GOVERNOR JAMES M. RANKIN
	ESSAY WINNER Paige Robbins, sponsored by the Greater Southwest Austin Optimist Club, has won at the district level competition. Consequently, she will be receiving a $2500.00 Scholarship from the OI Foundation. Congrats to Paige.... Gold Seminar The Board of the GOLD Youth Leadership Program has decided to not host a seminar in 2013 for a variety of reasons. They are hopeful to continue the seminar with the next seminar in June 2014. They plan to take this time to reflect on where they would like the program to go in the future, see if they can get new people involved to take more active leadership roles in planning and executing the seminar, and also (most importantly) find other sources of generating donations to pay for the cost of the Seminar so the attendees will continue to be able to attend without any cost to them. CLUB HAPPENINGS Children's Magic Show The Optimist Club of Fort Sam Houston has announced its Children's Magic Show to be help July 2oth at the Thiry Auditorium at Our Lady of the Lake University. Tickets for this nationally acclaimed magic show are $10.00 and may be ordered by clicking on the link below and printing the order form. The kids will love it... Baytown Optimist "Civic Pride" June 1 is the date for the Baytown Optimist Club's 14th annual "Civic Pride" Childhood Cancer Picnic. For details, CLICK HERE... Metrocom's PSBA Kids Metrocom Optimist Club's PSBA kids were invited to perform at the HEB nutrition and fitness day at the Witte Museum in San Antonio. They performed and showed children how to balance and use the equipment. It was a real hit. S.A. Towne & Country Fund Raiser May 18th Annual Spring Social details CLICK HERE... EASTER EGG HUNT Dickinson, Texas: One of our newest clubs, the Dickinson Optimist Club, put on one of the best events of the year. It was their first annual Easter Egg Hunt that attracted over two hundred people. The entire city supported the event with the Fire Department and Police on hand to assist with the families. Wal-Mart donated the eggs, candy and baskets. There were donations of money to purchase thirty-six bikes for the children. In addition, there were three eggs that had a picture of a $50.00 dollar bill that entitled them to the cash prize for three lucky kids. A heartwarming story was when a little five year old girl gave the bike she won to another little boy who are sitting on the curb crying because he didn’t get a bike. It was an event that brought families together and joy to many children. Optimism does bring out the best in kids and ourselves. Think about hosting an Easter Egg Hunt in your community next year. Students of the Month The Mainland-Texas City Club recognized Two outstanding students. One is headed to Texas State and the other to the University of Texas. Youth Appreciation Week Forms for the Capital Area Youth Appreciation Week are available to download. They are in PDF format, so you will need the Adobe Reader available at adobe.com Councelor Letter Category List Nomination Form METROCOM ROAD SIGN Metrocom presented their new road sign to the City of Live Oak, with Leroy Kowalik, Finance Director, The City of Live Oak; Jordan Mantley, Ecconomic and Community Developement Manager, The City of Live Oak; Eric Sanchez, President, Live Oak Economic Development Corporation; Julie Palmer, Executive Assistant, The City of Live Oak; Mary M. Dennis, Mayor, The City of Live Oak; Delbert Berryman, Member, Live Oak Economic Development Corporation; Richard Lamothe, Member, Live Oak Economic Development Corporation. Later, the sign was placed on the highway with Front Row Ron Woisin, Member, Metrocom Optimist Club of Live Oak; Mary M. Dennis, Mayor, The City of Live Oak; Chalotte Woisin, President, Metrocom Optimist Club of Live Oak; Back Row Leroy Kowalik, Finance Director, The City of Live Oak; Charles Foster, Fire Chief, The City of Live Oak Valley Hi Christmas Food Drive	GALVESTON MEETING PICTURES Photographer Jerry Smith took pictures at the Third Quarter District Meeitng in Galveston May 3-5. For a slideshow, CLICK HERE... GOLF TOURNAMENT NEWS South Texas Optimist Junior Golf Qualifier will be held in San Antiono at the La Cantera Resort June 17. 2013. Registration must be made on line by going to www.optimist.org/golf. Then find Texas (South) fee is $65.00.....all age groups. be sure and read the information carefully. I will be asking for hole sponserships and donations, we are required to pay for the 16-18 boy and girl to go to the international tournament, we are also required to buy lunch for the golfers in San Antonio... Thanks, Bobby Melia PDC The Parallel District Conference took place in Oklahoma City? A special thanks to Ron and Jan Graves for teaching a leadership training program and Ken Jenks for instructing the members on the life cycle of an Optimist Club. Governor James taught the Philosophy of Optimism. Here is a photo of OI Foundation Board member Ed Finn with Governor James at the event. The South Texas District won honorable mention in the skit contest and is currently tied for fifth place in the Optimist International organization. Team, let’s get ready for Galveston in May! The Day of Optimism webinar recording now available!’ Click Here... CLUB GRANT PROGRAM Optimist International Foundation is now accepting entries for the Club Grant Program. This program awards twenty $500.00 matching grants to clubs planning to start a new club project. Application and guide lines can be found on the Foundation web site, www.oifoundation.org. Entries will be accepted through March 8.2013 and winners will be announced May 17, 2013. The winning clubs will asked to designate a representative to accept their check on stage at the Optimist International Convention. OI ELECTIONS Our own Janet Ord Graves, of the Metrocom Club and San Antonio Club has been selected by the Optimist International Candidate Qualifications Board to run for Vice President of our Region for 2014-2015. Those attending the International Convention in Cincinnati will have the opportunity to participate in voting their club's votes for this and other elections.