Newsday Tuesday

Newsday

Tuesday

Not Two Speakers, But Three!

We are thrilled to introduce our third keynote speaker for the 2024 International Convention.

Joining former professional football player Orlando Bowen and entrepreneur Sunjay Nath is motivational speaker Rhonda Scharf!

Rhonda Scharf is not just a speaker; she is a catalyst for change, infusing her sessions with energy, humor and actionable insights. With a career spanning more than three decades, Scharf’s speeches foster a participatory environment where every attendee is an active learner, with humor and real-world examples playing a pivotal role. You will visualize yourself in various scenarios and apply her insights with immediate effect.

Described as insightful, humorous, and educational, Scharf has a unique ability to observe the ordinary and perceive the extraordinary. Based in Ottawa, Ontario, and Fort Myers, Florida, Scharf’s engaging style ensures that her message of innovation and self-improvement is not only heard but also embraced and applied.

In 2004, Orlando Bowen was a professional football player who had just signed a contract for a fifth season with the Toronto Argonauts when he was severely beaten by two men in a dark parking lot.

Two plainclothes police officers, who planted drugs on Bowen and took him to jail. Bowen was acquitted of all charges and settled the suit out of court, but the injuries he sustained ended his football career.

Instead of giving up, Bowen went on to start a charity working with kids in schools across Canada and delivering inspirational speeches, workshops and team-building activities that engage, inspire and empower adults with the tools to identify their passions, develop resilience, and use their talents to make a difference.

Sunjay Nath started his international speaking business at age 19, and in 2005, became the youngest Canadian (third youngest in the world) to earn a Certified Speaking Professional certification.

Sunjay has addressed over a million people around the world since 1995 and was inducted into the Canadian Professional Speakers Hall of Fame in 2018.

Sunjay often speaks about his insights on leadership and performance and is known for his trademark “10-80-10 Principle.” He’s on a mission to empower organizations to inspire their people so they can achieve their desired results.

Together, these speakers embody the spirit of optimism that is at the heart of our organization. You can read more about each of them in the upcoming issue of Optimist magazine, but don’t miss the opportunity to hear from these three remarkable individuals in person this summer in Niagara Falls!

For more information about the 2024 Convention, and to register, please click here to visit our Convention webpage.

Upcoming Webinars

Staying Optimistic in Difficult Times

April 8 at 7 p.m. CDT

Click here to register

Adding Officers via the COER Form in Optimist Leaders

April 29 at 7 p.m. CDT

Click here to register

Celebrate Community: Developing Community Partnerships

Presented by EDs/CEOs of Optimist, Lions, Kiwanis, and Rotary

May 13 at 7 p.m. CDT

Click here to register