The Daniel Boone Optimist Club

Come join us for this year's Daniel Boone Optimist Club's 25th Annual Trout Rodeo, May 9, 2026, from 8 AM to 1 PM at South Birdsboro Archery Rod and Gun Club, 470 Geigertown Road, Douglassville, PA 19518.

Rain or Shine. Severe weather date is May 16, 2026'

Free Event.

Ages: Kindergarten through 5th Grade

No experience necessary. Help is available if needed. Bring a rod & bait. Prizes.

Directions from RT 724 in Birdsboro - Take 345 South (Chestnut St.) for 2.2 mile.

Make a right onto Geigertown Rd. (first turn after you pass the closed greenhouse).

Go 1.1 mile and turn right onto the Rod and Gun Club road. Parking will be in the field at the end of the road. For safety reasons – please do not park right next to the pond.

For more information call: Maryann Uivary 610-413-3469 or Chris Herold 610-698-7794

Congratulations to Daniel Boone Area Middle School student Amelia Fretz, our club-level winner of our Essay Contest. This year's Topic was "How My Acts of Service Help Me Understand What My Community means to me. Amelia, a 7th grader, earned a $200 award and advanced to the District level competition, where the winner is awarded a $2,500 scholarship. Also in this photo is Essay Contest Chairperson Anne Pyle. 

 Recently we honored the winners and participants of this year's Visual Arts Competition. This year's topic: Be Bold - Be the Change.

Club Level winners for the up to 7 years age group are: 1st Place, Maria Gomes, who placed 2nd Place in the District level competition; 2nd Place, Josie Hickman, 2nd who placed 1st Place at the District level; and 3rd Place, Liera Park.

Club level winners for the 8 to 11 years age group are: First Place, Aloe Hails, who placed 2nd Place at the District level; 2nd Place, Rosalie Mariano; and 3rd Place Wyatt Willits.

On Feb, 19, 2026, the Daniel Boone Optimist Club honored two local law enforcement members during the club's annual Respect for Law Program.

State Trooper Justine Kline, second from the left in the photo, and Amity Police Officer Kevin Zeiber, forth from the left, were honored for the great work they did in 2025.

Officer Zeiber was chosen by his peers for this honor. He was hired with the Amity Township Police Department on Nov. 1, 2024. He joined the ranks with nine years prior police experience. He grew up in the Fleetwood area and graduated from Oley Valley High School. In 2008 he put himself through the Reading Police Academy and started  his career working part time for Sinking Spring Borough Police Department.

Officer Zeiber lives in Reading with his wife and son. 

Trooper Kline is a 2012 graduate of Daniel Boone Area High School. He earned his bachelor's in Criminal Justice from Temple University and graduated from the Pennsylvania State Police Academy in 2017. He is assigned to Troop L (Jonestown) Vice Narcotics Unit.

During 2025 Trooper assisted in numerous cases with several federal. state, county and local agencies. He was the lead investigator in numerous investigations including a three month long confidential investigation that led to multiple seizures, arrests, and warrants, spanning all the way to Puerto. His investigations in 2025 resulted in 59 arrests, 34 search warrants, 27 seized guns, $105,000 in seized cash and the seizure of large quantities of narcotics. 

The Respect for Law Program is an initiative designed to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for the rule of law among individuals, especially young people. By promoting awareness of legal principles and the importance of lawful behavior, the program aims to build a responsible and informed community that values justice, equality and civic duty. Over a quarter of a million law enforcement officers have been honored by thousands of Optimist Clubs around the world for 50 years.

Others in the photo from left are Anne Pyle, Madelyn Minehart and Matt Robb, all members of the club's Respect for Law Committee.

 On Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2025, members of the Daniel Boone Optimist Club visited with the Daniel Boone Area High School Band to present them with a new bass trombone that the Optimist Club purchased for the Daniel Boone Music Department.

The Daniel Boone Music Boosters requested a donation so the band could add a bass trombone, and the Daniel Boone Optimist Club was happy to support this request.

Attending were members of the Daniel Boone Music Boosters (Lori Falstich, President); Band Director Andrew Puleo; Daniel Boone Optimist Club members Curtis Clifford and Matthew Robb; and members of the band's brass ensemble.  

Congratulations to the recipients of this year's DBOC Scholarship program! As usual this year's program drew many qualified applicants, making it difficult to pick just one for each scholarship. All five students chosen are 2025 Daniel Boone Area High School graduates. They are:

Top row from Left:
Zachary Hasara, $2,000 Member's Memorial Scholarship
Tyler Ferenz, $2,000 James C. Erdman Medical Scholarship
AnnaBeth Glass, $1500 STEM Scholarship

Bottom row from left:
Hailey Hadwin, $1,000 Visual and Performing Arts Scholarship
Giana Stoltzfus, $1,000 Visual and Performing Arts Scholarship

 On Tuesday April 22nd, the Daniel Boone Optimist Club hosted students from the Daniel Boone Area High School AP History class on a trip to see the Pennsylvania State Capitol.  Optimist members Curt Clifford, Anne Pyle and Matthew Robb chaperoned the students as we met with local politicians and their staff to learn more about how our Pennsylvania government operates.  A special thank you goes out to State Representative Mark M. Gillen (128th District)  and his assistant Julieann Newill for hosting our group.  Additional thanks to Senator Tracy Pennycuick’s (24th District) legislative director Matthew Szuchyt for taking some time and speaking to the students.  

 Congratulations to the Daniel Boone Optimist Club's winners in the Optimist International Essay Scholarship Competition! This year's 1st Place winner (far left in the photo) is Allison Devine, a senior at Berks Catholic High School. Gabriella Luck (center) took 2nd Place, and Gabriella Clemente won third. Both are 8th graders at Immaculate Conception Academy. 

This year's topic was “How Optimism Has Paved My Road to Success.”

As the DBOC winner, Allison went on to compete in the Optimist International Atlantic Central District's Essay Competition, where she earned 2nd Place. Again, congratulations Allison!