Some of the activities that The Club has sponsored include the following:  

1. Oratorical Contest- (See also Current News) - The Contest is held each year for kids under 16 years of age on December 31 of the current school year. The speech must be between 4 and 5 minutes on the assigned topic.  The Club contest is held the end of March or the beginning of April.  The winner of the Club contest is awarded a $100 US Savings Bond and competes in the Zone contest. The Zone winner competes in the MD/SD District competition held at Ocean City MD at the end of April or beginning of May. Winners of the District competition are awarded a $1500 scholarship.   
   
   The topic for the 2010 Oratorical Contest was "Cyber Communication: Progress or Problem?"  The Club's contest was held on April 8th in the Rockville area at the Thomas Farm Community Center in Rockville.  Congratulations to Rebecca Kneebone, the winner of the 2010 Contest.  She has been awarded a $100 US Savings Bond by the Club and went on to also win the Zone Oratorical Contest for girls which was held at the Urbana Library on April 17th.  She went on to compete in the District Contest in Ocean City on May 1st and did very well though she did not win.  It was a great effort but the competition was tough!  

   For more information about the Club's contest call Peter Martin at 301-926-7097 or by e-mail at pgm5h@hotmail.com .  For the rules and an entry form for the Rockville Club's Contest Click here.  The generic rules and an entry form may be found on Optimist International's web site at www.optimist.org under "Visitors," then "Scholarships." 

    

2. Essay Contest- (See also Current News) - Kids under 19 on December 31 of the current school year are eligible to participate and submit a 400-500 word original essay on the assigned topic. Entries to the Club contest must be submitted by early February.  Volunteers judge entries submitted to the Club and the winner enters the MD/SD District competition. The first place contestant in the Club contest is awarded a $100 US Savings Bond and enters the District competition. The authors of the top three winning essays of the District are invited to read their entries before the District's quarterly conference. The first place essay in the District contest wins a $650 college scholarship and is entered in the national competition. The winner of the national competition is awarded a $6000 college scholarship; second place $3750; and third place $2250. 
   

   The topic for the 2010 Essay Contest was "The Internet: Today's Evolution or Tomorrow's Menace?"  The deadline for entry in the Club's contest was February 10, 2010.  Congratulations to Scott Yu, the winner of the 2010 Contest.  He has been awarded a $100 US Savings Bond by the Club and his essay was sent to compete in the Maryland-South Delaware District Contest where it placed 2nd out of 17!  Also, on March 27 a luncheon was held for students in the Essay Contest at the Branded 72 Pit Barbecue Restaurant on East Gude Drive, Rockville, MD.  For more information about the Rockville Club's Contest contact  Ed Dawson, Phone: 301-460-1176.  You may Click here for the rules for the 2010 Contest.

   The topic for the 2008 Essay Contest was "Today's Choices Shape My Future."     Congratulations to Miss Sarah Rice for writing the winning essay in the Club's 2008 Contest and the District's 2008 Essay Contest and for taking 3rd Place in Optimist International's 2008 Contest.  Click here to read Sarah's Essay.  
   

3. Rockville Public Safety Awards- This is a program to recognize individuals who go beyond the call of duty. Rockville Optimist Club has been a contributing sponsor of this program for over eleven years. This program usually kicks off in the Spring and the Awards Program is held in June.  See Current News Calendar for more information. 
   

    

4. Adopt-A-Family- In past  years, for the holidays the Club has adopted a family.  Members bought gifts for the children and gift cards for the adults; then we got together to have fun figuring out how to wrap everything.  The gifts were presented to the family before the holidays.