Welcome to the Breakfast Optimist Club of Kalamazoo – BOCK

Optimist Mission:

By providing hope and a positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in our youth, our communities, and ourselves.

Optimist International President:

For the 2024 – 2025 Optimist Year (October – September) the Optimist International President is Janet Oord Graves.

Janet started as an Optimist when she joined BOCK on October 14, 1997.

She was the BOCK club president in 2001 – 2002.

She was the Governor of the Michigan District of Optimists International in 2010 – 2011.

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Oratorical2024March
BowlForKidsSakeBBBSFeb2024
PowerUpFeb2024
JOIDecember2023
ChristmasGifts2023
Uganda2024March
Blankets_Bronson_Nov2022
Blankets_Bronson_Nov2022
BackToSchoolAugust2022
RespectLaw2022B
If_interested_Jan2023

Gatherings:

Club Gatherings are on most Thursday mornings from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, at Mark’s Diner (https://www.marksdinerportage.com), at 677 Romence Road, Portage, MI 49024 (see map below). 

There is no gathering when Kalamazoo or Portage Public Schools are delayed or closed due to weather.

On the fourth Thursday of each month, the gathering starts at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time and is at Old Burdick’s Bar and Grill Wings West, https://www.oldburdicks.com/location/wings-west/, 5076 Sports Dr, Kalamazoo, MI 49009 (see map below). There is no morning gathering on the fourth Thursday of the month. The next Thursday evening gathering is on June 26, 2025.

If a Thursday night gathering is cancelled due to weather, the Club President and/or other Board Members will notify BOCK members.

Be a first-time visitor. The club pays for your meal.

O.W.L.S.

O.W.L.S. = Optimists Working for Learning Success.

Optimist clubs partner with local schools to provide nutrition, clothing, school supplies, hygiene products, tutoring and mentoring to help students survive.

In the Spring of 2024, BOCK started its partnership with Beth Heimann’s 2nd-grade class at Comstock Elementary School. 

On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, BOCK made its final visit to Beth’s class for the Spring term. Carmen Jonaitis read a book to the class (see photo). Each student was given a quotable magnet and a cupcake. Other BOCK members assisting were Pat Weber and Cathy and Bob Balik.

Link to May 2, 2024, Thank You letter from Dr. Jeffrey J. Thoenes, Superintendent of Comstock Public Schools, thoenes.pdf.

Thursday, June 19, 2025: An “impromptu” social gathering starting at 6:00 p.m. at Steinspark Biergarten and Food Court, 2603 E. Milham Ave, Portage, MI 49002, https://steinspark.com/.

Saturday, June 28 – Thursday, July 3, 2025: Optimist International Convention in St. Louis, Missouri.

Tuesday, July 1, 2025: Book Club, Beartown by Fredrik Backman.

Thursday, July 24, 2025: BOCK evening meeting, Optimist International Foundation blind acution.

The Smile Always Uganda Foundation Optimist Club, assists 2023.
The Rise Optimist Club, Kalamazoo, founded 2022.
Movers and Shakers Optimist Club of Greater Grand Rapids, founded 2020.
Portage Central High School Rise & Shine Optimist Club, founded 2019.

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.

 

“Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so.”―Noam Chomsky

Google Maps, Thursday Gatherings:

Thursday Mornings: Mark’s Diner, 677 Romence Road, Portage, MI 49024

Thursday Evenings: Old Burdick’s Bar and Grill Wings West, 5076 Sports Dr, Kalamazoo, MI 49009.