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Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Twin Falls Optimist Club is keeping kids warm

The Twin Falls Optimist Club Coats for Kids project has seen a boost this year with some good press relations both in print and on television, not to mention the severe dip in temperature that occurred over the past two weeks. Here's a quick look at the project from KMVT News - Twin Falls.



Want to know even more about how this fantastic project works? Click here to see an article from the Magic Valley Times highlighting the experiences Perrine Elementary School Principal Bill Brulotte and Babbel's Cleaners, an important player in the project.  Contact information for Committee Chair Patsy Bland is included.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

What's up with our CPA Books?

Blue and white clipart image of a flower shaped, ribboned award displaying 1st place, Click here to get more Free Clipart at ClipartPal.comAre you wondering what happened to your CPA (Community Project Awards) Book that you mailed to the district in September?

Not to worry! A number of great books were collected by Lorraine Coots, 2009-2010 Membership Retention Chair. Lorraine's thoughts were to have the books judged by individuals outside the Optimist Club organization.

What a great thought! As I write this, the books are being reviewed and critiqued by our sponsors, stakeholders, and community members-at-large to determine their impact on our communities and their potential for engaging others in our cause.

Lorraine will provide the winners to Optimist International as they are due and she will report the outcome to the PNW District at the Second Quarter District Meeting in the Seattle area on January 21-22, 2011.  Many thanks to Lorraine for introducing a new approach.

Immediate Past Governor Linda Jackson will also announce Honor and Distinguished Club awards at that time. I hope you join us!  Registration details should be available soon.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Sandy Optimist Club recognizes FFA students

This year, the Sandy Optimist Club honored a group of students at the club's Annual Youth Appreciation Night. The recipients were the members of the Sandy High School FFA.
The chapter recently returned from the national FFA convention in Indianapolis, where they competed against 34 other teams in the agricultural issues development event. According to Bob Felix, editor of the club newsletter The Sandyside Up, the students 'have a wide diversity of activities.'  He explained, “It’s not only for themselves and for their animals.”

Please enjoy the presentation on YouTube. 

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Let's all say thank you to the amazing kids around us

Optimist Clubs have the unique opportunity to work with amazing children every day, but once a year, the Optimist Club of Jerome, Idaho takes time to say thank you to those kids who are known for doing the right thing. They might be good students or athletes, but they don't have to be. All the Jerome Optimist Club requests is that someone in the community recognize the student for doing something special, performing a random act of kindness, or simply just doing the right thing. The Rotary Club likes the program so much that they contribute to the awards given to the students.

This year 142 students were recognized by the Jerome Optimist Club, the Jerome Rotary Club, the Jerome County Sheriff's Department and Idaho's Fifth Judicial District at an evening ceremony. Please enjoy the slideshow and then take a moment to hug and say thank you to someone near you. 




Thank you Jerome Optimist Club and photographer Traci Brandenbourg for sharing your project with us. Thank you for recognizing these outstanding students!

Let's all say thank you to the amazing kids around us every day. 

Saturday, November 20, 2010

It's a Wii Charter Party!

The Middleton Area Optimist Club is celebrating their affiliation with Optimist International and the Pacific Northwest District with a Wii Charter Party.  Everyone is invited to attend for dinner, a motivational presentation form international speaker Vincent Kituku and lots of fun with karaoke and a Wii Tournament.

Please make your plans to attend today.
Saturday, December 11, 2010, 6:00 p.m.
Middleton, Idaho

Please click on the flyer for complete details.  You can register online at www.middletonoptimistclub.blogspot.com.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Albany Optimist Club salutes veterans with a community breakfast

One week ago, the Optimist Club of Albany, Oregon coordinated one of their major community outreach efforts: The Veterans Day Pancake Breakfast. Today there were pictures posted on Facebook commemorating the event.  I pulled out a couple that made me smile.

Thank you Albany Optimists for your service and especially for recognizing our veterans.  Click here to be a friend of the Albany Optimist Club on Facebook and see more photos.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Eagle Optimists complete Coats for Kids drive

The Optimist Club of Eagle, Idaho completed its annual Coats for Kids drive by donating over 150 coats to the Landing Community Center. The drive was coordinated by Eagle Optimist Club member Brian Doerty. Coats were collected from donation barrels located at businesses and schools around Eagle and will be used to keep local children warm during the cold winter days ahead.  

Children or their parents may stop by the Landing at 175 E. Mission Street to choose a coat. There are also a number of hoodies and sweatshirts that are available. All are being provided at no charge. 

Along with the children, in the picture are Clint Koefoed with the Landing Community Center; Lindsey Pretty Weasel, Washington Trust Bank; and Mark Sjobeck, Custom Care Cleaners. Custom Care Cleaners donated cleaning for all apparel.  All are members of the Eagle Optimist Club.  

Monday, November 15, 2010

New Optimist Clubs targeted for the Seattle area

Governor Ed Murphy says, "We need Optimist Clubs in Seattle!"

The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan statistical area is home to 3.3 million people and 3 Optimist Clubs. With that kind of data, Optimist International has offered to help generate excitement for new club building in the Seattle area. 

The plan: Optimist International President Danny Rodgers, Optimist International President-elect Jack Creswell, and international committee members Essie Johnson, Mark Weinsoff, Jim Oliver and Sue Creswell will present a week-long new club building seminar on January 17-21, immediately before the Second Quarter District Meeting on January 21-22 in the Seattle area. 

During this time six communities will be targeted for new Optimist Club growth. The core piece of training is walking and talking in neighborhoods and businesses to invite people to an informational meeting in the evening where they will learn more about the potential for community service that an Optimist Club offers. 

At least six people are needed to commit to follow up with the potential new growth communities for six weeks following this conference and then on a quarterly basis for one year once a new club is started. 

Does this sound like something you would like to do? If so, please sign up for the Webinar: 
Targeted Growth Conference-Seattle
Tuesday, November 16, 2010 
12:00 to 12:30 PST
Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/993620480. Space is limited


Thursday, November 11, 2010

Experience Optimism: With grateful hearts

Have you ever wondered why the red poppy is a symbol for veterans and of Veterans Day in the United States and Canada? 


 Read all about it here: Experience Optimism: With grateful hearts.

Thank you to our veterans. You deserve our gratitude every day.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Skate for free

On Thursday, the kiddos can skate for free in British Columbia as the Abbotsford and Coquitlam Optimist Clubs sponsor Annual Free Skating events.

Abbotsford youth will skate at the Abbotsford Recreation Centre, 2499 McMillan Road from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. and Coquitlam youth will skate at the Coquitlam Recreation Center, 633 Poirier Road from 1:30 to 3:30.

Skating and skate rental are free. Both clubs ask that participants bring a non-perishable food donation for the community food banks.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Larry Blackburn named PNW District Optimist of the Year

Immediate Past Governor Linda Jackson presented Larry Blackburn with the PNW District Optimist of the Year award during the first quarter district meeting. She explained that as President of the Optimist Club of Caldwell, Idaho, Larry was a Builder of Excellence for the newest member to the PNW Optimist family, the Middleton Area Optimist Club. Larry and club membership chair Anita Welchel worked to bring in 19 new members to the Caldwell Optimist Club and perhaps most important, Larry was and is an avid phone caller. He makes sure that everyone is invited to every meeting enhancing their attendance and retention efforts.

The inscription on the award read "In recognition of your exceptional ability to share your optimism with others" because that is exactly what he does.

This year Larry is serving as the Lt. Governor for Zone 7. Congratulations on your award and thank you for sharing your optimism.

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