Fort Smallwood Optimists Issue Annual Awards

The Fort Smallwood Optimist Club recently spread positivity with its recognition of two local exemplars. In May, Katy Myers was named the club’s 2018 Citizen of the Year and Phillip Clarke from Eastern District Platoon 4 was recognized as Officer of the Year.

The Optimist Club is an international organization with several national chapters. As stated on the organization’s website, “By providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in youth, our communities and ourselves.”

Members promote good government and civic affairs, inspire respect for the law, and promote patriotism and work for international accord and friendship among all people, all while encouraging the development of youth.

“One of our mottos is ‘respect for all,’” said David Bowman, president of the Fort Smallwood Optimist Club. “To do that, we try to honor a police officer [and a local citizen] every year. We got the recommendations for both [honorees] from the police office. What we were looking for is somebody who … goes above and beyond and certainly cares for their community.”

Clarke’s nominating commander, Lieutenant Daniel Rodriguez, pointed to an example from fall 2017 to show how Clarke exemplifies those traits.

During a night when he was scheduled to be off, “Officer Clarke volunteered to work the midnight shift in order to prevent another officer with a newborn baby from having to transfer,” according to Rodriguez. “This is an example of the true dedication to his profession and co-workers that Officer Clarke displays every day.”

Clarke was flattered by the recognition. “It’s an honor to receive the award,” he said. “There’s a lot of other deserving officers that I work with.”

Clarke doesn’t plan to stop contributing to the community anytime soon.

“I want to continue my services to the community by being hardworking and being honest and continue serving the community like I’ve been doing for the past four or five years now,” he said.

Members of the police department heaped praise and admiration upon Katy Myers as well.

“As CEO of the Macaroni Kid of Pasadena/Severna Park, [Myers] spends countless hours helping the citizens of Eastern District and giving back to the community,” said Lieutenant Frederick Crosse, who nominated Myers for the honor. “Katy Myers is an active supporter of the Anne Arundel County Police Department. Each year, she organizes Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. She pulls together care packages for our police officers, helps kids write hundreds of letter to officers thanking them for the outstanding work that they do, and recognizes all of our police officers in a special ceremony.”

According to Myers, she was able to collect 2,300 handmade thank you cards and have the children make 1,800 goody bags for each member of the local police force. The group, “even included special bags for the K-9’s with organic dog treats. We then host an event where we have children present the cards and goody bags to first responders and have a lunch and dessert catered for them,” she said.

Myers was “extremely honored” to be recognized by Anne Arundel County Police Department and the Optimist Club.

“I love that Macaroni Kid gives me a chance to teach my own boys — ages 8, 4 and 4 — the importance of first responders in our community and showing kindness,” Myers said. “They are the first to stop and talk to officers, even when we are on vacation, and they truly see them as the heroes that they are. My hope is that the MacKid PSP Act of Kindness Day program continues to grow each year so that we can continue to recognize these heroes and say thank you.”