Optimist International President Dave Bruns discusses exciting events and programs, including Honoring Our Heroes, for all Optimist Members to participate in during the summer season.
|
|
Live Stream of Optimist International Oratorical World Championships
to watch
over
50 youth
compete for one of
nine regional scholarships
of
$5,000
with their unique oratorical presentation of:
"How My Best Brings Out the Best in Others."
There will be two separate broadcasts happening simultaneously: Auditorium Stream and Seminar Room Stream. Click on the "
Detailed Schedule"
link to see what time your contestant is speaking and in which live streaming broadcast.
On June 24, the day of the
World Championships
, there will be only one live streaming window for viewing the final round of competition for the Oratorical World Championship scholarships:
First Place $15,000; Second Place $10,000; & Third Place $5,000.
Is your Club interested in donating to the oratorical program? Donate to the Optimist International Oratorical World Championships Contest here. Share the link on your social media accounts to encourage non-Optimists to donate!
|
|
 |
2016-17 Proposed Bylaws Amendments
Optimist Clubs and Members will have the opportunity to cast their vote for several proposed amendments to the International Bylaws at the upcoming International Convention in Québec City. To read the 2016-17 Proposed Bylaws Amendments, click
here
. There is also a link to this document in the International Convention section on the Optimist International homepage,
www.optimist.org
.
|
|
Reel Optimism Winners to be Announced at Convention
 Voting for the Reel Optimism Video Contest concluded on May 31 and the number of views and votes cast is impressive. In total, the finalist videos received nearly 30,000 page visits and more than 16,000 votes! The winning videos will be announced during the upcoming International Convention in Québec City.
If you will not be attending convention, make sure to tune into the
live stream
link on Friday, July 1. Reel Optimism winners will be announced during the First Business Session that is scheduled for 9:00-11:30 AM (EDT).
|
|
|
|
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 be "Bring Out the Best" well into the future.
|
|
Upcoming Events:
June 23-24, 2016 (St. Louis, MO)
June 30-July 2, 2016 (Quebec City, QC)
July 3-5, 2016 (Quebec City, QC)
July 20-Aug 4, 2016 (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)
|
|
|
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 (511)
2. GARDEN GROVE-ORANGE COAST, CA (297)
3. CENTERVILLE-NOON, OH (239)
4. MENOMONEE FALLS, WI (209)
5. BFT-WARSAW, IN (188)
6. HIGHLAND, IL (165)
7. BOYERTOWN, PA (163)
8. UPTOWN-GREAT FALLS, MT (163)
9. WAUSAU, WI (143)
10. LAKE LOTAWANA, MO (143)
*Membership numbers as of Wednesday, June 15, 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]
.
|
|
|
|
|
Live from Québec City
The International Convention will take place at the Québec City Convention Centre in Québec City, Québec June 30 - July 2, 2016. Select events at the 2016 International Convention will be streamed live. The Board of Directors meeting, the Opening Ceremonies, and the Business sessions will be streaming live on the Optimist channel at
optimist.org/stream
.
Optimist International wants all the Members to be part of the 98th annual International Convention this year. While every Optimist may not be able to travel to Québec City, they can still stay up to date on the events taking place! Make sure to visit the Optimist
Facebook page
and follow
@Optimistorg
on Twitter for convention news and updates. Use the hashtag
#OI2016
to join the conversation and follow what other Optimists are saying. Share your thoughts about the upcoming convention and respond to posts made by other Optimists. Be part of the conversation before, during and after the convention!
Featured Workshops at Convention
Convention attendees should plan to attend the Québec Experience workshops. For a full list of workshops, click
here.
Seeking Rising Stars
This workshop will provide information and answer your questions about how to achieve your leadership goals through service at the Optimist International-level. If you are interested in being appointed to International-level committees, running for the Board of Directors, being selected as a nominee for International Vice-President or President, members of the Candidate Qualifications Committee will be there to enlighten you.
On to the 2nd Annual Optimist International Oratorical World Championships
Optimist International and Saint Louis University's partnership was a success! The 1st Annual event hosted 150 contestants, parents, chaperones and guests onsite and 30 contestants remotely. Learn how to get your Club recognition and respect in your community by hosting an event that truly affects young people in their pursuit of higher education in an Optimistic way. Offering the potential of a $22,500 scholarship is irresistible to students and educators trying to develop communication skills in today's society of texting and lack of self-expression due to media and social pressures. Make sure you come to this workshop to see how your Club can be a part of this exciting new venture by taking your current Club's Oratorical Contest to new heights or to learn how to get your Club involved if you don't yet conduct an Oratorical Contest.
Great Idea for a Fundraiser - Now What?
Raising funds for those all-important youth and community service projects is a vital part of every Optimist Club's activities. While it can be a fulfilling and worthwhile endeavor, it can be overwhelming and confusing if you are not sure where to start or how to stay on track. During this session, faculty will present everything you need to know about the basics of fundraising. Along the way we will introduce a few successful ideas that can be implemented quickly at the Club level. This is your opportunity to energize your fundraising efforts. Be sure to join us!
|
|
 A Club President online training course and Lieutenant Governor online training course are available at
www.optimisttraining.org. Both are available in English and French. These user-friendly courses feature interactive quizzes and pop-up resource materials. Each user will be guided, step-by-step, through the basic skills and actions needed to be a successful Club President or District Lieutenant Governor.
These training courses are not a replacement for the onsite training offered at District Conferences, District Conventions, and the Optimist International Convention. They were developed to augment this training in an effort to help participants better prepare themselves for these important leadership positions. To access these courses, go to
www.optimisttraining.org, create a profile, and click on the appropriate course and follow the easy to follow instructions.
|
|
"Optimist Name Dropping" means mentioning "Optimists" in order to encourage interest in your Club. It may help stir an interest in your Club by mentioning Optimist events or Members of your Club during conversations with people who are not familiar with our organization.
Here's an example - Someone mentions an activity or an event in conversation, such as "have you been to the new restaurant in town?" You could say, "Our Optimist Club just had a social meeting there last week." Or, "Our Optimist Club is having a Tastefest and that restaurant will be participating." This gives you the perfect opportunity to share some quick examples of what your Club does and invite them to come to a future meeting.
Remember to hand them an Optimist Creed card or your Optimist business card stating the day, time and location of your meetings along with your contact information. Another good way to spur Optimist conversations is with the use of Optimist shirts, pins, or car magnets.
|
|
Club Officer Elect Report
 It is important to have your Club 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]
.
|
|
Optimist International Junior Golf Championships Sponsors
Optimist Junior Golf would like to thank the sponsors of the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships.
- Palm Beach County Sports Commission
- PGA National Resort and Spa
- Under Armour
- Prize Possessions
- Arnold Palmer Golf Management
- SEI Wireless Solutions
- Core Golf Academy
- Greg Norman Champions Golf Academy
|
|
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
|
|
There is a quick and easy way to support Optimist Junior Golf when you shop at
Amazon.com. Optimist Junior Golf is participating in the AmazonSmile program. Every time you shop, AmazonSmile will donate a percentage of the purchase price to Optimist Junior Golf.
On your first visit to
smile.amazon.com, search for Optimist International Youth Programs Foundation. Select the Optimist International Youth Programs Foundation as your charitable organization to receive donations before you begin shopping. Every eligible purchase you make on AmazonSmile will result in a donation towards Optimist Junior Golf!
|
|
Canadian Children's Optimist Foundation - Club Grant
 Congratulations to the Vars Optimist Club - winner of the $500 Club grant which will be used to organize their 10th Canada Day Party on July 1, 2016.
Does your Club have a project idea? Apply for the CCOF Club Grant program. Visit the CCOF website for more information:
ccof-foec.org/club-grant
For questions, contact Nadège Fortier at
[email protected]
or call (514) 593-4401 ext.: 336.
|
|
International Development
Another flag has been added to the Optimist International family. The organizational meeting for the Optimist Club of Morocco-Casablanca was held with 20 Charter Members in attendance on May 29. The Moroccans will be working with and through the University Hassan II to improve the lives of young people in the country. Charter Club President, Aderrazaq Mihamou, is registered for the International Convention and plans to be in attendance to watch the Moroccan Flag as it is presented during the convention's opening ceremonies. The Club in Morocco was preceded in early May by the organization of the Thailand Junior Golf Association Optimist Club of Bangkok. The Club was developed through the association's participation in the Optimist Junior Golf Tournament.
International development initiatives are continuing in various stages in Holland, Great Britain, Australia, Germany, Dubai, and Guam with the most recent contacts being established in Cameroon and Nepal. A separate newsletter focusing on International Clubs is under development with the first issue targeted for July. If you have contacts in a foreign land who would entertain the possibility of establishing an Optimist Club in their country, please contact Jim Boyd, Director of Strategic Growth, at
[email protected]
.
|
|
|
© 2015 Optimist International
|
|
|
|
|
