North Hollywood Optimist Club

Ralph back in the instructor's seat with a smile on his face.We have wonderful news to share!  After an absence of more than a year, Ralph Truglio is back in the air as a flight instructor!

With a new insurance company and a better rate, Ralph has returned to teach another crop of students.  We now have three instructors, with a fourth coming on soon.  The fourth instructor, Robert Mota, is originally a graduate of Ruth Logan's flying group.  He will be gaining valuable experience and hours as an instructor with us.

Congratulations to Ralph for his return to the air!

President Nancy congratulates Secretary-Treasurer Ricki Stambaugh with awards.Happy St. Patrick's Day!  We had a fun green meeting, where President Nancy had the opportunity to make a presentation to Ricki Stambaugh.  Ricki was presented with awards for her role as Secretary-Treasurer for both an Honor Club and a Distinguished Club, 2008-2009.

Congratulations, Ricki, on a job well done!

Hugh and Phil set up for the video presentation.On March 3, our Club was treated to a presentation by Optimists John Ward, Phil Bock, and Hugh McDonald.  John and Phil especially have done a lot of work with Operation Smile, a project to provide children born with cleft palates and other facial deformities the opportunity to have a beautiful smile.  Most of these children are in other countries, where the medical care to remedy their problem is not available.  When the doctors arrive, the children and their families wait for hours, hoping to be selected for the surgery.  Hugh and Phil showed a video that chronicled one such visit and how the doctors work with the families.  The opportunity also gives physicians trained in the procedure the chance to train local doctors to carry on this work.  The procedure itself takes only 45 minutes to perform and costs $250 per child.

You have the power to transform a child.Learn more about this amazing organization here.

At the conclusion of the talk, Hugh gave us an update on Jr. Blind Olympics, which takes place in April.  It is not too late to sponsor a child for the event.

Thank you to all for an enlightening and touching presentation.