Editor: Sharon Dennany, telephone 919-274-1311 or email: shar1558denn@yahoo.com

Scott Kaplan – President7360 Ulmerton Rd. #21D, Largo, FL 33771

Zone 9 Lt. Governor – Jean RutanNorth Florida District Governor – Daniel Rich

Downtown Optimist ClubA periodic newsletter of the

St. Petersburg - Downtown Optimist ClubNorth Florida District, Zone 9, Club #60447

March 12, 2011

Downtown Optimist ClubA periodic newsletter of the

St. Petersburg - Downtown Optimist ClubNorth Florida District, Zone 9, Club #60447

March 12, 2011

2222NDNDNDND Quarter Conference in Panama CityQuarter Conference in Panama CityQuarter Conference in Panama CityQuarter Conference in Panama CityThe Downtown Club received patches for their yearly contribution to the OI Foundation. We donated an average of $60 per person and have our patch for this. We also received the award for the CPA book written by Scott. The CPA book for the Easter Egg Hunt has been sent to OI for the international competition. The winner of that will be announced in July.

Chuck Hayworth received 2 awards for being the Distinguished District OI Rep. Jim Ridings received the award for the #1 Lt. Governor for the district and was awarded the Distinguished Lt. Gov Governor pin.

Gardner Harshman and Lee Warnock were awarded citations for the Downtown Club being an Honor Club this past year.

Lee Warnock , Gardner Harshman, Scott Kaplan, Vi Hayworth, Jane Ridings and Bettie Jo Carvalis were awarded for being district chairs.

Ric Carvalis was honored as a Distinguished Governor for the North Florida District.

The district had a fundraiser going for the Children's Cancer Campaign. Rubber ducks were sold for $5.00 each. A drawing was held at the conference...Chuck won 1st prize of $100.00!

The district 50/50 was won by Scott Kaplan who won $130! Lots of members won door prizes.

The district CCDHH contest was held. The 2nd place prize was won by the young man Zone 9 sponsored.

Other events were the great Hospitality Room and wonderful Banquet.

Sunset at Panama BeachSunset at Panama BeachSunset at Panama BeachSunset at Panama BeachTaken by Scott Kaplan from his hotel balcony.

ItItItIt’’’’s My Birthday!s My Birthday!s My Birthday!s My Birthday!March 9th Gardner Harshman

March 16th Jim RidingsMarch 17th Chuck Hayworth

March 19th Bob CostaMarch 27th Vi Hayworth

ItItItIt’’’’s My Anniversarys My Anniversarys My Anniversarys My Anniversary

March 1st Jennifer MaldanadoMarch 6th Scott KaplanMarch 17th Judy Warnock

Spring forward Sunday March 13thSpring forward Sunday March 13thSpring forward Sunday March 13thSpring forward Sunday March 13thBenjamin Franklin is credited with the concept of Daylight Saving Time. The basic idea is to make the best use of daylight hours by shifting the clock forward in the Spring and backward in the Fall. Daylight Saving Time has been in use throughout much of the United States, Canada and Europe since World War I. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed an act into law whereby Daylight Saving Time begins on the last Sunday of April and ends on the last Sunday of October each year. However, any State can opt out of Daylight Saving Time by passing a State law.

Hawaii does not observe Daylight Saving Time and neither does Arizona (although the Navajo Nation, in northeastern Arizona, does). For many years, most of Indiana did not observe Daylight Saving Time with the exception of 10 counties. Beginning in 2006, all of Indiana now observes Daylight Saving Time. However, the state remains divided in two time zones. Seventy-four counties (including state capital Indianapolis) are in the Eastern Time Zone. The 18 remaining counties are in the Central Time Zone.

And if it seems like Daylight Saving Time starts early every year, you're right -- sort of. Beginning in 1986, Daylight Saving Time started on the first Sunday in April and ended on the last Sunday in October. But in 2007, Congress revised the dates to the current March-November calendar in order to extend the energy savings gleaned from earlier rising. Since the 1970s, energy conservation has been the primary reason for the summer time change -- longer day means we turn on the lights later, saving energy.

Bunco Party / Fund RaiserBunco Party / Fund RaiserBunco Party / Fund RaiserBunco Party / Fund Raiser

The Downtown Optimist Club is having a Bunco Party/Fund RaiserInvite all your friends and come out for great fun!

Date: May 21, 2011Time: 6:00 PM

Cost: $10.00 per playerPlace: 1409 49th Avenue NE, St. Petersburg

This is the home of two great Optimist members, Rick & Jean Rutan, who have graciously offered their home for this event.

The proceeds go to the club’s youth account. Not only is this a fund-raiser but also a social gathering for Optimists and friends. We would recommend that you please bring a snack/finger food item to share. Cokes/soft drinks will be provided. If you prefer beer or alcoholic drinks, bring your own. There will be nice prizes for the winners, as well as a 50/50 drawing.

Kindly RSVP so that have enough tables for everyone. We will need a head count no later than May 18th.

If you have played Bunco before, you know that it is a blast. If you have never played, not a problem. You will be taught, and we guarantee that you will enjoy it.

Optimistically,Vi & VikiCo-Chairs

March 1March 1March 1March 1stststst Meeting at Tick TockMeeting at Tick TockMeeting at Tick TockMeeting at Tick Tock…The meeting was a short one. We submitted our entries for the essay contest. Every club in the district has an entry thanks to Jean Rutan.

Next quarter conference is in Tampa. Everyone should attend if possible. It is also the conference for the district oratorical contest and the JOOI convention. The theme will be a Latin theme. More on that later.

50/50 was won by Nancy Reeser. She drew the 7 of spades. Pot to the winner is now $180.00.

Next meeting is March 15th at Tick Tock.

We inducted new members Della and Mitch Shuler. Della is the JOOI club sponsor at

Morgan Fitzgerald Middle School.

Nancy Reeser and Jean Rutan are on the left and CJ Morris and Rick

Rutan are on the right. CJ was inducted on February 15, 2011.

The shy one, trying to hide,is Sue Foster.

St. PatrickSt. PatrickSt. PatrickSt. Patrick’’’’s Days Days Days DaySaint Patrick's Day is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on the 17th of March. It is named after Saint Patrick (c. AD 387–461), the most commonly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland. It originated as a Catholic holiday and became an official feast day in the early 17th century. It has gradually become more of a secular celebration of Irish culture.

Originally, the color associated with Saint Patrick was blue. Over the years the color green and its association with Saint Patrick's day grew. Green ribbons and shamrocks were born in celebration of St Patrick's Day as early as the 17th century. He is said to have used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish, and the wearing and display of shamrocks and shamrock-inspired designs have become a ubiquitous feature of the day. In the 1798 rebellion, in hopes of making a political statement, Irish soldiers wore full green uniforms on the 17th of March in hopes of catching public attention. The phrase "the wearing of the green", meaning to wear a shamrock on one's clothing, derives from a song of the same name.

The first Saint Patrick's Festival was held on March 17, 1996. In 1997, it became a three-day event, and by 2000 it was a four-day event. By 2006, the festival was five days long; more than 675,000 people attended the 2009 parade. Overall 2009's five day festival saw close to 1 million visitors, who took part in festivities that included concerts, outdoor theatre performances, and fireworks.

The Optimist Creed

Promise Yourself -To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

CLUB OFFICERS

President Scott Kaplan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .535-69397360 Ulmerton Rd. #21D, Largo, FL 33771

1st Vice Pres. Vi Hayworth . . . . . . . . . . . . 527-26562nd Vice Pres. Viki Pena. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 421-3721Sec/Treas. Lee Warnock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 577-7159Sgt-At-Arms/Gardner Harshman. . . . . . . . 592-0243 Chaplain Rick Rutan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .522-6143

DIRECTORS

Jean Rutan (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522-6143Rick Rutan (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522-6143Judy Warnock (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 458-8278Sharon Dennany (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . ..919-274-1311Gardner Harshman (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .592-0243Moonyeene Harshman (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . 592-0243

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Oratorical Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lee WarnockEssay Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jean RutanPrograms/Speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rick RutanFellowship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Vi Hayworth/Viki PenaPoster Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jean RutanO.I. Foundation Rep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jane RidingsRespect for Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gardner HarshmanYouth Appreciation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lee WarnockNew Community Dev. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vi HayworthRaffles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lee WarnockEaster Egg Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Viki PenaBell Ringing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vi HayworthFirst Friday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lee Warnock