President of the Optimist Club of Kingston, Trevor Dixon (left), in an animated conversation with past President Gretel Lawrence and Chief Justica Lensley Wolfe at the club's 25th anniversary banquet, held at the Hilton Kingston Hotel, Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston, on Friday, August 12. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHERTHE OPTIMIST Club of Kingston celebrated its silver anniversary with a string of events last week.
The first club of its kind in the Caribbean, the Kingston Optimist Club was officially organised on August 10, 1980. So from August 8-12, all eyes were on them.
The group began their celebrations with a church service on Sunday and continued with a fund-raising brunch. Wednesday night was the exact 'birth date', so club members threw a birthday party/get-together with other clubs' members at the Jacks Hill home of member Theo Golding. Optimists from various clubs came to celebrate with their colleagues and it was groovy music all night.
To finish the week, the club hosted its 25th anniversary banquet at the Hilton Kingston Hotel. The past presidents were lauded for their efforts. Even Caribbean District Governor Cecille Hale was in attendance, celebrating with the Caribbean's flagship club.
Optimist clubs are service organisations like their counterparts in Rotary and Kiwanis. But their emphasis is on children.
DEVELOPING YOUTH
"It is part of our purpose to help the development of youth and promote the giving of self. Ultimately, we think that will benefit all mankind," said President Dixon. Over the years, the club has implemented various programmes, including oratorical competitions, to give children exposure and opportunity to express themselves. Other efforts include work with the Bustamante Children's Hospital and Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf. And the movement doesn't stop there.
"We're in some teachers' colleges and the plan is to have leaders who can develop the clubs in the prep and primary schools," he continued. There are over 90 Optimist clubs in the Caribbean, with Jamaica having over 60 of them.
