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Wednesday, June 14, 2006

“Checkmate!”: Optimist Club Gets Youth Involved

MARIANNA, Fla. - Dr. Plinio Tuta is getting the youth involved in other competitive activities besides baseball, football and basketball.

Tuta is doing so by offering golf, soccer and chess programs through Marianna’s Optimist Club.

“It’s the idea of giving more options for children to participate in,” Tuta, chairman on the Optimist Club committee, said.  “Not everyone plays basketball, not everyone is six-feet tall, not everyone has football muscle.”

The native of South America and the University of California graduate started the Optimist Club Youth Committee in March to give different summertime activities for the children.

“I have a friend who works at the barber shop,” Tuta said.  “I found out he plays chess, so I said, ‘Let’s start a committee!’”

“I love having the kids come in,” Jeremy Wooten, barber shop owner and Optimist member, said.  “I demonstrate the moves, go over the rules, and just enjoy the game as a whole.”

The chess club originated in the back of Wooten’s barber shop, but with an overflow of members, the club has moved to a bigger location before soon moving making another move to Chipola College’s cafeteria.

Around 20 kids between the ages of 7-to-18-years-old play chess every Friday.

“It’s a fun activity to do, easier to just thinking,” nine-year-old Austin Nelson said.  “Instead of doing something, you just think.”

“You try to maneuver, use your mind,” 17-year-old Melanie Tuta said.  “You have to think, all you do is think.”

Tuta played chess when he was in high school and won the state championship in California.

He also has 40 years of soccer experience.  He played professionally, he’s a national coach, certified referree and has a golf-club manufacting business.

“It’s just wonderful how someone can come into a community and offer his services for free,” Kenneth Stoutamire, charter member of the Optimist, said.  “Of course, I got him into the Optimist Club, which is a real vehicle for him.”

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