Optimists work to honor officers

To the editor:

The Jay County Optimist Clubs are honoring all the police officers that work in Jay County.

It is our hope and wish that the citizenry of Jay County will also show respect for our law officers always but make a special effort during Respect for Law Week from May 5 through 11.

Through the Jay County Optimist Respect for Law Week, Jay County Optimist members will honor and show respect for all city, county and state law officers in Jay County. They will receive a card of appreciation with a coupon and well wishes from the Jay County Optimist clubs.

We believe it is important as citizens to abide by the law, respect law enforcement and do what we can do to maintain peace. We hope that our project lets officers know that we appreciate them and what they do and will help in this effort.

Optimist in Jay County was started in 1975 when the Breakfast Optimist Club was established, with the Portland Evening Optimist Club following in 1988 and West Jay Optimist Club established later. More than $2 million of Optimist projects have come to fruition since the establishment of the first Optimist Club in Jay County.

Optimist International is one of the largest service club organizations with clubs in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and throughout the world, including Jay County. Respect for law is one of the organization’s most popular programs, with more than 1,500 clubs participating annually.

Carrying the motto “Bringing Out the Best in Kids,” Optimists conduct positive service projects that reach more than 7 million young people each year.

To learn more about the Optimist clubs in Jay County, please contact Scott Benter, president of the Portland Breakfast Optimists at (260) 251-4475, Leland LeMaster, president of Portland Evening Optimist Club at (260) 729-5000, or Tina Elliott, president of West Jay Optimist Club at (765) 717-2893.

Leland LeMaster

Portland