聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The Optimist Club of Arcola, a 鈥渇riend of youth,鈥� has been active in the area for 24 years. They have contributed to a lot of service groups and youth involved activities during this time with their main fundraiser being their annual Snowmobile Rally.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淗aving so many service clubs involved makes our job easier and we appreciate all of the help,鈥� Brownridge said of the Rally.
This year the rally was hosted on Jan. 28, where it attracted 522 riders and sponsorship from 92 cash sponsors and six merchandise sponsors.
鈥淲e appreciate the support of our sponsors and are thankful for their continued support each year,鈥� Brownridge added.
Each year the Optimists also host a lottery, with ticket sales going towards different clubs directed at providing youth with opportunities. These various clubs sell the lottery tickets and in turn earn their sales from the Optimists.
On March 15, the Optimists came together with everyone who sold tickets for their annual rally banquet where the donations are made.
The lottery was sold out, with 2,500 tickets sold. Of that 1,053 tickets were sold by Optimist members, while the Arcola Curling Club sold 177 ($3,540), the Arcola Daycare sold 286 tickets ($5,720), the Arcola Figure Skating Club sold 120 ($2,400), the Arcola Rodeo Committee sold 95 ($1,900), the Moose Mountain Wado Kai Karate Club sold 189 ($3,780), Moose Mountain Wildlife sold 86 tickets ($1,720), Prairie Place Complex sold 97 tickets ($1,940), and the 麻豆视频east Vipers Volleyball Club sold 397 tickets ($7,940). Ticket sale donations thus reached a total of $28,940.
鈥淭hank you to all of the service clubs who helped us sell tickets this year,鈥� Brownridge stated.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In addition to ticket sales donated, the Optimists gave $3,000 to the Moose Mountain Snowmobile Club: 鈥淲e enjoy working with the Moose Mountain Snowmobile Club,鈥� Brownridge explained. 鈥淲e鈥檝e never had to worry about the trails and they are always top notch to work with.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Finally, the Optimists donated the 50/50 earnings from the rally day to the Carlyle and District Food Bank, which totaled $1,000.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In total they donated $32,940 during the rally banquet held in Arcola.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 With additional funds raised the Optimists will continue upkeep to The MacMurray Theatre, which is in need of siding. They recently installed air conditioning in the Legion Hall. While they will also be finishing off work at the play park in Arcola and are going to be assisting the Crescent Point Leisure Complex 鈥� the Carlyle swimming pool 鈥� in their upgrades.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The evening also saw those in attendance recognize efforts of Jason and Karen Dukart in the community. When anything is needed, Brownridge stated the Dukarts would be there to help in anyway possible.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭hey do a remarkable amount of volunteer work in the community,鈥� Brownridge said. 鈥淎nd they鈥檙e never given enough thanks for all that they do.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In response the room got to their feet for a standing ovation to join in thanking the Dukarts.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 It was a big night at the annual banquet as a Life Membership award was also awarded. Doug Brownridge, a charter member of the Optimist Club of Arcola, was awarded the honour.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淗e was a charter member and believed strongly in what the Optimists do, he saw the potential in the theatre and in several other things around town,鈥� Blake said as he called Doug up to accept to he honour.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A man of few words, Doug simply said, 鈥淭hank you very much.鈥� Then laughing added, 鈥淚f you live long enough.鈥�
Thanks that evening were also given to Linda Chapman and Eileen Corrigan who catered the event with their team: 鈥淭hey always provide an excellent meal and have been very good to us over the years,鈥� Blake stated.
Focus was turned to the future as next year鈥檚 Optimist Snowmobile Rally will be its 25th anniversary, which is quite a milestone. Additionally, the Optimists feel that with good sponsorship and great effort from the community, the potential to reach $1 million donated since their inception is within reach, which would be another exciting milestone to celebrate in its 25th year.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just this community or this club that comes out for the day, there鈥檚 people from across southeast Saskatchewan,鈥� Blake said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been involved for the past seven years and I know that anyone from southeast Saskatchewan knows about the rally. I encourage everyone to let people know that it鈥檚 our 25th anniversary coming up. It鈥檚 something that鈥檚 really, really special.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚f you have ideas about what we can do, what we can change, or ideas for sponsors, let us know. We want feedback from everybody.鈥�
