Serving the Youth of Coronado

Optimist International President Salutes Coronado Optimist Club as Best in the  California South District

Optimist International President J.C. St. Onge and a host of California-South District officials recently visited the Coronado Optimists Club at a Thursday morning meeting here in Coronado.

He spoke of what the very best clubs have:  great fellowship, outstanding service projects, support from their community, success in attracting new members who come with new ideas that refresh and regenerate. He noted with pleasure the high quality of the Optimist Club of Coronado and recognized it as being the best in the California-South District.

President St. Onge’s home is in Canada.  He related how he became active in his home club, the results of the efforts of that club in getting great support from the community, his leadership roles from club, to district, to international levels.  His one-year tour as the OI President has him traveling to all parts of the USA and Canada.  The Coronado Optimists were pleased he was able to visit.  As he looked out at the beautiful view from the Coronado Community Center, where the Optimists meet every Thursday morning, he stated that he now understood why the club was so successful!  The Optimists agreed, we do indeed have a beautiful town, and that includes the people, too!

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Optimists Sponsor ‘On Applebee Pond’ Puppet Shows for Youth

Photo (L-R):  Puppeteers Bruce Johnson, Mike Napolitano, Dianne Baldwin, Andrea Webster

Dianne Baldwin and Andrea Webster of the PACE Program in Coronado presented an opportunity to the Optimists to sponsor, On Applebee Pond, a series of puppet shows for the students of Coronado schools.

The focus of the puppet shows is development of good character — while having fun.

Dianne came with a prepared script and puppets and enlisted the help of Optimists Bruce Johnson and Mike Napolitano in a show demonstration.  It was funny and fun for all.   The puppets’ actions show kids how to handle, in a positive way, challenging situations they often face while growing up.

Following the demonstration, the Optimist Board voted to provide $5000  to support this wonderful activity.  About 1000 students per month will see the shows.  The Optimists know the kids will love it and hope they will relate to their parents the messages they will learn.  It should make for some great discussions at the family dinner table.

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SDSU Head Football Coach Rocky Long came to speak with the Optimist Club of Coronado, sharing his message, “Team First& Hard Work”.

Photo (L-R): Optimist President Charlie Ahern Receives Handoff  From Coach Rocky Long

 Getting to the Coronado Optimists’ 7AM Thursday morning meeting was easy for Aztec coach Rocky Long.  He normally gets up at 4:30 AM and is in his office about an hour later, leaving work around 9 PM.

Speaking to a full house, he told everyone present that he was an ‘old-school’ type of coach.  He insists that his coaching staff provides mentoring, maintains discipline and sets high standards with the focus always being team first & hard work.  He said that it is the same method he has used in all of his years of coaching and the difference between winning seasons and others is due to the talent and dedication of the athletes.

During the lively question and answer session, he stated that football has changed a lot over the last twenty years and that most rule changes have been made to increase scoring.  “In the old days, when a ball was in the air, both offense and defense players had equal rights to the ball.  Now, the defense can’t hardly touch the receiver without getting a penalty”.  He stated that all coaches want a great quarterback, big and strong and fast linemen, and that at the high school level, most of the top athletes play on both offense and defense.   He believes in letting his quarterback make a lot of play-calling decisions because he is at the scene of action.  He stated making an open field tackle of a fast, agile runner is the most difficult task in football.

The Aztec’s recent win over Boise State in Boise was the first time in Aztec football history of a win over a ranked team on the opponent’s home field.  In 1977, Don Coryell’s SDSU team beat highly ranked Florida State University here in San Diego.  Both were monumental wins.

It was a rousing  Optimist Club meeting with a great speaker!

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U-T’s Kevin Acee Sports Journalist Tells Optimists, ‘A New Day Has Begun For The Chargers’

Photo:  Optimist Pres. Ahern and Kevin Acee

Kevin Acee covers the San Diego Chargers for the SD Union-Tribune.  Living in Fallbrook, he had to get up early to be at an Optimist meeting starting at 7:00 AM in Coronado.

He spoke of the changes taking place in the news industry, from papers to the digital communications age.  His children seldom read a paper, getting almost all of their news from their cell phones.  It is a problem faced by all print media.  The Copley owners were aware of it.  The private equity group who purchased the U-T from the Copleys was aware of it, and current owners Manchester and Lynch are aware of it.  The stories must still be created so there should always be a place for writers.

Kevin related an interesting fact regarding print media vs. the internet, twitter, etc.  With print media, one seldom gets feedback regarding how many folks read what is written.  With the ‘new’ media, there is almost instant feedback.  The ‘number of hits’ are available, not only to writers but also to bosses and owners.  Good stories do not necessarily receive a lot of hits, and that can lead to coverage of only ‘popular’ sports subjects.

Kevin spoke candidly to those present about the challenges he faces writing about the Chargers.  His strength is that he develops close relationships with those involved – owners, coaches and players.  He job is to write candidly and honestly about what he observes and what he is given access to.  That is sometimes unpleasant.  He will often give a ‘heads up’ to an individual who may read of his ‘less-than-expected’ performance.

The change in personalities and styles between the new and the old Charger’s GM and Head Coach is dramatic.  He thinks it will have a big impact, the results of which will be shown in seasons to come, and he thinks the change is positive.

He also stated the current stadium is a major issue for the Chargers and opined that, without progress being made on that issue, he feels their move to LA is probable – driven by the financial side of the sports business.

The Optimists have had several media persons speak and all have demonstrated the gift of telling interesting stories.  Kevin’s remarks and willingness make an early morning meeting are much appreciated.

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