Two years ago, our club decided to consolidate our resources and host an entire contingent of participants from one particular area outside California so they might feel more comfortable by staying relatively close together and not be separated by any great distance. The group we were assigned came from Baltimore, Maryland. In addition to providing housing in various club members' homes, we organized several social events to make them feel and welcome.
On Friday evening, the Baltimore group arrived at L.A. International Airport. The SCV Optimist Club member-hosts were there to greet them and provide transportation to their temporary homes. Before going to the individual homes, we met at Old Orchard Park in Newhall for a "welcome party" which included food and refreshments. Pizzas were donated by a group of local food merchants and soda was donated by local markets. The Old Orchard Homeowners Association graciously offered their clubhouse facility to provide a comfortable setting where the group could rest a bit after a tedious airplane trip and exhausting ride to Santa Clarita Valley from LAX (if you ever take that drive at 5 o'clock on Friday evening, you know what is meant!). Following the welcome, the guests were taken to their individual homes by our club-hosts.
On Saturday morning, our hosts provided breakfast and transportation, making sure their guests arrived at the Olympics promptly on time. Most of the Optimist member-hosts stayed at the Olympics for the duration, since most had also volunteered for assignments to help conduct the event. Afterward, the member-hosts took them back "home" to rest and 'freshen up' up a bit before another planned event that evening - OUR BLOCK PARTY!
One of our Optimist host-members, who lives in a half-block long cul-de-sac, made arrangements with their neighbors to conduct a street party, featuring dinner and dancing. The street was cordoned off and tables set up while our chef barbequed chicken and tri-tip steaks (which, by the way, our Baltimore contingent had never had). Along with salad, refreshments and plenty of other food, our club "Dee-Jay" had speakers set up along the street and played music. There was much dancing and festivity, to the delight of our guests.
The following morning, our club's hosts took their guests to Six Flags Magic Mountain, where they would spend the morning in the park enjoying the many attractions. Afterward a bus, which had been chartered by the District, would take them back to LAX for their long trip home.
There were tearful farewells that morning, in the parking lot at Magic Mountain. So successful was this arrangement, the Baltimore group would plead to do the same thing the following year. Indeed, this was to happen as will be the case this year.
Having been one of the member-hosts, Olympic volunteers AND the Dee-Jay referred to, this writer can attest to the fact that this event is one of the most REWARDING experiences in all of Optidom - - if not the world.
Bob Hanson
-Canyon Country