OCTOBER 2015

Happy Optimist New Year!
International President David Bruns: October 2015
International President David Bruns: October 2015

Welcome to the 2015-16 Leadership Hotline

Every month during your year of leadership, a copy of the Hotline electronic newsletter will be sent to your e-mail. The newsletter is designed to keep you up to date with
information and news that you can use during your year in office.

This newsletter is sent to all Optimist leaders, from the Club to the International level. While the information will be targeted to leaders, we encourage you to share the news with other Members.
Optimist International Oratorical World Championships

The first Optimist International Oratorical World Championships is under way!  It is time for your Club to begin thinking of helping a student attend college by speaking about being an Optimist. Students have a chance to win up to $22,500 in scholarships beginning at the Club level - YOUR CLUB!  If your Club has never held an Oratorical Contest, make this Optimist year count by hosting your first contest.  

Contact [email protected] for a step by step planning guide or additional information about the Oratorical Contest. 

Bringing Out the Best 

The "Bringing Out the Best" pin will be awarded to Members during the 2015-16 Optimist year for bringing  in 3 new Members or being a Builder of Excellence. 

For additional 2015-16 incentives, click here.

President's Pride Report

Has your Club completed successful programs and activities this year?  Make sure to note them on the President's Pride Report for 2014-15. Optimist International bases future funding and planning on the success of Club programs and activities. 

The report is available on the Optimist Leaders website .  The form was due online September 30, but hard copies sent, emailed or faxed to Optimist International headquarters will still be accepted. For Award purposes, submit the President's Pride report by October 15. Reports submitted after October 15 will only be used for statistic gathering. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Programs Department at (800) 500-8130 or via e-mail at  [email protected] .

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:
December 4-5, 2015 (St. Louis, MO)
February through May, 2016 (Dates & locations TBA)

June 23-24, 2016 (St. Louis, MO)

June 30-July 2, 2016 (Quebec City, QC) 
July 3-5, 2016 (Quebec City, QC)
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 (449)
  2. GARDEN GROVE-ORANGE COAST, CA (311)
  3. CENTERVILLE-NOON, OH (244)
  4. MENOMONEE FALLS, WI (216)
  5. ARLINGTON, TX (207)
  6. BOYERTOWN, PA (197)
  7. BFT-WARSAW, IN (181)
  8. UPTOWN-GREAT FALLS, MT (164)
  9. HIGHLAND, IL (155)
  10. MECHANICSVILLE, MD (146)
*Membership numbers as of Tuesday, October 6, 2015

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] . 
Message from 2015-16 JOOI President

Greetings Optimist Leaders!
 
I am honored to serve as your 2015-16 JOOI President and to take JOOI to a new level. As a JOOI Member, the organization has given me many opportunities to grow as a leader.  JOOI has impacted my life greatly and I know it will impact yours as well. Whether it is by teaching you the importance of service in the community or helping you build confidence in yourself, JOOI will change your life for the better.
 
I encourage each Optimist leader to consider building a Youth Club, or contributing to a Youth Club in your community. Optimist International and JOOI as an organization are in business to directly affect the young people in various communities.  Let's build Optimist Clubs, and let's build JOOI Clubs. Creating a new JOOI Club is not difficult.  JOOI has a wonderful product to sell to our youth, and if we do the due diligence of preparation, the young people will come.  We want to serve.  We want to lead.  We want to have fun.
 
Contact Youth Club Director Amy Keller at 248-371-6000 ext. 218 or [email protected] for more information, tips and advice to get started and put you in contact with experienced Youth Club builders to learn from their experiences.
 
Yours in Optimism,
Logan Clemente
2015-16 JOOI President
Convention Save the Date!

Rediscover Optimism in Quebec City, Quebec during the 98th Annual Optimist International Convention on June 30 thru July 2, 2016. Centrally located in downtown Quebec City, the convention will take place at the Quebec City Convention Centre. The Centre is within walking distance of the main hotel, Hilton Quebec and is surrounded by some of the city's most memorable sightseeing. The Hilton Quebec is only 25 minutes from the Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport.
 
To book your reservations or to learn more about the convention, click here. For questions, call (800) 500-8130, ext. 205 or send an email to [email protected].
Promote Optimist Junior Golf

Tournament shirts are available for sale. A limited supply of Nike Victory Polo Shirts with the Optimist Golf logo in University Blue and Kelly Green are available. The shirts cost $50 US plus shipping (men's and ladies).  

Please contact Sharon Parton, Junior Golf Manager, at [email protected].
Become an Optimist Junior Golf Patrongolf-ball-grass.jpg

Show your support for the Optimist Junior Golf Program.  
With a $75 US contribution to the Optimist International Youth Programs Foundation, you receive:  
  • Business card size ad with a personal message in the official Tournament Program Book for the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships.
  • Optimist Tournament Towel (not shipped out of the USA. Arrangements can be made to be picked up at Championships).
  • Recognized at the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships. 
We invite you to support your junior golfer and to help the Optimist International Youth Programs Foundation in providing meaningful activities for kids in the future.
 
Thank you for making a difference by investing in our youth!  To donate, click  here. 
New Coach Training for Optimist Clubs

Optimist International has teamed up with Coaching Coaches, LLC, to provide Optimist Clubs with access to the highly acclaimed Coaching Coaches online training programs.  

Optimist International is providing this service to its Clubs in order to elevate its standards in working with youth sports participants.  The online coach's training is filled with insightful tactics and strategies that will help any volunteer coach deliver an even more effective youth sports program.  A training program for youth sports parents is also available.  Download an  informational flyer or visit  www.optimist.org/coaches for details. 
Canadian Children's Optimist Foundation News

 

NEW! Incentive 

This year, it's happening. The Foundation is offering an incentive that you don't want to miss.  Visit the Canadian Children's Optimist Foundation website for information. It's worth your while!

 

Say It Loud: I Believe ... In A Dime A Day

The Foundation continues to support your Club's charitable work by funding District scholarships, youth activities and Club's community projects. All of the support is possible thanks to your donations.
Join our annual campaign "I Believe... In The Dime-A-Day" and see how a small donation can make a huge difference for your Club!

 

New Optimist Year, Same Old Ponytail!

The following resources will help your Club during the upcoming Optimist year:
  1. New Website -  Find all the necessary Foundation information here
  2. Facebook page - Keep yourself up to date on Foundation news
  3. New District Foundation Representatives - Make it a point to meet your District Foundation Representative
Let's Grow Together!
 

The Personal Growth and Involvement Program (PGI) is a great tool to increase Member involvement, personal development and Club growth. The beginning of the new Optimist Year is the perfect time for Members to start the program or work towards the next level. 

Contact Barbara Zurcher at 800-500-8130 Ext. 214 or [email protected] for questions or if you are interested in starting the program - Right Here, Right Now!
WOW!Calendar Fundraising Program

The WOW!Calendar Fundraising Program is available again this year for Optimist Clubs that are looking for a successful end of year fundraiser.  
 
The WOW!Calendar program offers:
  • Unique personalized calendars that are easy to sell
  • Exclusivity - this program is only available to Optimist Clubs
  • No upfront costs and no minimum orders
Sign up today!  To view the 2016 calendar pages or for more information, click here . Please feel free to contact Allie, your WOW!Calendar Representative, with any questions at 800-236-0581 ext. 22 or [email protected] . 
JOOI Advisors

If y ou are an Advisor or your Club sponsors a JOOI Club, please update the Club roster for the new year using the Optimist Leaders site as soon as you receive the current list.
 
There are now two ways you can log in to optimistleaders.org to access JOOI records: use your email address or use your office/Club/year.
 
Please contact [email protected] for additional instructions or questions.

© 2015 Optimist International