Optimists go green

Optimist Clubs around the world are encouraged to celebrate the first annual Optimist Earth Day on June 7, 2008, in connection with World Environmental Awareness Week. What better way is there to show our support for our youth than taking care of the world around them?

Please consider holding an environmental club project on June 7 and reporting your activities to the PNW District and Optimist International.

While your project might be as simple as planting a tree, here in the Pacific Northwest, there are also great opportunities to partner with the US Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management for restoration projects that restore natural habitat on fire-ravaged lands.

"Green" projects can also be held indoors. Does your workplace have a recycling program in place? Do you encourage email or intranet over paper for office communications? Or how do you commute to work daily? Why not try an office carpool or take public transportation to work for the week and see if it can become a regular practice.

Being environmentally conscious is a choice. Please choose to make Optimist Earth Day an annual event for your club and help promote awareness all year long.