Follow Rebecca's year as International President on her official
Facebook
and
Twitter
accounts.
Welcome to our February 2019 Leadership Hotline, highlighting recent and upcoming activities for Optimist leaders and Club Members! In this month's video, President Rebecca Butler Mona sends a message from the President's Midyear Conference in St. Louis, giving an update on Optimist's goals for the year and more.
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St. Lawrence VP named after Roch Daigle's passing
On behalf of the Optimist International Board of Directors, President
Rebecca Butler Mona
has announced that Philip Turner will fulfill the remaining 2018-19 term as Vice President for the St. Lawrence Region, undertaking the role following the passing of Regional Vice President Roch Daigle in January. Phil is a Past International Vice President who brings many years of leadership and motivation experience to the role. Like his longtime friend Roch, Phil is a true Optimist at heart, and will continue Roch’s excellent leadership and teamwork with Roch’s wife Julie and the St. Lawrence Region Optimist Governors and their teams. Join us in wishing Phil success, and expressing gratitude to Roch and Julie for their friendship and service to the Region and Optimist International.
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Optimist Day - Feb. 7
Members of Optimist International will celebrate Optimist Day throughout the world the first Thursday of every February to promote our efforts in bringing out the best in youth, our communities and ourselves.
On Optimist Day, Optimists around the world are asked to wear Optimist attire - shirts, pins, hats, etc. Post your best Optimist attire on social media and tag Optimist International or use the #OptimistDay hashtag. Send your photos to
[email protected]
to be featured in future publications.
Visit our
Optimist Day web site
for more information.
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Upcoming Webinars
The Leadership Development Committee will be having the following webinars over the next few months:
Feb. 11 Select and Elect Tracy Huxley/Robert Doyle
No matter how much you're enjoying the job you're doing right now whether it be for your Club or your District, the health and the future of our organization depends on how we foster new leadership. Before it's too late for elections let's look at how we can identify new leaders. We will explore how to foster confidence in these new potential leaders. Then lastly, how to properly run an election and ensure we have a successful election. Don't leave it until the last minute to think about who will replace you. We're all counting on you to find your replacement. Registration Link is:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2016690535580155395
March 11 NOW is the Time Patrick Prendergast/Theresa Tremblay
NOW – New Optimists Welcome! What a great time to have people of like minds join our wonderful movement … 100 years and getting ready for the next 100. This webinar looks at the NOW program and how it can be incorporated in the many Club and District moments and activities that emerge as we spread Optimism. Registration Link is:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4715010817398327043
Webinars begin at 7 p.m. Central time. If you have any questions, please contact
[email protected]
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Reminder: All US Clubs Tax Form 990 due by February 15
Clubs whose annual gross receipts are normally $50,000 or less are required to electronically submit Form 990-N, also known as the
e-Postcard
, unless they choose
to file a complete Form 990 or Form 990-EZ instead.
How to Fi
le
Information Needed to File e-Postcard
Completing the e-Postcard requires the eight items listed below:
1.
Employer identification number (EIN), also known as a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
2.
Tax year
3.
Legal name and mailing address
4.
Any other names the organization uses
5.
Name and address of a principal officer
6.
Web site address if the organization has one
7.
Confirmation that the organization’s annual
gross receipts
are $50,000 or less
8.
If applicable, a statement that the organization has terminated or is terminating (going out of business)
Note: To be in Compliance with OI Policy C-11, all US Clubs are to submit a copy or acknowledgement of filing receipt, of their annual Tax Form 990 to Optimist International within 30 days of filing.
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Join Us in Louisville!
Meet your Optimist friends in Louisville, Kentucky next summer for the Annual Optimist International Convention and Centennial Celebration, Sunday, June 30 to Wednesday, July 3! Register online at
www.optimist.org/convention
. Visit
here
to book your room at the Galt House (Rooms are going quickly!). For questions or more information about the annual convention, contact
[email protected]
.
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Membership Recruitment
Fast Start Awards for $100 Convention Registrations
Don’t forget that any Clubs who have built a new adult Club and are net +5 at the end of the 2
nd
quarter (March 31
st
, 2019) qualify for $100 Convention registrations for ALL CLUB MEMBERS. This is less than half the regular price.
Districts who have built 2 new adult Clubs and are net +15 at the end of the 2
nd
quarter (March 31
st
, 2019) qualify for $100 Convention registrations for ALL DISTRICT MEMBERS. This is less than half the regular price.
Member Recruitment Calendar
The 2018-19 International Membership Committee is encouraging all Optimist Clubs to participate in “targeted recruitment” each month of this Optimist year. While all Members are valuable; this
calendar
will hopefully encourage Clubs to look for new Members in areas that they may not have thought of.
February's group to recruit is:
Healthcare Professionals.
Many Healthcare Professionals are well connected within the community and may have keen insight into additional needs for children, making them a great addition to your Optimist Club.
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Junior Optimist News
The Winter issue of The Torch is here! Click here to download:
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Hugh Cranford All-Scholastic Scholarship
The 2019
Hugh Cranford All-Scholastic
Team
will be two special awards recognizing the academic and community service accomplishments of five junior golfers. Golfers can apply for one or both awards. Golfers selected receive an exemption into the 2019 Optimist Championship, tournament entry (includes golf, hotel accommodations and meals) and a $1,000 scholarship. Click
here
for deadline dates and how to apply. For more information about the Optimist Junior Golf program, click
here
.
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Optimist International Foundation
Optimist International Foundation is accepting applications for the 2019 Club Grant Program. Any Adult Club served by Optimist International Foundation is eligible to apply for a $500 grant to be used for a NEW project of the Club. Applications must be received in the St. Louis office by March 8. Applications and more information are available
here
.
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Canadian Children’s Optimist Foundation
Be a part of the Centennial celebration. Make a donation to the CCOF, show Optimism, and get a chance to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the organization with us, at the Optimist International Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.
Each club where 10% of the membership has given a minimum of a Dime-a-Day before March 31, will receive a ticket for a draw for a registration (appr’x $250 each) to the Optimist International Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, or to their own District Convention.
Each club that has made a minimum donation of $100 before March 31, will receive a ticket for a draw for a registration (appr’x $250 each) to the Optimist International Convention in Louisville, Kentucky or to their own District Convention.
Each club where 10% of the membership has contributed a minimum of a Dime-a-Day and whose total donation from the members and the club has reached $1,000.00 by March 31, will automatically receive a reimbursement of one (1) registration (appr’x $250 each) to the Optimist International Convention in Louisville, Kentucky or to their own District Convention.
Survey
In order to improve the work we do and to know better the needs and wishes of our donors, the Canadian Children’s Optimist Foundation will send every Canadian Optimist member a survey by e-mail. You may expect it in a few days. Please, take a few minutes to respond to the survey. Who better to know how to help the members and thank our donors better than the members and donors themselves?
For more information, contact Nadège at 1-800-363-7151 ext. 336 or by e-mail at
[email protected].
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New Club Building
An International Development Ad Hoc Committee is working on a strategic initiative for future development and needs your help. The committee is asking for you to provide some guidance about where Optimist International could expand beyond North America and the Caribbean. If you have any leads, could you provide the name of the country or countries where you have friends, acquaintances, or business associates. The committee is not asking for contact information but just the name of the country. This will enable the committee to learn where the most people known to Optimists live and could lead to designating a country as a focus for international development. All you have to do is send an email to the International Development Ad Hoc Committee at
[email protected]
listing the name of the country or countries where you have connections and thank you for your help.
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Our Centennial - Let's Celebrate
Each Optimist has a story to tell - it could be how you got involved, why you are still an Optimist, or an inspirational moment you had at an Optimist event. We want to hear your story! Submit an Optimist Story
here
. Video and written stories will be shared throughout the year on social media.
Centennial merchandise may be purchased at our official suppliers.
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Official Optimist International Suppliers
United States and the Caribbean:
Shumsky
Canada:
Ansell's Awards and Specialties
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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
[email protected]
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See what's happening on our social sites
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