Dear ,
Your 2023 International Convention in Arlington, Virginia, is shaping up to be an exciting and inspirational experience. Online registration is open now!
Please share this newsletter with the Members in your District and encourage them to register early.
The 2022-2023 International Marketing and Communications Committee has created promotional pieces that you can share with the Members in your District, including a promotional video, which you can watch below! Graphics and flyers are available to download at the bottom of this newsletter.
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Keynote Speaker:
Amy Downs
Fifty-one degrees under a cloudless sky, a light breeze out of the northeast: April 19, 1995, was a beautiful spring morning in Oklahoma. It was a Wednesday, and 28-year-old Amy Downs had just started her day as a bank teller at the Federal Employees Credit Union in downtown Oklahoma City.
Downs remembers catching up with coworkers on the way to her desk, reassuring her friend Sonya – on the way to a supervisors meeting in a bright yellow power suit – that she didn’t look like a giant sunflower.
“I sat down at my desk … and one of my coworkers, who was seven months pregnant, came in to talk to me. I turned to ask her what she needed, and I don’t know if the words came out or not, because that’s when it happened.”
That’s when a Ryder rental truck loaded with 5,000 pounds of fertilizer and fuel oil exploded in front of the building where she worked.
“I remember just hearing such an incredible roaring in my head, and feeling this powerful rushing sensation, like I was falling,” Downs told a TEDx audience in 2020.
She was falling, nearly three floors as the building collapsed around her …
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Amy Downs' latest book, "Hope Is A Verb," is available to preorder for $15 USD or $19.95 CAD via the online registration form. Copies will be available at the convention for $20 USD or $26.60 CAD.
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Convention Schedule
A complete convention schedule will be available soon. In the meantime, plan to arrive July 1 and depart July 6 (international officers' travel dates may vary).
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to access the Optimist International 2023 Convention housing landing page.
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Click on "Accessible Room" on the first page to see ADA rooms. |
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Note: Discounted parking is available at a rate of $20 USD per day. |
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Situated directly across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., Arlington, Virginia, offers visitors a mix of big-city excitement and small-town charm. It boasts dazzling high-rises and iconic landmarks, lush green spaces and lively streetscapes, global dining and hip nightlife — all just steps from the nation’s capital.
A close-knit and welcoming community, Arlington's 26 square miles are home to an array of vibrant, walkable neighborhoods conveniently located on the region's Metro system, plus an incredible variety of things to do.
From shopping and dining to arts and culture to history and the great outdoors, Arlington boasts a bonanza for everyone!
Click here to order or browse your free 2022-2023 Arlington Visitors guide.
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As you attend the convention, make time to visit the White House or the U.S. Capitol. Stop by the Smithsonian. Or pay a visit to the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery and delve into the diverse history of the United States through firsthand accounts of the Spanish-American War, the Civil War and the civil rights movement.
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From fine dining to fast casual, there's definitely something that will hit the spot.
And with major indoor and outdoor shopping venues, charming European-style promenades, and hundreds of specialty shops and boutiques, you'll score the perfect vacation purchase or souvenir in Arlington too.
Stroll through charming neighborhoods to discover more eclectic, locally-owned shops with everything from chic clothing and kids’ toys to artisan chocolates and fair-trade goods. You can also find artisan crafts and other finds at local farmers markets.
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As you prepare for the convention, please take time to evaluate the Optimist International Bylaws to ensure they continue to effectively serve the organization. This process allows you and your Club to shape and improve all of Optimist International.
To recommend a revision, your Club must submit a proposed amendment citing the article(s) and section(s) and exact proposed change to the articles and sections cited, along with a written rationale in 200 words or fewer. The Club must submit the proposal on Club letterhead signed by the Club President. The proposal may be emailed and/or faxed to the International Office, but the original Club letter must be received by the International Office for the proposal to be considered.
All submitted changes will be brought before the International Convention delegates for a vote.
All proposed changes to the bylaws must be received at the International Office by 5:00 p.m. (CT) Monday, April 3, 2023 (no exceptions).
Governance Committee
Optimist International
4494 Lindell Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108
The Convention Resolution Process is also a communications vehicle you can use to your advantage. Resolutions can be submitted by clubs and should cover any aspect of the organization not already covered in the Bylaws.
The Resolutions Process
- Clubs need to submit resolutions by Wednesday, May 3, 2023, to the Governance/Resolutions Committee.
- The Governance/Resolutions Committee will meet during the convention and choose the strongest resolutions to report to convention delegates.
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At one of the convention business sessions, July 2-5, 2023, the Committee will present these resolutions for debate and vote by the convention delegates. (NOTE: Resolutions endorsed by convention delegates are non-binding and are sent to the International Board of Directors for further consideration and study.)
How to Submit Resolutions
Type resolutions on club stationary and include the Club's name, number, and president’s signature. All resolutions should be written in standard resolution format: Whereas …, Whereas …, Whereas …, Be it resolved that the Board of Directors of Optimist International is asked to consider ….
Mail Resolutions To:
Resolutions Committee
Optimist International
4494 Lindell Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108
USA
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