Something for Cody

Optimist International members are driven by the motto, “Friend of Youth.” These three words drive the activities of the over 3,000 local Optimist clubs throughout the United States and the world.

This is no more clearly exhibited than in Lakeside, California, a community of around 20,000 persons located about 20 miles east of San Diego. As McPherson Optimist Club member Erik Vogel found out, the ties between fellow Optimists can turn an ordinary night into a long-remembered, cherished evening.

Vogel was out in California on vacation, spending time with his boyhood McPherson pal Rob Arnold, and Rob’s wife Jennifer. Rob, who works as a supervisor for event operations with the San Diego Padres baseball team, had received free VIP passes to the Lakeside Optimist Bulls Only VIII Rodeo. Rob got these tickets as a thank you for giving some Padres baseball caps to the Lakeside Optimists for their annual youth fishing derby.

This is where Vogel met Cody and the core of the Lakeside Optimist group. Cody is a special needs kid. At 18, he became the youngest Optimist International member in the United States.

Cody’s mother still gets choked up when she talks about the day Cody joined the Lakeside Optimists.

“Cody’s step-father was the first member to stand up as Cody’s sponsor,” she explained. “But, soon all of the other club members began to stand, showing their support of Cody as a new member of the Lakeside Optimist Club.”

As Vogel found out during his time with these Lakeside Optimist members, this was just something you would expect from this group.

“These guys were some of the most outgoing, friendly and generous persons I have ever met,” said Vogel. “I was amazed at how welcoming they were, given I had just met these people and been in their company for a couple of hours.”

“But, once they found out I was an Optimist, they just went all out,” said Vogel.

When Lakeside Optimist Club president D.J. Board found out that Vogel was an Optimist International member from Kansas, he immediately asked Vogel what t-shirt size he wore.

“When he asked me my size I told him I usually wear a medium or large,” said Vogel. “The next thing I know, D.J. is tossing me two Lakeside Optimist Rodeo t-shirts—one XL and one XXL” said Vogel.

“I guess they figured I would grow into them,” quipped Vogel.

The generous Optimist members also offered Vogel a 2005 Bulls Only Rodeo poster autographed by the winning bull riders from that year’s rodeo. He also got a strand of rope and a bull rider’s number worn by one of this year’s riders.

Vogel asked if he could have his picture taken inside the rodeo arena. D.J. did even better. Board had Vogel prop himself up above one of the bull shoots, where only a short time earlier some of the meanest bulls you’ll ever see where bucking and flaming.

“Luckily, ‘Big Mama’—the meanest bull on the grounds—was not in one of the shoots, or I would have been her dinner,” claimed Vogel.

Yet, it was here that Vogel got to talking to Cody. He found out that Cody is a computer wizard, loves hanging out with the older Optimist men and is as polite a boy as you will find.

He—like many of the kids in the Lakeside area—is the beneficiary of the hard-work and dedication of the men of the Lakeside Optimist Club. Cody is proud to belong to the Optimist Club of Lakeside and isn’t shy to share his passion for the club.

Vogel tells of one Optimist member—Cody’s step-father—who credits the club with changing his life.

“This club was the best thing in the world for me,” he said. “It got me on track and gave me something good to do—helping the kids of our community.”

Vogel was told that the Optimist Club of Lakeside takes in between $80,000 and $100,000 each year by producing the Bulls Only Rodeo. Their annual club-sponsored fishing derby had some 300 kids participate this year.

Although separated by 1,500 miles, Vogel found that a common bond can be strong—almost as strong as a cowboy’s rope—between Optimist Club International members. And the Optimist Club of Lakeside, CA, can proudly claim to be not just a “Friend of Youth,” but a friend to all as well.