Optimist Club of Greater Copperas Cove holds December meeting
Special to Leader-Press
The Optimist Club of Greater Copperas met on December 14. President Sandor Vegh opened the meeting and Treasurer Tony Smith led the invocation. During the opening announcements, Secretary Susan Ayres updated the club on the Optimist International Essay and Oratorical Scholarship Contest. The club is accepting submissions of 700 to 800 word essays titled, “Can Society Function Without Respect?”. Seniors competing for the oratorical contest will present a speech on “Where Are My Roots of Optimism?”. Speeches need to be at least four minutes but less than five minutes. Winners for both contests have an opportunity to win a $500 scholarship at the local level and $2,500 at the District level. The contest is open to students under the age of 18 as of Oct. 1, 2017. For more information email Susan Ayres at susayres@aol.com or call (254) 394-0116. Deadline is February 5.
Next, President Sandor Vegh noted the club will be sponsoring a Bingo at the Senior Center by providing prizes for winners. Vegh will share the date and items needed for the event at the next meeting. Also, Vegh encouraged members to attend the upcoming district convention at College Station to be held February 2 to February 4.
Store Manager Triss LeMire gave a report on the Optimist Club Thrift Store located at 332 Cove Terrace Shopping Center. The club is holding a half price Christmas item special and a bag sale. LeMire also encouraged members to volunteer in sorting, placing and cashiering items at the store. Funds from the store will be donated to local families of children fighting cancer, local children organizations and cancer research. LeMire also noted that the store will be closed the weekend of December 29 and December 30. Regular store hours are Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Treasurer Tony Smith thanked Boy Scouts representative David Cook for arranging to have the Boy Scouts pick up large donated items. Store Manager Triss LeMire will coordinate all pickups.
President Sandor Vegh announced the new dates for the Optimist Club meetings. The regular meeting has been changed to the third Thursday at 11 am, and the Board Meeting will be moved to the first Thursday at 10 am. Finally, President Sandor Vegh announced Francene Jones as the newest elected Board Member.
Vegh also congratulated Jones for being the recipient of the recent Noon Exchange Club of Copperas Cove Senior Citizen Volunteer of the Quarter Award. Lastly, Secretary Susan Ayres provided the name of January’s Guest Speaker, which will be Martha Dye from the Copperas Cove Public Library. Dye will share details about the library’s upcoming Summer Reading Program. The Optimist Club will be presenting a check to Dye to support the local children’s program. President Sandor Vegh closed the meeting by asking members to join in the reading of the Optimist Club Creed. The next meeting will take place at Operation Stand Down Central Texas, located at 330 Cove Terrace on January 18 at 11 am. For more information, contact Sandor Vegh by calling (254) 290-8791 or email sveg36@msn.com.