Happy Holidays! Joyeuses fêtes! Felices Fiestas! शुभ बिदाहरू Optimist!

Tis the season of warm wishes, generosity and giving. It really can be a season that brings out the best in everyone.

As an Optimist it’s easy to live that way year-round but the holiday season is a time to remember why we do what we do, and renew our commitment to bring out the best in children, our community and ourselves.

What better way to show you care than providing someone the opportunity to experience the benefits of being an Optimist by gifting a Membership. A gift that keeps on giving! Or join the “Dime-a-Day” ranks with a gift of $36.50 to the Canadian Children's Optimist Foundation or the Optimist International Foundation, our Foundations. Just imagine what we could do for the youth with our scholarship and other programs if every Optimist donated at the “Dime-a-Day” level!

One thing in my heart is to take care of our young people. And by young I’m specifically thinking of elementary ages. Take the time to find an elementary school near you. Ask them what they need. Ask them how you and your Club can help them, help their children. Make their holiday season (and the entire year) everything they want and need.

It only takes a moment to ask, and your actions could impact more children than you think. For longer than you’d believe.

Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.

— Malala Yousafzai, activist

And if one book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world, imagine what a group of caring, dedicated Optimists can do? 

Bob McFadyen

President, Optimist International

P.S. I am hosting a quarterly “Chat with President Bob” via Zoom. Our first one was Tuesday, December 6^th at 6:30 p.m. (CST). It’s an open forum for you to ask me questions, offer suggestions or insights and share your Optimist news. I hope to see you there! Watch my monthly message for links to register for the ones in the future.

SPOTLIGHT:



On YOU! Everything that happens in our organization happens in the Clubs, through you, our Members. The youth we serve and the funds we raise, all happen through you.

The same holds true for Membership. It all starts with you. You can change the downward trajectory of our Membership. It’s easy - share your love and passion for our organization and the benefits of being an Optimist!

1. “Just Invite” someone to the event in your Club you are most passionate about or have the most fun at. Your passion will motivate your guest to join the organization that inspires you so much. If every Optimist just invited a guest and only 25% of the guests joined a Club, we would have the first growth year in over 3 decades.
2. If your Club is small and it doesn’t feel like there’s a lot of opportunity to invite guests to special events, partner with a larger Club. That partnership (Partners-in-Optimism) will help your Club grow and the larger Club will also gain a few new Members. Here is the link leading you to the information about these two new Membership initiatives on the website.
3. If you’re looking for an easy way to engage your Membership and attract new Members, reach out to your local elementary school. There are so many opportunities to directly serve our students and teachers like food drives, mitten drive, or providing school supplies or other needs for the classroom. Everyone can get behind working together to help the most vulnerable in our community. 
4. Bring Optimism to a community by building a new Optimist Club. There are many resources to help you from the thought to the completion!

Fellow Optimists, nothing will change without your involvement. The youth need us more today than ever before. Join me making that commitment to continue serving our communities for years to come. Start with a simple invitation and ask just one person to join you at an event or other gathering.

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES:

Optimist International Foundation

• Check out the memorial option for giving! US Foundation link! Canada Foundation link!

Leadership Development & Membership:

• “Sharing the Gift of Optimism” Webinar – December 19 Click here to register!
• Submission for the Club of the Year is due by December 31! Click here for more information!
• Don’t forget the Optimist Institute (formerly LMS) is free! Click here and check it out!

Programs and Events:

• Tournament of Champions in Florida (December 10-11, 2022). Click here to learn more about Junior Golf!
• Registration for the international convention begins January 1. In the meantime, click here to book your hotel room now-more to come on this page! See you in Arlington!
• Click here for information about Junior Optimist International Clubs and click here for information about the Junior Optimist International Convention.