The local Mid-Day Optimist Club prides itself on being a strong "friend of youth" in our community. They provide various services to the young people of the county, including insuring that ALL of the children at a local youth facility receive wonderful gifts at Christmas time and annually arranging college scholarships for several graduating high school seniors.

One of my favorite events -- the annual Fishing Derby -- will take place this Saturday. Every year, volunteers from the club plan the event at a well-stocked local lake. They furnish fishing gear, bait, and personal assistance with things such as baiting the hook and casting, so that kids who may not otherwise get a chance to enjoy the excitement that is fishing have the opportunity to "dunk a worm." In addition, they provide hot dogs and sodas to make the day an outing many of the youngsters will never forget.

It's hard to describe the look on the face of a child who has never experienced the thrill of hooking a fish when he or she sees the bobber going down. When the line goes tight and the child leans back and starts reeling, everyone gets excited and the emotion grows. Eyes light up; faces broaden into smiles that come from deep within; and sometimes feet leave the ground in a jumping fervor. And that's just the helpers.

As for the kids -- if you'll pardon the pun -- they're hooked.

I believe with all my heart that you could take a child who has experienced that thrilling moment, even once, away from the lake and back into whatever environment they came from and that child will never forget the moment they pulled that bass, catfish or sunfish out of the water. I believe they will take that positive, thrill-packed moment -- that natural high -- with them through life. I believe it may even be the one thing that saves some young people from making negative choices.

Thanks to all who plan and participate in this event. You may never realize how deeply you may be touching the lives of the kids you take fishing. You may never know how they grew to be positive role models for others in their lives. You may never understand why that youngster holds on to your hand and doesn't want to let go when the day is done. But I hope you do. I hope you are blessed immeasurably for your efforts.

My grandpa used to take me fishing, and those memories are precious. I can still remember the first time I harvested a hard-fighting channel cat from Tomahawk Creek. I have a strong memory of walking alone to the small pond across the fence at the back of great-grandpa's pasture and pulling a three-pound largemouth bass out on the third cast. And because I hadn't expected to catch anything that hot August afternoon, I also remember the long walk back to the house holding the fish by the bottom lip because I had no tackle box and thus no stringer.

Those memories never fade way. They may get pushed aside from time to time. But they never die. When you take a kid fishing, you're making memories.

And I salute you.