Optimist Oratorical Contest

Every March all of the clubs in Optimist International sponsor Oratorical Contests in their areas. Several Arlington clubs join together to sponsor our local event. Winners progress to Zone competition and if they win there they proceed to District Competition. Although most competitors are from school speech and debate classes anyone up to sixteen years of age may compete. Contact your school speech teacher or e-mail us.

Respect for Law - Support of Arlington Police Department

Scout Troup - Sponsored for "Special Kids"

Heritage Day - Cleanup and Restoration of Arlington's Oldest Cemetery. Generally held the first weekend in December. Bring your rakes

In 1958, Hugh O'Brian (the actor most popularly known as Wyatt Earp) returned from Africa inspired by his visit with Dr. Albert Schweitzer. Motivated by Dr. Schweitzer's remark, "the most important thing in education is to teach young people to think for themselves," Mr. O'Brian established the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation (HOBY). From 1958 to 1967, leadership seminars took place in California for sophomores in Los Angeles. In 1968, the scope of HOBY grew to include national and international participants, and the seminar location expanded to major cities across the United States. In an effort to include more students, three-day seminars were instituted in 1977 and today also take place in Canada, the Bahamas, Mexico and Jamaica. (Click on the logo to go to the HOBY site.)

July 4th Parade Float - Arlington has one of the largest Independence Day parades in the country and our floats are perennial crowd favorites and award winners. Click on the flag, or here, to see photos of the 2003 Mayor's Award winner.

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