Club History
The North Buncombe Optimist Club was chartered in 1970 by the Asheville Optimist Club. We are chartered under the guidelines of Optimist International. We currently have three charter members still in the club. They are Fate Williams, David Roberts and Mr. Edwin McDevitt. Mr. McDevitt was the key person in getting our club started when he was the principal of North Buncombe High School.
The club is governored or operated by club officers (President, Vice President, Secetary and Treasurer) and the board of directors. All official business of the club is handled (or acted upon) by the Board of Directors. Activities of the club are carried out by committee chairs and all club members.
We are in Zone 1 of the North Carolina West District Optimist of Optimist International. Our club has been very active (and a leader) in the zone and district and the community since becoming a club. We have had several members to serve in leadership roles in the district (committee chairs and Lt. Governor). We have one past Governor in the club (Wayne Higgins, 1999-2000) and one North Carolina West District Optimist International Hall of Fame member (Wayne Higgins was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002).
We have two primary fund raising projects: Christmas trees sales and the Dream Vacation drawing.
One of the key projects that we do is the Scholarship Program. We provide 11 scholarships to graduating seniors at North Buncombe. We have been doing this project for over 35 years.
Other projects/programs that we do or support include:
North Carolina Boys and Girls Home
South Mountain Childrens Home
Optimist International Foundation
Gold Card Program
White Christmas
Sponorship of three junior Optimist clubs
Respect for Law Week
Help Them Hear Program
Childhood Cancer
Relay for Life
Essay Contest
Oratorical Contest
Junior Golf
North Buncombe Chorus
North Buncombe Band
Various level of support for all the schools in the North Buncombe District
Support of athletic teams/programs in the North Buncombe District
There are many other programs and activities that have sponsored over the years.
