Dear Fellow Optimist,
As we begin the final month of the current Optimist year, I look back with gratitude and pride even as we look forward to the transition to a new administration with International President Designate Patsy Garner on October 1st. I am grateful for the work you have done with your Club to provide hope and positive vision to youth and your community.
The theme for this quarter is “success”. This is a good time to recognize the accomplishments of your Club during this unusual year. Taking time to recognize our accomplishments is important for the well-being of your Club and inspires us to press on to the greater achievements of the future. Here are some of the successes we have had at the International level:
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International participation in the United Nations International Day of Happiness on March 20, 2021 including the first “Music Makes People Happy” student competition.
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International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. This hybrid convention allowed some of us to meet in person while including those who were unable to travel. We were the first service organization to meet in person, and only Optimism was spread at this event.
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Membership growth: You may be surprised to learn that during the last five months, International membership has grown at a pace of more than 100 members per month, resulting in a net gain of 640 Members in the last five months. People are looking for what we have to offer in these troubled times. Our organization will flourish as long as we keep
- optimism at the forefront of everything we do.
Here is what I would like to see you focus on for the month of September:
- Take time to recognize your club accomplishments
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Participate in the President to President Zoom event on September 20th (information forthcoming)
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Make plans to participate in Celebrate Community-2021, a new event bringing together Optimist, Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions Clubs in collaboration to create positive change in our communities. Information will be forthcoming on this new event. Click here to get started.
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Complete Honor Club requirements: Submit Club Pride report (and Club Officer-Elect Report if not already submitted), make sure you have submitted your Foundation donation, your officers have completed the Learning Management System training, you have paid all dues, and complete your Membership growth efforts.
It has been my honor and pleasure to serve as your 2020-2021 International President. I will carry positive memories of this year for the rest of my life, and I appreciate the time we have spent together even if most of it was through technology.
Sincerely,
Mark Weinsoff
2020-2021 President
Optimist International
