OPTIMIST CLUB

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 September 1938, Page 8

OPTIMIST CLUB

ANNUAL MEETING. The president, Optimist Frank Gillions, presided over a good attendance at the annual meeting of the Y.M.C.A. Optimist Club. The annual report was read by the secretary, Optimist Murray Finlayson and adopted. An interim financial statement was presented pending the return of the treasurer.

The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr F. Gillions; vice-presidents, Messrs Jim Duckworth and Murray Finlayson; secretary. Mr George Barr; treasurer, Mr Warren Mason; sherriffs, Messrs Alan Handyside and Alan Sanson; pianists, Messrs Jack Barnes and Max Rogers; song leaders, Messrs David Donald and Cris Greager. i

Votes of thanks were passed to the retiring officers for their services. It was decided to close the club’s activity for 1938 on October 11. The annual report stated inter alia:— The committee has much pleasure in submitting its second annual report since the revival in Masterton of the Optimist movement. Weekly teas have been held in the Y.M.C.A. Rooms every Tuesday evening and the average attendances have been satisfactory although there is room for improvement. Since the last annual report the club were notified that they won the Kenner Gavel for the best percentage attendance and the Gavel is now in the possession of the'Masterton Optimists. During the year We regret to state we have lost several loyal and enthusiastic members including our president, Optimist Alan McCormack, who is now in Taranaki. He was a member of the original club and helped in every possible way and we regretted his departure at the same time wishing him every good fortune in the future. Optimists Keeble Mills and Claude Churchill have also left the district and their faces will be missed from our weekly gatherings as they were both good club members. Optimist Frank Gillions was elected president to fill the vacancy. Recently the Wellington Optimist Club visited Masterton and took over the tea on that occasion and the opportunity was taken to present the Kenner Gavel. Since this meeting a noticeable improvement has taken place in the running of our own teas. The year finished with a deficit and the attention of the club is drawn to this as it appears that unless additional members are enrolled the financial position will not ease. We suggest that the club go into means of raising funds. The club have been most fortunate in the .addresses given during the past year and the following are sincerely thanked for their talks: — Mr R. Lambert, “Visit to the U.S.A.;” Mr Atkin:, “Canberra;” Mr J. H. Irving, “Anzac Day;” Mr K. Johnston, “Meteorology in Flying;” Optimist Geo. Barr, “Curios;” Mr G. R. Booth, “Anzac Day in Australia;” Mr E. Coddington, “The Atmosphere;” Mr H. Cross, “Photography;” Mr Geo. Sykes, “Parliamentary Practice;” Mr I. G. Sykes, “Navigation;” Mr H. Hall, “Early Days in the Films;;” Dr. Barrer, “European Situation;” Mr J. H. Kemnitz, “Tour of the U.S.A.;” Mr H. R. Keltie, “Psychology;” Optimist F. Trugurtha, “Car Salesmanship;” Optimist Geo. Barr, “Firearms;” Optimist Chris. Greager, “Colour Engineering;” Optimist J. Duckworth, Optimist Alan Handyside, Optimist R. Hatch, “Life at Training College;” Optimist Max Rogers, “Newspaper Reporting.” Impromptu speeches and debates were also held arid were a decided success and we hope that addresses by club members will be continued in the coming year. The thanks of the club are due to the Y.M.C.A. for the use of the rooms; to the musicians, Optimists J. Barnes and Max Rogers, to the Press; to Optimist A. E. Bate for his help in all matters and to all others who assisted towards the success of the year. In conclusion we trust that members will "endeavour to increase the membership and thus enable the club to function better, bearing in mind the objects of the movement, “Goodfellowship and Service.”—For the committee, F. R. Gillions, president; N. F. Finlayson, hon. secretary.