Greetings to all our optimistmembers. Time sure passes quickly.It's already the end of November andcounting down to the new year.

Here's a thought and view that I'veencountered into my second monthon the job. We all share a commongoal to be successful in everythingwe do. It takes planning and effort todo that. Our committees with theirplanning and commitment have .

T H E G EOOPTIPINIONVolume 45 Issue 3 www.gardenaoptimist.org December 2008

A MONTHLY BULLETIN OF THE GARDENA EVENING OPTIMIST CLUBZONE 2 – PACIFIC SOUTHWEST DISTRICT OF OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL________

President’s Message —

always succeeded.

In the month of November, I had the opportunity to takepart in our Youth Appreciation Night. We honor youngindividuals who have shared their extra time aside fromtheir normal daily activities. They are involved in projectsthat accelerate their development. They have shared theirtime to be successful and indeed they have done that. Ithas been a pleasure and very rewarding to me knowingthat these individuals will be successful in whatever theychoose to do, furthermore, I believe they are growing up tobe very responsible adults. "To be just as enthusiasticabout the success of others as you are about your own" ispart of our Optimist Creed. Congratulations to ourhonorees this year, they are ; Brett Sakaguchi of BoyScout Troop 683, Sarahi Lares of the Gardena PoliceDepart Explorer Scout Program Kaitlyn Higa and SaraIsozaki for sharing their project and time with the JCI. But,we only reward a few and there are many individuals whogo unnoticed. So if you know your child has made thateffort don't let them go without a high five for their efforts.Share with them their triumphs and don't be too critical oftheir failures. I can accept failure but I can't accept nottrying. Keeping them active and away from trouble is partlyour duty. They will all be successful, that is our hopes asoptimists. I would like to thank the chairpersons for thisevent, Dennis Watanabe and his wife Wendy, also to thankJeanette Mena and the rest of the committee.

Now that our basketball season has ended. I would like tothank the committee and all the individuals whom haveshared in their efforts to keep such a worthy program goingso long as they have.

December 7 we will have our Christmas party at the JCIVeterans Hall. Please come and enjoy the food and songsof this occassion. I know that this year has been a strugglefor many, but promise yourself " to be too large for worry,too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy topermit the presence of trouble".

During our Holidays, give thanks to our parents, who haveraised us, and thanks to our armed forces who have kept ussafe and thanks to God for everything else. Have a greatholiday season and God bless all of you. Have Happy NewYear too.

Sincerely,Deryck.

Member Statements with your 2008-2009 dues billingwill be sent out (either emailed or via U.S. Mail) by theend of November. If you feel that there is an error inyour statement, please contact the Treasurer to reconcilethe discrepancy. Remember, the Amount Due (Balance)on your statement may be paid in installments of onequarter every three months to maintain your membershipin good standing, but for simplicity Member Dues arebilled out annually.Also note, that if your account is in arrears (over 12months delinquent) and you would experience ahardship in bringing it current, please contact any BoardMember to work out an arrangement for reconciliation.The Club values your membership and wants toacknowledge and thank each of you for contributing toour financial heath and solvency.

Yours In Optimism,Sid Halushka, Treasurer

310-545-7018mailto:treasurer@gardenaoptimist.org

2 THE OPTIPINION

Youth Appreciation Banquet

The GEO hosted the annual Youth AppreciationBanquet at Sea Empress Restaurant on November 18th.The evening honored four well-deserving and hardworking youths from the community to recognize theiraccomplishments in the home, school and community.It was a wonderful and inspiring event that includedthe honorees, their families and their sponsors.

The first honoree, Sarahi Lares, was introduced byher sponsor, Sergeant Steve Prendergast, who is theExplorer Program Coordinator with the Gardena PoliceDepartment. Sergeant Prendergast describedSarahi’s positive attitude and great work ethic. Shevolunteers as a Police Explorer at least 20 hours permonth at various functions sponsored or hosted by thePolice Department. Sarahi also volunteers at her highschool as a member of the High School Task Forcehelping to spread the “anti-drug and anti-alcohol”message to other young teenagers and also volunteersher time to feed the homeless.

There were two honorees from the Japanese CulturalInstitute and were introduced by their sponsor, AlisonKochiyama, Executive Director of the Gardena ValleyJCI. The first one, Kaitlyn Higa, volunteers her timeat the JCI and has taught two “Caught in the WorldWide Web” workshops to the senior computerstudents. She also talked about Internet dangers ofviruses, spyware, phishing and vishing and how toprotect themselves from these computer invasions.Kaitlyn has also completed her Girl Scouts Gold Award.

The other honoree from the JCI was Sara Isozaki.Sara also completed her Girl Scouts Gold Award. Herproject was to create a beautiful landscaped NativeGarden in a corner along the pathway to the rear ofthe JCI parking lot. Sara chose this project tobeautify the JCI grounds for the many seniors wholive next door at the JCI Gardens and also for thegeneral public who stroll through the path. The GEOhad made a donation for the purchase of a park benchfor Sara’s project.

Our fourth honoree, Brett Sakaguchi, was introducedby his sponsor, Miles Akiyama, Boy Scout Troop 683Scoutmaster. Miles talked about how Brett hasvolunteered his time and efforts to support Troop683 for their many activities including camping trips

and other outings. Brett is close to obtaining his EagleScout which only 5% of all Boy Scouts obtain.

The ceremony moved along at a smooth pace thanks tothe evenings Master of Ceremonies, Jun Goeku. Junintroduced all the guests and kept on top of theprogram and even injected examples of his ownvolunteering for the community during his youth in hisclosing remarks. Jim Carroll gave the always inspiringinvocation and also produced the awards certificatesfor the recipients. President Deryck Koga welcomedguests and members to the evening’s ceremonies andalso presented the certificates and awards to therecipients. Jeanette closed the program with theOptimist Creed. During the program, Dwayne Hayden,the club photographer, could be seen taking pictures ofthe honorees, guests and members. See the photocollage on the next page.

Many thanks go to Jeanette Mena for all her help andsupport and who could be seen prior to the start of theevening creating a beautiful “Youth Appreciation” muralwith all the honorees and their information; GilbertMena who was taking the pictures of the honorees andprinting them for the mural; Jun Goeku, Jim Carroll andDeryck Koga for their support of the evenings program,Ed Kambe for printing the program, Sid Halushka fortaking care of the financials including the honoreeawards, Wendy Watanabe for negotiating the menu andall the honorees, guests and members for supportingthis always inspiring event.

Dennis Watanabe, Youth Appreciation Chairman

GEO Food and Toy Drive.

GEO will be having it's annual Food and Toy Driveagain for the Gardena Food Pantry. Last month,the Food and Toy Drive collected a lot ofdonations from the Basketball League. If youmissed your opportunity to drop off donationsthen, or would like to donate again, we will becollecting non-perishable food items andunwrapped toys on Sunday, December 7, 2008from 3:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the Veterans Hall,JCI. All donations received will be delivered to theGardena Food Pantry for distribution during theupcoming Holiday period.

It’s time again for the GEO Annual Christmas Party. So gather up the kids and grandkids and come out and join in the fun.

This year the party is planned for Sunday, December 7th from 5:00 pm till approximately 8:30 pm at the Nisei Veterans Hall at the JCI at 162nd Street and Gramercy Pl.

Festivities will start with a craft activity for the kids from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. This will be followed by a great meal of turkey, ham and all the trimmings, cooked by our great GEO Chefs.

There will be some Hawaiian Style entertainment by Puniwai Hula Halau, along with sing-alongs of everyone’s favorite Christ-mas Carols, while waiting for a visit from Santa Claus.

Be sure to bring a wrapped gift with your child’s name perma-nently attached for Santa to pass out. Maximum cost of the gift should be $10.00.

As always, kids are free. All adults will be asked to donate $5.00 to help defray the cost.

Mark your calendar now! It should be a fun! Fun! Evening as always.

We will also be having a Food and Toy Drive for the Gardena Food Pantry. You may drop off non-perishable food items and unwrapped toys from 3:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the JCI.

For more information or to HELP, contact Emily Lopez, Jeanette Mena, or Deryck Koga.

See you there,Emily Lopez

and the Christmas Party Committee

It’s time again for the GEO Annual Christmas Party. So gather up the kids and grandkids and come out and join in the fun.

This year the party is planned for Sunday, December 7th from 5:00 pm till approximately 8:30 pm at the Nisei Veterans Hall at the JCI at 162nd Street and Gramercy Pl.

and the Christmas Party Committeeand the Christmas Party Committee

pm to 6:00 pm. This will be followed by a great meal of turkey, ham and all the trimmings, cooked by our great GEO Chefs.

There will be some Hawaiian Style entertainment by Puniwai Hula Halau, along with sing-alongs of everyone’s favorite Christ-

nently attached for Santa to pass out. Maximum cost of the

As always, kids are free. All adults will be asked to donate

We will also be having a Food and Toy Drive for the Gardena Food Pantry. You may drop off non-perishable food items and

For more information or to HELP, contact Emily Lopez, Jeanette

and the Christmas Party Committee

It’s time again for the GEO Annual Christmas Party. So gather It’s time again for the GEO Annual Christmas Party. So gather

GEO Christmas Party

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

Dinner Mtg

CANCELLED

3 4 5 6

7

CHRISTMAS PARTY

8 9

7:00 GEO

Board Meeting

at the JCI

Members welcome

10 11 12 13

14 15 16

Dinner Mtg

CANCELLED

17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31

December 2008

Dear GEO Member,Dear GEO Member,Dear GEO Member,Dear GEO Member,

In the Club’s continuing effort to save the trees and reduce In the Club’s continuing effort to save the trees and reduce In the Club’s continuing effort to save the trees and reduce In the Club’s continuing effort to save the trees and reduce greenhouse gases, we are asking that any members who wish greenhouse gases, we are asking that any members who wish greenhouse gases, we are asking that any members who wish greenhouse gases, we are asking that any members who wish to receive their Optipinion by email only, contact either Ed to receive their Optipinion by email only, contact either Ed to receive their Optipinion by email only, contact either Ed to receive their Optipinion by email only, contact either Ed Kambe, edkambe@gmail.com or Jim Carroll, jtcar316 @ Kambe, edkambe@gmail.com or Jim Carroll, jtcar316 @ Kambe, edkambe@gmail.com or Jim Carroll, jtcar316 @ Kambe, edkambe@gmail.com or Jim Carroll, jtcar316 @ gmail.com and simply ask that we remove your name from our gmail.com and simply ask that we remove your name from our gmail.com and simply ask that we remove your name from our gmail.com and simply ask that we remove your name from our current mailing list.current mailing list.current mailing list.current mailing list. Sincerely, Your editorial staff.Sincerely, Your editorial staff.Sincerely, Your editorial staff.Sincerely, Your editorial staff.

6 THE OPTIPINION

OFFICERS THE OPTIMIST CREED

President .............................................. Deryck KogaPresident Elect .................................... Jeanette MenaVice President ..........................................Dave AllenVice President .........................................Bill CoonceSecretary ..............................................Brian HaydenTreasurer .............................................. Sid HalushkaIPP ........................................................Ron Shintani

BOARD OF DIRECTORSFirst Year Members Second Year MembersRobin Arakaki Richard ArakakiJustin Carroll Jim CarrollEmily Lopez Eric NielsenEric Takaki Terry TerauchiStacy Zimmer Ryan Yahata

EDITORIAL COMMITTEEJim Carroll-Chairman Ed Kambe-AssistantRobin Arakaki Sid Halushka Brian Hayden

PROMISE YOURSELF:To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person youmeet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something inthem.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make youroptimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best and toexpect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as youare about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greaterachievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give everyliving creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself thatyou have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong forfear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

—Christian D. Larson

THE OPTIPINIONP.O. BOX 2132GARDENA, CA 90247