April 2015
HOTLINE
Optimist International Leadership Publication

President's Message

What did the Optimists see when they reached the top of the mountain?

 

Welcome to April!  We have now officially reached the midpoint of the 2014-15 Optimist Year.  For some, this is the high point and it is all "downhill from here." They have made it through the planning and are moving toward electing new folks.  We have even had Governor-Elect Training for the 2015-16 year, so some could very well just place the car in neutral and roll on down to the bottom.

 

Notice that I said "some could" do that.  What do Optimists see when they top a hill?  Most Optimists reflect on their achievements accumulated so far, take note of the struggles and mistakes made in their journey, and take full aim of higher ground in front of them!  They can smell the rarefied air that awaits them,calls for them, and dares them to keep going.

 

Optimists seize the challenge in front of them and join the arms of those leaders that will one day continue carrying the PROMISE of the FUTURE, and TOGETHER they continue up the mountains of HOPE!  As a TEAM, they continue toward the goal.  Remember, no one ever won a football game by being satisfied with reaching the 50 yard line.  Champions cross over that goal line, and not just once, but multiple times with multiple players making their own personal contributions for multiple reasons (see section requesting Top 100 Reasons to be an Optimist below).

 

April just means we are one month away from our #OptimistsinAction Month of May as noted below.  We are one month closer to Convention in New Orleans, and we are getting closer everyday, and every Member, toward meeting our goal of 100 by 100!

 

Some may call me an April Fool, but who am I?  I AM AN OPTIMIST!   How about you?

 

 

All the BEST,

 

Ken Garner

TOP 15 CLUBS BY MEMBERSHIP

Each Member effectively impacts the lives of 35 children a year.  

How many is your Club reaching ?

Club #

Club Name

# of Members

42270

CHARLOTTE-MALLARD CREEK, NC

446

15640

GARDEN GROVE-ORANGE COAST, CA

324

24403

CENTERVILLE-NOON, OH

220

02030

BOYERTOWN, PA

201

09103

MENOMONEE FALLS, WI

197

04555

BFT-WARSAW, IN

177

38010

ARLINGTON, TX

172

12180

HIGHLAND, IL

143

13145

UPTOWN-GREAT FALLS, MT

143

23205

WAUSAU, WI

142

36001

ADRIAN, MO

141

33182

MECHANICSVILLE, MD

139

41022

CORONADO, CA

139

61103

COOPER CITY, FL

138

09117

MONROE, WI

133

Live from the Board Room



If you've ever wondered what happens in an Optimist International Board of Directors meeting, now is your chance to find out! The board's next meeting - this Friday and Saturday, April 10 & 11 - will be streaming live at www.optimist.org/stream.  This link will take viewers to the Optimist channel on the Ustream website. Optimists can watch the meeting and even chat online with other viewers about the discussions and decisions as they happen.

Optimist Junior Golf News

Did you know that Optimist Junior Golf earns AJGA Performance Based Entry Stars for top finishers at several of its events?  What does this all mean for our junior golfers?  The AJGA is the best place for junior golfers to be discovered by college coaches.   The Performance-Based Entry System (PBE) recognizes tournaments based on their historical strength of field and awards AJGA performance stars based on a player's finish.  Players will build their competitive golf resumes and begin to gain exposure among college coaches.  AJGA PBE is a road map to help develop a tournament schedule that will ultimately create exposure for golfers for quality college programs. The AJGA remains an excellent venue for golfers to achieve college placement goals.

 

Congratulations to the age division winner of the recent Optimist Junior Tour events!


 Greg Norman Golf Champions Academy Open (Myrtle Beach, SC)

Boys 16-18 - Brian Chen (Cary, NC)

Boys 14-15 - Akshay Bhatia (Wake Forest, NC)

Girls 14-18 - Jacqueline Twitty (Chapin, SC)

Full results

 

Optimist Junior Tour - Waterchase Golf Club (Ft. Worth, TX)

Boys 16-18 - Zach Sudinsky (McKinney, TX)

Boys 14-15 - Akshay Bhatia (Wake Forest, NC)

Girls 14-18 - Maria Emma Edwards (Texarkana, TX)

Full results

 

How does a golfer qualify for the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships held at PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, FL? Optimist Districts in the US and Canada organize tournaments that serve as qualifying events. Golfers who live in an Optimist District can play in any District qualifier to attempt to advance to the Championships. If a golfer cannot play in his/her District tournament due to a conflict, he/she may travel to another District to attempt to qualify. A limited number of golfers in each age division will advance to the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships through all District qualifiers.  See where your District qualifier is located by clicking here. For a map of all qualifiers, click here.

Four Leadership Summits Remaining

Optimists have been raving about the exceptional leadership training provided at the 2015 series of Optimist International Leadership Summits.  There is still time to join an upcoming summit where you can learn from International President Ken Garner along with other Certified International Trainers. All current, future and past leaders of any kind are encouraged to attend!

 

Dates and locations for upcoming summits are:

  • April 18 - St. Lawrence Region
  • April 25 - Kansas City
  • May 16 - Minneapolis
  • June 13 - Detroit  

For event details and registration information, click here. 

Plan Your Trip to New Orleans!


 

Have you planned your trip to New Orleans for the 97th Annual Convention?  Join fellow Optimists from around the world for training, fellowship and fun! Convention will be held Thursday, July 9 through Saturday, July 11 at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. 


For all Convention related information, such as hotel reservations, tentative agenda, and travel discounts, click here

 

 

Foundation Golf Raffle

 

 

 

Optimist International Foundation is pleased to announce that tickets for the yearly golf raffle are now available here!  

 

Adobe Golf has once again provided prizes for this raffle. This is a must have for all golfers or the perfect gift to give to someone who loves to golf.  Get yours today!  

 

 

Reel Optimism Deadline Approaching

 

The deadline to submit a video for the 2015 Reel Optimism contest is April 15.  Adult and JOOI Clubs can submit a video in either the 30 Second Challenge or Club Showcase category.  The finalists will be announced on May 1 and the public will be able to vote for their favorite video via the new, integrated contest hub until May 15.  Votes will be tabulated based on the number of social media shares (Facebook shares, Twitter tweets) a video receives.  Category winners receive a $500 Club grant and one video will receive the best overall award - a $1,000 Club grant!  For more information and to submit your Club's video, click here.  

Order Your Optimists in Action T-Shirts Now

 

With May only one month away, now is the time to finalize your Club's plans for Optimists in Action Month.  During #OptimistsInAction Month, Optimist Members from around the world will come together to create meaningful and powerful Club projects  and events that bring out THE BEST in kids, their communities and themselves.  In an effort to increase community awareness, a limited edition Optimists in Action T-shirt has been designed.  Order T-shirts for your Club now and put your Optimism on display!  For ordering details, click here. For Canadian Members, click here.

Simple, Timeless Social Media Tips

Network for Good -  Simple, Timeless Social Media Tips


  

Here are some great tips, courtesy of Network for Good, on how to effectively use social media for your Club!


 

More Input Needed for 100 Reasons to be an Optimist List

Last month, we asked you to help us get started with the 100 Reasons to be an Optimist list.

Here are some of the reasons why your fellow Members are Optimists: 

  • To give back
  • To honor youth
  • To make a difference
  • For fun times
  • To fill my bucket
  • To bring out the BEST in kids
  • Meaningful involvement
  • To meet people
  • To learn new skills
  • Feeling appreciated 

Help us build this list by submitting your reasons hereThank you!

Easy Option for Clubs to Pay Optimist International Dues:

business-piggy-bank.jpg

Never miss a payment again!  You can pay your Club invoices by signing up for pre-authorized payments. 

For more information, click here for the ACH Debit link.

Online Election of International Officers is Coming Soon

vote

Your Club's right to vote for the Optimist International President, Board Directors and Vice Presidents has never been easier.

 

To be able to vote for the next Optimist International President, two At Large Board Directors, and your Regional Vice President, your Optimist Club MUST be up to date with all Optimist International dues and fees by April 30. Voting will take place during the month of June. Voting for individuals will not take place at Convention.

 

Please make sure that your 2014-15 Club President's email address is correct in the Optimist Membership database to ensure your Club receives the voting procedures, which will be sent in May.

 

Go to www.optimistleaders.org and login with your credentials. If you do not know your credentials, click on the "Password Recovery" link. Select yourself and confirm that your email is correct or enter in the correct address.  

 

Check out the Spring edition of The Optimist magazine for more information.

Save the Children

 

Optimist International, along with Youth Clubs, are pleased to announce their partnership with Save the Children. Save the Children invests in childhood - every day, in times of crisis and for their future. In the United States and around the world, Save the Children gives children a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. With the partnership, Optimist International, Youth Clubs, and Save the Children hope to transform children's lives to change the course of their future for the better.

International Field Representative for New Club Building 

Illustration depicting a highway gantry sign with a new skills and training concept. Blue sky...

 


 

Members who wish to become certified as an International Field Representative for New Club Building can do so at the International Convention in New Orleans. 

 

If you are interested and would like more details, contact the New Club Building Department at 

800-500-8130 ext. 226 or via email at danny.schuette@optimist.org.

  
Membership Recruitment Kits
people-outside.jpg

 


 

Membership Recruitment kits are a great way to add Members to a new or existing Optimist Club. Developed by International New Club Building Chairperson Estermarie Hillman, these kits are an alternative to cold-calling. The kits involve setting up a table in your target community and letting prospective Members come to you. Click here for more information. 

Personal Growth & Involvement Program Update

 

If you are working towards Level III in PGI, please be aware of the following change:

Due to Reel Optimism replacing the Community Project Awards (CPA), the CPA requirement in the Communication category is eliminated from PGI Level III until further notice.

 

The Knowledge of the Organization category requires reading either of two books:  The Power of the Creed or Of Dreams & Deeds. The Power of the Creed can be purchased directly thru James Rankin via email jamesr@moodygroup.com. Of Dreams & Deeds can be accessed online here. If your Club would like a copy of the published version, contact Barbara Zurcher, Leadership Development & Growth Coordinator, via e-mail Barbara.zurcher@optimist.org or by phone (314) 371-6000 Ext. 214.

Contact the International Board of Directors


 

If you have any comments, concerns or suggestions for the International Board of Directors, please send to board@optimist.org