Activities for Kids

Annually, in August, the club collects new underwear for the Kids' Closet at the Kalamazoo Communities in Schools (https://ciskalamazoo.org/open-letter-to-kids-closet-supporters/). In 2023 the need was for boys’ underwear in smaller sizes. They did not need Large or XLarge. For girls, they did not need sizes 10 or 12. In August 2023, the club delivered more than 800 pieces of underwear to the Kids' Closet.

PowerUp is a weekend backpack program sponsored by the Radiant Church, 995 Romence Road, Portage, MI. The church is committed to feeding hungry children in the public schools. PowerUp currently serves over 400 needy students every weekend in the Portage Public School District. Without PowerUp, many of these students would not have access to food on the weekend (https://www.radiant.church/kingdom-builders-teams/powerup?rq=powerup).

The club assists in periodically packing the food packages. The next packing date is Wednesday, November 1, 2023.

Activities for Members

BOCK publishes an electronic newsletter weekly.

The newsletter, which updates club members about club activities, is emailed to them on Tuesday.

Usually meets the first Tuesday of the month at Main St. Pub, 4514 W Main St, Kalamazoo, MI 49006, phone 
269.342.9710.

Those attending arrive at about 5:30 p.m. EST, order food by 6:00 p.m., and chat until 6:30 p.m. at which time the book discussion starts.

If interested show up or use the Contact link in the webpage header to ask for additional details.

BOCK members and friends at Growlers baseball game on August 10, 2023

The Kalamazoo Growlers are a baseball team in the Northwoods League.

Link to Northwoods League homepage: https://northwoodsleague.com.

The Growlers were the league champs in 2022.

For the past few years, a group of club members and their friends have attended a home game.

On Thursday, August 10, 2023, the club attended the home game against Battle Creek Battle Jacks. The Growlers won 5 to 1.

 

For many years the club has held an annual picnic.

It usually is at the home of a club member.

Members attending bring food.

 

Euchre party. Play euchre for a couple of hours. Those attending bring food.

BOCK Videos

BOCK Video 1

Theme: Guidelines for Essay and Oratorical Contests.

Narrator: Theresa Mills, BOCK President-Elect, 2020 - 2021 Optimist Year.

Created: December 2020

Time: 29 minutes and 29 seconds.

Link to video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f162g3956Wo&feature=emb_imp_woyt

BOCK Video 2

Theme: Living the Optimist Creed

Narrator: Dan Mills, Club President, Optimist Year 2017 - 2018

Created: April 2018

Length: 2 minutes  and 21 seconds

Link to video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHA-Bc6JBao