Optimist John Young, located in Denver, Colorado, recently approached me with a simple idea.  We should remind all Optimists to thank their sponsors for opening the door to all of the tremendous benefits of being an Optimist Member.

This reminded me of my sponsor, Blake Sickles.  Blake invested a lot of time making sure I was introduced to all of the Members of our Club during the first few months of being an Optimist.  One of my favorite memories of my first two years with the Club was manning the bread slicing and buttering table for the two nights of the annual spaghetti supper.  Blake and I spent this time talking about everything from Club politics, traditions, opportunities and how hard it is to get the smell of garlic out of your clothes.

Though Blake served as one of our Club Presidents, he never held any International or District positions.  He never attended an International Convention.  However, by simply agreeing to be my sponsor and investing in me, he has now affected many lives.  He has certainly affected mine and for that I am thankful.

If you think about it, I should also be thankful for Blake's sponsor for introducing him to the Optimist organization.  I should be thankful for the Breakfast Optimist Club of Fort Worth for sponsoring our Club to begin the whole process.  Unfortunately, neither Blake nor the Breakfast Optimist Club of Fort Worth are physically with us at this time.

Therefore in memory of both Blake Sickles and the Breakfast Optimist Club of Fort Worth, I would like to declare the month of November as an official time to "THANK YOUR SPONSOR."  Thank your personal sponsor and help your Club thank its sponsor(s).

There is no official way to do this, but I would encourage everyone to be creative; be innovative; be gracious.  Post photos and send your stories to the Optimist headquarters in St. Louis.  You never know how much that "thank you" will mean.  This could help encourage your sponsor to share more Optimism and to remember the accomplishments of the past as they press on to greater achievements of the future.

Thank you for what you are doing to Bring Out the Best in our Kids, our Communities, and Ourselves.

All the Best,

Ken

Thanksgiving and the holiday season are quickly approaching. Traditionally, we set aside time for giving thanks and appreciation to all we are so blessed with.

Recently, Ken and I had the opportunity to attend the Optimist Club of Arlington (OCA) installation banquet. During the meeting, I realized a past Member played a very important role in changing the course of my life; this man's name is Bob Lynn.  Bob served as OCA President the year I joined the ACA Optimist Club as a sponsor for my daughter's cheerleading team. To continue the Club's distinguished tradition, Bob took the 180 cheerleading moms of the Arlington Cheerleading Association and formed the ACA Optimist Club. If not for Bob, that group of women would never have acquired all of the benefits of being part of the Optimist organization. That was 25 years ago this past March.

Photo courtesy of the ACA Optimist Club

Would I have continued to sponsor my daughter's team?  Of course, my mother said I needed to, and I learned to always take her advice!   I continue thinking of the opportunities afforded to me through serving as leader in the Club; the opportunity to attend our first District meeting and International Convention opened additional opportunities for the next 25 years. That goal of "the watch" and the Club being distinguished played a huge role in changing the course of my life.

I have not spoken to Bob Lynn in many years - however, I took the opportunity to thank him through his former Club Members at the installation banquet.   Two days later, I ran into a friend who introduced me to Bob Lynn's daughter.  I was able to share that story.   Being thankful for something that happened so long ago can open your life to healthy healing.  Bob Lynn, THANK YOU!

Who will you be thinking of this upcoming holiday season?  Have you thanked the person or people who took the time to form your Club, or the person who is responsible for you being an Optimist - your sponsor?

We wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. 

Yours in Optimism,

Patsy

Is your Club struggling to plan or find new fundraising projects? Helpful hints and tips to better conduct your Club's fundraiser can be found in the Fundraising Planning Guide or in the A to Z - Overview of Selected Projects.  

Can you finish the following sentence?  "Optimists bring out THE BEST..."  If so, then your Club should participate in the Third Annual Reel Optimism Video Contest.  The contest will expand to include both adult and youth (JOOI) Clubs. There will be a 30 Second Challenge and a separate Club Showcase contest (3:00 minutes or less) in each category. Club grants, courtesy of Optimist International, the Optimist International Foundation and the Canadian Children's Optimist Foundation, will be awarded to the winners. Videos can be submitted between February 15 and April 15, so start filming now!  Look for more details in the December Hotline and the Winter magazine.

PLEASE NOTE: Effective September 30, 2014, the Community Projects Awards (CPA) program has been discontinued at the International level. Clubs are instead encouraged to submit their projects into the Club Showcase category of Reel Optimism.

Continue to check the 97th Optimist International Convention page, for updates, such as the tentative agenda, leading up to the July 9-11 event!

The Optimist International Foundation is now accepting nominations for two open positions on the Board of Directors. One open position is for a Past International President and the other position is for a Board Member-at-Large.  Nominations must be received by January 1, 2015. Qualifications for candidates and the nomination form can be found on the Optimist International Foundation website.  

Celebrate National Philanthropy Day by donating to the Canadian Children's Optimist Foundation (CCOF) on November 15, 2014. The CCOF has an unrestricted gifts goal of $230,000 that can be easily met if each Optimist Member donated $13.50! For more information on how to donate or other CCOF news, such as a Past President Matching Grant Program, and an upcoming CCOF newsletter, please visit the CCOF website.

Hotel reservations for the 2015 JOOI Convention on July 6-8 can be made at the Hilton Riverside, New Orleans, LA. The sleeping room rates are $109 per night (plus taxes & fees-$128.08 inclusive) for up to two people and $125 (plus taxes & fees - $146.44 inclusive) for three-four people in a room.

Sleeping rooms with king beds are limited to a maximum of three people per room. Upgrades are available. To book your reservation and for more information on room types and upgrades available, click here, or call (800) 445-8667 or (504) 584-3959. When calling, remember to mention the dates and group name "Junior Optimist Octagon International." As long as there are sleeping rooms available, the deadline to make your reservation is June 17, 2015.

Since 1958, HOBY has been committed to providing students with impactful and empowering leadership training to bring out the best in them. Optimist Clubs will have the chance to sponsor students' participation in HOBY's 2015 State Leadership Seminars. For more information about how your Club can help, click here or visit HOBY's website.