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.
BOCK member receives Hall of Fame award
Wilma VanLoo is a 2024 recipient of the Hall of Fame award. This award is given by the Michigan District of Optimist International. In January 2000 she joined BOCK. Wilma was the BOCK Optimist of the Year in 2008. She was a member of the BOCK Board of Directors from 2009- 2011. She was BOCK President for the 2011-2012 year when the club was an Honor Club and received 1st Place for the Michigan District Optimist Club Scrapbook. While President of BOCK, she was able to get the Club’s weekly meetings in the Kalamazoo Gazette and in the Women’s Life Style of Greater Kalamazoo Magazine. Wilma and the Secretary/Treasurer received OI President Citations. Wilma has maintained perfect attendance in BOCK for 20 years.
Link to Michigan District article: https://michiganoptimists.org/celebrating-excellence-the-2024-michigan-district-optimists-hall-of-fame-recipients/.
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 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 these fourth Thursdays of the month.
No gathering on the fourth Thursday of November, Thanksgiving day, November 28, 2024.
For December 2024, the Thursday evening gathering is on the third Thursday, the 19th. This is the day the club has its annual Christmas gift exchange.
No gathering on the day after Christmas, December 26, 2024.
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 (November 2024 – December 2024):
Friday, November 29, 2024: Fundraiser, Two BOCK members usher at Western Michigan University hockey game.
Saturday, November 30, 2024: Fundraiser, Three BOCK members usher at Western Michigan University football game.
Tuesday, December 3, 2024: Book club, book to be discussed is The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride.
Wednesday, December 4, 2024: PowerUp (https://www.radiant.church/powerup).
Friday, December 6, 2024: Fundraiser, Two BOCK members usher at Western Michigan University hockey game.
Saturday, December 7, 2024: Fundraiser, Two BOCK members usher at Western Michigan University hockey game.
Deadline is Thursday, December 19, 2024: For the next several weekly gatherings the club is collecting children and adult hats, mittens and gloves which are to be given to a local charity. The charity will distribute them to those in need. If interested in donating use the contact link in the header to send BOCK a message.
Recent Activities, Starting October 1, 2024:
Tuesday, October 1, 2024: Book club, Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys.
Saturday, October 5, 2024: Fundraiser, Two BOCK members ushered at Western Michigan University hockey game.
Thursday, October 10, 2024; At the BOCK gathering our speaker was Shannon Kaplan a Physical Therapist at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy. Her presentation topic was Functional Fitness. She provided a set of exercises. The link: Exercises.pdf (PDF file size = 2,983 KB)
Friday, October 11, 2024: Fundraiser, Two BOCK members ushered at Western Michigan University hockey game.
Saturday, October 12, 2024: Fundraiser, Three BOCK members ushered at Western Michigan University football game.
Thursday, October 17, 2024: Fundraiser, Two BOCK members ushered at Western Michigan University hockey game.
Saturday, October 19, 2024: Fundraiser, Two BOCK members ushered at Western Michigan University hockey game.
Saturday, October 19, 2024: Great Lakes Center of Autism Treatment and Research, 11th Annual Trunk or Treat! (https://www.autismtreatmentresearch.org/11th-annual-trunk-or-treat/), BOCK members decorated and displayed a fun farm-themed trunk.
Wednesday, October 23, 2024: PowerUp (https://www.radiant.church/powerup), 14 BOCK members and 2 guests packed 460 meal bags. We also donated items for the high school food pantries.
Thursday, October 24, 2024, BOCK gathering: BOCK member Lyn Lenox gave a presentation on the NEW Personal Growth and Involvement Program: All the Changes! It is online and offered through the Optimist Institute. Link to registration information, OptimistInstitute.pdf (File size = 1,143 KB).
Saturday, October 26, 2024: Fundraiser, Three BOCK members ushered at Western Michigan University football game.
Tuesday, November 5, 2024: Book club, The Women by Kristin Hannah.
Wednesday, November 6, 2024: Fundraiser, Three BOCK members ushered at Western Michigan University football game.
Sunday, November 10, 2024: Fellowship, Western Michigan University, Shaw Theatre, 2:00 p.m., Legally Blonde: The Musical. After the musical there was an optional supper at the University Road House, 1332 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49006.
Friday, November 15, 2024, and Saturday, November 16, 2024: About 10 BOCK members attended the Michigan District Fall Gathering, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Auburn Hills, MI, Details: https://michiganoptimists.org/events/2024-25-fall-gathering/.
Friday, November 15, 2024: Fundraiser, Three BOCK members ushered at Western Michigan University hockey game.
Saturday, November 16, 2024: Fundraiser, Two BOCK members ushered at Western Michigan University hockey game.
Friday, November 22, 2024: BOCK Trivia Night; It was in Community Room West 106 at the Portage Zhang Senior Center, 203 E Centre Ave, Portage, MI 49002; Doors opened at 6:30 p.m.; trivia started at 7:00 p.m.; six persons per trivia team; cost per team was $150; coffee, water, and delicious desserts were provided; BYOB; Funds were donated to Bronson Pediatric Oncology & Hematology Specialists.
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:
