Pacific Central District 
Optimist International
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The Pacific Central District includes Optimist Clubs from Fresno, California to the Oregon border and The Great Salt Lake.

Pacific Central District Officers and Committees

About Us


The Pacific Central District - Optimist International serves the Optimist Clubs in Northern California, Northern Nevada and Utah. It provides leadership training, Optimist International program coordination and serves as a resource for Optimist Clubs to encourage participation and start-up new Optimist Clubs to help advance the purposes of Optimist International. 

Optimist International is made up of about 2,300 clubs in 48 Districts. Our motto is "Friend of Youth." We believe by providing hope and positive vision, Optimist Club members bring out the best in youth, community and ourselves.





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Ray & Nancy Pezonella, Governor & First Lady
2020-2021
​First District Meeting Letter from your Governor and First Lady:

It is hard to believe we are already closing in on the first quarter of the Pacific Central District’s year. Also, it difficult to comprehend that the pandemic is still with us and in some cases more aggressive. However, we will continue performing the tasks as Optimist to maintain our “Friends of Youth” attitude.

This past weekend (December 5th) we had our first District meeting. I was hoping we could hold the meeting in person; that was not in the cards as more counties within the State of California went into the purple category. As a result, we followed proper protocol and went to a Zoom Meeting. I appreciate the dedication of all who participated to make our first district meeting of 2020-2021 successful.

We opened the morning with the Finance Meeting at 9:00 am, with all members present.  Treasurer Tighe Boyle presented the Accountability Statement and stated we ended the previous year in good shape. There were two clubs that are over 90 days in their dues. We started out the year with 28 clubs and 628 members. As of December, we are down to 27 clubs with 617 members.  
At 9:30 am the Executive Meeting was brought to order.  The first order of business was to create a Long-Range Planning Team. Governor-Elect Sophia Sherman was introduced as the Chairperson. The team consists of Leadership Development Chairman Bob Wright, Growth and Membership Chairman Jim Halderman and Past Governor Tim Reardon. Their tasks will be to look at realigning of our zones within the district. They will also be looking into areas for future development of new clubs and perspective leadership individuals.

The General Session was called to order at 10:00 am and after the invocation and salute our Vice President Pat Thomas was introduced. She presented the International President Mark Weinsoff motto “Choose Optimism” and in general gave us a great pep talk. She expressed that we should say something Optimistic at every meeting and told us to mark our calendars for the “International Day of Happiness” March 20, 2021. Also, when asking perspective members to join us, we should always start with “why” we are an optimist, not with what we do. She let us know the International Convention for 2021 will be in Atlanta, Georgia June 30-July 3. The finance report was presented by Treasurer Tighe Boyle and approved. Governor-Elect Sophia Sherman called on the Lieutenant Governors to present their respective zone reports. It was very inspiring to hear how great the clubs were doing during this unfortunate pandemic. Registrar Richard Jimenez gave the participants attending the meeting which consisted of 41 members, 2 guests, 6 Lieutenant Governors, 19 District Chairs, the Governor, the   Governor-Elect, District Secretary, District Treasurer, 13 Past Governors, 9 Club Presidents and 21 Clubs were registered. Chairperson of the Essay and Oratorical Contest Committee Joan Estepa gave the topic for the Essay Contest “Reaching your Dreams by Choosing Optimism”. The due dates for the contest are February 28, 2021 for the club level and International deadline is April 15, 2021. The winner of International will receive a $2500.00 scholarship. The Oratorical Topic is “Healing the World with Optimism” club contest should be held by March 15, 2021. District Contest will be held in May at the third district meeting. The International winners will receive scholarships for first place $2500.00, second place $1500.00 and third $1000.00.

Foundation Chairperson, Mary Boglarsky who placed 8th at International for donations reported that this is the Foundation 50th Anniversary. The dime-a-day this year is $50.00 and a beautiful 50th anniversary pin will be given to acknowledge that gift. Also, a 50th anniversary Presidents Pen will be given for a $250.00 Donation. Please help Mary achieve her goal to be number one internationally, by donating to this great cause.  CCH Chairperson Shirley Jimenez Placed 4th at international for our CCH donations. Shirley wants to make sure you send your donations through her to make sure we get proper credit for our District. Thank you both Mary and Shirley for the great job. Membership and Growth Chairman Jim Halderman would appreciate it if each club would send him the name of your club membership chairperson. Leadership Chairman Bob Wright reported that new club building will be presented by Jim Boyd with international. This event will take place in Reno, Nevada in January. All club presidents have the information for interested members.  Junior Golf Chairman Rick Jones wanted everyone to know the tournament will be held in July with more information to be presented later. Sunshine Chairperson Dee Beddo would like each club to send her the name of their club Sunshine Chairperson. Our Website Master and Bulletin Editor Chairman Flavio Soria who has been doing a great job keeping our website up to date. He is giving a “shout out” to all the clubs in the district that has information that needs to get out, please get it to him. He then can use our social media to disseminate your data.

As you can read in this message that over the next several months, it will be essential that we work toward strengthen our existing clubs by recruiting new members. The goal this year is to allow some great people to do things as an optimist that they could not accomplish as individuals.

Nancy and I want to wish you all a “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year”. Please follow your “Heart” and continue to make this the best Optimist year ever!

Be Safe and we will see you all at the 2nd district meeting. 

Executive Committee                    

Raymond Pezonella, Governor                                                875 Meadow Springs Drive                                                    Reno, NV 89509                                                                        H. 775-747-2727  C. 775-442-4196                                                                                                                                      
Phyllis Caughran, Secretary
4700 McNeese Court
Sacramento, CA 95841
916.971.9023

Tighe Boyle, Treasurer
P.O. Box 20464
Castro Valley, CA 945646
H. 510-317-9758  C. 510-701-2790

Sophia Scherman, Governor-elect
4700 McNeese
Sacramento, CA 95841
916.971.9023

Immediate Past Governor
David Givens

Past Governor
Tim Reardon

Lieutenant Governors

Zone 2
Laney Boyle
510.317.9758

Zone 3
Tim Reardon
916.502.3412

Zone 4
Mickey Blackburn          
​916.521.1523
   
Zone 7 
Herb Sullivan        
707.526.3307

Zone 8
Priya Ahlawart
775.997.3588

Zone 10 
Jim Woods          
559.363.2898

Zone 11
Marti Crane       
209-256.0183

Zone 12
Cathy Brda              
650.575.0404

Zone 13
​Carolyn Young        
​408.802.7960
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Committees 

​CPA & Scrapbooks
Carolyn Youn​g  
408.253.1206

District Conferences & Convention

Tim Reardon             
916.502.3412
Sophia Scherman                
916.718.9631
James L. Reynolds
775.329.3743

Finance Committee

Tim Reardon
916.502.3412
Carolyn Young               
408.802.7960
Bill Davies                 
​916.550.0277

​Essay & Oratorical Scholarship Contests

Joan Estepa    
916.687.7152

Hostess
Chris Fountain                
209.795.7588

Junior Golf
Rick Jones
774.354.1039

Membership & Growth

Jim Halderman                
916.949.1616

Optimist International Ambassador
Phyllis Caughran            
916.971.9023

Optimist International Foundation
Mary Boglarsky                
916.817.7843

Parliamentarian/Policies
Rick L. Jones Jr.                   
775.354.1039

Sergeant at Arms Emeritus
Kenneth Mattson           
408.267.8648

Sunshine
Dee Beddo                       
916.334.9468

Supply
Tighe Boyle                
510.317.9758

Youth Clubs 
Herb Sullivan                   
​707.526.3307

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