Greetings Optimist!

February is considered the month of love. Please allow me a moment to publicly express my love to my family – wife, daughters and their husbands, and our grandchildren. Also let me say to my Optimist family – the love you show in your Optimist life makes me proud. Without you there is no Optimist International. 

February 2^nd is Optimist Day. This is our day! Our day to shine the light of Optimism. As Optimists, whether we are putting a smile on the face of a child by handing them a balloon in a park, providing a special gift to a child that would otherwise do without, providing an opportunity to win a scholarship or providing necessary food, clothing, and supplies to students, we are making a positive impact.

Helping the most vulnerable and most impressionable in our community provides that warm feeling of caring and helping – it physically enhances our wellbeing. But we get so much more from being an Optimist. Penny and I have developed close friendships with members not only in our club, but in our district and throughout Optimist International, that we will have for a lifetime. Being Optimists and trying to live the creed make all of us better people.

In this month of love, I want to encourage you to share your love and passion for Optimism. Give your friends and neighbors the opportunity to experience the joy of being an Optimist. Together we can continue the legacy of over 100 years of Optimist service.

“My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world.”

Jack Layton

We can change the world – if we choose to. Choose Optimism! 

Bob McFadyen

2022-2023 President

Spotlight

On my trip to California, I was able to learn about two exceptional programs run and sponsored by Optimists in California

OVY (Optimist Volunteer for Youth) Camp: This is a camp fully supported by a small Optimist Club in the Pacific Central District that provides a one week affordable ($25/child) camping experience for grade 5 to 9 students. Students in grades 10 through 12 who have been to the camp often come back as camp volunteers and develop leadership skills that will allow them to become paid counselors once they graduate high school. This Camp handles 300 campers per summer, making a positive impact on these students. Check out their website at www.ovycamp.org. Thank you to Executive Director Matthew Lyles for introducing the wonderful project to us and for everything you do to make this camp a success.

Optimist Youth Homes and Family Services: Thank you to Todd Sosna, Chief Executive Director of the facility and program. First Lady Penny and I had a tour of the group home facility that has been sponsored by Optimist Clubs in the Cal South District for many years. Todd took the time to give us some history of the facility and the changes taking place moving from a group home environment to a fostering environment, giving the youth men and women a better chance of long term success. The youth home facility is being changed into living quarters and a retail environment providing young adults aging out of the foster system a place to go and learn real life experiences through employment in the retail stores. Check them out at www.oyhfs.org.

Optimist International Updates:

Click here to register for the online webinar

"Chat with President Bob"

February 22, 2023, 6:30pm Central Time

Open to all Optimist Members

Click here to find out information about

Scholarship Contests ~ Essay and Oratorical

Click here to learn more about

YOUR International Convention

Hotel booking link and local attraction information is available,

and registration will be open soon!