** JOOI CLUB - Junior Optimists Club**

Our Next Meeting Date:  Friday, October 17th in the Library

 At our first meeting of the new school year on September 12th we completed our Board Officers with the election of Jenny Abajo, for our 7th grade representative for the position of Member at Large. 

Congratulations to our new Club Officers who were elected at our last meeting in May.  

The Club was fortunate to have such worthy nominations for every position.   (Photos coming soon!)

President:  Steven Petersen

 Vice-President: Matthew San Jose

Member at Large (8th grade):  Sarah De Herrera

Secretary/Treasurer:  Kiara Hunt

Member at Large (7th grade):  Jenny Abajo

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  JOOI Club members are currently participating in the 6th Annual Rubby Ducky Regatta

which will take place on October 18th at Castaic Lake.  Race ducks can be adopted for $5.00. 

All proceeds will benefit Samuel Dixon Family Health Centers, Inc. which offers health care

services for uninsured people throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.

Members -- please turn in the Information Sheets that were designed and distributed

by Steven, your president.   The more we know about you the better we can plan!

We also look forward to participating in the Sheriff's Haunted House Festival on October 26th.     

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The “La Mesa Family” Grows!  The La Mesa Junior Optimist Club Adopts!

          Yes!   Meet Asapa which means “Smokey” in Indonesian.  An illegally captured orangutan,

she is one of the lucky 1 in 5 infant orangutans who survive their ordeal in the illegal pet trade. 

              Student members of the Junior Optimists Club (JOOI) voted to support conservation efforts by “adopting”

                            an orangutan through the Orangutan Conservancy, www.orangutan.com.

               Our former president, Ashley Cocker, researched this idea and the adoption was made possible

              through funds raised by our hard-working students (Mariette Boutros, Callie Gaskin, Kiara Hunt, Davit            Karaoglanian, John Sese, and Julia Wong) at the JOOI Club booth at the Sheriff’s Haunted House

and the support of all our members.  This is just one example of our Optimist Club members wanting to make the world a better place through service and giving.

Junior Optimist (JOOI) Club at La Mesa JHS

“Bringing out the Best in Kids”

                     The La Mesa Junior Optimist Club, chartered in May 2006, is sponsored by the Santa Clarita-Newhall Optimist Club.  We are part of the international Optimist organization.  The program was created to enable our students to do school and community service.   Members can learn about teamwork, communication, self-esteem, and citizenship in this service.  What is required to be a JOOI member? -- Energy, enthusiasm, and the belief that young people CAN make a difference in their community.

If you require additional information, please feel free to contact Arlette Menard, Teacher-Librarian at (661) 250-0022, extension 162.

Visit Junior Optimist  International Club at http://www.optimist.org  

Visit the SCV-Newhall Optimist Club at http://www.scv-optimist.org

         JOOI Club, May 2007              JOOI Club Christmas Tree 2007

    L to R: Principal Pete Fries, Hugh McDonald                  Theme: Stars & Bells

and Dee Gadbury (our sponsors from the SCV-Newhall       Ms. Menard, Club Advisor

Optimist Club) and past Pres. Kyungwon Lee.