1. Downtown Optimist Club
A periodic newsletter of the
St. Petersburg - Downtown Optimist Club
North Florida District, Zone 9, Club #60447
APRIL 14, 2010
Editor: E. Gardner Harshman, telephone 592-0243 or email: gharshman@tampabay.rr.com
Interim Editor: Sharon Dennany, telephone 919-274-1311 or email: shar1558denn@yahoo.com
Today’s meeting at Tick
Tock… While Gardner was out of
town tending to his garden, Scott filled
in. We had a pretty good group last
night, 19 total. Vi brought two sets of
guests – Bill and Joanne Quinton and
Brent and Jennifer Walker. Joanne and
Jennifer work together and Bill is a
member of the Breakfast Club. It looks
like we may have some new members
thanks to Vi!
Our special guest for the evening was
Chris Gregory and his mother Debbie.
His essay The Internet: Today’s
Evolution or Tomorrow’s Menace? was
the Downtown’s winner. After reading
his essay to the club Jean presented
him with a medal and $50 from the
Downtown Club
Chris will graduate from St. Petersburg
Catholic High School in 14 days. Next
year he will attend Flagler College in St.
Jean Rutan and Chris Gregory Augustine and will major in philosophy
and religion.
Congratulations Chris! Keep up the
good work!

2. sale…
The yard sale
On March 20th brought in $388 and
steady traffic.
Jean a
nd Rick R
utan
Chuck Ha
yworth Jim
Ridings
District…
North Florida District
was mentioned in the Spring 2010
Optimist magazine. On page 31
North Florida District was #1 on
the donor list for Average
Contribution Per Member and
Total Contributions. The
Downtown Club was mentioned
as Distinguished Benefactor -
$5000.
North Florida
District Rocks!

3. Hunt…
The Easter Egg Hunt on April 3rd was a success! Special thanks
to the Easter Bunny who arrived on a motorcycle! The event was
advertised in the Northeast newspaper and the marquee sign at Lealman
Park. The hunt started at 10:00 am and lasted about an hour. There were
enough eggs for all the kids to find and every kid walked away with a
stuffed animal or an Easter basket with goodies. And four lucky kids
received brand new bikes, compliments of the Breakfast Club. One of the
bike winners was Jean and Rick Rutan’s great-granddaughter. Adriana is
only 8 months old and she won the Spiderman bike! Even though she
appreciated the bike, she traded the bike for some toys more appropriate
for her age. There was a lot a help from the Morgan Fitzgerald JOOI Club
and the FFEA members from Largo High School. Thanks go out to all who
pitched in and helped. Without your help and donations of bicycles, eggs,
candy and your time this would not have been a success!
Vi Hayworth and Scott Kaplan filling up
the table with stuffed animal give-aways.
Aren’t they just adorable!
Someo
ne was
very cr
e ative!

4. t
Wha Chec
kin
o
do I d boun g out the
ty o ir
with and c f eggs
andy
this
dad?
Bicycles donated
by the
Breakfast Club Adria
n
Easte a gives th
r Bun e
ny a h
ug
The Easter Bunny arrives in style!
e?
he cut
Isn’t s

5. Drawing…is
50/50 Drawing is up to around $550
No joker today. Scott drew the Queen of
Diamonds.
It’
It’s My Birthday! Conference…
Jacksonville Conference is
April 16 – LeAnn Costa May 14th – 16th. There will be lots of
April 23 – Lee Warnock contests and judging – oratorical,
April 29 – Governor Ric Carvalis poster essay, etc.
Officers…
New Officers Were voted on for the 2010 – 2011 year.
Congratulations go out to:
Scott Kaplan – President
Viki Pena– 1st Vice President
Vi Hayworth – 2nd Vice President
Sharon Dennany – 2 year Board Member
Gardner Harshman – 2 year Board Member
Moonie Harshman – 2 Year Board Member

6. Update…
Fund Raising Update
Lee Warnock reported that the first game
of the season between the Rays and
Yankees drew 36,000 people. There
were seven people between the
Downtown and Breakfast Club making
and selling pizzas at Papa John’s.
Everyone had a great time. It’s going to
be a wonderful fund raiser for the year.
School…
Morgan Fitzgerald Middle School
E3 JOOI Club raised $329 selling newspapers at the Rays /
Yankee game. They plan to use the money and make goodie
bags to send to our troops. Way to go E3! I wonder if they know
R2D2??
meeting…
Next meeting
Is April 20th at the Ronald McDonald House. We will be serving
the families ham, potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, cole
slaw and lots more. It’s a full house so we want to be sure to
have enough food to serve the families.
The food won’t be wasted. It will be
eaten the next day if there are leftovers.
If possible be there by 5:30 pm so dinner
can be served at 6:00 pm. Ronald
McDonald house is located at 401 7th
Avenue South.

7. Downtown Optimist Club of St. Petersburg
3558 100th Terrace
Pinellas Park, FL 33782-4100
The Optimist Creed
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 for fear, and too happy to permit the
presence of trouble.
CLUB OFFICERS DIRECTORS
President Gardner Harshman. . . . . . . . . . . 592-0243 Jim Sirrianna (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392-2718
Vice Pres. Scott Kaplan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 535-6939 Viki Pena (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 421-3721
Vice Pres. Vi Hayworth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 527-2656 Chuck Hayworth (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .527-2656
Sec/Treas. Lee Warnock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 577-7159 Jean Rutan (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522-6143
Sgt-At-Arms Jim Sirrianna . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392-2718 Rick Rutan (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522-6143
Chaplin Rick Rutan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .522-6143 Judy Warnock (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 458-8278
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Oratorical Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lee Warnock
Essay Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jean Rutan
Programs/Speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rick Rutan
Fellowship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Vi Hayworth/Viki Pena
Poster Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jean Rutan
O.I. Foundation Rep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jane Ridings
Respect for Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gardner Harshman
Youth Appreciation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lee Warnock
New Community Dev. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vi Hayworth
Get Away Raffle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Easter Egg Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Scott Kaplan
Bell Ringing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vi Hayworth
First Friday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lee Warnock