Optimist Club informational meeting set Sept. 18

Optimism has arrived in Sussex County, and residents wishing to help improve the lives of youth are invited to attend an informational meeting about a new Optimist Club at 7 p.m., Monday, Sept. 18. For the meeting location, contact Connie and Tom Sohnleitner at 717-676-9030 or tomandconnieoptimist@gmail.com. Service-minded individuals will be on hand at the meeting to talk about the future club and how to become a member, and to gather ideas about how the club can improve the local community.

Carrying the motto Bringing Out The Best In Kids, Optimists throughout the world conduct positive service projects in their communities aimed at providing a helping hand to youth. Club members strive to maintain an upbeat attitude and help empower young people to be the best they can be. Each Optimist Club determines the best way it can serve children in the local community and develops service projects to suit those needs.

"Our children are the future of this community, and it's up to us to make sure they have the tools they need to be good citizens with a promising future," said Connie Sohnleitner. "A local Optimist Club can do just that, but we need volunteers/members to help determine the biggest areas of need and to help put our plans into action."

The Sohnleitners had been members of an Optimist Club in Pennsylvania for more than 25 years. When they moved to Lewes full time in January 2017, they were surprised to find that there were no Optimist Clubs here.

For more information, go to www.optimist.org.