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Saturday, May 23, 2015

District meeting emphasizes Honor Club today, tomorrow and always

One week ago, over one hundred Optimist Club members and guests gathered for the PNW District 3rd Quarter Meeting in Kennewick, Washington. While there, Governor Dick Disney provided motivation for them to return to their home clubs and complete the District goal of 100% Honor Clubs.

But other things happened as well. First, we heard from some of the top young public speakers in the West Coast Region. All spoke on the topic "How my optimism will help me press on to 'greater achievements of the future.'"

Seven students participated in the Communications Contest for Deaf and Hard of Hearing. In the oral competition, Katya Nesdoly received the first place award of $2,500 scholarship. In the signing competition, Miguel Peregrino was awarded first place. He also received a $2,500 scholarship.

Seven students also competed in the Optimist Oratorical Contest. The PNW District awarded first place and a $2,500 scholarship to Lochlan Frederick; second place and a $1,500 scholarship to Lamisa Hasan; and third place and a $1,000 scholarship to Saara Meghi.

Steve Skodak, Executive Director, Optimist International made an official visit to the district for the third quarter meeting. It was a perfect tie-in for understanding how our donations to the Optimist International Foundation and Canadian Children's Optimist Foundation provide support to Optimist Clubs by funding scholarships, among other things. Steve also made a presentation  "Know your Prospects" and explained an excellent generational approach membership retention and recruitment for our Optimist Clubs to follow.

In district business, Governor-elect Michael Gray notified the assembly that the zone alignments would stay the same in 2015-2016 and lieutenant governors were elected as follows:
Zone 1, British Columbia - Al Kersey
Zone 2, Idaho - Dolores "Doe" Schamp
Zone 3, Oregon - Ben Deremer
Zone 4, Washington - Monique Connors

Reports were given by current lieutenant governors and committee chairs and all were in agreement
that the PNW District is celebrating a fantastic Honor Club year. According to Governor Dick and West Coast Region Vice President Ed Murphy, the PNW District, as of this meeting, is only one member away from being at even for membership growth. It is a perfect setting to begin the final fourth quarter drive to Honor Club.

Governor Dick announced the PNW District - Optimist International Convention will be held August 13-15, 2015 at the La Quinta Inn & Suites, Tacoma, Washington. We are honored to have as the international guests Optimist International President Ken Garner and his spouse Patsy. Registration was approved at $115 by August 6, 2015 and $130 after that date and at the door.
Registration is now open.
Download the "at a glance" program. 

Refreshed and energized, Optimist Club members headed home to do more good things in their communities and to earn Honor Club recognition so that they may continue to serve for many years into the future.


Follow the PNW Optimist District on Facebook. #pnwoptimistclubs

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Mission Optimists choose the Mother of the Year

mission optimist club
Each year for Mother's Day, the Mission Optimist Club chooses the Mother of the Year. 

This year the honor goes to Michelle Hillier.

Hillier was selected after her daughter, Aryanna, a student at Mission Central school, wrote a short essay on why her mother deserves the award. More than 500 elementary school students participated in the challenge.

Shown in the picture is Optimist Club member Dick Brodie, Michelle Hillier and Aryanna. Dick presented Hillier with a gift basket and flowers. The club also donated $1,000 to the PAC at Mission Central for being the winning school.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

What's your number?

Is your Optimist Club making a significant contribution in your community? Chances are your club provides excellent projects and resources at different times and locations, but my question to you today how do you define significant?

For the Lebanon Optimist Club, a significant contribution comes from 80 members working for the community and at 67 members strong, it is well on its way. The countdown is on! Will the Lebanon Optimists make it to 80 by September 30?

What about your Optimist Club? What's your number? How many members does it take to make a significant contribution in your community?



With our meetings starting to average over 30+ members (40 today!) it's easy to see why your Lebanon Optimists are the...
Posted by Lebanon Optimists on Thursday, May 7, 2015

Monday, May 4, 2015

Make an impact through your Optimist Club's Friends

This year, Governor Dick Disney has asked Optimist Clubs in the Pacific Northwest District to achieve one goal: Honor Club.

To be an Honor Club means that an Optimist Club is doing all that it can to serve its community today and in the future because Honor Club focuses on the four key issues for succession planning:

  1. Community Service
  2. Financial Stability
  3. Membership 
  4. Community Awareness

friend of pnw optimist clubCommunity service can take a variety of forms from the popular scholarship programs offered through Optimist International to local events like youth sports programs, literacy programs, Easter egg hunts, fishing derbies, beautification programs and so much more. The programs or projects that a club conducts is limited only by the members' creativity and enthusiasm. 

Financial stability is demonstrated through timely dues payments to Optimist International and the District where the Optimist Club resides. Dues are necessary because they unite clubs from around the world with a single purpose and provide club resources through an international office. 

Membership must be retained and new members must be recruited to help today's youth achieve tomorrow's dreams. We must replenish ourselves to avoid natural attrition. 

Community awareness takes many forms, but mainly, in a civic-social-service club, it comes from word of mouth marketing. You share your experience of being involved and others want to know more so they can be involved too. 

Optimist International has released a program that takes the last two steps in hand and makes it possible for your Optimist Club to grow and be recognized for its impact in your community. The Community Impact Bundle makes it affordable to add new Friends of Optimists by giving recognition to movers and shakers in your community. The recipients of the Friend of Optimist membership will learn about your Optimist Club and with positive public relations, they will mention it to others.

For only $300, your Optimist Club can purchase six Friends of Optimists and bestow the recognition upon deserving people in your community. Think of the mayor, a minister, teacher, fireman, or police officer, among others, who would be honored to be your Friend. Your club has until September 30, 2015 to purchase the bundle and until December 31, 2015 to activate new Friends of Optimists in your club.

Take another step to Honor Club with the Community Impact Bundle. 

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