Dear fellow Optimist,
Our just completed World Oratorical Championship and Junior Golf Championship remind us of the important work our Clubs do to provide positive choices for children. Thousands of students participated in the Oratorical contest, our longest running International program. Forty-nine students earned $2,500 scholarships, nine of them earned an additional $5,000 scholarship and three of them won a total of $30,000 in addition to all previous winnings. Congratulations to our three speakers who claimed top honors: Nayana Xavier of the Capital-Virginia District in first place; Julia Abbott of the Pacific Southwest District in second place; and Corinne Quynh Lan Marie Hoang of the Eastern Ontario District in third place. I had the pleasure of hearing all 49 District winners, and their various approaches to the topic of how optimism can heal the world gives me great hope for the future.
Hundreds of golfers participated in the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship, and over five thousand more participated in District tournaments. The sportsmanship and talent of these young players are exemplary and foretells a successful future, thanks to the many Optimist International volunteers. The parent/child events created bonding opportunities for families, along with a rare opportunity to play on a premier golf course.
These and other programs remind us of the importance of strengthening our Clubs and reaching out to new communities to expand our positive influence on youth, our communities, and ourselves. As we enter the last two months of the “success” quarter, I hope you will focus on these things:
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The easiest way to show that your Optimist Club has the stuff that optimism is made of is complete all the steps in being a Certified Optimistic Optimist Club. It’s worth the effort. Everyone wants to be part of a Certified Optimistic Optimist Club!
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The traditional way for an Optimist Club to measure its success is to become an Honor Club. By gaining the Honor Club recognition, an Optimist Club proves that it is doing all it can do to leave a positive legacy by acting with pride today. Read the steps here and then take the final steps to make Honor Club part of your Optimist Club’s reality and future.
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To be an Honor Club and to thrive in a community, an Optimist Club must add new members. A membership drive or program can truly be one of your Optimist Club Members’ favorite programs. It allows them to tell stories and brag about why they belong. It’s never too early or too late to invite new members to join your Optimist Club. Host a NOW or WOW event.
- Take advantage of the administrative fee waiver and save $15 every time your Club adds a new Member, now through September 30.
- Make a commitment to yourself and your Club to invite a guest to Club gathering in the next 30 days. Once they see the value you see in your Club, they will want to be part of it too.
In closing, I encourage you to gather with other Optimist Clubs and Members at your District Conventions this month. Whether in-person or virtual, when Optimist Club Members come together, inspiration happens. Take that inspiration – that positive, can-do attitude – and achieve greatness as you continue to Choose Optimism this year and every year.
Sincerely,
Mark Weinsoff
2020-2021 President
Optimist International
