Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all PNW District Optimist Club members and beyond. 

Promise yourself to forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. 

The Optimist International Foundation asks for your support

As 2012 came to a close, the Optimist International Foundation shared 10 Optimistic Reflections with10 consecutive emails that looked back at the work that was done in our communities thanks to the support of the Foundation. In its final message, it said:

“The Foundation is extremely thankful for all the high points the past year has brought! Some of the highlights to mention would include:

• A fantastic 40th Anniversary celebration, in which the committee raised over $25,000 to support the Foundation.
• Welcoming another great Board Member to the team.
• A raise in unrestricted giving over this past year.
• The Foundation being able to give $85,000 towards Youth Club Programs, $160,472 to Club Grant Program Grants, and $579,571 towards Charitable, Literary and Educational Programs

The Foundation would not have great moments like these to share without the generosity and support of our donors and volunteers. It is through the gifts that you all so selflessly give that makes a difference for Optimist International Foundation. In turn, this enables the Foundation to give support to Optimist International and allows us all to continue to make a difference in the lives of the children we serve.

'Helping Optimists Help Kids' not only describes our mission- it is a phrase that also describes our passion. If you would like to partner with the Optimist International Foundation this holiday season in working towards our mission, please click here.”

It’s the right and optimistic thing to do. As we say goodbye to 2012 and hello to 2013, please consider giving your support to the Optimist International Foundation. Thank you.

Donate now at: http://oifoundation.org/donate-now/

If you live in Canada, the Canadian Children's Optimist Foundation may be found here: http://fondationoptimistedesenfantscanadiens.org/index.php?lang=en 

Small and meaningful gestures

The Beaverton Optimist Club recently welcomed Mayor Denny Doyle as their guest speaker and in honor of his presentation, they gave a book to the Aloha Community Library Foundation.

What a great way to benefit the community! In one morning, the Beaverton Optimist Club members heard from "the source" about what was happening and with just a small, but meaningful gesture they were also able to help the library. That sounds like a win-win to me.

Thanks to Beaverton Optimist Club President Wally Johnston for the tip. See more pictures on Facebook.

Top: Bob Arneson, Mayor Denny Doyle and Wally Johnston

Bottom: Library President Doug Hoy, Mayor Denny Doyle and Wally Johnston

Gresham Optimists host Shop with a Cop

The Gresham Optimist Club had the honor of hosting two Shop with a Cop days this year. Shown here is Optigraph Bulletin editor Judith Hillend (center) with an entourage of shoppers at Target.

Shop with a Cop is always a fun event. It allows children and their families to meet with police officers and other first responders and build relationships based on trust instead of correction. The Optimist member volunteers go along to help the recipients make choices on what to buy. They say when they aren't there, the kids often choose to buy gifts for others and not for themselves.

Great project! Thank you Gresham Optimist Club.

Photo from the Gresham Optigraph. 

Holiday wishes from Governor Larry

  Merry Christmas from Governor Larry and Flo Blackburn.

Photo courtesy of Gene Brasse.

Meridian Optimist Club members ready to enjoy Christmas

Today is the day. With so much competition in the Christmas tree market, the Meridian Optimist Club Christmas tree lot had to remain open longer than usual. You see, the plan is to sell the trees fast and then head home to enjoy the holidays with the family, all the while knowing that the community has helped the Optimist Club do more activities with their generous purchases.


With the sliding economy, many independents have set up their own tree lots and the extra competition has proved to be a challenge; but according to Christmas Tree Chairman Kirk Farnsworth, this year the club still was able to sell about 500 trees.


With only 40 or so left on the lot and only two days 'til the big event, the club began to give them away. After all, that's what Optimist Clubs do: give back to their community in hopes that children will benefit.


Thanks to the Meridian Optimist Club for your service and thanks to the customers who help the Optimist Club do more to benefit kids.

Thanks to Rocky Jackson for the photos. Remember, click to enlarge. 

Santa joins the Jerome Optimist Club for breakfast

 It's one of their favorite projects of the year, and one of the best attended. In fact, if the Jerome Optimist Club didn't bring Santa to town and serve him pancakes, I wonder if he would know how to find all of those children who look forward to sharing their wish list with him every year.






It's a big activity that takes every Optimist Club member and some of their friends and family to carry out. Breakfast with Santa took place on December 15.




Thanks to Traci Hine Brandebourg for sharing her photos with us.

Photos ©Traci Hine Brandebourg published here with permission.

Click on photos to enlarge and view.

Optimist elves at work

Last weekend, Optimist Club member and GMPRD Director Tim O'Meara invited the Middleton Area Optimist Club to assist the Greater Middleton Parks and Recreation District at Santa's Workshop.

Santa's Workshop was an opportunity for children to build toys with the volunteers from the community. It took place right before the holiday parade and helped get everyone in the spirit of the season.

Shown here are some of the Optimist Club elves and their little helpers at work. 

Top: Tim O'Meara

Middle: Peter Cabrera

Bottom: Steve Thompson

Thanks to Becky O'Meara for the pictures. 

Like the Middleton Area Optimist Club on Facebook and see even more photos! 

Trivia on the 12th

Today is 12-12-12. In case  you were wondering, there are some interesting things that happen by the dozen. In honor of the day, here are 12 trivial facts, just for you.

Just a small reminder. 

There are:

• 12 months in a year
• 12 hours on the clock face
• 12 inches in a foot
• 12 strikes to bowl a perfect game
• 12 folks who have walked on the moon
• 12 face cards in a deck of playing cards
• 12 days of Christmas
• 12 jurors in felony trials
• 12 signs of the zodiac
• 12 pair of ribs in most humans 
• 12 cupcakes in a dozen
• 12 sides and 12 angles in a dodecagon 

It's time to plan for the Optimist International Convention

I've heard it said that it’s never too early to starting planning your trip to the 2013 Optimist International Convention. That's when all the Optimist Club families come together to refresh their optimism. In 2013, the convention will be held in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 4-6. Register for the convention or just find out more at www.optimist.org/convention.

Click here for a sneak peak of top attractions in Cincinnati from Midwest Living including the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Cincinnati Zoo, Kings Island amusement & waterpark, Taft Museum of Art, and more!

Follow Optimist International Convention buzz on Facebook.

The Optimistic history of Neil Patrick Harris

Before he was Barney on "How I met your Mother," he was "Doogie Howser, MD." And before that, Neil Patrick Harris was a contestant in an Optimist Club Oratorical Contest. In 1992, Harris was interviewed by Gary Bradley for the Optimist magazine. He shared his winning speech, and thoughts about participating in the New Mexico West Texas District event.

Please click on the photos to enlarge and read how a young Neil Patrick Harris believed that optimism was a way of life.

Photos courtesy of Optimist International.

Are you an ambassador?

Optimist International has created a new opportunity for your Optimist Club to connect with the home office: Ambassador.

Every Optimist Club is invited to have one member designated as the Club’s Ambassador to Optimist International.  You would receive monthly email updates to share with the Club.

In return, you would provide news about the Club’s service projects to Optimist International for possible inclusion in the magazine and online.  It’s a new way of strengthening the communications between Clubs and Optimist International.

If you are interested in this position send your name, Club name and email address to: ambassador@optimist.org.

Christmastime with the Boise Noon Optimist Club

Dyan Graybeal shared the following story and photos from the Boise Noon Optimist Club annual Christmas party:

Boise Noon just had their annual family Christmas dinner/auction that includes a visit from Santa!!! We do a combined live dessert auction which is lively and lots of fun and a silent auction. We make it a full family event, with not only Santa – but crafts and cookie decorating for the kids. Santa is the hugest hit of the night – not only do all of the kids sit on his lap, but many of the “grownups” enjoy a photo with Santa!

Our funds go to the teens at the Hays Shelter Home which is part of the Idaho Youth Ranch. This is a place for teens in transition of some sort to stay while their family lives are being sorted out. 

We usually get 9 – 12 kids, but have 15 this year. We are furnished with Christmas wish list for each that we shop for. Most are asking for basics like coats, shoes, warm clothes and we are excited to fill each item on the wish list. 

What fun we have doing it!
Pictures top to bottom: 
Some Boise Noon Optimist Football Sponsors
Santa's rousing entrance
Not just for kids anymore
A room full of Optimist Christmas cheer

Thanks to Dyan for starting off the 24 days of Christmas on the PNW District Optimist Clubs blog.

Please click here to share your Optimist Club Christmas story now. 

A good promise to keep

Here's a little reminder from the Optimist Creed to help get you through the hectic and crazy holiday season ahead.

Did you know that when you smile, your shoulders relax, your face lifts and so do your spirits?

Go ahead and give it a try. And then keep on smiling because it makes you look and feel amazing.