The Bonita Optimist Club sponsors 3 Junior Optimist Clubs at:
- Bonita Vista High
- Eastlake High
- Otay Ranch High
Each Optimist Youth Club with special guidance and support from the sponsoring Optimist Club, completes fun projects and activities to improve the community and better the lives of its residents. Members have opportunities to polish leadership skills, manage money and practice good citizenship. Students really look forward to meeting each other and exchanging ideas while working together on a community project or enhancement.
For 13 years, the Junior Optimists at Bonita Vista High School have organized the Dance For a Cure Fundraiser, raising awareness for childhood cancer, supporting cancer research and ultimately raising over $91,000 which they have donated to John Hopkins University Hospital. The fundraiser has showcased local and active dance troupes such as Syde FX, Curtain Call, Lost & Found, Hip Hop Junkies, iDK, Nvs, SGBM, 220, Choreo Cookies and many more. The Junior Optimist students are responsible for the fundraiser from start to finish – inviting dance teams, designing and selling ads in a printed program, marketing the event and selling t-shirts and snacks, all the while supported by the adult Bonita Optimists.
Creative community service projects are encouraged at the Junior Optimist International (JOI) convention each summer, giving our members travel opportunities where numerous Bonita & Chula Vista students have been elected to international office. Locally, the San Diego JOI District has 3 annual mini conventions where teens from around the county gather to share service ideas, work on a group project, run for a district office and have fun.
This past year of remote learning and social distancing has not ended community service needs, but only requires new thinking to develop ideas to safely help others. Contact us at www.BonitaOptimist.org if you have suggestions or if you want to start a Junior Optimist Club of your own. Youth Club Advisor: Davina Keddo , 619-808-9995, email: RugGallery@gmail.com.
Below is a sample calendar list of activities.
Junior Optimist Clubs 2021 – 2022
- 2021 – Aug – Sept – Club Fair recruiting new members
- Sept 3rd (Saturday) – Bonitafest community walk Chula Vista Golf course
- Oct 1st week end – Bonita Optimist book sale 10-4pm @ Bonita Museum; sell lunch; help setup 8am Thursday, return books Sun 3:00-5:30pm
- Oct – May – farm work at Stein Farm, 1808 F Ave, National City, 91950
- Oct – May – Bake cookies at Ron McDonald House, 2929 Children’s Way, SD, 92123
- Oct – last week end – Help at Elementary School Halloween carnivals
- Nov – June Host Blood drive @ BVHS parking lot by H Street, 1:00-6:00pm; SD Blood Bank will print flyers
- Mid Nov – JOI District Mtg 10-12:30pm, District JOI clubs meet
- Nov – Campus food fair fundraiser – sell food in quad at noon
- Nov 27 – pay Optimist International dues with list of student names
- 2022 – Jan – SouperBowl of Caring – Optimist.org help teens (Stand Up for Kids)
- Feb – JOI of Reading month – plan supportive activities, read to younger students, promote reading, donate children’s books
- Feb – JOI District Mtg – 10am-1:00pm TBD
- Feb 18 – Essay contest deadline, apply www.BonitaOptimist.org/scholarships; Bonita Optimists give cash awards with final District award of $2,500
- March 8 – Oratorical contest deadline; held 3/8; local cash awards & final district award of $2500, apply www.BonitaOptimist.org/scholarships
- March 18 – DANCE FOR A CURE tech rehearsal @ Eastlake High School, 1120 Eastlake Parkway, 3:30- 5pm @ football field
- March 19 – DANCE FOR A CURE cancer fundraiser (Hip Hop Show) Noon-5pm @ ELHS, 1120 Eastlake Parkway, CV, 91914; tickets only at the door
- April 2-3 – Bonita Optimist Book Sale – 10am-4pm both days, sell lunch, snacks; set up books Thursday 8-10am & return books Sunday 3-5:30pm
- April 30 – Deadline for high school senior’s applications for Bonita Optimist Scholastic Awards @ www.BonitaOptimist.org
- May (TBD) – JOI District Convention, virtually, on Zoom to elect district officers
June 27-28 – JOI International Convention, Reno, Nevada, with an election of JOI International officers
