The Noon Optimist Club of Rome is asking community members to Choose Optimism as we head into the month of February.
The first Thursday in February is Optimist Day. The local club will celebrate at their regular meeting this coming Monday, February 1st at the Palladium (on the Coosa Valley Fairgrounds) by honoring the late Alex Mills as its very first life member. Mills was instrumental in the foundation of the club, says Mark Swanson, current President.
Mills served as director of the Boys and Girls Club of Rome for more than 40 years. He was also active with the Civil Air Patrol and was a recipient of the US Congressional Gold Medal. He was born back on February 5, 1929 (the same week of the celebration of Optimist Day) and died last April.
Scott Moody, past club president, enthuses that Mills was a treasure to this community that was active with the Optimists for six decades.
Monday’s meeting is set for (of course) noon and will feature special guest speakers to include Rome City Commissioner Bill Collins, the longtime Rome Boys Club choir conductor Alan Wingard, and longtime Noon Optimist Club member Mark Eubanks. Mills will be posthumously awarded the Optimist International Foundation Memorial Emblem and Name Bar Patch.
Rome Mayor Craig McDaniel has declared next Thursday, February 4th as Optimist Day. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact the lives of people across the globe, Optimists choose optimism and urge others to do the same.
Learn more about the Noon Optimist Club of Rome by visiting the Facebook page; weekly meetings are streamed live on that page, says Swanson.