The Friendly City Optimist Club is once again holding its annual fall dance at the Church of Our Lady social hall on Saturday, Oct. 21.
The Optimist Club is focused on supporting youth in the community and has a long-standing reputation for its charitable outreach. Moose Jaw's branch has been in the community for around 60 years, and the organization itself is over 100 years old with an international scope.
“Our district is Alberta, Montana, Saskatchewan, and northern Wyoming,” said Lynann Pethick, the co-chair of the Optimist Club.
“We have a lot of projects that we deal with, and some years we get extras if someone phones with something they would like us to help out with,” she said. “Everything we do is for the youth in the community.”
The organization also helps the City of Moose Jaw with upkeep at the Optimist Park, and the organization has informational essays, events focused on youth, and distributes fresh fruit to children at school.
“We take boxes of oranges and apples, and we usually do that in November. Those can be passed out safely by the teachers,” Pethick explained.
The club formerly served breakfast to children at school as part of its standard outreach, but in the post-pandemic world this hasn’t resumed yet.
“We help out in the community wherever we’re asked,” Pethick said. The organization helps with events such as ‘South of the Bridge Days,’ school lunches, and any youth projects that are ongoing at the time. “Wherever the need is, is probably the best way to put it,” she said about its range of support.
The dance will take place at the Church of our Lady, which has been the traditional venue for the Optimist Club’s annual dance event.
The Optimist Club has previously partnered with local band “The Bromantics,” but they’ve since grown into a professional status and the Optimist Club wanted to help support a smaller local group. For the dance, “Runaway Train” featuring several members from previous bands will be delivering their first performance at the club’s annual dance event.
One of the band’s current members, Gregg Gower, is also an Optimist Club member. The band wasn’t chosen based on his membership, but the coincidence makes a nice tie-in that showcases the reach of the club toward many youth-centered aspects of the community.
The genre of music will be old-time rock and a mixture of dance music. The band has a diverse playlist and will gladly take requests from those in attendance.
Ticket prices are meant to allow the club to break even at the dance, and any proceeds raised will be delivered to local youth charities.
“It will be fantastic to see a great crowd, hear this new band, and help to service our youth in the community,” concluded Pethick.
Doors will open at 7 p.m. and the music starts at 8 p.m. There will be an on-site cash bar and lunch will be served as part of the ticket price.
Tickets are $40 per person and will be available for purchase up to the start of the dance on Oct. 21. The ticket purchase also includes a safe ride home after the dance.
To purchase your tickets, contact either Brian Hauck at 306-631-6127 or Lloyd Pethick at 306-631-4129.
Church of Our Lady is located at 566 Vaughan Street.
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