BOCK Activities for 2025 – 2026 Optimist Year
Activities since the start of the Optimist Year, October 1, 2025
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 a Western Michigan University hockey game.
Saturday, October 12, 2024: Fundraiser, Three BOCK members ushered at a Western Michigan University football game.
Thursday, October 17, 2024: Fundraiser, Two BOCK members ushered at a Western Michigan University hockey game.
Saturday, October 19, 2024: Fundraiser, Two BOCK members ushered at a 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 a 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 a 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 a Western Michigan University hockey game.
Saturday, November 16, 2024: Fundraiser, Two BOCK members ushered at a 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.
Friday, November 29, 2024: Fundraiser, Two BOCK members usher at a Western Michigan University hockey game.
Saturday, November 30, 2024: Fundraiser, Three BOCK members usher at a Western Michigan University football game.
Tuesday, December 3, 2024: Book club, 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 a Western Michigan University hockey game.
Saturday, December 7, 2024: Fundraiser, Two BOCK members usher at a Western Michigan University hockey game.
Thursday, December 19, 2024: End date for club collecting children and adult hats, mittens, and gloves which were given to a local charity. The charity distributed them to those in need.
Friday, January 3, 2025: Fundraiser, Two BOCK members ushered at a Western Michigan University hockey game.
Saturday, January 4, 2025: Fundraiser, Two BOCK members ushered at a Western Michigan University hockey game.
Tuesday, January 7, 2025: Book club, Christmas Actually by Lisa Darcy.
Friday, January 24, 2025: Fundraiser, Two BOCK members ushered at a Western Michigan University hockey game.
Saturday, January 25, 2025: Fundraiser, Two BOCK members ushered at a Western Michigan University Hockey game.
February 2025: BOCK Essay contest.
Tuesday, February 4, 2025: Book club, Tom Lake by Ann Patchett.
Wednesday, February 5, 2025: PowerUp (https://www.radiant.church/powerup), 14 BOCK members pack meal bags. We also donated items for the high school food pantries.
Friday, February 7, 2025: Fundraiser, Two BOCK members ushered at a Western Michigan University hockey game.
Saturday, February 8, 2025: Michigan District Meeting, via Zoom, https://michiganoptimists.org/events/2024-25-winter-zoom-gathering/.
Saturday, February 8, 2025: Bowl For Kids Sake, https://thinkbigtoday.org/events/bowl-for-kids-sake/, BOCK contributed $1,150.
Saturday, February 8, 2025: Fundraiser, Two BOCK members ushered at a Western Michigan University Hockey game.
Tuesday, February 11, 2025: Bock members tutored second grade students at Comstock Elementary School.
Tuesday, February 11, 2025: BOCK Board Meeting, via Zoom.
Friday, February 14, 2025: Fundraiser, Two BOCK members ushered at a Western Michigan University hockey game.
Tuesday, February 18, 2025: Bock members tutored second grade students at Comstock Elementary School.
Tuesday, February 25, 2025: Bock members tutored second grade students at Comstock Elementary School.
Friday, February 28, 2025: Fundraiser, Two BOCK members ushered at a Western Michigan University hockey
March 2025: Prepared for BOCK oratorical contest on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
Tuesday, March 4, 2025: Book Club, The Measure by Nikki Erlick.
Tuesday, March 4, 2025: BOCK members tutored second grade students at Comstock Elementary School.
Tuesday, March 11, 2025: BOCK members tutored second grade students at Comstock Elementary School.
Tuesday, March 11, 2025: Four BOCK members assisted at the Book Fair at Comstock Elementary School.
Thursday, March 13, 2025: Essay contest winners read their essays at the BOCK morning gathering.
Thursday, March 13, 2025: Four BOCK members assisted at the Book Fair at Comstock Elementary School.
Tuesday, March 18, 2025: Bock members tutored second grade students at Comstock Elementary School.
Tuesday, March 25, 2025: Bock members tutored second grade students at Comstock Elementary School.
Tuesday, March 25, 2025: Oratorical Contest was at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, in the 2nd floor conference room at the Portage Public Safety building, 7810 Shaver Road, Portage, MI 49002.
Tuesday, April 1, 2025: Bock members tutored second grade students at Comstock Elementary School.
Tuesday, April 1, 2025: Book Club, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni.
Tuesday, April 8, 2025: Bock members tutored second-grade students at Comstock Elementary School.
Tuesday, April 8, 2025: via Zoom, BOCK Board Meeting.
Thursday, April 10, 2025: Oratorical Contest winners gave presentations at BOCK morning gathering.
Tuesday, April 15, 2025: Bock members tutored second-grade students at Comstock Elementary School.
Tuesday, April 22, 2025: Bock members tutored second-grade students at Comstock Elementary School.
Tuesday, April 29, 2025: Bock members tutored second-grade students at Comstock Elementary School.
Tuesday, May 6, 2024: Book Club, Paper Palace by Miranda Crowley Heller.
Tuesday, May 6, 2025: Bock members tutor second grade students at Comstock Elementary School.
Wednesday, May 7, 2025: PowerUp (https://www.radiant.church/powerup).
Tuesday, May 13, 2025: Bock members tutor second-grade students at Comstock Elementary School.
Tuesday, May 13, 2025, BOCK Board Meeting.
Saturday, May 17, 2025: Girls On The Run https://www.girlsontherunkazoo.org/.
Saturday, May 17, 2025: Michigan District Quarter 3 gathering, Saginaw, https://michiganoptimists.org/events/2024-25-spring-gathering/.
Tuesday, May 20, 2025: Bock members tutor second grade students at Comstock Elementary School.
Tuesday, May 27, 2025: Bock members tutor second grade students at Comstock Elementary School.
Tuesday, June 3, 2025: Book Club, Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls.
Friday, June 6, 2025: Trivia Night, raised funds for Back-to-School Shopping.
Tuesday, June 10, 2025: BOCK Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Wings West.
Thursday, June 19, 2025: An “impromptu” social gathering starting at 6:00 p.m. at Steinspark Biergarten and Food Court, 2603 E. Milham Ave, Portage, MI 49002, https://steinspark.com/.
Saturday, June 28 – Thursday, July 3, 2025: Optimist International Convention in St. Louis, Missouri.
Tuesday, July 1, 2025: Book Club, Beartown by Fredrik Backman.
Thursday, July 24, 2025: BOCK evening meeting, Optimist International Foundation blind auction.
Tuesday, August 5, 2025: Book Club, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
Wednesday, August 6, 2025: Volunteered at Family and Children services picnic.
Tuesday, August 12, 2025: BOCK board meeting, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, August 19, 2025: Care Collective, https://www.carecollectiveswmi.org/, packaged diapers for 90 minutes.
Friday, August 22, 2025, and Saturday, August 23, 2025: Michigan District Summer Summit in Holland.
Tuesday, September 2, 2025: Book Club, 5:30 p.m., Main Street Pub, Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin.
Saturday, September 6, 2025: Club picnic.
Tuesday, September 9, 2025: BOCK Board Meeting.
Sunday, September 14, 2025: Annual Golf Outing.
Wednesday, September 17, 2025: PowerUp, from 6:30 p.m. to approximately 7:15 p.m.
Thursday, September 25, 2025: BOCK, Birthday Party, Installation of new officers.
BOCK Activities: Events for and with Kids
Trivia Night
Our most recent Trivia Night took place on April 16. Proceeds from the event went to support young people connected with Family & Children’s Services for back-to-school shopping.
We had 10 teams compete. SCIENCE! took home the win.
O.W.L.S. = Optimists Working for Learning Success
O.W.L.S. = Optimists Working for Learning Success.
Optimist clubs partner with local schools to provide nutrition, clothing, school supplies, hygiene products, tutoring and mentoring to help students survive.
In the Spring of 2024, BOCK started its partnership with Beth Heimann’s 2nd-grade class at Comstock Elementary School.
PowerUp
PowerUp is a weekend backpack program committed to feeding hungry children in our community’s public schools. They currently serve over four hundred students every weekend in the Portage Public School District, and they are making an effort to expand into more schools in the Kalamazoo region.
BOCK volunteers a few times a year packing bags.
Back To School
Chartered on September 29, 1988.
Golf Outing
Blankets
Girls On The Run
This year’s Girls on the Run is on May 16, 2026.
Bowl for Kids Sake
This year’s Bowl for Kids Sake took place on February 21. This year’s theme was Board Games. BOCK had two team – Team Uno and Team Dos
Essay Contest
This year’s Essay Contest took place in March. This year’s topic was “How my acts of service help me understand what my community means to me.”
Oratorical Contest
The Oratorical Contest took place in March 2026. This year we had 5 participants.
BOCK Activities: Club Bonding Events
Newsletter
Chartered on September 29, 1988.
Book Club
Growlers Baseball Game
Michigan District of Optimist International has 90 clubs (as of December 2024).
Club Picnic
September 2025, Ralph and Jeanette hosted a picnic at their home in South Haven.
