Information about our club, BOCK, Michigan District, and Optimist International

Chartered on September 29, 1988.

Sponsored by the Kalamazoo Downtown Club, which no longer exists.

Key person in BOCK’s formation: Dave McKee.

BOCK’s first club president, Janet Gillette (still a member, 2025).

January 2025, about 90 members.

Current members who joined on or before January 1, 1990 (name, date joined, and member number):

Janet Gillette, September 29, 1988, 0001,

Gina Cifolelli, September 29, 1988, 0007,
Pat Weber, September 29, 1988, 0015,
Dave McKee, October 1, 1988, 0040,
Bob Balik, September 1, 1989, 0059,
Linda Ingersoll, September 1, 1989, 0062, and
Chris Shults, January 1, 1990, 0091.

Clubs BOCK sponsored:

Metro S.T.A.N.D. – Detroit, MI, no longer in existence,
Holland, MI, charted September 22, 2014,
Movers and Shakers Optimist Club of Greater Grand Rapids, chartered September 17, 2020,
Octagon Club of the Zoo, no longer in existence,
Portage Central High School Rise and Shine Junior Optimist Club, chartered November 27, 2019.

Club Executive Position
Dan Mills
President
Diane Marquess
President Elect
Jennifer Lancaster
Secretary
Ralph Meyer
Treasurer
Carmen Jonaitis
Immediate Past President
Scott Graham
Communications Director
Darci Stevens
Youth and Community Service Director
Theresa Mills
Fellowship Director
Bruce Billedeaux
Fundraising Director
David McKee
Membership Director
Alma McCarty
Programs Director
Lyn Lenox-Bosma
Optimist International Foundation Representative
Club Presidents Optimist Year
Dan Mills
2024 – 2025
Carmen Jonaitis
2023 – 2024
Diane Marquess
2022 – 2023
Theresa Mills
2021 – 2022
Terri Norman
2020 – 2021
Linda Thompson
2019 – 2020
Jeanette Meyer
2018 – 2019
Dan Mills
2017 – 2018
Linda Thompson
2016 – 2017
Laurie Jefsen
2015 – 2016
Marilyn Lenox-Bosma
2014 – 2015
Cathy Balik
2013 – 2014
Nicole Ingersoll
2012 – 2013
Wilma VanLoo
2011 – 2012
Jeanette Meyer
2010 – 2011
Terri Norman
2009 – 2010
Chris Shults
2008 – 2009
Val LippIncott
2007 – 2008
Nicole Ingersoll
2006 – 2007
Deanna Draze
2005 – 2006
Marilyn Lenox-Bosma
2004 – 2005
Julie Howes
2003 – 2004
Terri Norman
2002 – 2003
Janet Oord
2001 – 2002
Alice Nash
2000 – 2001
Tim Flynn
1999 – 2000
Kathy Smyser
1998 – 1999
Linda Ingersoll
1997 – 1998
Pat Haley
1996 – 1997
Helen Horn
1995 – 1996
Dave McKee
1994 – 1995
Cheryl McKee
1993 – 1994
Chris Shults
1992 – 1993
Dale Gruber
1991 – 1992
Giina Cifolelli
1990 – 1991
Randy Schoof
1989 – 1999
Janet Gillette
1988 – 1999

Michigan District of Optimist International has 90 clubs (as of December 2024).

The Michigan District covers Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

BOCK plus 9 other Optimist clubs comprise Zone 6 in the Michigan District.

BOCK members who have Michigan District positions for the 2024 – 2025 Optimist year:

Linda Thompson, Immediate Past Governor
Lyn Lenox-Bosma, Lieutenant Governor, Zone 2
Theresa Mills, Chair, District Scholarship and Programs
Dan Mills, District Representative, Optimist International Foundation
Linda Thompson, Candidate Qualifications
Linda Ingersoll, Finance Committee
Linda Thompson, Governance Committee
Linda Thompson, Long Range Planning
Linda Thompson, MIOLA = Michigan Optimist Leadership Academy
Lyn Lenox-Bosma, PGI = Professional Growth and Improvement
Stacy Jackson, Chair, District Conferences and Convention

Dates of 2024 – 2025 Michigan District Gatherings:

Quarter 1 Gathering: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1500 Opdyke Rd, Auburn Hills MI 48326, November 15 and 16, 2024.
Quarter 2 Gathering: Zoom, February 8, 2025.
Quarter 3 Gathering: .
Quarter 4 Gathering: .

Link to Optiviews, Michigan District Optimists Quarterly Newsletter, January 2025 issue: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FJJKlKHClv_CEirmnHT_laeKKiZ9Jor7/view

Optimist International is an international service club organization with almost 3,000 clubs and over 80,000 members in more than 20 countries.

Founded: 1919.

Headquarters: St. Louis, Missouri.

Motto: “Friend of Youth”

Optimist International Foundation was established in 1971 exclusively for the charitable, literary and educational purposes of Optimist International. The Optimist International Foundation is a 501(c)(3) corporation within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States. Within 501(c)(3), the Foundation is a 509(a)(3) public charity.

Links:

Optimist International: https://www.optimist.org/.

Optimist International Foundation: https://www.oifoundation.org.

Link to February 2025 issue of Optimist, the official publication of Optimist International: https://issuu.com/optimist551/docs/optimist_magazine_february_2025?fr=xKAE9_zU1NQ