See you in Lebanon for the 2018 PNW District - Optimist International Convention

Read about the Lebanon Optimist Club in The Optimist.
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Currently, with 93 members, the Lebanon Optimist Club is nearing the 100-mark on its membership roster. It takes enthusiasm and purpose to meet the expectations of that many people in a small community. In my mind, that means the Lebanon Optimist Club has tricks it can share with other Optimist Clubs about member recruitment and retention. You and other members of your Optimist Club can learn from the Lebanon Optimists first-hand by attending this year's PNW District - Optimist International Convention.

It is taking place August 9-11, 2018 at the Premier Boulder Falls Best Western, 505 Mullins Drive, and Lebanon Convention Center, 605 Mullins Drive, Lebanon, Oregon.

Meeting members of the Lebanon Optimist Club is just the beginning of the exciting weekend that is planned. The Lebanon Optimists are taking their hosting duties seriously and according to District Secretary/Treasurer Mary White and Convention Co-Chair Weezie Devinny, the excitement begins Thursday morning with a golf outing for the early arrivals.

The opening session, Thursday evening, will feature a performance from Lebanon's Dance School for entertainment and a professional singer performing the Star Spangled Banner and Oh Canada. (Rumor has it the singer is Weezie's twin brother!) Presentation of the flags will be conducted by the Dalas Cadets.

Following a day of training for club and district officers-elect, the Lebanon Optimists will take the group on an adventure to Sweet Home via the Santiam Excursion Trains.  After the 1.5-hour trip, at about 6:00 p.m., attendees will gather at Optimist Gazebo in Academy Square for a barbecue and entertainment by the Wild Hog String Band. Community members will likely join the group for the evening entertainment as this is a public facility.

Saturday features the district board of directors meeting and election of the governor-elect 2018-2019. There will also be roundtable discussions and time for club project sharing in the afternoon. At 5:30 p.m., all Optimist Club members, and their guests will move to the social hour and Governor's Banquet where more entertainment awaits featuring a silent auction before dinner and the LHS Jazz Band after dinner so you can end the evening with a dance or two with your Optimist friends.

Kudos to the Lebanon Optimist Club, Weezie DeVinny and Heather McDaniel for the work they've done to make the PNW Optimist Clubs welcome in their community. We're looking forward to meeting the Lebanon Optimists and seeing you there!

If you haven't yet registered, please click here to download the registration form.
Please click here to view the program on Facebook.