March 2020
There is a new country on the map of Optimist Clubs, and it brings a couple of firsts. Optimist International welcomed in February the Optimist Club of Kohlapur, India. Students from a medical university in the city, who reached out to Optimist International in 2019, have formed the first Optimist Club in their country. The project also created a unique arrangement for sponsorship. Students in the University of Dayton Flyers Optimist Club in the Ohio District will mentor the students in India, with guidance from the Centerville Noon Optimist Club in Ohio.


Nepal, to the north of India, continues to be very active with new Club development. Optimist International welcomed the Optimist Club of Lalitpur in February, with 17 members. Lalitpur is just south of the nation’s capital of Kathmandu. The Optimist Club of Kathmandu and the Optimist Club of St Paul, Minnesota are sponsors, and will provide guidance to these new Optimists. Meanwhile, the growth in Nepal shows no signs of slowing. Organizational meetings are tentatively set for late March for a new college club in Kathmandu and a traditional Optimist Club north of the city.
Top Photo: The Optimist Club of Kohlapur, India. Bottom Photo: The Optimist Club of Lalitpur, Nepal.
Administrative Corner
Club Communications
Communications with our Clubs in Asia and Africa are ramping up again.  A video conference call was held February 29 with Club leaders in Nepal and India. A similar call is scheduled for mid-March with our Clubs in Africa. Optimist International is continuing to attempt development of two new Clubs in South Africa.

Travel Info
Members overseas considering attending the 2020 Optimist International Convention in the Chicago area should inform Jim Boyd ( [email protected] ), the Director of Strategic Growth. There is a process in place for providing potential delegates with written letters of support as they make their VISA application with the U.S Consular’s office in their country. Optimist International recommends beginning this process in March to allow time for creating documents that could assist with the temporary VISA process.

Membership Rosters
The end of the second quarter of the fiscal year is upon us. This is a great time for Clubs to assess membership rosters to add new members, and to remove those who have left. Clubs overseas should also review their financial status with Optimist International to make certain there is a plan in place to meet their financial obligations.

 
Club News: Echo Hills Optimist Club of Ghana

The Echo Hills Optimist Club of Ghana has adopted a children’s ministry (Love Works Ministries) to help support the children of Accra. These are the neediest of children in the area and Echo Hills is conducting a supply drive to include backpacks, shoes and clothing for the children. Anyone or any Club wishing to help should contact Club President Evans Yeguo at [email protected] .
Global Spotlight: Uganda and Nebraska project

The March Global Spotlight is focusing on a partnership between students in the middle of the U.S. and a project in Uganda. Junior Optimists in Norfolk, Nebraska, have been working to help develop the Norfolk Block of the St. Immaculate Blessed Primary School in Kasese, Uganda. Much work has been accomplished and much more is needed. The Junior Optimists recently raised $225 during World Kindness Week and sent the funds to Uganda to continue the work.