Happiness for the New Year
When we Choose Optimism, the weight and worry that we carry become lighter and the door opens to a new year with 365 days of happiness. Put a smile on your face, Optimist! Keep gratitude in your heart, kindness in your actions, and happiness in your soul. Welcome to 2021!
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#OptimistDay is
February 4, 2021
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Make plans now to celebrate #OptimistDay2021 with your Optimist Club in your community. Show that you are proud to be an Optimist by wearing your Optimist-branded apparel and sharing the Optimist Creed with your community. Now, more than ever, you should Choose Optimism.
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Happiness is Sharing Your Optimism |
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The best way to spread Optimism and to bring out the best in everyone we meet is to get people involved in our mission. Invite them to Choose Optimism and we'll send you a ribbon declaring that you are an Optimistic Person. Have you shared your Optimism with someone today?
International Day of Happiness is March 20, 2021
Optimist Clubs are invited to celebrate the International Day of Happiness on March 20, 2021. Created by the United Nations in 2013, its purpose is to "recognize the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in the lives of human beings around the world." Find out more at https://thedayofhappiness.org and begin making plans to bring happiness to your Optimist Club and community.
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Your Optimist Club may be Certified Optimistic |
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"We're on a mission to convert Optimist International from a service club organization to an optimistic organization that that focuses on service to youth," states President Mark Weinsoff. To help Optimist Clubs achieve that mission, we've developed the opportunity for every Optimist Club to be certified as an Optimistic Optimist Club. The Certified Optimistic Optimist Club pledge asks each club to fulfill five important steps to signify Optimism, Purpose, Engagement, Relationships, and Accomplishment, especially now, in our new virtual-driven world. Now, more than ever, we must Choose Optimism. Make the pledge, take the steps, and your Optimist Club will be Certified Optimistic.
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More information coming soon! |
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Honoring Past International President Ken Monschein
Ken Monschein, was a talented leader who served as Optimist International President in 1989-1990. Ken passed away January 7, 2021. Ken took our wonderful organization to new heights during this time. Under his leadership, the Optimist movement had our largest growth in history with 340 new clubs.
Ken once said that “Optimist International is the best of all service organizations because we are hands-on and really get involved in youth work. He also reminded Optimists that “we’ve barely scratched the surface on what we can do.” Please keep his family in your thoughts.
As an expression of sympathy, the family suggests sending memorial contributions to the Optimist International Foundation.
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The Optimist International World Oratorical Committee is working to make the 2021 contests the biggest and best ever. To help Optimist Clubs navigate these uncertain times, it has created a video that explains how to host virtual contests at the Club, Zone, and District levels and how to involve younger students in the Kids Speak Out Contest.
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January Webinar Updates:
January 18, 2021 | Effective & Fun Meetings- Online, In Person or Hybrid
Your club has resumed meetings but you are not getting the participation you desire. Some are in person, some online and you want to engage them all. Learn how to conduct fun and effective meetings, no matter the format.
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2020-2021 Community Activities |
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A Kaleidoscope of the Performing Arts
The term “performing arts” refers to forms of art in which artists use their voices, bodies, or inanimate objects to convey artistic expression. The performing arts include a range of disciplines which are performed in front of a live audience. Performing arts may include dance, music, opera, theater and musical theater, magic, illusion, mime, spoken word, puppetry, and even circus arts. Talent showcases highlighting these performing arts are not only fun, but innovative, giving young people the opportunity to express themselves using their own unique talents. Many shows and showcases are held every year because they are enjoyable, involve the community, and give young people a chance to show off their special skills. Showcases are particularly inviting because these events give young people of all ages a chance to participate, either on stage or behind the scenes.
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Optimist Photography Contest
Highlighting “The Optimist Creed”
Photographers for the contest should be students at any age up through high school and prior to postsecondary education. Students are asked to submit photos that illustrate/exemplify one of the ten verses/lines of “The Optimist Creed”.
Purpose
To expose young people to “The Optimist Creed” and our philosophy of Optimism and to assist them with developing an interest in the area of photography.
1. This provides an avenue for a student’s artistic expression through photos.
2. The contest introduces both students and parents to “The Optimist Creed” as our philosophy. It makes them aware of a local Optimist club, its activities, and can serve as an opportunity to promote membership
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Optimist Visual Arts Competition
This exciting new program is designed to encourage and celebrate youth
visual art skills in two categories – painting and drawing. Scholarships will
be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place at the OI level for each category. The
Optimist Visual Arts Competition – Paintings and Drawings gives the youth
we serve another outlet for their creativity!
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The Club Grant Application process will start on January 6th 2021
The application will be available on the OIF website beginning then and be available through March 15. The Club Grant is a matching grant for new club projects that will be held between April 2021 and March 2022. New this is year is the grant amount to be applied for has changed to minimum of $250 and a maximum of $1,000. Previously it was just a set amount of $500.
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Canadian Children’s Optimist Foundation |
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Call for New Project Submissions by March 2021
As we ring in the New Year of 2021, let’s collectively see possibilities beyond the Covid-19 pandemic. The Canadian Children’s Optimist Foundation is seeking novel project ideas from Optimist Clubs and an amount of $10,000 will be available through the CCOF Club Grants Program and the CCOF President’s Incentive (Jean-Claude St-Onge) to support projects for the benefit of children in various communities. Deadline for submissions is March 31, 2021.
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Global Spotlight for January 2021 |
What are our international Clubs doing to make a difference in their community and what new Clubs have formed? Click below to find out more. |
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Junior Optimist International January Notes |
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Please email junioroptimist@optimist.org if your Club has participated in any projects as we would like to share in the next issue of The Torch!
Thank you for all that you do!
2020-2021 Junior Optimist International Board of Directors
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See how your Optimist Club can thrive during the pandemic with tips from the December OptiForum.
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Every Optimist Club is encouraged to participate in the Optimist International Scholarship Programs. Students may earn as much as $2,500 in scholarship prize money at the District level. Those participating in the World Oratorical Championships may earn as much as $22,500! The topics are:
- ORATORICAL CONTEST "Healing the World with Optimism"
- ESSAY CONTEST “Reaching your Dreams by Choosing Optimism”
- COMMUNICATION CONTEST FOR THE DEAF & HARD OF HEARING "Healing the World with Optimism"
Click here for more info:
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Optimist Scholarship and Exemption Opportunity to be Awarded to Five Junior Golfers |
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Hugh Cranford All-Scholastic Scholarship
Applications are now being accepted for the 2021 Hugh Cranford All-Scholastic Team. Awards will recognize the academic and community service accomplishments of five junior golfers.
Those selected receive an exemption into the 2021 Optimist Championship, tournament entry (includes golf, hotel accommodations and meals and a $1,000 scholarship)
Deadline date April 1, 2021
Click here for details on applying.
For more information about the Optimist Junior Golf program, click here .
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When calling to reserve a room use the group code G-OPTI |
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Official Optimist International Suppliers
United States and the Caribbean:
Shumsky
Canada:
Ansell's Awards and Specialties
Members outside of the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean may order from either vendor.
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Contact the International Board of Directors
If you have comments, concerns or suggestions for the International Board of Directors, please send to board@optimist.org
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See what's happening on our social sites |
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