Breakfast Optimist Club of Kalamazoo

Name: Breakfast Optimist Club of Kalamazoo
Address: PO Box 16, Portage, MI, 49081, US
Telephone: 269-217-6025

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Breakfast Optimist Club of Kalamazoo

The Breakfast Optimist Club of Kalamazoo belongs to the Michigan District of Optimist International. Our Club was chartered on September 29, 1988.

We meet most Thursdays at 7:30 am at Mark's Diner, 677 Romence Road, Portage BOCK is also involved with the Optimist International Essay Contest - our Club works with Kalamazoo area schools and a scholarship is awarded to the winner. Holiday Food Drive & Adopt-a-Family Project - during the holiday season our Club works with different agencies to provide them with non-perishable food items and then we adopt 1-3 families or groups and supply them with gifts and food to give them a joyous holiday. Community Service - Our Club provides support to meet the needs of the community through projects, participating in the Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee, Edison School Garden project, sponsoring Girls on the Run, etc.

10/01/2026

Today’s guest speaker was Dr. Michael Albani, Education Director of the Gilmore Car Museum

They have 4 main programs:
👉🏻Model T driving experience, which is from May to October - 2027 dates are now open.
👉🏻Lecture Series during the winter - dates aren’t posted yet
👉🏻K-12 school groups - learn about the History of America through the Automobile
👉🏻Garage Works Program - high schoolers restore/build cars

When asked about what will be new in 2027:
🚗opening a new education center
🚗expanding muscle car exhibit
🚗a “James Bond type” car exhibit

--- New/updates —

Friendly reminder to open and read your weekly newsletter.

Care Collective, Senior expo, Trunk r treats, Care collective are looking for volunteers- see the newsletter for more details.

Looking for blankets for blanket tying on Oct 22. You can bring them to a morning meeting or drop them off to Cathalia at work. She’ll also take monetary donations to purchase blankets - her venmo will be in the next newsletter.

--future events–

OCTOBER
6 - Book Club - Grace of the Empire State by Gemma Tizzard
7 - Power Up
8 - AM meeting - Misty Merrick, Midwest Enterprises for the Blind
13 - Board Meeting
13 - Care Collective
17 - Trunk-or-Treat, Great Lakes Center for Autism
15 - AM meeting
22 - PM Meeting - Blanket Tying
29 - AM Meeting - Fellowship - Halloween

09/25/2026

🎉 Happy 38th Birthday, BOCK! 🎉

As we celebrate 38 years of Optimism and service to our community, we’re also celebrating an incredible year of accomplishments!

This past year, our members volunteered approximately 400 hours to our community through a variety of programs and activities, including:

⚡ Power Up
🤝 Care Care Collective
🧸 Blanket Tying for Bronson Children’s Hospital
📚 Book Gardens
🎒 Our Rights Start Campaign
⛳ Golf Outing
🎃 Trunk or Treats
🦉 OWLS Program with a 2nd grade classroom
✍️ Essay Contest
🎤 Oratorical Contest

We have so much to celebrate—not just another year, but the difference we have made together!

🏆 A BIG congratulations to our Optimist of the Year, Dave McKee! Your dedication and service are truly appreciated! Thank You for Your Service

A heartfelt thank-you to our outgoing 2025–26 officers for their leadership and service:
Diane – President
Bruce – Fundraising
Carmen – Membership
Jennifer – Secretary
Dan – Immediate Past President

Thank you to those continuing in their important roles:
Katie – Member Relations
Darci – Community Service & Youth Activities
Terri – Programs
Ralph – Treasurer/Secretary added role in 26/27
Dan – OIF Representative

We’re excited to welcome our new officers:
Stacy – President
Bob – Fundraising
Nancy – Membership
Bruce – President Elect
Diane – Immediate Past President

And finally, we’re excited to share Stacy’s theme for the year:

✨ “You Do You Optimistically!” ✨

Here’s to another year of friendship, service, and making a difference in the lives of others. Happy Birthday, BOCK! 🎂🎉

09/18/2026

This morning's speaker was Nicole Waller from Children's Nature Playscape

09/13/2026

It was a beautiful day for a golf outing. Thank you to all that made this a successful day - our sponsors & donors, those that donated water & treats & prizes, the volunteers, Val, Dave & Cara for all the planning and of course, a special thanks to the golfers!

09/10/2026

Today’s speaker was Sean Harris, Executive Director at the Recovery Institute.

The Recovery Institute serves Kalamazoo County by offering peer support to people who have mental health and/or substance use concerns. They provide this service in the form of groups, classes, one-on-ones and social outings.

They have a free event this weekend in downtown Kalamazoo - flyer is in the photos.

--- New/updates —

A few things that were mentioned this morning that we will have more information in next week’s newsletter:

*Oct 17, Trunk-o-Treat, Great Lakes Center for Autism
*Sign-Ups for Power Up and Care Collective
*Oct 23, volunteers for our Comstock classroom field trip to Gull Meadow Farms
*Dues going up to $130

--- Past announcements - ongoing/future events–

SEPTEMBER
12 Golf Outing - Olde Mill Golf Course, 8 am registration, 9 am sh***un start
17 AM Meeting - Nicole Waller from Children's Nature Playscape
24 PM Meeting - Installation of Officers 2026-2027/Birthday Celebration

OCTOBER
1 - AM meeting - Nick LaCasse from the Gilmore Car Museum
6 - Book Club - Grace of the Empire State by Gemma Tizzard
7 - Power Up
8 - AM meeting - Misty Merrick, Midwest Enterprises for the Blind
13 - Board Meeting
13 - Care Collective
17 - Trunk-or-Treat, Great Lakes Center for Autism
15 - AM meeting -
22 - PM Meeting - Blanket Tying
29 - AM Meeting - Fellowship - Halloween

09/05/2026

Our Annual Golf Outing benefiting Bronson’s Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic is just ONE week away—and so far, Mother Nature is looking like she’s planning to join us with some ☀️ perfect golf weather! ☀️

There are only TWO DAYS LEFT to sign up! So, while you’re gathered with friends and family this holiday weekend, round up your favorite golf buddies, build your foursome, and get ready to hit the links for a great cause. ❤️

Don’t miss your chance—sign up before it’s too late!
Registration form can be found online: https://bockzoo.org/fundraisers/

09/01/2026

The Breakfast Optimist Club of Kalamazoo is at WMU Bronco Bash! Come visit our membership table to win a free breakfast.

08/31/2026

With Labor Day next weekend, have you been thinking to yourself you haven't golfed nearly as much this summer as you hoped you would? Never fear, the BOCK Golf Outing is two weeks away and we still have room for golfers. And we are always accepting tee sponsors.

Proceeds from the golf outing go to Bronson Children’s Hospital Hematology and Oncology Unit.

Link: https://bockzoo.org/fundraisers/

08/30/2026

The Michigan District Fourth Quarter Conference and Annual Convention was held today. Lyn Lenox-Bosma and Linda Thompson were inducted into the Michigan District Optimists Hall of Fame. Dan Mills was honored as Distinguished District Foundation Representative.

08/28/2026

Tonight, Diane had us do the Spent activity, which forced us to make tough financial decisions with only a certain amount of money in month - only a few of us still had money remaining at the end of the month. This led to a great discussion.

--- New/updates —
Carmen is looking for help to clean-up the BOCK station at the end of Bronco Bash at 6 pm, Tuesday, Sept 1.

We have many opportunities for our golf outing on Sept. 12, proceeds go towards Bronson Children's Hospital Hematology/Oncology Unit:
⛳️Not a golfer, but have the time - we need volunteers. (Contact Val or Dave B if available)
⛳️Love to Golf - we have room for more golfers.
⛳️Not available on Sept 12 - consider sponsoring a hole - or - inviting friends to create a foursome
⛳️Check out bockzoo.org/fundraisers/
for golf registration and sponsorship forms

--future events–

Sept 1 Book Club - Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Sept 1 Bronco Bash
Sept 3 morning Meeting - Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader
Sept 8 Board Meeting @ Family & Children Services
Sept 10 morning Meeting - Sean Harris, Executive Director, Recovery Institute
Sept 12 Golf Outing - Olde Mill Golf Course, 8 am registration, 9 am sh***un start
Sept 17 morning Meeting - Nicole Waller from Children's Nature Playscape
Sept 24 morning Meeting - Installation of Officers 2026-2027/Birthday Celebration

Address

PO Box 16
Portage, MI
49081

Opening Hours

9am - 8:30am

Telephone

269-217-6025

Website

http://BOCKzoo.org/

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