Volume 46 Issue 12 September 2010

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1 T H E G EO OPTIPINION Volume 46 Issue 12 September 2010 A MONTHLY BULLETIN OF THE GARDENA EVENING OPTIMIST CLUB ZONE 2 PACIFIC SOUTHWEST DISTRICT OF OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL President s Message As we dive into the month of September, we are winding up this calendar year with two very important events. On September 7 th, the Volunteer Recognition Dinner will honor and recognize the many outside volunteers who have helped make our events so successful. Then the 47 th Installation of President Eric Takaki and the incoming cabinet will take place on September 19 th at the Miyako Hybrid Hotel. We also have some new members to install! Please mark your calendars! August started off with a terrific swing of golf clubs at our annual Golf Tournament. Deryck and his golf committee did an awesome job with a great turnout of golfers, great food and oodles of prizes. Our thanks to all our sponsors and donors of the many prizes. The Nisei Week Coronation took place on August 14 th and our candidate, Lauren Weber, looked absolutely gorgeous and elegant in her kimono and formal gown. She is now a bona fide Princess and we are so proud of her. The Pacific Southwest District Convention took place the weekend of the 20 th -22 nd in Simi Valley. Club member Emily Lopez was honored at the Recognition Breakfast for her outstanding contributions to the club. As I begin to close another chapter in my life book, I would like to take the time to thank all the members for your generous support and confidence in me as your president. I was honored to meet the charter members of the club at our Recognition Dinner in February, I was impressed by the community s support of our many projects. I am forever grateful to the many members and volunteers of the many committees who made each and every club event so successful and so much fun. The club has been complimented by many who have attended our functions, be it a fund raiser or one of our work projects. As I was told when I was coaxed to be a candidate for president, the club runs itself, I found this to be so true as you all stepped up to participate and donate your precious time and talents. I believe that the community and the youth have benefited from all that the club has done. And with that, I am jubilant as we continue to pursue the goals of the Optimist Purposes. Thanks to all of you!!! Me ke aloha!!! Yours In Optimism, Jeanette Volunteer Recognition Dinner Please join us as we thank the many volunteers who helped make our club activities a great success! Tuesday, September 7 th, 6:30 p.m. At Happa s Restaurant 1641 Redondo Beach Blvd. Gardena $15 per person

2 2 THE OPTIPINION Save these Dates: September 7, 6:30 p.m.-club meeting at Happa s President s Appreciation of Volunteers. September 13, 7:00 p.m.-oyhfs Corp. Mtg. The Big Spin. September 14, 6:30 p.m.-joint Board meeting at Stacy s house. September 19, 4:00 p.m.-club Installation Dinner at Miyako Hybrid Hotel. October 5, 6:30 p.m.-club meeting at Café Luna October Clambake in Carpenteria. CHECK CLUB CALENDAR AT FOR MORE INFORMATION & MAPS New Member Corner: Hank Arima has been a generous supporter of the club in the past year, prior to joining as a member. He spent many years as an IRS auditor and in the past year, constant caregiver for his late wife, June. His devotion to his wife and family brings to the club a commitment of caring and support, especially of the youth. His grandson, Michael, played youth basketball so Hank is familiar with our basketball leagues. Hank is a world traveler and can t wait until the Optimist International Convention is scheduled for Rome, Italy. Hank Arima with 2009 Princess Amy Machida Gilbert Mena with President Jeanette Gilbert Mena has spent the past few years as an observer of the club and finally made the decision to join recently. He has been my driver aka carpool buddy and enjoys the different restaurants that the club meets at. He has been a program speaker at one of our meetings where he has shared the benefits of qi gong. He has worked on a couple of our members, helping to relieve aches and pains. He also enjoys talking politics, but not with Ron S. (ha, ha, ha-just my observation). I am glad that these two fine fellows have joined the club for they enjoy the fellowship of our club members and believe in our quest for bringing out the best in kids. Jeanette Member Emily Lopez, recipient of the Certificate of Recognition at the PSWD quarterly in Simi Valley

3 3 THE OPTIPINION Nisei Week Coronation The 70th Nisei Week Coronation and Dinner on August 14, 2010 brought together seven beautiful, intelligent and committed young women, along with their families, friends and supporters of the Nisei Week Foundation to the Kyoto Grand Hotel Ballroom. After many months of training, exploring of the Japanese culture, public speaking, dancing, singing and being comfortable and confident in wearing a kimono, the candidates for the 2010 Nisei Week Court made their appearance at the Coronation in the Aratani Japan America Theatre. The Coronation had a sold out crowd of over 800 people that were ready to cheer on their favorite candidates. When our candidate, Lauren Weber, appeared on stage, she was welcomed with joyful cheers from her parents, Terry (GEO member) and Sharon, brother, Mark, family, other GEO members and friends. The candidates along with the Nisei Week Foundation Committee entertained the audience with their dance routine, We Love LA! Their rendition of Katy Perry s California Girls began with 2010 Nisei Week Foundation President, Hayato Tamura, acting as Snoop Dog. The crowd was louder than a big night at Dodger Stadium. They were pumped up, screaming and cheering for their candidate. The routine ended with each candidate tossing a giant beach ball with her name on it into the audience. A big CONGRATULATIONS to Lauren for being this year s GEO/The Loft Princess! --Eric Takaki and BJ Coonce Nisei Week Committee Chairs Golf Tournament Recap We had another great turnout for one of our more popular fundraising events. Thanks to the committee members for their hard work and in making this event a successful venture. It was a beautiful day to golf with all our friends. Whether you were a beginner or a seasoned player we hope you enjoyed the day. Seems that everyone had a great time and comments were mostly positive. Remember, we can always use your help to improve our tournaments, so if you have any suggestions please pass them on to one our committee members. On behalf of the committee, we would like to thank all the sponsors that made contributions to our tournament, from tee signs, door prizes, raffle prizes, and donations of beverages and goodie bag fillers (see the complete list of our sponsors on the next page). Thanks also to all the golfers who participated in the tournament with such bravery. Being out there with balls flying every which way takes some courage. The tournament winners were from the scramble players Group 2: Ryan Yahata, Freddie Jin, Marvin Alfonso, Mark Esteban, Darin Fujimori. The Medal winner was Raymond Iwamoto; I think he needs to be rerated (only kidding Not!). The raffle prize winners were Mark Halushka - he won the 40inch Flat Screen, Ricky Arakaki won the ipad unit, and I won the Putter. Special thanks to our workers who setup, checked in players and prepared the banquet room for dinner and games. They worked from the morning till evening. They were Jeanette Mena, Emily Lopez, Mary Coonce, Antoinette Halushka, Mandy Esteban, Kay, Jenny, Eric Takaki, Nami Goeku. The raffle event was emceed by Mr. Bill Coonce. He did a terrific job in his presentations and coordination of all the prizes. Special thanks to Jill Hiraizumi, past Nisei Week Queen, and Lauren Weber, this year s Nisei Week Princess, for helping work the banquet. I must say they are beautiful. In closing, thanks again to all members of our 2010 golf committee you re simply the best. Yours In Optimism and Take Care Till Next Year. Mahalo, Deryck Koga

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8 8 THE OPTIPINION OFFICERS President... Jeanette Mena President Elect... Eric Takaki Vice President... Dave Allen Vice President... Mike Tsuge Secretary... Stacy Zimmer Treasurer... Sid Halushka IPP... Deryck Koga First Year Members Richard Arakaki Ron Hom Hiram Komoto Glenn Shimizu Ryan Yahata BOARD OF DIRECTORS Second Year Members EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Robin Arakaki Jim Carroll Justin Carroll BJ Coonce Emily Lopez Jim Carroll-Chairman Ed Kambe-Assistant Robin Arakaki Sid Halushka Brian Hayden 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. Christian D. Larson THE OPTIPINION P.O. BOX 2132 GARDENA, CA 90247