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Happy September Optimists,
As we approach the end of my tenure as Optimist International President, I want to thank you for being an Optimist. Thank you for empowering children to be all they can be. Thank you for making your communities better places to live. Thank you for bringing out the best in yourselves and in all of us.
First Lady Penny and I also want to thank all the Optimists that welcomed us into their homes, their Clubs and their district meetings this past year. We visited 21 Districts, approximately 40 Clubs and 14 district meetings, and, including those we met at the International Convention, we spoke with more than 2,300 Optimists face to face. We saw firsthand the commitment of our members and the importance of the work they do.
When First Lady Penny and I attended a meeting at the Brookville Optimist Club in Ohio, we met a young man who told us the story of how he went to prison at age 18, before turning his life around behind bars. This young man told us that he had started selling drugs just to be able to afford the basics of life.
He was raised by his grandmother, and one year, she had to choose between buying him a coat or a pair of shoes. He got the shoes.
He said being cold wasn’t the worst part about not having a coat. The worst part was the embarrassment and humiliation of being bullied because of it.
This young man told me I had no idea how hopeless he felt.
It is my dream to build a future where every child has hope – because every adult in their life is an Optimist.
That dream starts with a new signature program where Optimist Clubs partner with their local elementary schools (or classrooms) to support safe, comfortable and productive learning environments for every elementary school student around the world.
I introduced this program at the International Convention in July. It’s called O.W.L.S. – Optimists Working for Learning Success.
Through O.W.L.S., we will provide children with nutrition, clothing, school supplies, hygiene products, tutoring and mentoring to help them thrive. Many of our Clubs are already doing some of this. By participating in this program, Optimists will help create an environment where all elementary students can develop confidence, self-esteem, and HOPE for their future.
As President, I’ve spoken a lot about the challenges we face as an organization. As daunting as those challenges might seem, as we move forward into a new Optimist year, we have every reason to be hopeful, because OPTIMISM IS HOPE. And who wouldn’t want to be part of an organization that creates an environment of hope for the most vulnerable in our communities. What better purpose to engage others in our organization?
I love this organization and all the people committed to its mission, so I ask all of you to join me in my dream.
Let’s show the world that HOPE LIVES HERE!
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