Meeting #3:

If you've read your e-mail, no need to read this because it is the same thing. ^^

T-shirts are STILL not here because there apparently are some issues with the school's credit card/account (something like that), but they will be handed out at our next meeting, which will take place sometime in January

Our *amazing* club sponsor at Great Falls, Ms. Thompson, will need EVERY MEMBER'S NAME, EMAIL ADDRESS, HOME PHONE NUMBER, HOME ADDRESS, AND GRADE LEVEL IN ORDER TO OFFICIALLY REGISTER EACH OF YOU AS AN OFFICIAL CLUB MEMBER (WE ARE ACTUALLY PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION)

Please email this information to us (lhsoptimistclub@gmail.com) by this Friday in order to be inducted as a member at our next meeting!!

Our next project is a holiday food drive for needy families - here's a list of what we will and won't be collecting:

Most-Wanted Foods

Nutritious foods:

• canned meats (tuna, chicken and salmon, etc.)

• canned vegetables

• canned fruits

• canned and boxed meals (soup, macaroni and cheese, etc.)

• peanut butter

• canned or dried beans and peas (black, pinto, lentils, etc.)

• pasta, rice, cereal

• 100 percent fruit juice (canned, plastic or boxed)

Our Daily Bread, Inc. can't use:

To ensure food safety, Our Daily Bread, Inc. cannot use:

• rusty or unlabeled cans

• expired items

• perishable items

• homemade items

• noncommercial canned or packaged items

• alcoholic beverages, mixes or soda

• open or used items

**PLEASE NO GLASS ITEMS

To participate, you can...

Make a poster advertising the food drive in our school - the deadline for this will be this Friday, December 5th and don't forget to put your name on the back of the poster to receive credit for it

Donate items yourself!! This is an individual-based drive, which means that, instead of collecting items by classrooms and having classes competing against each other, the person who brings in the most items will be rewarded with a free quart of their favorite Cold Stone Creamery ice cream!!!!!

The good news about being a member is that, since posters will not be put up until next week, you get a head start in the competition!

And don't worry, people who don't bring in the most, but still bring in a considerable number of items/put forth great effort in other ways will definitely be rewarded as well!

Last minute notes:

Please check the *bulletin board* outside Ms. Stanley's room, ROOM 130, for information that you can put on any posters and reminders/updates!!

Thanks again to everyone for being part of a club that really works to help people in need as well as benefit their own members!!!

LHS Optimists

Response: Letters to Soldiers in Iraq

Here is a letter that our patron from Great Falls, Mrs. Thompson, received for our work on the letters to the soldiers in Iraq. Thank you everyone for participating that day!

Dear Mrs. Thompson,

I am the Special Agent in Charge of the Army CID Office, Camp Slayer, Iraq in Baghdad. I have nine Soldiers who work for me, and seven who support our office. Our unit is made up of active duty agents from all over the eastern U.S. and a reserve unit from Fort Dix, New Jersey. We really enjoy receiving letters from you and your kids at the Optimist Club. We posted your picture on our door so everyone else can see those who we care for. Here in Iraq, those pictures are status symbols. They are reminders of all those that we have back home, even if they aren't family. They are a constant reminder of our purpose and allow us to focus on our mission. We would all love to be at home, and I am sure my reservists would love to be carrying on with their normal lives as well. However, this is the duty we were called to perform and so we are going to do to the best of our abilities. Much like the optimist club, we work toward the future for all of us. I am proud to represent women like you, who dedicate their time to promoting the goals and dreams of our young people. As a mother of two, I understand the importance of inspiring our children to live out their dreams. My children, twins (boy and girl) are home with my husband, also a Soldier, who is continuing on with that mission alone in my absence. Though our children are only two and may never remember this part of my life, it is important for us to continue to promote their dreams. They are the future, and hopefully it will be a little brighter after this war is over and we can all go home. I respect all you do, and am proud to serve you and the children at the Optimist Club, Great Falls, VA.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Mailing Address Amber A. Wojnar
CW2 Amber Wojnar CW2, MP
Special Agent in Charge Special Agent in Charge
Camp Slayer CID Office
Unit 42232
APO AE 09342-2232