Scene by Carson: Civic Matters

 

Editor’s note: Amanda Carson recently graduated from Ole Miss where she wore a cocktail dress and high heels to football games at which tailgating was conducted in a tent adorned with a chandelier. Prior to this she attended a private school in Memphis at which Southern manners and etiquette was stressed — which does not explain her football game decisions. Anyway, Amanda will attempt to infuse her Southern experiences, exposure and education into the arts and entertainment scene in the Fort Smith/Van Buren region.

CIVIC MATTERS
Civic Clubs are organizations formed to service and fulfill the needs of a community. In the Fort Smith region there are numerous civic clubs serving the needs of the community. The organizations are formed through compassion and the members are driven through passion for a cause. These clubs participate fervently in charitable ways often with little recognition. The City Wire will use this space once a month to share the wonderful work area civic clubs do for the community and beyond.

Downtown Optimist Club
A civic club that plays a wonderful role in the community is the Downtown Optimist Club. The Club motto is “Friend to Youth” and strives to bring out the best in kids.

“The Club believes in helping children reach their potential through encouragement, support and by showing them someone believes in them, said local club president Linda Williams, who is also the Barling branch manager for the First National Bank of Fort Smith.

The Downtown Optimist Club often teams with Girls Inc, the Boys and Girls Club and other youth organizations to help fulfill this mission.

Members take time to be a part of the “Lean on Me” Mentoring programs, coach the Girls Inc basketball team and play active roles on youth organization Boards. One way the club demonstrates it is a youth advocate is by holding “Internet Safety” classes in schools, youth groups and at Girls Inc to show the importance of using the Internet wisely. The class shows the dangers of talking and meeting child predators, but also ways to communicate responsibly on social media outlets, such as Facebook.

Since technology and social networking are very prevalent among the youth, the Downtown Optimist Club tries to explain the consequence of posting inappropriate messages or pictures and how it can negatively follow you well into the future.

The Optimist Club also provides Scholarships through essay and speech contests open to all children in local schools. The organization is an advocate of the youth by trying to help guide them in a way that will not only support them in the present, but also help them to have a fulfilling future as well.

The Downtown Optimist Club also has several fundraising events each year to help further their mission. Perhaps the most well known fundraiser for the Optimist Club is selling Christmas trees at Hunts Park, where the proceeds go toward Girls Inc and Boys and Girls Club. There is an annual golf tournament in the summer benefiting The First Tee. The Club has teamed with the Reynolds Cancer Support House to deliver Thanksgiving meals and toys during the holiday season for families and kids less fortunate. There is a Poker Run in April, that starts and ends at the Panhead in Pocola Okla., to help raise money and awareness toward childhood cancer.

Also, there is a new fundraising effort that happened in October last year similar to the Poker Run, the Pajama Run. The Pajama Run also starts and ends at the Panhead in Pocola, and is held to help provide pajamas for families with foster children. Gary Don, the owner of the Panhead, and Shelia Slavens volunteer their time and location to make this event happen.

Just to give you an idea of their fundraising scope, five years ago the Downtown Optimist Club partnered with St. Jude Children’s Foundation in Memphis, and asked them where the Club’s services could be extended to help the children. Upon hearing the needs of St. Jude, the Optimist Club was able to raise $150,000 to purchase a vital piece of research equipment. A large part of this effort was made possible with the help of Burford Distributing, who helped sponsor a Bull Riders BBQ.

The Club’s strength lies in the passion of its members, some of which have been passionate about this cause and club for close to 35 years. Williams said many members were able to be positively influenced by the Optimist group as a youth, first hand or though the stories of a friend, and they are driven to share this passion with members and generations down the line.

The Downtown Optimist Club meets every Wednesday at Noon at Golden Corral, and non-members are welcome to join. The Downtown Optimist Club has 33 members and they are always looking for new members, not to simply grow the club, but to grow the services that can help foster a stronger youth.

Feedback
Even though the graduated from Ole Miss, Amanda is comfortable using e-mail. You can reach her at [email protected]