PROMISE YOURSELF

Optimist Club of Coronado

Post Office Box 180251
Coronado, CA 92178-0251
February 28, 2008
It is even harder for the average ape to believe
that he has descended from man. H.L. Mencken
Meetings at 7AM on Thurs at Coronado Yacht Club

This is the day of the demonstration luncheon for the Crown Garden Club, so many were out in lunch
time finery. Larison and McKechnie were not in that clique. They were doing their jobs though,
keeping the crowd flowing. Casey Reynolds was with us to make sue that we knew that the Padres
were in Peoria and that this will be a Championship year.

Marilyn Schaefer turned the task of prayer over to Bob McCrary today so that he could fill us in on all
the research that he has done on the subject of leap year. The Cliff Notes version of the prayer is that
a year is actually 365.2422…days long, and that if a year is divisible by 100 it is a leap year, except if
is divisible by 400, or if … . Anyway we asked for divine guidance on what to do with our extra 24
hours tomorrow. Bob suggested works of friendship, mercy, or thinking about the bounty we receive
from the Lord. Amen.

Jack Larison led the pledge. Then the president told two jokes. The first is worth retelling for it talks
about our meal.
Two eggs and a slice of bacon walk into a bar. The bartender says to them, “Sorry, but we
don’t serve breakfast.”
As Jim told this one of our board members was moving old fruit around on a saucer thinking about
spearing something. Enough with the breakfast jokes.

Tim Cusick came over from the Rotary Club to tell us how the Boys’ Lacrosse team appreciates the
support we lend. Tim made us aware that the School District hasn’t been able to increase the budget
for sports for 15 years. Boys’ Lacrosse costs $27,000 per year. Through lacrosse many Coronado kids
get into college and more than a few receive scholarships. We have our high school graduates
playing in big time lacrosse programs across the country. Our help both with money and with support
for the games as scorekeepers is very appreciated. It was nice of Tim to come and tell us.

BJ Adelson told us to hold on to the date of Sunday, March 30, for we get a double shot of Optimistic
Joy. First we will have our SPRING CONCERT, and it will be in the beautiful high school auditorium for
the first time. A virtuoso pianist from Israel will be our soloist, so the program will be wonderful as
usual. And after the concert we will joyously continue the celebration with our Spring Fling. Save the
date.

Jim Alley told us that he talked to our buddy Ledge Hakes this week, and Ledge has been battling
through in his medical treatment. Ledge is an Optimist, and although it has been a rough go, he says
the worst is behind him. Our prayers are with our friend.

Buck Rogers we learned was named after Buck Rogers of the comic strips. Isn’t that the guy who
battled Ming the Invincible on the planet Gorgon? Well, we sang happy birthday to Buck.
And we celebrated the seventh anniversary of Irish Flynn in the club.

Lee Cargill fined Sue Cargill for a picture in Shipmate. He fined Paul Dudley because Paul’s golf
partner pads his handicap. Lance Massey showed up in Shipmate: $1. There was a great picture of
Christian Esquevin in the paper as a Jewel in Our Crown: $2. Lee missed a mention of Linda Stanton
as Jewel in Our Crown last year: $1. As the world turns…

Big news from the Couture Sports Scene was that Kevin pitched five strong innings of two-hit baseball
for USC against a fine hitting SDSU team. Jack will show you the newspaper account.

I can’t do justice to Christian Esquevin’s discussion of our world class library and the many battles that
had to be won to give us this Jewel in our city. From the Martinez murals to the far corner where tykes
play with stuffed animals, our library is a wonderful labyrinth of surprises that make every visitor
welcome and every visit a pleasure. Isn’t it nice to remember that many of our members had
prominent places in the story of the library? Casey Reynolds was instrumental in bringing Christian to
Coronado. Wilf Seaman headed the Friends of the Library for years. Wynn Foster was head of the
library board, and Ted Stearns was an active member of the Friends for many years. We still see Rich
McCampbell carting books over to the big book sale every Easter. Let’s remember all our great
Optimist Friends of the Library and say a prayer of thanks every time we visit.

Next week Tod Shallon, General Manage of the Hotel Del Coronado will tell us all about the world
from the view from the tower.