Optimist Club meetings are more fun with Friends!

Optimist Club meetings are more fun with friends! That's only one of the reasons that Optimist International invites you to add more Friends to your Optimist Club with the Friend of Optimist Community Impact Bundle.

For only $300, you or your Optimist Club may add six new Friends of Optimists to your Optimist Club. It's a great bargain and a way for your club to honor a community member, outstanding teacher or coach, business or other deserving individual and give them the opportunity to experience optimism.  The cost per Friend of Optimist membership purchased with the Bundle is $50. There are no District dues.

There are a few rules:

1. For bundles purchased during the 2014-15 Optimist year, each Friend must be activated by December 31, 2015. Clubs will not be refunded or credited for any Friends that are not activated by 12/31/15.
2. For bundles purchased during the 2015-16 Optimist year, each Friend must be activated by September 30, 2016. Clubs will not be refunded or credited for any Friends that are not activated by 9/30/16.
3. Friends count toward membership in the Optimist year in which they are activated.
4. Clubs will not receive any reimbursement for Friends in the Community Impact Bundle.
5. Once activated, the Friend Membership is valid for one calendar year from the date it was activated.
6. If a Friend decides to renew after one year, it will cost the regular $100, and the Club will receive $40.

Share optimism today by adding a Friend - or six - to your Optimist Club.

Read the flyer and learn how to purchase the bundle here.

Download the activation form here. 

Optimist International promotes 2016-2017 Oratorical World Championships

Optimist International has begun promotion of the second Optimist International Oratorical World Championships. Unlike its inaugural year, it is hoping that Optimist Districts will send their top speaker to St. Louis University to compete in person in this prestigious event.

The topic for 2016-2017 is "What the World Gains from Optimism."

Participants must be under the age of 18 as of October 1, 2016. Click here to download an Optimist International Oratorical Contest application with rules.

All participants should be aware that the contest begins at the Optimist Club level. Click on the Optimist Club directory to locate an club near you.

Optimist Clubs may download a planning guide here.

Highlights of the 2015-2016 Optimist Oratorical event can be seen here.

#YoungOI introduced at 98th Optimist International Convention

Twenty-three Optimist Club members from the Pacific Northwest District travelled to Quebec City to attend the 98th Optimist International Convention where they shared fellowship with other Optimist Club members from around the world. Joining the group of veteran attendees, including Past International President Ron Thompson, were first timers Lynn Viner, Gary Smith, Sandra Smith and Ben DeRemer who was captured on video by Optimist International.



The Optimist International Convention is a place for leaders and others to gather in order to advance the organization. It is the only place where members can directly voice their opinions on amendments to the organization's bylaws which in turn helps guide Optimist International in a responsible manner. Issues considered this year were:

1. Youth Clubs name change to Junior Optimist International Clubs - pass
2. Youth Club age rule (matches with school year) - pass
3. Charter fee and invoice date for college clubs changed to biannually - pass
4. Qualifications for International Officers - pass as amended (removed "ethical character" language)
5. Processing fees raise to $20 - fail
6. District S/T term limits set at 3 consecutive years - pass
7. Exchange rate set at $1.20 - referred to Audit and Finance Committee
8. Exhange rate set at par - withdrawn

Additionally, members wanting to do their best as club and district leaders receive valuable insights and education at workshops designed especially for them. They also establish cooperative networks with other Optimist Club and District leaders to assist and encourage them as they move forward in their Optimist and professional careers. 

Optimist International announced that special emphasis is being given to younger members. It has established a Facebook group, #youngOI, where younger members can share ideas and establish mentors from outside their immediate areas in an effort to share the responsibility of membership growth and propel the organization to 100,000 members through community service.