History of the Club

Optimist Club of Boyertown, #02030
Celebrating 50+ Years of Bringing Out the Best in Kids…AND THEN SOME
1954 through 2007
For over 50 years, the Optimist Club of Boyertown has
dedicated itself to serving the youth of the Boyertown
Community. The Club was founded for one main reason, to do
whatever it could for the youth of the community. Over the
years the Club’s programs have evolved and grown, as did the
Club’s membership and the number of youth the Club serves,
but the focus on youth and their development has remained
constant.
Long-time member John Breidenbach compiled this history of
the Club in an effort to preserve the Club’s history. As time
goes by, it is important to remember where this great club came from and how it got to where it
is today. Mr. Breidenbach utilized the program from the Club’s 25th anniversary celebration, and
Mr. Breidenbach utilized his own records, OpTalks, Board Minutes and input from fellow
members. Christine (Hoffman) Schaeffer and John Breidenbach continue to work on compiling
a more extensive history of the Club.
And so the Optimist Club of Boyertown is born…The Club was chartered on March 31, 1954
with 25 members (all men). The initial activities included:
• Trip to a Philadelphia Phillies Game
• Christmas Party
• Fishing Rodeo
• Trip to Albright College
• Sample Fair
1955-1956…"Growing pains began to disappear after inactive members were dropped and new
members for new blood brought us a better reckoning of our strength."
• Membership started the year at 23 and ended with 41
• Club was Incorporated
• Received the following recognitions: Boys Work, Membership, Attendance and Life
Membership awards
• Craig Landis won the first "Boy of the Year" Award from the District
• Opti-Mrs. Club organized
• New activities included: Swimming Contest, Cross Country Run, Oratorical Contest,
Local and county Golf Tournament (Children), Boy of the Month Award, Boy of the
Year Award, Bowling Tournament, Fishing Rodeo, Marble Tournament
-The History of The Optimist Club of Boyertown, page #1-
1956-1957…"We were not point wise and as a result, our District standing was no indication of
the fine work being done in this community."
• Building Fund established to build a facility to house a gymnasium
• New activities included: Biddy Basketball, Adult Basketball, The Home Show Project
1957-1958…" The ultimate goal of all Optimist Clubs was reached this year under the guidance
of President Ken as we obtained Honor Club status."
• The Optimist Club of Birdsboro was built with 39 members
• Boyertown was first in the District
• Won District honors for its Boys Work
• Kenneth Royer received " Distinguished President " award
• Melvin Kuser became Life Member
• New Activities: Piggy Bowl, Operated Teen dances, weight lifting and Woody Rhoads
Fund.
1958-1959
• New Activities: Midget - Mite football started
1959-1960
• Built the Norchester Optimist Club in 1959-1960.
• Achieved Honor Club Status
• Boyertown was first in the District
• Won District Achievement Award
• New Activities: Essay Contest (Boys)
1960-1961
• Optimist of the Year instituted
• New Activities: Organized an Explorer Post dedicated to the restoration of a Model "T"
Ford.
1961-1962
• New Activities: Las Vegas Night, Fall-out Shelter Committee
1962-1963
• New Activities: Christmas Tree Sales, Square Dance, Bike Rodeo
1963-1964
• New Activities: None
1964-1965
• The Club Article on Berks County High School Golf appeared in the OI magazine
• Opti-Mrs. was disbanded
• New Activities: Creative Arts Award, Croquet Tournament, four day tennis clinic,
antique car restoration
-The History of The Optimist Club of Boyertown, page #2-
1965-1966
• New Activities: Fun Night, annual Inter-Service Club Meeting launched
1966-1967
• This was the year of the Boyertown Centennial. Many club activities centered around
this event, including the award winning float and a Brothers-of-the-Brush contest.
• New Activities: planted trees in the Community Park, marathon race.
1967-1968
• Sponsored Holiday Ball Queen winner, Bonnie Linderman
• New Activities: Boy Scout Merit Badge counselor program.
1968-1969
• OI re-organized its administrative structure, thus, making Charles Brendlinger the Club’s
longest serving President.
• Second Holiday Ball Queen winner sponsored by club, Nancy Quigley.
• New Activities: None
1969-1970
• Present OpTalk Format instituted
• New Activities: Slow Pitch softball team
1970-1971
• New Activities: Trees donated to Memorial at Fairview Cemetery
1971-1972
• Scrapbook about the Biddy Basketball Program receives second place at the Optimist
International convention in Canada
• Preston McCain served as first member to hold a district post as Boy’s Work Chairman
• Opti-Mrs. Reorganized
• New Activities: None
1972-1973
• New Activities: Girls Oratorical Contest started
1973-1974
• New Activities: None
1974-1975
• 3rd Holiday Ball Queen winner sponsored by club, Susan Standhart
• New Activities: Girls Softball, Garage Sale, Hunter Safety
1975-1976
• Peter Mercer served as Lt. Governor of Zone 7
• New Activities: Window Painting Contest
-The History of The Optimist Club of Boyertown, page #3-
1976-1977
• New Activities: None
1977-1978
• Kenneth Snyder served as Lt. Governor of Zone 7
• New Activities: Girls Softball
1978-1979
• 25th Anniversary celebrated with a banquet at the Elks Club in Pottstown on
May 12, 1979
• New Activities: None
March 2004
• The Optimist Club of Boyertown celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a celebration
dinner and dance.
• Inaugural season of Boy’s Lacrosse begins using fields at Douglas Park (through the
cooperation of the Boyertown Soccer Club)
March 2005
 Inaugural season of the Girl’s Lacrosse begins using fields at the Boyertown Area Junior
High East Center (through the cooperation of Principal Andrew Ruppert)
May 2005
• The Optimist Club of Boyertown elected its first female President, Christine Schaeffer.
October 1, 2005
• The Club started the 2005-2006 Optimist year off right by chartering the FIRST new
Optimist Club in all of Optimist International. Alvernia Optimist Outreach Club of
Reading, PA was formed at 12:01 a.m. on October 1, 2005. Chrissy Schaeffer (then
President) and Jack Creswell (then PAUD Governor and member of the Daniel Boone
Optimist Club) were the Builders of Excellence.
January 2006
•
Eighth grader and local youth Brittany Seidt was selected by
the Club to represent the Club, the Pennsylvania/Upper
Delaware District of Optimist International, and Optimist
International in the Tournament of Roses Parade in
Pasadena, California. Brittany was one of six youth from
across the country selected to ride on the Optimist
International Float…Anything is Possible. President
Christine Schaeffer traveled to the parade with Brittany and
the rest of her family. The group was part of a very historic
event because it rained on parade day…for the first time in
50 years!!!!
-The History of The Optimist Club of Boyertown, page #4-
March 2006
• The Club unveiled its official website thanks to Media Fusion in Boyertown.
www.boyertownoptimist.org
• Along with the website came the Club’s new official logo (again THANK YOU to Media
Fusion of Boyertown):
October 2006
• The Club holds its 50th Annual Boyertown Optimist Piggy Bowl
• The Club was recognized as the NUMBER ONE club in all of Optimist International for
the 2005-2006 year.
-The History of The Optimist Club of Boyertown, page #5-
Overview of the Club’s Major Programs
Basketball Program
Basketball was started in 1956-1957, with eight teams for boys only. Girls teams were organized
in early 1970s and there are now 250 children playing on anywhere from 13 to 15 boys teams
and eight to 10 girls teams. This has long been a “learning” program totally controlled by the
Optimist Club of Boyertown. There is no outside competition. A foul shooting tournament was
started to get players interested in this aspect of the sport since a lot of games are lost at this
juncture. An Industrial league was run in the community and we put six teams on the floor for
boys past school age.
Bicycle Safety
Bicycle Safety Started About 1959 and ended because of lack of participation in 1997
Cheerleading Program
Cheerleading was started by the Opti-Mrs. In the 1960’s with
approximately 15 to 20 participants between two teams. In 1998
Christine (Hoffman) Schaeffer took over as chair of this program
and it grew from 89 to 125 participants. For the 2002 season
there were actually more cheerleaders involved in the program
then there were football players involved in football program. In
2003 there were 146 cheerleaders on six teams with 11 coaches
and many parent volunteers. In 2005 there were approximately
150 cheerleaders on six teams. In 2006 Stephanie (Prete) Bill
took over as chair of this program and again the program set a
registration record with over 165 girls on 11 teams and over 20
coaches.
Cross Country
Cross Country started 1955 and ended several years later.
Football Program
Football was started in 1957 with two
teams (one Midget and one Mite). Our
original team colors were royal blue and
yellow/gold. In 1959 there were 51 boys
rostered. In 1989 the program was almost
given to a parents group because it was
felt that soccer would be the sport of
choice. We now have 11 teams with 300+
participants. In 1959 we had four coaches.
In the year 2003 we had 35+ coaches.
-The History of The Optimist Club of Boyertown, page #6-
In 2003 the Club financed the refurbishment of the Boyertown Area Senior High Memorial
Stadium field and two practice fields. During this year the Club also approved the change in
team colors from the original blue and yellow/gold to Boyertown’s red and black. Major fundraising initiatives were undertaken to finance the field project and the new uniforms for both
football players and cheerleaders.
Piggy Bowl
The Piggy Bowl was founded early on as a fund-raiser. However, it has grown to the
point that we serve approximately 600 children in one day. Piggy Bowl participants now
only include football players, but also included are cheerleaders, the Midget-Mite
Princess, the Legionette Twirlers, and Twirling Reflections twirlers. Games start around
10 o’clock in the morning and finish around 10 o’clock at night.
Midget-Mite Piggy Bowl Princess Essay Contest
The essay contest is conducted as a means of awarding a deserving young lady the honor
of being the Midget-Mite Princess. The winner also receives a one hundred dollar
savings bond and participates in the Boyertown Halloween Parade as well as the Piggy
Bowl Event.
Recent Midget-Mite Piggy Bowl Princess Winners
2003 Kali Rosenberry
(6th Grade)
2004 Gina Perone
(6th Grade)
2005 Olivia Miller
(6th Grade)
2006 Taylor Molchan
(5th Grade)
Lacrosse- Boy’s
2004 was the inaugural season for the Boy’s Lacrosse program. Co-Chaired by Brian and Linda
Heimbach the program is 90 plus boys strong. The teams practice and play at the Douglass Park
in Gilbertsville. The program holds an annual tournament in June, which is a major fund-raiser
for the program. Brian and Linda Heimbach assisted Audrey Nettles with the inaugural season
of the Girl’s Lacrosse program in 2005.
Lacrosse- Girl’s
2005 was the inaugural season for the Girl’s Lacrosse program. Chaired by Audrey Nettles, the
program is 50 plus girls strong. The program enrolls girls in grades three through six. The teams
practice and play at the Boyertown Area Junior High East Center.
Oratorical Contest
The Oratorical Contest was a long time program and we had two state winners. Mrs. Jane Stahl
ran this for the Club and produced many fine candidates. One year one of the participants was
injured in an automobile accident and could not compete. Mrs. Stahl asked a boy just two weeks
before the contest if he would do the oration the other boy had written. The “fill-in” had never
given a public speech in his life. All of this was not known until after the contest. This young
man won first place amongst the boys. He refused to go further in the contest since he did not
write the oration. Upon hearing this, the Executive Board of Directors of Pennsylvania Upper
Delaware District, awarded him an Honorable Mention for what he had undertaken.
-The History of The Optimist Club of Boyertown, page #7-
Softball Program
The Club started Girls Softball March 1978 with five teams. William Spade and William
Vendetti founded this program. It was intra-mural in concept and there was no outside
competition. It was designed to be a teaching program. The program has grown to the point that
in 19--- the Club built four softball fields at the Boyertown Area Junior High East Center under
the chairmanship of Robert Brightbill. Today there are 12 teams with girls from ages seven to
14.
Swim Meet
The annual swim meet started in 1956 and ended in 1970 after the Borough of Boyertown started
a competitive team. It was held at the old American Legion Pool on South Reading Avenue.
When the Borough of Boyertown built a new pool at the Borough Park participation dropped
because the swim team got most of the trophies. It was stated that they used our contest as
practice.
-The History of The Optimist Club of Boyertown, page #8-
“Volunteer Hours” Research Project
In 1996 Frank Morgan, Sr. compiled statistics about our programs that showed how many
volunteer hours were worked by the members and the athletic program’s coaches.
1995: Man Hours devoted to the Children
ACTIVITIES
Basketball - All Star
Basketball - Tri-Star
Basketball Program
Bike Safety
Essay Contest
Football – Cheerleading
Football- pass, punt & kick
Football Program
Meetings:
Optalk
Optimist Clothing
Softball - All Star
Softball – Program
Youth Partnership
Miscellaneous
TOTAL
MAN HOURS
128
115
3,280
80
55
500
640
1,920
2,760
24
100
130
3,170
340
1,000
14,442
FUND-RAISERS
Christmas Trees
Football - Piggy Bowl
Fundays
Golf Outing
Monte Carlo
TOTAL
MAN HOURS
732
90
70
240
415
1,547
It is estimated that the total man/hours given by members and associate members is more than
doubled, possibly tripled, today. The number of children going through our programs has gone
from an estimated 300 to 400 to an estimated 1,600 by the end of 2004.
The most unique part of the Optimist Club of Boyertown’s activities is that we run and fund all
of our programs. The norm is for a sponsorship of a team or two.
-The History of The Optimist Club of Boyertown, page #9-
Merits and Awards
The following are the Presidents who have earned Honor or Distinguished awards.
NAME
Kenneth Royer
Roy Geiger
Richard Arnsberger
Walter Pickell
Ronald Peterson
Richard Grant
J. Edward Carns
Christine (Hoffman) Schaeffer
AWARD
Distinguished
Distinguished
Distinguished
Honor
Honor
Honor
Honor
Double Distinguished
YEAR
1957-1958
1959-1960
1995-1996
1997-1998
2001-2002
2002-2003
2003-2004
2005-2006
***Any omissions are deeply regretted
The following are Secretaries who have won awards:
NAME
Foster DelGrosso
Kenneth Snyder
Phillip McKenna
Gene Green
John Breidenbach
John Breidenbach
John Breidenbach
John Breidenbach
Christine Hoffman
Christine Hoffman
John Breidenbach
John Breidenbach
YEAR
1959-1960
1973-1974
1975-1976
1986-1987
1995-1996
1997-1998
1998-1999
2000-2001
2001-2002
2002-2003
2003-2004
2005-2006
AWARD
Distinguished
Distinguished
Distinguished
Distinguished
Outstanding and Distinguished
Outstanding and Honor
Outstanding
Outstanding
Outstanding and Honor
Outstanding and Honor
Outstanding and Honor
Outstanding and Distinguished
***Any omissions are deeply regretted
Over the years the Club has furnished their District with the following Lt. Governors:
NAME
Peter Mercer
Kenneth Snyder
John Breidenbach
James Himes
John Breidenbach
Walter Pickell
John Breidenbach
John Breidenbach
Christine Schaeffer
YEAR
1975-1976
1976-1977
1990
1993-1994
1998
1998-1999
2001-2002
2002-2003
2006-2007
NOTES
to replace Howard Heath who passed away
to replace Monica Ford
Honor, Distinguished & Outstanding
Western Pennsylvania Zone (Zone 8)
-The History of The Optimist Club of Boyertown, page #10-
Honor Club status was achieved numerous times over the years even though it was not
necessarily the goal of the Club. The philosophy of the organization has been to provide
opportunities for the youth of the Boyertown Area School District. What awards it receives are
secondary. For example, for a number of years the football program was not recognized by
Optimist International as a program that received points, but the program was, and still remains,
one of the largest and well-known programs the Club sponsors.
In 2001-2002 the cheerleading program placed first place in the district’s Community Project
Awards (CPA) competition.
International President’s Recognition
NAME
Phillip Haddad
Christine (Hoffman) Schaeffer
YEAR
1995-1996
2001-2002
Board of Directors Award
NAME
Donna Brightbill
Robert Brightbill
Wendy Miller
David Levengood
John Breidenbach
Carl Yescavage
Todd Slonacker
Richard Krupp
Walter Pickell
Christine (Hoffman) Schaeffer
YEAR
1997-1998
1997-1998
1998-1999
1999-2000
2000-2001
2001-2002
2001-2002
2002-2003
2003-2004
2005-2006
Optimist of the Year
YEAR
1960 - 1961
1961 - 1962
1962 - 1963
1963 - 1964
1964 - 1965
1965 - 1966
1966 - 1967
1967 - 1968
1968 - 1969
1969 - 1970
1970 - 1971
1971 - 1972
1972 - 1973
1973 - 1974
1974 - 1975
1975 - 1976
Name
Bruce Bernhart
Calvin Rambo
Lee Moyer
George Unger
Jacob Hartline
Carl Yescavage
Raymond Fulmer
Preston McCain
Bruce Landis
John Breidenbach
William Vendetti
Richard Frey
Roy Geiger
Burton Brenner
Kenneth Snyder
Larry Rush
-The History of The Optimist Club of Boyertown, page #11-
Optimist of the Year (continued)
YEAR
1976 - 1977
1977 - 1978
1978 - 1979
1979 - 1980
1980 - 1981
1981 - 1982
1982 - 1983
1983 - 1984
1984 - 1985
1985 - 1986
1986 - 1987
1987 - 1988
1988 - 1989
1989 - 1990
1990 - 1991
1991 - 1992
1992 - 1993
1993 – 1994
1994 - 1995
1995 - 1996
1996 - 1997
1997 - 1998
1998 - 1999
1999 - 2000
2000 - 2001
2001 - 2002
2002 - 2003
2003 – 2004
2004 – 2005
2005 – 2006
Name
Peter Mercer
Phillip McKenna
William Spade
James Himes
Joseph Vendetti
Gerald Yerger
Gene Green
Lee Fulmer
James Stephens
David Levengood
John Varady
William Truman
Robert Brightbill
Brian McDonough
James McElwain
Wayne Grace
Henry Frecon
James Petrowicz
Steven Mason, IV
Michael Royce
Richard Arnsberger
Walter Pickell
Joseph Asterino
Philip Haddad
Hudson Green
Ronald Peterson
Todd Slonaker
Richard Grant
Kevin Dunn
Richard Krupp
Philip Haddad
This information was compiled to the best of our knowledge. We apologize for any omissions and or inaccuracies. Please forward any
comments, suggestions, and/or ideas to John Breidenbach or Chrissy Schaeffer. We hope to continue researching our club’s history. Any input
you have would be greatly appreciated. We are also collecting memorabilia. Please contact us with any information/items you may have. John
can be reached by email at [email protected]. Chrissy can be reached by email at [email protected]. .
-The History of The Optimist Club of Boyertown, page #12-