t h e geo optipinion · 2011. 4. 3. · yahata, ricky arakaki, scott tojo and happa restaurant...

March was a very busy and memorable month despite the hardships occurring all over the world. I hope the earthquake and tsunami in Japan has not negatively affected anyone in our GEO family. As an Optimist, it is very important that we support those who need

T H E G EO

OPTIPINION

Volume 47 Issue 7 www.gardenaoptimist.org April 2011

A MONTHLY BULLETIN OF THE GARDENA EVENING OPTIMIST CLUB

ZONE 2 – PACIFIC SOUTHWEST DISTRICT OF OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL

President’s Message —

assistance and to keep a positive outlook for the future. For those of you who missed this month’s events, we had our monthly Member Meeting at Happa Restaurant with Danielle Royan from South Bay Family Health Care sharing about wellness and chronic disease prevention. Jim Carroll, Chair of our Essay and Oratorical Contests, organized a great evening to recognize our winners of the Essay Contest. Congratulations to third place, Andrew Kozain, second place, Ana Elias, and first place winner, Maria Peltekova, for their essays on, “How My Education is the Key to a Successful Future.” Her essay is published in this newsletter. The Youth Sports Breakfast Buffet Fundraiser was very successful on Sunday, March 20th. Ryan Yahata, Ricky Arakaki, Scott Tojo and Happa restaurant organized the event to raise money for our Youth Sports program. Thank you to our supporters who came out, rain or shine. For those of you who missed it, we had an all-you-can-eat buffet of teriyaki spam, breakfast sausages, ham and eggs, scrambled eggs, char siu fried rice, and fresh fruit salad.

I am proud to announce that Gary Range from Boy Scout Troop 683 has earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Congratulations, Gary, for attaining the highest rank in the Boy Scouting program. Good luck in your future aspirations! Happy Easter!

Yours In Optimism,

Eric

Save these Dates:

April 2, 2:30-4:30 p.m.-Ukulele Jam at Keiro

Retirement Home in Los Angeles

April 5 7:00 Dinner Meeting at Happa’s

April 7 7:00 Casino Night Meeting at Happa’s

April 12 7:00 GEO Board Meeting at the JCI

April 16 Gardena Relay for Life Survivor

Luncheon. Contact Patty Yanaga

April 19 7:00 Dinner Meeting at Happa’s

Guest Speaker Joshua Thomas-Outreach

Coordinator from HomeInstead Senior

Care. Discussion about “in-home care.”

May 17 Respect for Law Banquet

May 21 GEO CASINO NIGHT AT THE JCI

CHECK CLUB CALENDAR AT http://www.gardenaoptimist.org/calendar.htm

http://www.gardenaoptimist.org/

http://www.gardenaoptimist.org/calendar.htm

2 THE OPTIPINION

Essay winner Maria Peltekova with Chair Jim Carroll and Master of Ceremonies Terry Terauchi

Annual Essay/Oratorical Banquet

The annual essay contest banquet, held on March15th at Sea Empress Restaurant, promoted awareness and the responsibilities of freedom in today’s youth. Our three top contestants prepared an original essay of 700-800 words on the topic, “How My Education is the Key to a Successful Future”. As Master of Ceremonies, Terry Terauchi opened the banquet with open arms, contestants, judges and our keynote speaker were introduced. Andrew Kozain from Redondo Union High School, Ana Elias from Cal State Dominguez Hills and first place winner, Maria Peltekova from Palos Verdes Peninsula High School read their essays as the members and guests at the banquet were truly impressed by their maturity and talent. Essay Contest Judge Louise Chavis commented on the complexity of the scoring of the essays. Our keynote speaker, Gardena City Councilman, Dan Medina, speaker and musician extraordinaire, spoke on the importance and emphasis of diction as he made comparisons of the proper English compared to the pidgin English that may carry different meanings that not everyone is familiar with. Unfortunately, we had no entries for the Oratorical Contest but in this age of electronic communication, we should encourage our youth to take the time to participate in next year’s Oratorical. As we once again, “bring out the best in kids”, this banquet brought together the bright youth of our future, good food and a camaraderie shared by all. Thank you to our participants and judges for writing and reviewing all the original essays that were coherently composed. Often times the winning essay comes down to a single punctuation mark or the wording of a particular sentence

To the winners: your writing skills will definitely help you excel throughout your lives, both academically and professionally. Keep up the good work!

Guest Speaker-- City of Gardena Councilmember, Dan Medina

Above: Members and spouses in attendance, Below; Andrew Kozain -- Third Place Winner

Gardena Evening Optimist 2011 Casino Night and

Texas Hold-em Poker Tournament Saturday, May 21, 2011

JCI Nisei Veterans Hall 1964 W. 162nd St, Gardena

The Gardena Evening Optimist Club cordially invites you and your friends to join us for an evening of ‘fun’draising! All proceeds from this event will benefit the community through the club’s many youth service projects. Your donation gets you chips for the tables, delicious food, entertainment and a chance to win some great raffle prizes!

Registration deadline May 14, 2011 45 Seats available for Poker Tournament For more information contact Emory Tamashiro (323) 722-4760 Ext 279

or Email us at [email protected]

Please provide one Registration Form per Person:

Name ____________________________________________________________________________

Company _________________________________________________________________________

Address __________________________________________________________________________

City State Zip

Phone (H) (W)

Email

[ ] Casino Night $40 per person [ ] Texas Hold-em Tournament $50 per person

[ ] Casino Night and Poker Tournament $80 per person

Please mail completed form and make your check payable to: Gardena Evening Optimist

P.O. Box 2132 Gardena, CA 90247-0132

Casino Night $40.00 Texas Hold-em Tournament $50.00 Casino Night & Poker Tournament $80.00

Poker Tournament Registration 5:00p.m. Poker and Casino Games start 5:30 p.m.

Evening Concludes 10:30 p.m.

Blackjack Poker Craps Food & Desserts Beverages Music Raffles

Sponsor Opportunities Available: Title Sponsor $1000 Dinner Sponsor $500 Drink Sponsor $250 Table Sponsor $100

Donations of any kind accepted

Gardena Evening Optimist Club

2011 Casino Night and

Texas Hold-em Poker Tournament

Gardena Evening Optimist Club Casino Night Committee

P.O. Box 2132, Gardena, CA 90247

Voice: 323-722-4760 x279 Email: [email protected]

www.gardenaoptimist.org

Below are the opportunities for sponsorship at our May 21, 2011 Casino Night. We also have

many opportunities for raffle and prize sponsors. All you need to do to become a sponsor for this

great event is fill out the form on the back of this sheet and return it to your GEO representative or

to the address below. Don’t forget all sponsors are invited to attend our Casino Night which will be

held at the JCI Nisei Vets Hall, 1964 West 162nd St. in Gardena. Proceeds from this event go back

to the community in the form of youth programs and projects..

Presenting Sponsor: $1000

Company Name and Logo included in event title

Your Name or Company Name on every table

Full page recognition on the Center fold or inside cover

of the event program

Recognition in the GEO Optipinion Newsletter

Opportunity to display product at the event

4 tickets to Poker and Casino Night

Dinner Sponsor: $500

Your Name or Company Name on a sign at the food table

Recognition on the event banner

Recognition in the event program




Drink Sponsor: $250

Your Name or Company Name on a sign at the drink table

Recognition on the event banner





Table Sponsor: $100

Your Name or Company Name on a sign at one poker or casino table




Entry to Poker Tournament and Casino Night: $80

One ticket to both Poker & Casino Night (guarantees your fun after you drop out of Poker)

Entry to Poker Tournament Only: $50; Entry to Casino Night Only: $40

3 THE OPTIPINION

How My Education is the Key to a Successful Future

Maria Peltekova - Palos Verdes Peninsula High School GEO 2010-11 Essay Contest 1st Place Winner

It is safe to assume that education means more knowledge, but what can be assumed from more knowledge? It is a harder question to decipher, but one that certainly gives more depth and purpose to life. All in all, an education provides much needed skills and problem-solving techniques, more opportunities to succeed, and more inspiration and motivation for leading a better life in a human society. It is necessary to learn, to understand, to know. Without knowledge, it is not possible to aspire to anything. For example, if one wishes to become a doctor, naturally there are years of education and training to be received, countless hours and days sacrificed for achievement in a certain area. Exact skills and knowledge are needed to mend a broken leg or implant a new heart, but the end result of saving a life is more than worth it. Of course, it is not only doctors who need to acquire knowledge so that they become better experts. Writers, lawyers, engineers, marine biologists, architects – everyone needs to garner the skills that will help in his or her professional life. Jobs, careers, and such rewards are obvious opportunities that an education can provide. Not all work positions need a master’s or a bachelor’s degree, but those that do usually pay considerably higher than those that don’t. People with a higher education are more useful in the workforce, performing jobs that otherwise cannot be done by the rest, and so they receive greater financial advantage. As children grow up into adults, they become more and more responsible for different things – food, family, taxes and bills – and money plays a big role in providing all these things.

Education is a prerequisite for intellect, and it shouldn’t only come in the form of a high school diploma or college degree. It can surmount from different areas, but in the end, the collective sum of all one has learned helps in the long run. As mentioned before, knowledge is used for reaching high intellectual dreams, as well as specializing in careers, which could lead to more fruitful results. It is the material side of things, with tangible evidence of progress. But there are more benefits to be reaped from education – the personal, introspective, unseen benefits. Knowledge is useful not only in academics; a proper education allows people to be aware of the problems surrounding them, gives them the ability to find solutions, and the courage to apply themselves and succeed. For example, every classroom in school strives to teach critical thinking skills that are not only helpful on exam days, but also later in life. Mathematics and science teach the concept of logic, which is used in solving algorithms as well as adversarial problems in life. English and history teach what it means to be a human, which is used in writing philosophical essays as well as when dealing with people. The analytical skills one picks up in school and college are not necessarily things to be put on a glossy résumé, but are nevertheless vital to a successful life and future.

It is then quite simple to say that an education makes one a better person. With an education comes the opportunity to improve one’s self. The more one learns, the more he or she realizes how much more there is to study, how many more books are to be opened, how many more discoveries are to be made. The more one studies, the more aware one becomes of others and their motives. Wise men are quick to think but not to judge. They can understand people and help them with sage advice, all due to their education in the craft of life. It is an uplifting feeling, the fact that knowledge can boost abilities and hone skills. This feeling can almost be described as optimism, which is a natural boost for fortunate events. Education is inspiring and motivating. What else could be a better foundation for a brighter and more successful future?

An education instructs, opens doors, and invigorates the mind and soul. It is these characteristics that make it the key to a flourishing future. Whatever knowledge floats down the road of life should be stored and used, for every iota of information may be beneficial. Learning gives light to dreams, allowing them to blossom into a reality full of happiness. Education is not something that should ever be disregarded; it serves to better society and improves tomorrow by teaching today.

7 THE OPTIPINION

OFFICERS THE OPTIMIST CREED

President ................................................. Eric TakakiPresident Elect ........................................... Ron HomVice President .................................... Robin ArakakiVice President .................................... Terry TerauchiSecretary ............................................. Stacy ZimmerTreasurer .............................................. Sid HalushkaIPP ...................................................... Jeanette Mena

BOARD OF DIRECTORS First Year Members Second Year MembersDave Allen Ricky ArakakiJim Carroll Bill CoonceDeryck Koga Glenn ShimizuEmily Lopez Scott TojoRon Shintani Ryan Yahata

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Jim Carroll-Chairman Ed Kambe-Assistant Robin Arakaki Sid Halushka Jeanette Mena

PROMISE YOURSELF: To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong forfear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

—Christian D. Larson

THE OPTIPINION P.O. BOX 2132 GARDENA, CA 90247

t h e geo optipinion · 2011. 4. 3. · yahata, ricky arakaki, scott tojo and happa restaurant...

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