Newsletter - May 8, 2001

GUESTS

James Halsell invited Michele Petty, attorney with the Family Law Project, to hear our speaker of the day.
   Our honored police officer was accompanied by his wife, Tianna Foulke and his boss in the Traffic Division, Sgt. Ernest Celaya.
   The high school honoree was accompanied by his mother, Oralia Martinez; his counselor, Eva Alvarez; his coach, Rudy Bernal; his friend and mentor, Jeff Medina.

MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA

The Membership Committee presents this list of qualities for you to keep in mind as you meet people each day: Consider those you would enjoy having as a friend. Consider those you know to be self-reliant. Consider those who are leaders. Consider those whom you would be proud to introduce to your friends. Consider those who have an interest in the well-being of their community. Consider those who believe in the tenets of our Optimist Creed.

LAW OFFICER AWARD

Officer Scott Foulke is described by his sergeant as a "highly motivated officer who epitomizes the professionalism of the San Antonio Police Department."
   On January 4, Ofc. Foulke was working radar on westbound IH 10. A car approaching from the rear, clocked at almost 80 miles per hour, went out of control and began skidding sideways directly toward his patrol car. Foulke accelerated out of its path but saw that the vehicle had left the freeway, crossed the shoulder and the access road then crashed in the concrete drainage ditch. He ran to the car and found that driver was able to get out on her own; but two male passengers were trapped in the wreckage. He called for EMS and began trying to pry the injured parties out. Then he realized the engine compartment was on fire so he climbed back to his patrol car for a fire extinguisher. He was able to put out the spreading flames and continued with his rescue operation, removing the passengers from danger by the time the EMS unit arrived. When congratulated by his peers for the successful outcome of this event, Ofc. Foulke downplayed it as "just another day on the job."

PROTECTING THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR CHILDREN

Allan DuBois said that only in the last 100 years have children been considered to have any rights, and even now their "best interests" are not clearly defined and are subject to interpretation by courts, judges and juries. In domestic relations or divorce cases in Bexar County, parents are required to attend parenting classes which can help the adults make the situation better for the child. In cases of abuse and neglect, trained volunteer advocates guard the child's interests as long as there is court involvement. In paternity cases, fathers are made to accept responsibility for their children. In the juvenile justice system, children aged 10 up to 17 who have broken the law are subject to incarceration or other punishment. Recent "get tough" laws have removed much of the discretion judges used to have in handling juvenile offenders. The Bar Association has many members who provide their services "pro bono" to help children and families.

OUTSTANDING YOUTH AWARD

Joshua Martinez is ranked in the top 25% of his senior class at Lanier High School, is in the National Honor Society, has been selected for All City, All District and All State Basketball teams and was named to the Academic All District Team. Josh was voted Division 4A "Player of the Year" on the Express-News All-Greater San Antonio Team. ("The inspirational point guard whose talent and heart brought the golden era back to Lanier basketball for the first time in a half-century.") He was invited to play in the Optimist All Star Games on May 4. He has served as class officer, and is currently on the Student Council.
   Josh says basketball has made an immense difference in his life. It has kept him out of trouble and given him a reason to make education a priority. He started playing at age 9 in the SPURS League and continued in different leagues until middle school. Then Jeff Medina, a basketball player at Lanier, became his role model and mentor. His coaches have encouraged him to focus on getting a good education and have helped him to see that college is a possibility. His counselor says Josh is a campus leader with great inner strength, who knows how to set priorities and invest his time and effort wisely. Josh would like to become an Electrical Engineer or High School Teacher, and return as a teacher at Lanier.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR

If you were at the Annual Meeting on April 24, you probably picked up your Bowl-a-Thon folder. If you didn't, please look for it at this coming week's meeting.
   Your folder contains 20 letters which you are asked to mail out to friends, business associates or customers. The letter simply tells a little bit about this Optimist Club and its purpose of helping local youth, and asks the recipient to join you in helping San Antonio's less fortunate children. Our Bowl-a-Thon is currently our most successful fund raising activity. The participation of as many club members as possible is necessary in order for it to continue to be so.
   Associated with this fund solicitation is the bowling party for residents of Boysville and Youth Alternatives that we have on the last Saturday afternoon in July. Kids ages 8-18 participate and receive trophies. Optimists bowl with them for fun. It gives members a chance to "put a face" on the projects we support.
   In a few more weeks we'll start asking you to sign up to be a bowler. Right now we want you to start thinking about being a fund raiser.
   Thanks.

BIKE RODEO INFO

The Citywide Bike Rodeo starts at 7:30 a.m., Saturday, May 12, in the new Convention Center. Committee Chairman Joe Mansfield has a sign-up sheet available. You don't have to stay until noon, unless you want to. Any amount of time you can give will be appreciated.

CALENDAR

May 8 - Scholarship Luncheon, Board of Directors Meeting

May 12 - Citywide Bicycle Rodeo
  7 a.m. at Convention Center

May 15 - The City's 311 Customer Call Center
  Jesse Alvarado, Manager

May 22 - Brooks City Base

May 29 - NO MEETING & NO NEWSLETTER
  OFFICE CLOSED.

June 7 - Club's 77th Anniversary

July 28 - Bowl-a-Thon, 1 to 4 at Hermann Sons

August 11 - Back to School Shopping Spree
    6:30 a.m.

October 8 - Golf Tournament, La Cantera-Palmer Course

HELPERS

May 8 - Table Host: Harlan
  Greeter: Dodge

May 15 - Table Host: Tarrillion

OPTI-MRS. NEWS

The speaker on May 2nd was Mary Anderson, a botanist at Brooks AFB. She gave a very informative talk on container gardening.
   It was great to have Gail Ferguson, niece of Billie Graebner, and Jean Saddoris, from our sewing group, as guests.
   There was a wonderful article about Billie, her volunteer work and her sewing in the Butterick Magazine, #150. It was submitted by a friend. We are all so proud of Billie!
   Our next regular meeting will be September 5. Marcella Stapper will be writing the bulletin news for June.