• Club Communication: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Email
• Latest Club News & Events: Inspiring our youth
• Program Updates
• Upcoming Events

As we continue to make progress in utilizing multiple communication tools, we are asking members and Club participants/families to join the conversation!

We want to see and share your child's achievements, joy, service and optimism! We look forward to becoming a part of your "social media family" and we'll be sharing Club kudos right alongside you!

Start today by following/joining us on facebook and twitter - and share one of your own Optimist stories. We'd love to read all about it!

Plainfield Optimist Club is making great progress toward migration to a new website hosted by Sport Ngin. Until the new site is 100% live and running, Club information is still found at www.plainfieldoptimistclub.com.

Implementation of the new content management system and website upgrade will streamline the registration process across all Optimist programs and enhance communication for participants, parents, volunteers, and members. The community visit a single site for access to all Club programs, information, online registration for Club programs and events, in addition to member resources such as online payment of semi-annual dues.

Cheer and Soccer sport programs have already utilized the online registration tool for Fall 2015 registration and are in the process of finalizing their website pages. Program participants should be looking for information from individual programs regarding web access to information.

Plainfield Optimist Club kicked off its 2015 Distinguished Young Women program on Saturday, August 17, at Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library. Eleven of fifteen young women already registered for the 2015 program attended the orientation.

INFORMATION:

• Who can register: Any Senior girl attending Plainfield High School or Cascade High School.
• How to register: www.distinguishedyw.org
• Rehearsals: Begin Sunday, September 20th and run every night that week leading up to the program competition held on Saturday, September 26th at 6:30 pm at Plainfield High School.
• Questions or interest in assisting with the program: call or email Program Director Tina Weigel at 317-441-4987 or tinaweigel@att.net
  

SPONSORSHIPS:

• Program leaders are currently seeking area businesses to sponsor individual ladies in this year's program. Cost of each individual sponsorship is $100 and is tax-deductible.
• Sponsors will receive two tickets to the 2015 DYW competition, sponsor names will be mentioned from stage several times throughout the competition and name or business card will be included in the event program book.

DONATIONS:

• Prizes are needed for category award winners (scholastic, interview, fitness, talent, and self-expression).
  
• Meal for six event judges - seeking a local restaurant to provide a meal for six (6) event judges on the day of the competition.
  
• All donating business will be included in the 2015 Event Program Book.

Octagon Club at Plainfield High School is kicking off THIS MONDAY, August 10th, at 7 AM in the LGI room. Club members will meet the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month.

Program director Lisa Bush asks adults to "encourage a student you know to get involved in the school and community and see what we're all about!"

PHS Octagon Club is a service club made up of 9th-12th grade students who work in the community alongside members of Plainfield Optimist Club. Activities include: Summer Lunch Bunch, Fall Rake & Run, Canned Food and Coat Drive, Christmas Caroling, Wrapping gift fundraiser, Adopting a needy family at Christmas, and helping at Homecoming, and Riley Dance Marathon.

Co-directors Ashley Mathis and Sierra Storm of Plainfield Optimist Cheerleading League (POCL) tell us the cheer program is off to a great start!

142 cheerleaders and 27 coaches kicked off the season at orientation in late July and squads are already practicing!

POCL will host two fundraisers in August and invites the community to participate in support of their program:

• CULVER'S NIGHT: % of sales will go to POCL

Tuesday, August 11th from 5-9pm

Plainfield location (170 S. Perry Road)

• VENDOR NIGHT: Featuring representatives from Advocare, Envy Organics, State Farm, Mary Kay and many others. Everyone is invited to stop, shop, and support Plainfield Optimist Cheerleading.

Thursday, August 20th from 6-8pm

Al and Jan Barker Sports Complex

James Hurst, former Plainfield Optimist athlete and current NFL offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, was a special guest at the Plainfield Optimist Club's Football and Cheer Coach Appreciation Night held on July 23rd.

"James was very insightful and motivational, especially talking about the importance of education and the importance of being a well-rounded athlete," said Club President Bill Verhonik. "He encouraged kids in the crowd to work hard not only in athletics, but to work hard in the classroom as well."

James spoke about his personal experiences and answered questions from the audience which included many young football players and Plainfield residents. One resident (and obvious Pittsburgh Steelers fan) was particularly curious about the rivalry between the Steelers and the Ravens.

Plainfield Optimists are extremely proud of James and his accomplishments and wish him well for the 2015–2016 NFL season!

Read article in Hendricks County Flyer

The 2015 baseball season brought a new partnership between the Plainfield Teenage Baseball League (PTBL) and the Plainfield Optimist Club in a joint effort to offer recreational baseball to 16-18 year old young men within the community of Plainfield.

League participation and success led to an opportunity for Plainfield to host the 2015 Indiana Little League, Big League Division, State Tournament held July 11th-18th. The prestigious tournament rotates annually among Indiana's 14 districts. Six districts were represented by teams comprised 16-18 year old athletes:

District 1 - Chicago/Indiana Region (Lake & Porter Counties)
District 2 - Chicago/Indiana Region (South of Lake & Porter Counties)
District 7 - South Central Indianapolis (South Side of Indianapolis)
District 8 - West Central Indianapolis (North & West Side of Indianapolis)
District 10 - North East Indiana (Fort Wayne)
District 14 - North Central Indiana (Elkhart County)

District 10 championed the event and earned the right to advance to the Great Lakes Regional round of the tournament in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Co-chairmen of Plainfield Teenage Baseball League (PTBL) Dale Copeland and Rich Philip reported great feedback: "Throughout the tournament we received many positive compliments on the aesthetics of Franklin Park, the character of Anderson Field and the smooth operation of the tournament."

"We thank Indiana District 8 Administrator Mark Commons for the integral role he played in the selection process for the tournament location," says Copeland. Commons also organized the Major Boys Indiana State Little League Tournament which was held at Plainfield's Al & Jan Barker Sports Complex in July of 2014.

The co-chairmen also expressed particular appreciation to the Plainfield Parks and Recreation Department.

"PTBL greatly appreciates Brent Bangel and his crew from Plainfield Parks and Recreation for the miracles they performed to prepare Anderson Field for play," says Copeland. The tournament took place during torrential rains experienced throughout central Indiana (6+ inches of rain Sunday into Monday).

Indiana State Firefighter Training Director John Buckman was guest speaker the annual Fire Fighters' Appreciation Cookout hosted by Plainfield Optimist Club.

Buckman is a veteran volunteer fire fighter and served 35 years as a fire chief. He has also authored several books and has spoken internationally about fire fighting.

SIERRA STORM

MARK LISTON

MARK HOLSAPPLE

JULIE HOLSAPPLE

BRANDON BEASLEY

ROBERT WOOLF

JOHN PRIDEMORE

Optimist International's Board of Directors has set a goal of 100,000 members by the organization's 100th year in 2019.

Each member of an Optimist Club effectively impacts the lives of 35 children a year. With 100,000 Members, Optimist International can impact 3.5 million youth yearly.

Help our Club, along with the entire organization, be assured that we will be "Bringing Out the Best in Kids" well into the future.

Join today.

Bringing out the BEST in our Kids, Ourselves, and our Community

Email: plainfieldoptimistclub@gmail.com
Website: plainfieldoptimistclub.com
Location: PO Box 664, Plainfield IN 46168
Facebook: facebook.com/plainfieldoptimistclub