Club. The Muse Machine blends the art of a stage production with a curriculum that the kids are studying to enhance the learning process. The first graders, under the direction of Muse Machine's Michael Lippert and their teachers, wrote and produced their presentation on animal habitats. |
Samantha Redden of JDRF (Junior Diabetes Research Foundation) spoke at the February 14 meeting. JDRF funds research to find a cure for juvenile diabetes, which strikes children and young adults suddenly, makes them insulin dependent for life and carries constant threat of devastating complications. Samantha gave a good overview the difficulties in living with Type 1 Diabetes, and the progress that the research has made in developing technology such as the insulin pump and continuous glucose meter. JDRF's fundraiser, the Dayton Boa and BowTie Ball is an evening of inspiration and entertainment that attracts 250-350 attendees. The 2017 event will be held on Friday, April 28 at the Dayton Masonic Center. Click on the photo at the right to link to the organization's website and learn more about the Dayton Boa and BowTie Ball.. |
A date has been announced for the “Clemens Cancer Challenge” taking place on June 10, 2017 at Miami Valley Hospital South, 2400 Miami Valley Drive, Centerville, OH 45459. This challenge, a scenic cycling and 5K run/walk, celebrates the inspiration and memory of those who have fought, continue to fight or have lost the courageous battle against cancer, including Richard and Nancy Clemens for whom the event is named. Proceeds from this event remain 100% local and will go toward cancer resources and the enhancement of cancer care for Miami Valley Hospital patients and families. For more information go to https://www.mvhfoundation.org/events/clemens-cancer-challenge/ |
![]() Anne Pfeiffer, CEO of Big Brothers / Big Sisters of the Greater Miami Valley, spoke to the club at the January 17 meeting. The organization matches volunteer mentors with children ages 6 to 18 to help them realize their potential and build their futures. Kids in high poverty areas, single parent homes, and situations where they can benefit by the one-to-one guidance are provided with caring mentoring relationships. They currently serve over 600 kids a year in three counties. Financial support comes in the form of public and private donations, and two annual fund raisers: "Bowling for Kids" and "Over the Edge". Their greatest need is for volunteers, especially male, to serve as mentors. To see how to participate in the fund raisers, to make donations, and for information on volunteering, click here to see their website. |
The January issue of the Northridge Schools publication "Dividends" featured a story on the announcement of our 34th Annual Scholarship Scramble golf outing fundraiser planned for September 28, 2017. Download a copy of this issue by clicking on "Northridge Optimist Club in the News", and then selecting the button for the January 2017 issue of "Dividends". It can also be downloaded from the Northridge Schools website. |
The big news for this year's event is the new location. We are hosting the event at Miami Valley Golf Club, and interest is already building with the attraction of this premier course. The date is Thursday, September 28, with the shotgun start at 1:00PM. Registration begins at 12:00 Noon. The $110 green fee includes golf & a buffet dinner in the ballroom after the round. Proceeds from the event go to Northridge student scholarships and other Northridge area youth activities. In addition to the golfing, there are also opportunities to offer community support with sponsorships and with direct scholarship donations. See the 2017 Scholarship Scramble page (CLICK HERE) for more details. Registration materials and a promotional poster are available to be downloaded from that page, or also by clicking the respective buttons below. |
![]() The speaker at the January 10 meeting was Rob Labatzky, representing "Optimist Kid's Day in the Park". This program, sponsored by Kettering Noon Optimist Club, presents a day with a multitude of fun activities for kids K to 8, held annually at Delco Park in Kettering. Over a dozen Optimist clubs participate by each setting up their own event for kids to enjoy. Ron is reaching out to all clubs to increase the support for this program. Northridge Optimist Club is planning to participate at the 2017 event which will be held on August 5. | More information on "Optimist Kids Day in the Park" can be seen on the Kettering Noon Optimist website at www.ketteringnoonoptimistclub.org/optimist-kids-day-in-the-park.html |
Presidents Club of Dayton: | |
The Presidents Club of Dayton has announced the date of the 37th Annual Bob Chiles Golf Classic as Friday, May 12, 2017, presented in conjunction with The Miami Valley Military Affairs Association. The event is a fundraiser for the WPAFB Fisher/Nightingale House. It will be held at Twin Base Golf Club with check in time at 8:15AM, and tee off at 9:00AM. The cost is $100 per golfer, and includes greens fee, cart, dinner & goody bag. Registration deadline is April 28. For registration information see the Presidents Club website: http://www.presidentsclubdayton.org or contact Holly Beard at 937-572-3409. |
Meetings on Tuesdays at Noon, held at Brixx Ice Co.,
500 E. 1st St., Dayton, Ohio 45402,
unless otherwise indicated.
Please check club website bulletin board weekly for updates.
• January 10: Speaker - Ron Labatzky will be speaking at our meeting on Optimist Day at the Park
• January 17: Anne Pfeiffer, CEO of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Miami Valley
• January 24: Club Business
• January 31: Club Business
• February 2: International Optimist Day
• February 7: Speaker - Doug Myers of Cargill (postponed as of Feb. 6)
• February 14: Speaker - Samantha Redden, JDRF
• February 21: Red Cross CPR demo (meeting will begin at 11:00 AM)
• February 28: Essay Contest Report
• March 4 (Saturday): Pass/Shoot/Dribble contest for kids
• March 7: Optimist Essay Contest awards luncheon at Northridge H.S.
• March 14: Speaker - Doug Myers of Cargill
• March 21: Open
• March 28: Speaker - Monnie Bush, Victory Project
• April 4: SueEllen Legg - planning for Optimist Kids Day in the Park
• April 11: Open
• April 18: Speaker - Whitney Saleski, NAMI Montgomery County
• April 25: MVCTC Northridge Optimist Scholarship Luncheon, at MVCTC, 11:30 AM (no meeting at Brixx)
• May 2: Open
• May 9: Open
• May 11 (Thursday): Outstanding Club Member Breakfast (Presidential Banquet Center - 7:00AM).
• May 12 (Friday): Bob Chiles Golf Classic fundraiser presented by Dayton Presidents Club and MVMAA
• May 16: Open
• May 23: Open
• May 27 (Saturday): Optimist Day at the Dragons, 7:00 PM
• May 30: Open
• August 5 (Saturday): Optimist Kids Day in the Park
• September 28 (Thursday): Northridge Optimist Club 34th Annual Scholarship Scramble fundraiser