Optimist International Organization

Under overcast skies on a track field in the Cahuenga Pass, 270 blind or visually-impaired student athletes competed Saturday with a lot of heart. The competitors, ages 6 to 19, traveled from six states to take part in the 27th annual Braille Institute-Optimist Clubs Track and Field Olympics. They are kids who are accustomed to overcoming obstacles.

Promise yourself ... to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. As boys they saw it hanging from the walls of the dining hall, recited it in unison with other boys, heard it intoned at every special event like a prayer: Promise yourself ... to think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.

In an effort to improve relations between local law enforcement agencies and the community, the 5-4 Optimist Club on Saturday kicked off "Officers Appreciation Week." The club will sponsor several activities this week, including visits by children from the 52nd Street Elementary School to the 77th Street, Southeast, Southwest and Newton police stations.

Apathy has squelched optimism. The Optimist Club of Quakertown, Penn., is disbanding after 24 years, citing lack of interest. Membership in the club, part of an international community service organization that runs sporting and scholastic activities for children, dwindled to 11 as members died and retired, acting President Bernard Kensky said. No one has stepped forward to replace them. "I do feel sad about it," Kensky said. "It was something I enjoyed doing. We've just run our course."

Apathy has squelched optimism. The Optimist Club of Quakertown, Penn., is disbanding after 24 years, citing lack of interest. Membership in the club, part of an international community service organization that runs sporting and scholastic activities for children, dwindled to 11 as members died and retired, acting President Bernard Kensky said. No one has stepped forward to replace them. "I do feel sad about it," Kensky said. "It was something I enjoyed doing. We've just run our course."

A program aimed at fighting steroid use among teen-agers will be launched by Optimist International in the United States and Canada, the organization announced Tuesday at its convention in Anaheim. The project seeks to raise money to sponsor speakers such as Michael Gray, director of a coaches' association, who advises teen-agers on the dangers of steroids and gives them alternatives for muscle and strength building. A study by the U.S.

Bolstered by the success of recreational programs for children in Lanark Park, community activists are reaching out to adults through a newly formed chapter of the International Optimists. The new Lanark Park Optimist Club of Canoga Park, which claims about 28 adult members, was scheduled to be chartered in a ceremony Monday evening. Optimist clubs, like the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, have a long history of community service in the middle-class suburbs of the San Fernando Valley.

The obstacle course was tough by any standards, with a wall to scale and tires to run through. But the athletes who competed Saturday had an even greater challenge: They could see neither the course nor the finish line. And when they reached the chest-high rope that marked the finish, some weren't sure how to react.

In an effort to reach out to youths in the community, a citizens activist group will form the first Optimist Club in North Hills. Optimist Clubs develop after-school activities, build playgrounds and provide other services geared toward children in their community. There are more than 4,000 clubs nationwide. Last year, Optimist Clubs raised more than $31 million and sponsored 55,000 youth projects.

Optimist International announced Friday that the service organization is accepting women as members for the first time since it was founded in 1919. "Our legal counsel has advised us that the provision of our organization's constitution restricting membership to men no longer is enforceable, in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's May 4 ruling involving Rotary International," President Lester R. Craft said.

The obstacle course was tough by any standards, with a wall to scale and tires to run through. But the athletes who competed Saturday had an even greater challenge: They could see neither the course nor the finish line. And when they reached the chest-high rope that marked the finish, some weren't sure how to react.

Under overcast skies on a track field in the Cahuenga Pass, 270 blind or visually-impaired student athletes competed Saturday with a lot of heart. The competitors, ages 6 to 19, traveled from six states to take part in the 27th annual Braille Institute-Optimist Clubs Track and Field Olympics. They are kids who are accustomed to overcoming obstacles.

In an effort to reach out to youths in the community, a citizens activist group will form the first Optimist Club in North Hills. Optimist Clubs develop after-school activities, build playgrounds and provide other services geared toward children in their community. There are more than 4,000 clubs nationwide. Last year, Optimist Clubs raised more than $31 million and sponsored 55,000 youth projects.

Bolstered by the success of recreational programs for children in Lanark Park, community activists are reaching out to adults through a newly formed chapter of the International Optimists. The new Lanark Park Optimist Club of Canoga Park, which claims about 28 adult members, was scheduled to be chartered in a ceremony Monday evening. Optimist clubs, like the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs, have a long history of community service in the middle-class suburbs of the San Fernando Valley.

In an effort to improve relations between local law enforcement agencies and the community, the 5-4 Optimist Club on Saturday kicked off "Officers Appreciation Week." The club will sponsor several activities this week, including visits by children from the 52nd Street Elementary School to the 77th Street, Southeast, Southwest and Newton police stations.

To provide educational enrichment programs and mentors for youths, a group of professionals and artists has opened a chapter of the International Optimist Club. The 5-4 Optimist Club of Greater Los Angeles, at 310 W. 54th St., is the first such club in South-Central. It has 43 charter members. Organizers hope that by working with local schools and churches they can return resources to the community through dance, music, writing and speech classes.

To provide educational enrichment programs and mentors for youths, a group of professionals and artists has opened a chapter of the International Optimist Club. The 5-4 Optimist Club of Greater Los Angeles, at 310 W. 54th St., is the first such club in South-Central. It has 43 charter members. Organizers hope that by working with local schools and churches they can return resources to the community through dance, music, writing and speech classes.

Promise yourself ... to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. As boys they saw it hanging from the walls of the dining hall, recited it in unison with other boys, heard it intoned at every special event like a prayer: Promise yourself ... to think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.

A program aimed at fighting steroid use among teen-agers will be launched by Optimist International in the United States and Canada, the organization announced Tuesday at its convention in Anaheim. The project seeks to raise money to sponsor speakers such as Michael Gray, director of a coaches' association, who advises teen-agers on the dangers of steroids and gives them alternatives for muscle and strength building. A study by the U.S.

Optimist International announced Friday that the service organization is accepting women as members for the first time since it was founded in 1919. "Our legal counsel has advised us that the provision of our organization's constitution restricting membership to men no longer is enforceable, in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's May 4 ruling involving Rotary International," President Lester R. Craft said.