History and Values

 

Our History

The Point Loma Optimist Club received its charter on the 28th of September, 1954. The first president was Leonard L. Bonham who owned the Bonham Pharmacy, located on the 1200 block of Rosecrans Street. Among the 28 members of this newly commissioned club were Eugene DeFalco, Jack H. Bryce, “Doc” Schoen, and Neil Butler.

The Club initially met on Tuesday mornings at the Fishermans Wharf Cafe. One of the first major projects of the Club was to build a Little League field on Harbor Drive. The field has since been rebuilt, and now resides behind the fire station on Catalina Boulevard.

 

Our Mission

By providing hope and a positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in kids.

The Optimist Club of Point Loma was founded in 1954 and presently has 65 members. It functions to support the youth and the community of the Peninsula area of San Diego. This includes the Ryan Family YMCA, annual scholarships to graduating seniors from Point Loma High School, various sports teams, Optimist Oratorical & Essay contests, and much more.

Our Vision Statement

Optimist International will be recognized worldwide as the premier volunteer organization that values all children and helps them develop to their full potential.

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 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.

Our Purpose
To develop optimism as a philosophy of life utilizing the tenets of the Optimist Creed;
To promote as active interest in good government and civic affairs;
To inspire respect for the law;
To promote patriotism and work for international accord and friendship among all people;
To aid and encourage the development of youth, in the belief that the giving of one’s self in service to others will advance the well-being of humankind, community life, and the world.