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.

Gatherings:

Club Gatherings are on most Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. ET at Michelle’s Restaurant, 677 Romence Road, Portage, MI 49024 (see map below).

On the fourth Thursday of each month the gathering starts at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time and is at the Traveler’s Craft BBQ and Whiskey Bar, https://travelerscraftbbqandwhiskeybar.com, 5225 Portage Road, Portage, MI 49002 (see map below). There is no morning gathering on these fourth Thursdays of the month.

No gathering on Thanksgiving day, November 28, 2024.

No gathering on day after Christmas, December 26.

The December 19 gathering is at 5:30 p.m. at Traveler’s Craft BBQ and Whiskey Bar. This is the day the club will have its annual Christmas gift exchange.

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

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

O.W.L.S. Program:

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

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

In the Spring of 2024 BOCK started a partnership with Beth Heimann’s 2nd-grade class at Comstock Elementary School. This partnership continues during the 2024 – 2025 Optimist year.

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

Upcoming Activities (October 2024 – December 2024):

Tuesday, October 1, 2024: Book club, Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys.

Saturday, October 5, 2024: Fundraiser, Ushering at WMU hockey game, arrive by 4:00 p.m., against US National U-18 Team (exhibition).

Friday, October 11, 2024: Fundraiser, Ushering at WMU hockey game, arrive by 5:00 p.m., versus Ferris State University.

Saturday, October 12, 2024: Fundraiser, Ushering WMU football vs. Akron, Gametime TBD (need 2 more people).

Wednesday, October 23, 2024: PowerUp.

Tuesday, November 5, 2024: Book club, The Women by Kristin Hannah.

Friday, November 15, 2024, and Saturday, November 16, 2024: Michigan District Fall Gathering, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Auburn Hills, MI, Details: https://michiganoptimists.org/events/2024-25-fall-gathering/.

Thursday, October 17, 2024, Fundraiser, Ushering WMU hockey, arrive by 5:00 p.m., versus Bowling Green State University.

Saturday, October 19, 2024: Fundraiser, Ushering WMU hockey, arrive by 4:00 p.m. versus York University (exhibition).

Friday, November 15, 2024: Fundraiser, Ushering WMU hockey, arrive be 5 p.m., versus Colorado College.

Saturday, November 16, 2024: Fundraiser, Ushering WMU hockey, arrive by 4:00 p.m., versus Colorado College.

Friday, November 22, 2024: BOCK Childhood Cancer Campaign Trivia. Details forthcoming.

Friday, November 29, 2024: Fundraiser, Ushering WMU hockey, arrive by 5:00 p.m., versus University of Michigan.

Wednesday, December 4, 2024: PowerUp.

Friday, December 6, 2024: Fundraiser, Ushering WMU hockey, arrive by 5:00 p.m., versus Denver University.

Saturday, December 7, 2024: Fundraiser, Ushering WMU hockey, arrive by 4:00 p.m., versus Denver University.

Recent Activities:

T

he club’s golf outing was held on Sunday, August. 25, 2024, at Ridgeview Golf Course, 10360 W Main St, Kalamazoo, MI 49009. Shotgun start was at 9:00 a.m. EDT. This event raised money for the Bronson Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic and Optimist International Foundation’s Childhood Cancer Campaign.

BOCK members attended the Michigan District Conference: The Fourth Quarter Michigan District Conference was on Friday, August 16, and Saturday, August 17, 2024. It was at the Kensington Hotel in Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

During June and July, the club had fundraisers for the Back-To-School Program. The goal is to help kids in grades K – 12 begin school this fall with the Right Start. The Right Start event provides the opportunity for kids with trauma experiences and kids without adequate resources to shop for a “first day of school” outfit of their choice, allowing them to begin the school year with a boost to their confidence. The club is again teaming up with Family & Children Services to identify those kids most in need of beginning the school year with the Right Start. Family & Children Services programs are designed to provide the right support at the right time for families and individuals who need resources. The fundraisers consisted of Trivia Night and a direct appeal to club members and their friends. The total funds raised this year was $6,076. These funds are being used to send 50 kids back to school.

On Friday, July 19, 2024, the club had a Trivia Night at the Portage Zhang Senior Center, 203 E Centre Ave, Portage, MI 49002. This event raised $1,594 for the club’s annual Back-To-School program.

On Friday, June 7, 2024, about 50 club members and friends attended the Kalamazoo Growlers baseball game against the Kokomo Jackrabbits. The Growlers have a program to honor non-profit/charity organizations. We had an information table, and one of our members threw out the first pitch. At various times throughout the night, the announcer provided information about BOCK’s community impact. Then some of our members – along with some JOI club members – ran up and down the bleachers collecting donations during the Miracle Minute. We collected $400. 

From March through May 2024, the club assisted a second-grade teacher at the Comstock Elementary School. Examples of the assistance the club provided included reading to the students, providing water bottles and snacks, and being chaperons for a field trip to the Kalamazoo Nature Center.

On Saturday, May 18, 2024, club members cheered the participants in the Girls on the Run annual 5K. BOCK is one of the Local 5K sponsors, https://www.girlsontherunkazoo.org/5k.

On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, the club participated in PowerUp. About 20 club members worked as assembly lines placing food items in bags. These bags of food items are then delivered to local Portage schools on Friday to help children with food insecurities get through the weekend. Link to information about Power Up: https://www.radiant.church/powerup.

During March and April 2024 BOCK has its annual Daisy Dollars fundraiser. BOCK sold swipe cards for purchases at Schuring’s Retail Greenhouse, 610 Schuring Road, Portage, MI 49024. For every $10 worth of Daisy Dollars swipe cards BOCK sold the club earned 25% or $2.50. The club earned $500.

On Sunday, April 21, 2024, the club assisted with children’s activities at the Children’s Nature Playscape on Bronson Park which is dedicated to transforming a reclaimed green space into a nature park for the children of Kalamazoo, https://www.kalamazooplayscape.org/home.

On Wednesday, April 3, 2024, the club participated in PowerUp. About 20 club members worked as assembly lines placing food items in bags. These bags of food items are then delivered to local Portage schools on Friday to help children with food insecurities get through the weekend. Link to information about Power Up: https://www.radiant.church/powerup.

On Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 7 p.m. BOCK held its Oratorical Contest: It took place at at the Portage Public Safety Complex, 7810 Shaver Road, Portage, MI 49002.

On Saturday, February 24, 2024, BOCK participated in the Big Brothers Big Sisters, BBBS, fundraiser Bowl For Kids’ Sake at Revel & Roll West on Stadium Drive. BOCK had two bowling teams. Teams of 5 or 6 people pledge to raise a minimum of $75 each (or $375 per 5-person team, or $450 per 6-person team) to participate. BBBS website with details: https://thinkbigtoday.org/events/bowl-for-kids-sake.

On Wednesday, February 7, 2024, the club participated in PowerUp. About 20 club members worked as assembly lines placing food items in bags. These bags of food items are then delivered to local Portage schools on Friday to help children with food insecurities get through the weekend.

On Thursday, December 7, 2023, the regular get-together was at 5:30 p.m. at Travelers Cafe & Pub, 5225 Portage Rd, Portage. The club wrapped presents for the folks we adopted this year for Christmas.

On Sunday, November 26, 2023, the club decorated a Christmas Tree in Celery Flats. The theme is “A Little Piece of Me!” 

On Wednesday, November 1, 2023, the club packaged weekend food items for needy kids as part of the PowerUp program. Link to PowerUp, https://www.radiant.church/powerup

On Saturday, October 21, 2023, the club participated in the 10th Annual Trunk or Treat event for youth and adults with developmental/intellectual disabilities. It was sponsored by the Great Lakes Center of Autism Treatment and Research at 9616 Portage Rd. 

Another event on Saturday, October 21, 2023, that the club participated in was the Monster Mash which was sponsored by the city of Portage and is from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Ramona Park, 8600 Sprinkle Road. 

On Wednesday, October 4, 2023, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., the club partnered with the Portage Department of Public Safety, and the City of Portage Youth Advisory Committee to host an annual free event, Respect for Law, at Ramona Park, 8600 South Sprinkle Road.

 

Clubs BOCK recently founded and/or assists:

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.

Optimist Activities:

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.

 

Inspirational Quote:

“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: Michelle’s Restaurant, 677 Romence Road, Portage, MI 49024

Thursday Evenings: Traveler’s Craft BBQ and Whiskey Bar, 5225 Portage Road, Portage, MI 49002