By Jim Hulen, North Myrtle Beach Online.com
JANUARY 14, 2009 NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC — According to Maria Strickland, the North Strand Optimist Club seeks to recognize an area child as “The 2010 Friend of the Year.”
The selected child will be the Grand Marshal of the 2010 North Myrtle Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival and receive a $500 savings bond donated by Anderson Brother’s Bank and the North Strand Optimist Club. Along with their parent, the winner and the person making the nomination will ride the lead car. This event has long been a family tradition and the addition of this award will strengthen that image.
Strickland said, “The winner will be selected based upon nominations from the community. Any one can nominate any child from age 1 to 19 by submitting an essay explaining why the child should be the ‘2010 Youth of the Year.’ The application should include a photo of the child nominated along with contact information for both the person making the nomination and the nominee.”
The slogan of the Optimist club is “Friend of the Youth” and Strickland said, “We feel this is a great way to show young people we appreciate them and what they have done! We feel that in turn it will also inspire another child to act in the same manner. The Optimist Club took over the St. Patrick’s Day Parade about 5 years ago. It is such a joy to take part in such a large event.”
The parade and festival will take place on Saturday March 13, 2010. It begins at 9am with the parade of green down Main Street to the Horseshoe and will last until 4 pm.
The North Strand Optimists will select one individual among the nominees based upon outstanding abilities such as leadership in the North Strand area, involvement in church, community or school, battling sickness, helping others in need or overcoming unfortunate circumstances.
“Please think of someone who inspires yourself and/or others,” added Strickland.
The contest deadline is February 19, 2010. Essay and photo should be sent to The North Strand Optimist Club, PO Box 5109, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29597 or by email to Maria Strickland, marias@abbank.com or Kelly Mathews, kellym@abbank.com.
For more information, contact Maria Strickland at 843-249-6041 or Kelly Mathews at 843-399-8424.
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival is a free one-day event that begins at 9 am with a parade of green down Main Street followed by a street festival. Annually, parade units exceed 110 and the festival features over 75 arts and craft booths and food vendors, who will feature a variety of Irish and festival foods. Additionally, the festival will include two stages of continuous musical entertainment. A children’s area will be set aside for rides and games.
The North Strand Optimist club has 53 members. Officers are Jesse Medlock (President), Jerry Wilder (Vice President), Maria Strickland (Treasurer), Kelly Mathews (Secretary), and Tom Parry (Past President). The club meets at noon every Wednesday at the Grill House in North Myrtle Beach.
Their mission statement is “By providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in kids” and their vision is that Optimist International will be recognized worldwide as the premier volunteer organization that values all children and helps them develop to their full potential. |
