August 2015
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Optimist International Leadership Publication

President's Message

 

100 By 100 = "M&M's" for All 

 

All of the Optimists with us in New Orleans for the Opening Session were treated to bags of M&M's candy. The M&M's acted as a reminder of what striving for 100,000 Members by Optimist International's 100th Anniversary means to each of us.

 

You can watch this presentation here, but as a quick recap, here are the "M&Ms":

  • MORE MEMBERS - in each Club and around the world spreading Optimism
  • MORE MATES - friends for life
  • MORE MENTORS - to both give and receive not only in Optimism, but in business and life
  • MORE MARKETING - children, parents and the public become more aware of the good we all do
  • MORE MONEY - resources to not only fundraise, but also do bigger and better projects
  • MORE MOMENTUM - people want to be part of something that is doing well and going in a positive direction
  • MORE IMPACT - the more Optimism, the bigger affect we can have upon the world and those in it
  • MORE MEMORIES - How precious these are to each of us!  I love visiting with Optimists throughout the organization and listening to them recount extremely humorous and heart-warming stories of experiences they had during their tenure.  It always involves people...not computers, not social media, not even television, but real life experiences that are theirs personally and shared with other friends, family and MATES.

Let's continue generating M&M's as we move toward our goal of 100 by 100.  And just as status report, we are in an excellent position to have a SIGNIFIGANT GROWTH YEAR!

 

If each District is simply a net plus 25 Members from where we stood on July 31, 2015, we will be POSITIVE.  If each Club is simply a net plus one Member from where they stood on July 31, 2015, we would be in INCREDIBLE shape.

 

LET'S MAKE HISTORY as we continue to Bring Out the Best in Children, Our Communities and Ourselves.

 

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?

Rank

Club #

Club Name

# of Members

1

42270

CHARLOTTE-MALLARD CREEK, NC

451

2

15640

GARDEN GROVE-ORANGE COAST, CA

311

3

24403

CENTERVILLE-NOON, OH

239

4

09103

MENOMONEE FALLS, WI

205

5

02030

BOYERTOWN, PA

193

6

04555

BFT-WARSAW, IN

179

7

38010

ARLINGTON, TX

154

8

13145

UPTOWN-GREAT FALLS, MT

151

9

12180

HIGHLAND, IL

149

10

25164

DENVER-MONACO SOUTH, CO

145

11

33182

MECHANICSVILLE, MD

144

12

41022

CORONADO, CA

143

13

23205

WAUSAU, WI

142

14

09117

MONROE, WI

139

15

36234

LAKE LOTAWANA, MO

139

   *Membership numbers as of Monday, August 3, 2015 

Optimist Club of the Year


Congratulations to the Bay City Noon Optimist Club for being named the 2013-14 Optimist Club of the Year! The Bay City Noon Optimist Club conducted many successful community service projects, such as the Good Samaritan Rescue Mission monthly birthday party, Adopt-A-Highway, children's movie/food drive, and "Covering the Basics," a donation program started by the Club to fund raise for the Good Samaritan Rescue Mission. The Club participates in many Member Development Programs, such as PGI, and sends multiple Members to International Conventions, Leadership Summits, and District Conventions.  The Bay City Noon Optimist Club has planned many successful N.O.W. meetings resulting in five new Members last year, and sponsored the Midland Optimist Club on December 17, 2013.

 

 

Optimist International would also like to congratulate the other 2013-14 Finalists:

  • Optimist Club of Searcy, Arkansas
  • Kalamazoo Breakfast Optimist Club, Michigan
  • Foothills-Marana Optimist Club, Arizona
  • Noon Optimist Club of New Castle, Indiana

The Optimist Club of the Year award is presented annually to the most outstanding Club in each Region based upon specific criteria. For additional information about the Optimist International Club of the Year, click here.

97th Annual Optimist Convention


Optimist International would like to thank each and every Optimist Member that attended the New Orleans Convention. The July event celebrated the successes of many Optimist Members, welcomed new leaders for the 2015-16 Optimist year, supported two service projects benefiting Save the Children and Café Hope, and ended with a night full of Boots & Bling at the Presidential Banquet. To view Convention photos, click here. Convention videos, including Business Sessions, can be found here.

 

Becoming an Optimist Rock Star

During the recent Optimist International Convention in New Orleans, attendees were enlightened by keynote speaker, Dayna Steele, about ways to become an Optimist Rock Star.  Dayna's message centered on lessons she learned while working with the greatest rock stars in the world.  She shared stories, photos, and motivational tips she learned from Van Halen, The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi and more. To watch Dayna Steele's keynote speech for the Optimist International Convention, click here. For more information about Dayna Steele, or if you would like to purchase one of her many successful books, click here .

Congratulations to the 2015 Reel Optimism Winners!

Using the creativity of Club Members and community resources, adult and youth Clubs were asked to create a video that finished the sentence, "Optimists bring out the best..."  During the recent Optimist International Convention in New Orleans, the winners of the 2015 Reel Optimism video contest were announced. 

 

Congratulations to the Canyon Crest Academy JOOI Club in California for winning the 2015 BEST OVERALL award!  This Club wins a $1,000 Club grant.   

 

The category winners are:  Optimist Club of Birmingham, AL (Club Showcase); Charlotte-Mallard Creek Optimist Club, NC (30-Second Challenge); West Forsyth High School JOOI Club, GA (Club Showcase Youth); and M4 JOOI Club of Yuma, AZ (30-Second Challenge Youth).  These Clubs each win a $500 Club grant.

 

The two raffle winners are the Optimist Club of Chatham, ON (adult) and the Club Octogone Laterrière, QC (youth).  Both of these Clubs win a $250 Club grant.

 

To view the videos for the winning Clubs, in addition to all other Reel Optimism submissions, click here.  Stay tuned for information about the 2016 Reel Optimism video contest. 

Optimist Regional/World Championship Oratorical Contest

 

The first annual Regional/World Championship Oratorical Contest is scheduled for Thursday, June 23 and Friday, June 24, 2016. Each Optimist District will have the exciting opportunity to send one of their District Oratorical winners to St. Louis to compete with the winners of the Districts in their Region for a $10,000 scholarship. For additional information, visit the Optimist Regional/World Championship Oratorical Contest page

PGI Recognitions

 

With Fourth Quarter District Conventions quickly approaching, all PGI recognition form submissions 

should be received by Optimist International at least two weeks before the District Convention. To submit recognitions or to ask questions, contact Barbara Zurcher via email at Barbara.zurcher@optimist.org or call (800) 500-8130 ext. 214.

Club Officer-Elect Report Reminder


The Club President's mailing will be sent to all Club Presidents-Elect that have sent in their Club Officer-Elect Report forms. If your Club has not submitted the form, please do so as soon as possible. The Club Officer-Elect Report can be found here. For questions, contact Charlotte Baker at (800) 500-8130 ext. 247 or charlotte.baker@optimist.org.

100 Reasons to be an Optimist

Why are you an Optimist?  Why should your friend or colleague become an Optimist?  In anticipation of Optimist International's 100th year, help us create the 100 Reasons to be an Optimist list so that we can share all of the wonderful reasons why someone should join our organization.  To submit your ideas, click here

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