 OPTIMISTIC LEARNER
In 2007 the Rocky Mount Evening Optimist Club
created a special Community Service Project
with a focus on improving kids’ attitudes at
school. The Club has each year chosen an area elementary school to work with its’ fifth graders. A deserving student who has demonstrated his or her commitment to striving to be their best at their classroom work is selected monthly. The OPTIMSTIC LEARNER program won the Optimist International’s North Carolina East District’s 2008 Community Service Project Of the Year and was bestowed the prestigious 2009 CUBE AWARD by Williford Elementary School. In July 2009, at the request of Optimist International, the Club presented the OPTIMISTIC LEARNER program at OI’s International Convention in Orlando, Florida.
 YOUTH APPRECIATION
Each year the Rocky Mount Evening Optimist Club holds an awards banquet to recognize outstanding Senior Class students from each of the local high schools in the Rocky Mount community. Plaques or certificates are presented to both a boy and girl who were chosen by their schools’ administration. The students’ parents are invited to attend the ceremony, and each student selects a teacher to invite as well. From the opening of the ceremony with the Pledge of Allegiance, to the good food, to the winner’s introduction speeches, and through the closing with a group recital of the Optimist’s Creed, this event is one of the Club’s favorite projects. YOUTH APPRECIATION acknowledges the hard work and character of the some of our local community’s future leaders.
 JUNIOR GOLF
Optimist International’s focus on Junior Golf began back in 1978. Visionary leaders from Optimist International took on sponsorship of what is generally recognized as one of the premier junior golf tournaments in the world. Early Optimist sponsored Junior World tournaments were held at the famed Torey Pines in San Diego. In 1986 the event was moved to Doral. In 1987 the tournament’s name was changed to
the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship (OIJGC) and the event was relocated to PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Some of the world’s best golfers are past OIJGC champions. Phil Michelson, Ernie Els, David Toms, Vijay Singh and many of the other great golfers of today’s PGA Tour were winners. Tiger Woods won the Optimist Junior World six times starting at the age of eight.
Every year Rocky Mount Evening Optimist Club sponsors aspiring local junior golfers to the NC East District’s qualifying tournament. There they compete for an entry spot in
the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship (OIJGC). From 2006 to 2009 alone, the Club sent four qualifying junior golfers to Florida to compete for the coveted championship. Northern Nash golf standout Rob Pate won the NC East District Tournament in 2007 and received an expense paid trip to the OIJC. Other local Club sponsored junior golfers have gone on to play college golf.
 BRUNSWICK STEW
The Rocky Mount Evening Optimist Club has become known for its’ world famous eastern North Carolina style Brunswick stew. Under the direction of Club Member and Stew Meister Henry Edmondson, the Club regularly cooks and sells their scrumptious stew to hundreds of satisfied local stew connoisseurs. This fund raising project is one of our members’ favorites as they just can’t seem to keep up with the demand for the tasty stuff. Henry likes to say “we eat all the profits”. After all, the Rocky Mount Evening Optimist Club is often referred to as the Rocky Mount “Eating Optimists”.
Would you like information on our stew schedule?
 SCHOLARSHIPS
The Rocky Mount Evening Optimist Club annually presents two
$2,500 college scholarships to deserving local high school seniors.
Other opportunities for scholarships for students include
Optimist International’s
Oratorical and
Essay contests. The Rocky
Mount Evening Optimist Club has sponsored local youth in past
competitions who have been winners of the NC East District’s
Oratorical contests. Nash County native and State Attorney General Roy Cooper, Jr. was just one of our many Club-sponsored winners. Dara Robinson was the 2010 winner of the NC East District’s Oratorical Contest and became another Club sponsored champion.
Need more information on the Rocky Mount
Evening Optimist Club’s Contests and Scholarships?
We are all about bringing out the best in our local kids.
 CHRISTMAS TREES
For more than fifty years the Rocky Mount Evening Optimist Club has sold thousands of live Christmas trees. For more than fifty years thousands of Rocky Mount area boys and girls have awakened on Christmas mornings to open their presents under a “Rocky Mount Evening Optimist Tree”.
We are thankful for and grateful to all Rocky Mount area citizens who have shown their support since 1957 for our Clubs’ biggest fund raiser. We have been able to fund many thousands of dollars for community youth-focused programs thanks to you. Remember, “it’s the Reason for the Season”. Again, THANK YOU ROCKY MOUNT, NASH and EDGECOMBE COUNTY CITIZENS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!!!!!
We hope to see you at our tree lot next Christmas.
Want to know our Christmas tree sales schedule?
 ROCKY MOUNT FAIR
If you can remember back to when the fairgrounds were on Fairview Road, then you can remember far enough back to when we started cooking at the fair. And that’s how long we’ve reigned as the Rocky Mount fair’s premier food concession booth. Widely known for our great cheeseburgers, hotdogs and fries, you don’t want to pass up a bowl or quart of our Brunswick Stew.
As with any “agricultural fair” there are plenty of animals there. Just come by our booth to check out the world’s best fast food prepared by monkeys. The food is worth the price. The entertainment is on the house. Optimist members have fun cooking for all the families attending the fair. We give thanks to our many loyal customers. Because of your support, we can provide opportunities to our area’s kids through Club donations to worthy youth-related causes.
 CHILDHOOD CANCER
Optimist International has adopted CHILDHOOD CANCER as a major project. The Rocky Mount Evening Optimist Club donates monies from Club fund raisers to
Riley’s Army.
In 2007 Riley’s Army, a non-profit organization of volunteers providing help and assistance to child cancer victims’ families was founded. Riley Philpot, a young girl with cancer, formed a group of volunteers called Riley’s Army to help kids with cancer. Two of the many uses that donations given to Riley’s Army are put toward are for providing prepaid phone cards and restaurant gift cards to child cancer patient’s families when hospitalization is required.
Help support Riley’s Army.
SUPERBALL GOLF
 The Rocky Mount Evening Optimist holds an annual Superball golf tournament. Proceeds from the event go towards the funding of the Club’s Junior Golf program. Many area golfers enjoy our fund raising tournament and their support allows the Club to sponsor area junior golfers to the NC East District‘s qualifying tournament for the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships. Annually the Club does a hotdog cookout for area high school golf teams in the Rocky Mount community.
TThe public is invited to participate in our Superball tournament. Businesses and individuals are encouraged to help our junior golf program by sponsoring teams for the tournament, making a donation, or being one of our hole or food and beverage sponsors. Contact any Club Member for information on the details of our next annual Superball Tournament or contact us by mail or
email.
 CONTACT US / JOIN US
The Rocky Mount Evening Optimist Club meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month at 7:00 P.M. at the HOPPIN’ HOUSE GRILLE, 1005 West Mount Drive, Rocky Mount, N.C. We invite you to join us at one of our meetings to find out what our Club is all about. The food is great and the fellowship is special. Join us and help us help the kids!!
Want information on membership?
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YOUTH SPORTS TEAMS
