betterment of their community, but they also shared in each other’s lives, planning dinners and outings throughout the year. As their club membership declined, the women still met once a month for luncheons. With COVID, this activity was halted. Today, the Opti-Mrs. Club of Byron doesn’t have official status but continues as a group of close-knit friends who remain committed to supporting one another and their community. Current members include Bette Angyal, Doreen Balderston, Marg Blevins, Sandra Davies, Ruth Dean, Betty Ferguson, Mary Fran Mahoney, Lou Quayle, and Carol St. Antoine. Reflecting on their experiences, Doreen finds satisfaction in knowing they made a meaningful contribution to the community. Carol credits their involvement to the values instilled in them from a young age, saying, “We grew up with the example of helping one another in the community, so naturally, we all wanted to help where we could.”
Mary Fran recalls the many rides she provided to sporting events and community gatherings, laughing, “If you drove a car, you were on call!” Ruth highlights an unexpected benefit of service work, noting, “You learn so much about the community by volunteering.” Marg adds, “It’s just a way of life—very fulfilling.” Betty and Sandra agree that the friendships they’ve built over the years have been invaluable, emphasizing the comfort of knowing there is always a kind heart to lean on. When Optimist International allowed women to join in 1987, many Opti-Mrs. Clubs across Canada dissolved. The Opti-Mrs. Club of Byron, however, remained active for over 60 years. As Byron reflects on the decades of service provided by these remarkable women, the community extends its deepest gratitude. Their dedication, hard work, and compassion have left a lasting impact, shaping Byron into the strong and connected community it is today.
Opti-Mrs. Club 2025 (Back Row) Carol-Ann St. Antoine, Doreen Balderston, Sandra Davies, Ruth Dean (Front row) Betty Ferguson, Marg Blevins, Mary-Fran Mahoney.
Creative Bookkeeping FREE 30 Minute Consultation to Assess Your Needs Payables | Receivables | Payroll | Bank Reconciliation | Financial Reports Bookkeeping | Budgeting | Quickbooks Training Cloud-Based Accounting for easy 24/7 access & security Ana Costa, Owner & Operator | 519.319.3534 ana@creativebookkeeping.ca | creativebookkeeping.ca Cloud-Based Accounting for easy 24/7 access & security Ana Costa, Owner & Operator | 519.319.3534 ana@creativebookkeeping.ca | creativebookkeeping.ca Cloud-Based Accounting for easy 24/7 access & security Ana Costa, Owner & Operator | 519.319.3534 ana@creativebookkeeping.ca | creativebookkeeping.ca Cloud-Based Accounting for easy 24/7 access & security Ana Costa, Owner & Operator | 519.319.3534 ana@creativebookkeeping.ca | creativebookkeeping.ca Creative Bookkeeping FREE 30 Minute Consultation to Assess Your Needs Payables | Receivables | Payroll | Bank Reconciliation | Financial Reports Bookkeeping | Budgeting | Quickbooks Training FREE 30 Minute Consultation to Assess Your Needs Payables | Receivables | Payroll | Bank Reconciliation | Financial Reports Bookkeeping | Budgeting | Quickbooks Training FREE 30 Minute Consultation to Assess Your Needs Payables | Receivables | Payroll | Bank Reconciliation | Financial Reports Bookkeeping | Budgeting | Quickbooks Training
To advertise here please contact Barb@villagerpublications.com
March 2025 Page 13
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs