We're in the final month of the Optimist year, and President Rebecca Butler Mona wants to help us finish strong! She offers some reminders to carry us through the end of the year, as well as an inspiring message more than 50 years in the making. Follow Rebecca's year as International President on her official
Facebook
and
Twitter
accounts.
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Honor Clubs are stronger Clubs
With another wonderful Optimist year winding down, we remind all Clubs to strive to become Honor Clubs. Clubs that consistently achieve Honor Club status are the most likely to remain strong year-after-year and continually increase the number of children they serve. This distinction shows that you as Club Officers left your Club in a better place than it was when you took over.
Ending the year with three more Members than you started with is one of the most important aspects of Honor Club. Here are some ideas to reach out to new Members:
- Contact past Members about coming back to your Club under the Homecoming Incentive. If a former member re-joins your Club by Sept. 30, they will only pay $30 for the first year! Click here for more information.
- Friends of Optimist memberships are great for speakers, community leaders, businesses, or anyone else who is willing to support your Club. These memberships allow for many of the same benefits of being an Optimist member, with the exceptions of voting at District and International Conventions.
- The $30 under 30 and Teachers incentives are both still active to help our Clubs target these key demographics.
- Any past Junior Optimists can join a college or regular adult Club for free for the first year!
- In addition, we have several incentive programs related to our Centennial. Click here for Centennial Incentives.
Some Optimist Clubs stretch beyond the Honor Club requirements toward Distinguished or Centennial Distinguished Club status. Reach these awards by netting an additional 10 or more Members, building a new adult Club and contributing $100 to the Optimist International Foundation.
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Update your Club Officers
Remember to update your Club Officers for the 2019-2020 Optimist Year! This can be done online. A current officer must login to
www.optimist.org
and click on “Reports”. Scroll down, and on the right side of the screen, you will see “Club Officer Elect Report,” and click on “Report”. You will be able to select the names of the Club Members who will be filling the leadership roles during the Optimist 2019-2020 year. If you have questions or need assistance, contact Charlotte Baker at Member Services at
bakerc@optimist.org
.
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Overseas Clubs need assistance
International Development of Clubs has taken off over the last few years. There are nearly three dozen Optimist Clubs in Asia, Africa, South America and Central America. These Optimists, who strongly believe in “Providing Home and a Positive Vision…”, work tirelessly to improve the lives of children in their areas of influence. Yet in some areas of the world, they work under duress and in dire circumstances due to political and economic instability.
Optimist International is asking your Club to lend a financial hand to these Clubs by helping with the annual affiliation fee of $225. This gesture of friendship would strengthen relationships among Optimists around the globe. It would also open the door to new friendships and new ideas that would be beneficial for our community servants overseas.
Clubs interested in this program should contact Director of Strategic Growth Jim Boyd at
jim.boyd@optimist.org.
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Optimist Tournament of Champions
The Optimist Tournament of Champions is for the best of the best! It will be held Nov. 9-10, 2019, at ChampionsGate in Orlando, Florida. This event is an invitational junior golf championship for previous participants of Optimist Junior Golf events and other top junior golfers. Golfers must apply for the event
here by Sept. 27. For detailed information on exemptions and eligibility, visit
www.optimist.org/golf. The Tournament of Champions is 36-hole event for golfers ages 14-18 with the top finishers being exempt for the 2020 Optimist International Junior Golf Championships. The event is highly ranked with JuniorGolf Scoreboard, Golfweek and receives performance-based stars through AJGA.
Upcoming Junior Tour Events
Optimist Junior Tour events will take place Oct. 19-20 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in Denver, Colorado and Orange County National in Orlando, Florida. Competition is 36-hole stroke play. The top finishers meeting a target score in each age division qualify for the summer 2020 Optimist International Junior Golf Championship. The registration fee includes two tournament rounds and range balls prior to play on both tournament round days, and an Optimist Golf gift package. For more information, visit
www.optimist.org/golf.
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Upcoming Webinars
The Leadership Development Committee will be having the following webinars over the next few months:
Sep 9, 2019 B2B September Checklist: Are You Really Done?
Daniel Rich/Sylvain Menard
The end of the Optimist year is just a few weeks away – have you done everything you set out to do? How will you know? This webinar will help you to review the goals you had for the year and evaluate your progress toward them and the goals set for the whole organization. Once you know where you stand, remember – “You are never really done until October 1”. The Registration Link is:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3322500231541158147
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Disaster Relief Fund
The Optimist International Foundation's Disaster Relief Fund empowers Optimists to improve their own communities following a disaster. This program provides grants to Clubs in areas that have been impacted by tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, fires and other catastrophes.
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Canadian Children's Optimist Foundation
Congratulations to the Club Optimiste de St-Émile, QC, for their $3,000 “Spread Relief” grant, which will be used to design and print a seizure journal for youth with epilepsy problems and their families. This journal will be distributed by Doctors in the Quebec City area.
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See what our Junior Optimists have been up to in the latest issue of The Torch.
Click here.
It's also not to early to think about scholarships. This year's topics all ask students to iMagine. Visit
www.optimist.org/scholarships for full information.
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Targeted Membership Recruitment
September: Friends of Optimists
September is the last chance for the year to get new members and reach Honor or Distinguished Club status! Consider reaching out to local businesses, community leaders, speakers at your meetings or anyone who says they "don't have time to volunteer." Friends of Optimists support your Club financially, and many eventually become active Members!
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Show your Club's pride!
Optimist Clubs, be sure to submit your Club Pride Reports! Check out
www.optimist.org/forms for more information.
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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
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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