One convention down, many more to go

The 95th Annual Optimist International Convention has come to a close. With approximately 1,000 individuals attending in Cincinnati, Ohio, there were 423 Optimist Clubs represented. Following are the results of the business sessions:

Board members elected for 2013-2015 (two-year term)

• Marc Katz
• Jim Oliver

Officers for 2014-2015 elected by acclamation

• International President – Ken Garner
• Mid Atlantic Region – Lawson K. Headley, Sr. 
• Southeast Region – Deanna S. Morrow
• Northeast & Great Lakes Region – Fatima N. Plater
• Middle America Region – Todd McMillan
• Great Plains Region – Janet Lloyd
• Southwest Region – Janet Oord Graves
• West Coast Region – Ed Murphy III
• Saint Lawrence Region – Danielle Dupont

Proposals to amend the bylaws

1. Amendment #1 – To allow online voting for international officers …. Pass
2. Amendment #2 – To make district quorum definition standard in international bylaws … Pass
3. Amendment #3 – To eliminate annual dues billing option … Pass
4. Amendment #4 – To make the Executive Director the CEO of Optimist International … Referred to Board of Directors for clarification
5. Amendment #5 – To begin pilot program to allow individual membership to Optimist International … Fail
6. Amendment #6 – To simplify the determination of number of votes per club (equal # of members as of April 30) … Fail 
7. Amendment #7 – To extend Tier 3 status to Jamaica and Suriname to 2018 … Pass
8. Amendment #8 – To allow removal of non-renewing members until October 2 without affecting awards program … Fail
9. Amendment #9 – To change all bylaws references to be gender neutral … Pass
10. Amendment #10 – To change all references in the bylaws to the board of directors to read “OI Board of Directors” … Fail 
11. Amendment #11 – To add terms to Article I Section V reflection JOOI club names … Fail
12. Amendment #12 – To add membership classification of JOOI members … Fail 
13. Amendment #13 – To change definition and privileges of Friend of Optimist category … Fail
14. Amendment #14 – To require presidential incentive program be approved by Board of Directors … Fail 
15. Amendment #15 – District governors to submit names to CQ committee for nomination of international officers … Fail
16. Amendment #16 – District governors to submit names to CQ committee for appointment to international committees … Fail 
17. Amendment #17 – Adds wording to allow continuity on international committees … Fail
18. Amendment #18 – Capitalization of “international convention” in bylaws references … Fail
19. Amendment #19 – To change billing for international dues … Fail

Now the planning begins for the 2014 Optimist International Convention and we are very excited to report that it will return to the West Region! Make your plans now to attend July 10-12, 2014, Caesar's Palace,  Las Vegas, Nevada.