Optimist International President Dave Bruns discusses the history of Optimist International and the importance of the upcoming 100th anniversary.
|
|
Optimist Club of the Year
Congratulations to the Optimist Club of Collin County for being named the 2014-15 Optimist Club of the Year! The Optimist Club of Collin County conducted many successful community service projects such as the CASA of Collin County Kids Golf Classic, Lovepacs food pantry packaging & delivery, the CASA of Collin County Christmas Toy Drive, and the CASA of Collin County Voice for Children Gala. The Club's leaders and Members attended Optimist International Leadership Summits, the Optimist International Convention, participated in the PGI program and completed Optimist International Foundation training. Several Club growth initiatives were executed including a "text a prospect" challenge that resulted in more than 30 new Club Members, a N.O.W. party in conjunction with the Club's first anniversary, and a banquet honoring Charter Members. The Club sponsored the Optimist Club of Panama, the first-ever Optimist Club in that country. Members are currently working on new Club projects in Puebla, Mexico and Morgantown, West Virginia. In total, the Club added 70 new Optimists during the 2014-15 year.
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.
|
|
 |
Congratulations to the 2016 Reel Optimism Winners!
Using the creativity of Club Members and community resources, adult Clubs, Junior Optimist Clubs and the general public were asked to create a video that illustrated the topic, "How my best brings out the best in others." During last month's Optimist International Convention in Quebec City, the winners of the 2016 Reel Optimism video contest were announced:
Each of the above clubs received a $1000 Club grant courtesy of Optimist International, the Optimist International Foundation and the Canadian Children's Optimist Foundation. In addition, all convention attendees voted in an onsite poll for their favorite video from amongst the three winners. The winner of the $500 bonus Club grant was the Centerville Optimist Club of Ohio.
Stay tuned for details and submission information for the 2017 Reel Optimism Video Contest.
|
|
|
|
Optimist International's Board of Directors has set a goal of 100,000 Members by the organization's 100th year in 2019. Your Club is urged to do its part in setting its own goal of increasing its membership between now and our 100 Year Anniversary. Help assure that your Club will "Bring Out the Best" well into the future.
|
|
Upcoming Events:
July 20-Aug 4, 2016 (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)
CCOF Board of Directors Meeting
Aug 29, 2016 (TBD)
OIF Board Meeting
Sept 9, 2016 (St. Louis, MO)
OIF District Reps Training
Sept 10, 2016 (St. Louis, MO)
|
|
|
Top Clubs by Membership
Each Member effectively impacts the lives of 35 children a year. How many is your Club reaching?
1. CHARLOTTE-MALLARD CREEK, NC (512)
2. GARDEN GROVE-ORANGE COAST, CA (297)
3. CENTERVILLE-NOON, OH (240)
4. MENOMONEE FALLS, WI (215)
5. BFT-WARSAW, IN (189)
6. UPTOWN-GREAT FALLS, MT (172)
7. HIGHLAND, IL (170)
8. ARLINGTON, TX (165)
9. BOYERTOWN, PA (158)
10. LAKE LOTAWANA, MO (143)
*Membership numbers as of Tuesday, August 2, 2016
|
OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS
U
nited States & Caribbean:
|
|
If you have any comments, concerns or suggestions for the International Board of Directors, please send to
[email protected]
.
|
|
|
|
|
Optimist International Junior Golf Championships
 The Optimist Intermational Junior Golf Championships began July 20 at PGA National Resort and Spa in West Palm Beach, Florida.
With a strong field of golfers featuring players from 42 states and 26 total nations, the level of play was impressive on the courses. The final phase of the tournament is currently underway with the b
oys 16-18 and girls 15-18 divisions.
For results of the tournament, click
here
.
For more information about the
Optimist International Junior Golf Championships, click here.
|
Has your Club completed successful programs and activities this year? Make sure to note them on the President's Pride Report for 2015-16. The report is available on the Optimist Leaders website. Go to
www.optimistleaders.org
, log in and click on "Reports" on the right side of the screen. On the next screen, select the President's Pride Report. Hard copies can be printed from the Forms page of the Optimist website,
www.optimist.org
,
and faxed or mailed to Optimist International. The form is due online by September 30, but hard copies sent or faxed to Optimist International headquarters will be accepted after September 30. If you have any questions, please contact the Programs Department at (800) 500-8130 or via e-mail at
[email protected]
.
|
98th Annual Optimist Convention
Optimist International would like to thank each and every Optimist Member that "Rediscovered Optimism" while recently attending the Quebec City Convention. The event celebrated the successes of many Optimist Members, provided training for and welcomed new leaders for the 2016-17 year, supported two service projects benefiting local homeless people and a child in need, and ended with a night full of fun at the President's Banquet and Ball. To view Convention photos, click
here
. Convention videos of the Opening Ceremony and Business Sessions, including the inspirational message from keynote speaker Swen Nater, can be found
here
.
|
|
Club Officer Elect Report
 Does your Club have a leadership team in place now for the 2016-17 Optimist year? An August mailing will be sent to all Club President-Elects who have completed the Club Officer Elect Report. A current Club officer will need to login to the
Optimist Leaders website
and click "Reports" on the right-hand side of the screen. Then click on "Club Officer Elect Report" and you will be able to select the names of the Club Members who will be filling leadership roles during the upcoming Optimist year. If you have questions or need assistance, contact Charlotte in the Member Services Department at
[email protected]
.
|
|
 Your Club can benefit from recruiting new Members and retention of existing Members even in these late summer days! August means the upcoming start of the school year. Visit with your school officials and obtain the names of new teachers that will be starting their new year in your community. Your Club can participate in a "New Teacher Welcome." This gathering can be a brunch or a meal and an opportunity for teachers to meet new friends. Provide each attendee with a copy of the Optimist Creed and Club memento, as well as an invitation to your Club meeting or an upcoming project. Follow-up with attendees in September.
Be active in follow-up with "Friend of Optimist" Members that were added to your Club during the last two months of last year. If their renewal is not completed by their expiration date, they will be deleted from your roster. Visit with each of them and encourage their continued support of your Club. Your Club receives $40 from each Friend of Optimist. If the Friend indicates they will not renew their membership, you have time to replace them!
These efforts can insure your Club can achieve Honor Club as you complete other requirements.
|
|
100 Reasons to be an Optimist
 Why are you an Optimist? Why should your friends, coworkers or family members become an Optimist? In anticipation of Optimist International's 100th year in 2019, 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.
|
|
Tag Optimist International in Your Social Media Posts
 If you are on social media, you've probably heard of people "tagging" each other. Check out How (and Why) to Tag People on Social Networks on marketergizmo.com for a simple and user-friendly outline of how to tag people and groups/organizations on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. So, please consider tagging Optimist International's official channels in all of your Optimist-related posts. Not only will this help increase the reach of your social media activity, it will also alert Optimist International and allow us to share your posts!
|
|
 The Optimist International Global Spotlight was created to provide another means of communication between Optimist International and the Optimist Club Presidents outside of the United States and Canada. The newsletter will be sent monthly.
To view the July Global Spotlight, click
here.
|
|
Bringing Out the Best
Congratulations to a number of
Members
for bringing in three new Members or being a Builder of Excellence since October 1. The "Bringing Out the Best" pin will be awarded to Members during the 2015-16 Optimist year.
For additional incentives, click
here
.
*List as of Tuesday, June 14
|
|
Canadian Children's Optimist Foundation - Club Grant
Has this summer inspired you with ideas to help your community's youth bloom? Apply through the CCOF Club Grant program before September 30 for a chance to receive a $500 grant for setting up your community project.
With this grant, the Vars Optimist Club hosted a Canada Day party. This free event, organized for the 10th year, brought together 1500 community members celebrating their pride to be Canadian and Franco-Ontarians.
Click
here
for more information. If you have questions, contact Nadège Fortier at
[email protected]
or call (800) 363-7151 ext.: 336.
|
|
|
© 2015 Optimist International
|
|
|
|
|
