DTOC Member and Meridian Star Editor Fredie Carmichael received a his 5 year membership award at the Tuesday, February 7, 2012 meeting of the Downtown Optimist Club. Fredie has served in several capacities over the years including one year as…
On Tuesday, January 24th our speaker was Mark McDonald. Mark is the Commissioning Committee Chairman for the USS Mississippi, a Virginia-class submarine that will be put into service later this year. From Wikipedia: PCU Mississippi (SSN-782) is a Virginia-class submarine…
On January 17th, 2012,
Jerry Fox came to speak to the DTOC membership about the ramp ministry of the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (VIM) organization. Supported by local churches, this group provides accessibility for the elderly and disabled by installing ramps, steps and hand-rails.
The Meridian District VIM Ramp Project Ministry was started in May of 1999 in response to a local pastor’s request to build a ramp for a disabled man who lived near the church he was serving. Volunteers built a second ramp in 1999 and then built five more in 2000. In 2001, a total of thirty-one ramps were built in the five county area including Clarke, Kemper, Lauderdale, Neshoba, and Newton counties. In 2010, a total of 93 ramp projects were completed for the elderly and handicapped. Since the program started over 650 ramp, step and handrail produces have been completed.
After 10 years of faithful participation as a member of the Downtown Optimist Club of Meridian, Dusty Culpepper was awarded a plaque in appreciation for all the pancakes he's flipped, mud he's tracked home from the t-ball field and leadership…
On Tuesday, January 10th, 2012, our speaker was David Mock, Director of Operations for Righteous Oaks Recovery Center. David described in some detail the path that brought him to the Meridian area and led him to create this recovery center…
Just in time for Christmas, DTOC Member Randy Rives was our guest speaker to discuss digital photography and will let us know which digital camera we should buy. Randy gave a great presentation about some of the techniques and tricks…
In recognition of his many years of service to the Downtown Optimist Club of Meridian and in particular for his dedicated work as our club secretary and treasurer, the DTOC recently awarded Don McNair a plaque as a small token…
Gary Turbville was awarded the Second Annual Friend Of Youth Award in recognition of his work to help children. Gary has created a wonderful organization (Cans For Kids) funded in large part by Gary recycling empty beverage cans. He started…
Each year, the Downtown Optimist Club helps other local organizations bring Christmas to children who might not otherwise get visits from Santa Claus. The club routinely donates to Meridian Shop With The Police, Wesley House, Toys For Tots, The Salvation…
MS Supreme Court Justice Randy Pierce was the guest speaker at the Downtown Optimist Club today to talk about and read from his recently published fiction novel, "Pain Unforgiven". The meeting was well attended by members and included some visitors…