In administrative issues, the proposed amendments to the bylaws were ruled as follows:- Issue 1 changes the qualifications for the office of President of Optimist International to "Those eligible for the office of President shall be a member of a club in good standing in Optimist International, and they shall have served a full term as a District Governor and a full term as Vice President.
- Issue 2 clarified the procedure for replacing an past international president on the candidates qualification committee.
- Issue 3 was amended on the floor to make the pilot club program an official baseline number of members (15) for starting a new Optimist Club.
- Issue 4 extended the date for completing an annual review to December 31 of each year.
- Issue 5 which would have changed the way the International Candidates Qualifications Committee conducts business was withdrawn by the clubs that made the proposal.
- Issue 6 to allow online voting for international issues and candidates for office was defeated.
Two resolutions were passed; one to commend the efforts of the International Convention Committee on their fine work and one to encourage a different way of verifying student scholarship participants' ages without providing a birth certificate be researched and adopted by the International Programs Committee.
Ron Huxley defeated at-large candidate Ted Gaffin to lead the organization in 2013-2014.
J.C. St.-Onge was recognized as the president-designate to take office on October 1, 2012. The theme will be "For the Future."
Jack and Sue Creswell and the team of fine governors for the 2011-2012 administrative year were acknowledged and encouraged to continue to give "100% and then some" as they work to bring out the best in children.
Photo credit: Optimist International
