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Health & Fitness

Optimists are Making a Difference All Over Town

The Royal Oak Optimist Club has been a major contributor to our community for over 50 years. Find out what its members are doing now.

The Royal Oak Optimist Club has been a major contributor to our community for over 50 years through programs aligned with the motto “ Friends of Youth.”  In their early years the Optimists were the founding service club for the Boy’s Club now the and the current membership includes Jack Salter who was the director under whose leadership put them on course for the award winning club they are today.

Other programs sponsored by the Optimists include an annual essay and oratorical contest as well as they Youth Appreciation Awards where several local high school seniors are honored for their achievements both in school and in the community. Another popular event is the Tri Star Basketball competition for kids who get to measure their skills on the court through passing, dribbling and shooting and are awarded trophies in the different age groups. 

More recently the Optimist Club has sponsored a Junior Golf Tournament at the Royal Oak Golf Club where young golfers attempt to qualify to move on to the district ( state ) level and a National Tournament held at the PGA course in Florida each summer. Several of the local competitors have moved on to win the District event. Another new event is the Youth Summit where high school students shared their concerns and challenges with a group of club members in an effort to identify new opportunities to help our youth overcome obstacles in their daily lives.

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Several events are included in the Optimist schedule each year as they participate in both the Memorial Day and Holiday Magic parades and are a key supporter of the annual Oak Apple Run.  Every spring and fall a group of Optimist Club members will be seen along 11 Mile Road between Woodward and I-75 picking up the trash and litter to help keep our city looking good. Indeed, you’ll see Optimists all over town chipping in to make a difference wherever they can.

If you want to know more about this vibrant, active organization visit its website at www.royaloakoptimists.org or just come to one of the meetings every Wednesday morning at Jimi’s restaurant on Washington starting at 7:15 a.m. to meet the group. I guarantee you’ll have a few laughs and they’ll even buy your breakfast.

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