The Arcola Optimist Club's original mandate is “Friend of Youth.” However, since its inception over thirty years ago, their service to the community has grown beyond that simple phrase as club members have not only made contributions to countless community projects; they are also currently at work restoring two local landmarks-the historic Mac Theatre and the Optimist Legion Hall.
“We began the theatre renovations from the inside out,” says Glen Lawson, secretary-treasurer of the Arcola Optimist Club. “And we're doing the same with the (Optimist) Legion Hall.”
“With the theatre, it goes back to 1990-1991 when the Optimists re-opened the theatre,” adds Lawson. “The idea was to provide another recreational and cultural activity for kids and families throughout the winter, by showing movies and charging reasonable admission prices. The guys who started it really just wanted to break even. It was more of a community service than a long-term plan to revitalize the building, but as they made a little bit more (money), it was put back into the theatre.”
“The theatre has had new seats, the digital projection system and improved sound for a while now. Now that the roof is finished, we're putting on new stucco and also replacing the windows and doors and rebuilding the awning.”
“Our goal is to preserve the theatre,” says Lawson. “The proceeds from this year's spring concert with The Chris Henderson Band along with our portion of this year's snowmobile rally proceeds will be ploughed back into continuing upgrades to the theatre.”
The Optimists have welcomed a who's who of Saskatchewan country music to The Mac, including Blake Berglund, The Johner Brothers and Codie Prevost, as well as Nashville singer-songwriters Victoria Banks, Phil Barton and Emily Shackleton.
Singer-songwriter Chris Henderson-the featured performer at this year's Optimist Club spring concert- says: “Good news travels fast in the music industry and I've heard nothing but good things about The Mac. It's a beautiful room. I talked to Codie Prevost and Blake Berglund at this year's SCMAs (Saskatchewan Country Music Awards) and they both said that The Mac is a great venue.”
“I'm thrilled that there is another venue and another community working hard to keep live music alive and well. We could use 50 more groups like the Arcola Optimists in Western Canada.”
“A lot of different groups and artists praise the theatre's acoustics,” says Lawson. “Artists say that playing our concerts at The Mac isn't like playing at a bar. People are actually looking at them and giving them their complete attention while they play.”
“Blake (Berglund) and Codie (Prevost) are good musical ambassadors for us,” adds Lawson. “The Mac is a really good place for that kind of concert. It's evolved into a kind of tradition for our club and it's one we want to keep going.”
Lawson says the theatre is also used for youth activities. “For example, our drama kids put on performances there before they headed to regionals in Moosomin. The Optimists also helped with their travel costs to the drama festival.”
Another project, the Optimist Legion Hall, is also undergoing a revamp, courtesy of the club.
“The Optimist Club took it on when the Legion disbanded,” says Lawson. “It's a great meeting place for a number of groups-Sparks, Brownies and Girl Guides, for example.”
“We took on ownership and assumed all responsibility for the upkeep, the utilities and everything else.”
“Like the theatre, we started repairs and renovations from the inside out. We had the floor refinished and then we realized we had roof trouble,” says Lawson. “In the end, we'll have all new windows and doors, a new roof and new siding. We'll also have had all of the water damage inside the building fixed.”
“As a club, we've taken on a number of things,” he adds. “We always come back to our original mandate, which is to enhance the cultural and recreational opportunities for youth in our community. If it at all relates to a recreational and cultural activity that youth are involved in, we'll consider it.”
Lawson explains that while the Optimists are committed to enhancing opportunities for area youth, their mandate is far from inflexible.
“We made a donation to the Moose Mountain Marathon, even though that might seem like it's a different mandate because it's not strictly an event for youth; it is an event that benefits student athletics at Arcola School.”
“We postponed a few things and decided to make a contribution towards furnishing the new clinic, which ultimately benefits everyone in the community.”
The club's website at www.arcolaoptimist.com outlines some of the Optimists' many community contributions, including pictures of Arcola's playpark.
“ The playpark is one of our projects,” says Lawson. “In the past, we've also contributed to high school rodeo, sponsored figure skating teaching courses and snowmobile safety courses.”
“We've sponsored sports teams and made contributions towards uniforms for hockey and ball teams and to the Vipers volleyball team.”
“What allows us to do this is really the great support we receive from the community-businesses and individuals.”
“And of course, our biggest fundraiser is our annual snowmobile rally,” adds Lawson.
The Arcola Optimists' annual snowmobile rally has just celebrated its 22nd year. Proceeds from the event have not only enabled the club to contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars to community projects; it is also designed to allow other groups to participate in fundraising during the day-long rally, which is always held on the last weekend in January.
“The snowmobile rally has really grown,” says Lawson. “It began a year ago when the club made a commitment of $50,000 over 10 years to Prairie Place Hall. They did it well ahead of schedule, in two or three years.”
“We've had some guys in the club that had some big ideas and that forces you to follow through,” he adds. “We're a strong club and we welcome getting new people involved with new ideas.”
“We're embedded in the community and we appreciate the support of the community,” says Lawson.”That's the goal, to have that renewal.”
