The Optimist Club of Prince Albert has donated to various community events, organizations and facilities over the years. (File photo/paNOW)

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Optimists

Optimist Club of Prince Albert empowers community through positivity and purposeful initiatives

Nov 30, 2023 | 12:31 PM

The dictionary describes an optimist as ‘a person who is inclined to be hopeful and to expect good outcome.’ Members of the Optimist Club of Prince Albert take that meaning to heart.

Since 1961, the volunteer non-profit service club has worked with a mandate to help bring the best out in kids.

Local treasurer Vince Parker said, “We support school programs and playgrounds. We’ve even done a couple of the Snoezelen rooms at local schools. We support sports teams and also have a civic responsibility to spend some money within the city that isn’t specifically for children, like Optimist Park and Mair Park which anybody can use.”

There are currently 48 members of the Optimist Club of Prince Albert. They receive some funding from Sask Lottery but raise most of it themselves by staffing bingos and holding draws or hosting galas. Their ‘Winter Wonderland’ at the Gateway Mall runs until Dec. 17 and features Christmas displays complete with a train ride, story time and crafting. Last year, the attraction raised about $5,000 – a goal the group is hoping to top this year so they can continue to support the community.

“Some requests are large and some are small and I don’t know of any yet that we’ve ever rejected.”

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Parker himself has been a member of the service club since 1977.

“When I first came here, the community welcomed me. So, I’ll put back into the community what I can.”

That includes helping to promote the Optimist Club so more people in Prince Albert can benefit.

“We are our own best kept secret. People always want to know who are the Optimists and what we do and where does the money go. We want everyone to know that we are simply the custodians of the public’s money and we give back those donations to the public through kids programming,” said Parker.

To be an Optimist, there is a membership fee of $130 per year. The group gathers for a supper meeting every Tuesday at the High Noon Optimist Centre and Parker encourages anyone who is interested to join them and learn more.

“When you see what you’re giving of your time and money and you talk with the families or individuals benefiting from the funds… that tugs at the heart strings because they are so appreciative of what you’ve done for them.”

Prince Albert is one of more than 2,900 clubs who are part of the Optimist International association. Every year, Optimists around the world conduct 65,000 service projects and serve well over six million young people.

Members of Optimist International have a Creed that perhaps best summarizes the organization’s belief system. Part of it reads, ‘Promise Yourself….To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.’ And ‘To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.’

For more information about the Optimist Club of Prince Albert, visit their website, Facebook page or email paoptimists@gmail.com.

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**This content was created by paNOW’s commercial content division.