Optimist Club of Perdido Bay Grits and Bits “Br i ng OUT THE BEST IN K ID’s”, November 2010 Club # 29-10 8 P. O . B o x 87 Li ll i a n , AL . 3 6 5 49 Meets Every Satur day Mor ning at the Lillian Commu nity Club 7:00 AM AL/LA/MS Gover nor Arthur Mack Lt. G ove r nor Ben Spencer “ B ringin g O ut th e B e st in K ids” HOWDY! Optimists… Here we go again, another year, letting me play leader – I’m honored by your vote of confidence. This past year has been fun a nd at the same time an e ye- opener, even at times a tear jerker. Getting involved with kids to as is in so many of the things we do, an almost certain and instant “Smile to their faces, and then to mine”. But, did you know that 78% of the students in the local elementary & middle schools are living below the poverty level? Living with parents that must work 60, 70, 80 hour a week? – Single parents that are even gone more then that? Did you know that this gives our local KIDs a 54% prob ability of usi ng illegal drugs? 48% probabili ty of skipping school or worse a 66% probability of dropping out of s chool? Even the parents that try, the parents that care, don’t have the time to build our next generation – it becomes a community, church, club or individual project to HELP OUR LOCAL KIDS. These high percentages can be reduced as much as half by just - tutoring, mentoring or working as study- budd ies. We as vol unteers, under other circumstances would be nothing more than “strangers” to these KIDs. We can and do make a difference –I’ve seen it. Our i nt erest in them, (Continued on page 2 ) Editor: Sally McKinney Thanks to the Board for their direction and service. 2010-2011 memb ers are fr om left, Mel W hitehurst, Lee Hoffman , Rod B enton, J im Wr ight, Rod Ha ugh t , Bill Cor ne ll , Dick Erwin, S onny Keig ley, Dan Chur ch, and Andy Wi lki ns on. Ly nn Neff is not pict ured.
