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, 2023).

January 2023, 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.

2024 - 2025 BOCK Executives
Position	BOCK Member
President	Daniel Mills
President Elect	Diane Marquess
Secretary	Jennifer Lancaster
Treasurer	Ralph Meyer
Immediate Past President	Carmen Jonaitis
Communications Director	Scott Graham
Youth and Community Servide Director	Darci Stevens
Fellowship Director	Theresa Mills
Fundraising Director	Bruce Billedeaux
Membership Director	David McKee
Programs Director	Alma McCarty
OI Foundation Representative	Lyn Lenox

2024 - 2025 BOCK Executives
Position	BOCK Member
President	Daniel Mills
President Elect	Diane Marquess
Secretary	Jennifer Lancaster
Treasurer	Ralph Meyer
Immediate Past President	Carmen Jonaitis
Communications Director	Scott Graham
Youth and Community Servide Director	Darci Stevens
Fellowship Director	Theresa Mills
Fundraising Director	Bruce Billedeaux
Membership Director	David McKee
Programs Director	Alma McCarty
OI Foundation Representative	Lyn Lenox

For the calendar years 2023 and 2024 the club has two fundraisers that are not dedicated to a specific youth activity.

Western Michigan University sporting events: BOCK members usher at all home football games, all home hockey games, and some basketball games. The months from September 2022 through April 2023 were the first time BOCK ushered at Western sports events. The club earned $3,408. BOCK volunteers earn $15 per hour. The club plans to again usher from September 2023 through March 2024.

Daisy Dollars: The club partners with Schuring’s Retail Greenhouse, 610 Schuring Road, Portage, MI 49024, to sell Daisy Dollars. Link: https://www.schuringgreenhouse.com/retail/fundraising. The Daisy Dollars are used to purchase items at Schuring's.

Daisy Dollars are sold from the beginning of March to the middle of April.

The club earns 20 percent of the Daisy Dollars sold.

In 2023 the club earned $500 selling Daisy Dollars.

Michigan District of Optimist International has 90 clubs (as of December 2020).

This District covers Michigan's Lower Peninsula.

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.

Optimist Institute: Entity that offers online training resources for Optimist members and officers such as club presidents, secretaries, and treasurers.

Links:

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

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

Optimist Institute:  https://optimist.tovuti.io