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Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Save money with the Season of Giving

For the third year in a row, Optimist International is celebrating the holidays with a gift for all of its
Optimist Clubs with a program called the Season of Giving.

From December 1, 2016 to January 31, 2017, there is no induction fee for new members. That's a gift that an Optimist Club can pass on to a prospective new member, making their initial dues investment $15 less.

What a nice way to say thank you and we value your involvement in our Optimist Club. 

We often hear that paying to volunteer causes a hardship for individuals who believe they can give their time to a number of causes without spending any money.

Of course, most members will say that they are not paying for the opportunity to volunteer. Optimist Club members pay for the opportunity to come together as a group of citizens interested in programs that benefit youth and social opportunities that will lead to a better community. They like being a part of something bigger than themselves in an effort to make a difference. They like the mission of Optimist International and they especially like the Optimist Creed.

Share all of these reasons for belonging to an Optimist Club with a prospective new member today and you'll save your club's money to boot.

Sunday, December 25, 2016

Promise to live the Creed 1.11

He lives at the North Pole. That in itself is enough to declare he is an optimist, but to top it all off, he spends all year-round watching out for good little girls and boys and helping the elves make toys to delight the good children on Christmas morn.

Who are we talking about?

Santa Claus, of course, a.k.a. Kris Kringle.

During a recent conversation, Kris told me that he lives by the tenets of the Optimist Creed. Here's what he said:

"Every day I wake up strong. Nothing disturbs my peace of mind.

Every day I greet Mrs. Claus with positive words. We only speak of health, happiness and prosperity.

When I see the elves, I applaud their work. I like everyone in the toy shop to feel happy.

Of course I always looks at the sunny side of everything. That's how I make my optimism come true.

When I make my list, I think only of the best, work only for the best and expect only the best. I want more children on the nice list than on the naughty one.

When the elves develop a new toy or a new manufacturing process I delight in their success.

I never think about the time that Rudolph and I took the wrong turn in the snowstorm. Instead, I press on to the greater achievements of the future. We have a lot of miles to cover one day a year!

If you've ever seen me, you know I'm always wearing a smile.

It's hard to critical when you think of Christmas year-round. I work hard on my holiday attitude and physique throughout the year.

I am too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble. It's just who I am."

You can be like Santa. Just choose to live the Optimist Creed.

Merry Christmas to all!




Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Find social opportunities with an Optimist Club Young Professionals Group

Attracting new members to participate in a club or organization is always a challenge and many service clubs find attracting younger members to be a special challenge. As our organization has grayed, some might say they have lost their relevance. I beg to differ. Adopting a positive attitude and serving our communities with a focus on the youth is always a relevant pursuit. However, it might be that we need a different messenger.

For that reason, among others, Optimist International is now encouraging a new group for our existing clubs: the Social, Service and Young Professionals Group.

Some organizations call this concept a satellite club because the idea is that the new group of young people will meet at a different time and location from the regular club with which it is affiliated. The focus will be social first, professional second, and service third.

It's a win-win for Optimist Clubs for they find new people to carry forward the mission and purposes of Optimist International. In addition, the District may receive new club building credit for starting a social, service and young professionals group. Most important, when you turn service and membership into a social opportunity instead of an obligation, you also serve more children and as we know, that's what Optimist Club members long to do.

Find out more by enlarging and printing the photo.

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Promise to live the creed 1.10

The Optimist International Essay Contest has grown in popularity over the past few years with more and more students choosing to write an essay about an optimistic topic in an effort to win a $2,500 scholarship. This year promises to bring a great number of contestants in the Pacific Northwest with Trenna Bowman Garcia serving as the chairperson for Optimist Clubs in the PNW.

The topic for the 2016-17 school year is: "Chasing Optimism in the Face of Challenges."

Students under the age of 18 as of October 1, 2016 are eligible to enter. Contests start at the club level and each club determines the timeline for its local event. 

The PNW District must receive your club's winning entry by February 28, 2017. Clubs may view a planning guide here


Like all PNW District officers and chairpersons, Trenna has promised to live the Optimist Creed this year and every year. 

You can make the promise, too, by sending your photo here. 


Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Fourth Circle of Friends Dinner is a success

chilliwack optimist clubOn December 2, 2016, the Chilliwack Optimist Club hosted its fourth annual Circle of Friends Dinner Dance and Silent Auction.

It was a sold-out festive affair that brought club and community members together to share friendship and raise money for a good cause: kids in need in the community.

This year, guests brought toys that were donated to Community Services and non-perishable items for the Salvation Army Food Bank. According to President Coralee Lord Holmes, they expect to raise $10,000 from the event this year. Since they are a small club, community support is key to their success. Like the donations received, all money is returned to support youth in the Chilliwack area.

“This event brings old and new friends together for a happy occasion and a great cause,” event chair Glenda Standeven said. “We are very grateful to everyone who attended and everyone who supported our event.”

Photos, from the top:

  • Club members deliver toys to Community Services
  • Collecting toys at the Circle of Friends Dinner
  • Preparing the buffet at the Circle of Friends Dinner
  • Rocking out with the band at the Circle of Friends Dinner Dance
Thanks to Coralee Lord Holmes for the photos. Please click on each photo to enlarge and view.

Click here to read more in the Chilliwack Times.




Sunday, December 11, 2016

Promise to live the Creed 1.9

This week we want to highlight one of Optimist International's growing youth sports programs and what better way is there to do it than to recognize the veteran junior golf chairperson from the Vancouver, BC Optimist Club: Harry White.

Harry has promised to live the Optimist Creed this year, and every year. He says his favorite line of the Optimist creed is "To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own." He goes on to explain: 

"This is a particularly good fit for junior golfers as in the Optimist Junior Linkster Tour program we have ages 4 to 18 (Optimist International golf is age 9-18) and all level of player take part, with the more experienced and skilled golfers take on the role of mentor to the younger "grass roots" beginners. And, the converse has also proven to be the case, with highly skilled younger junior golfers, providing inspiration to the older players with their significant achievements at golf. Children enjoy the ancient and honourable game - and it is because it is fun.  Northwest juniors all report what a great time they had and fun!

Optimists in Vancouver, BC became involved with junior golf in 1979 when our Club was asked to organize a competition to qualify golfers to compete in the Optimist Junior World Golf Championship, held annually in San Diego, California, at the Torrey Pines GC and other San Diego area courses. Optimist volunteers in the area would provide housing and transportation to the golf courses. This was a great success and impacted the interest in junior golf in B.C. and the Northwest significantly. Tiger Woods started playing in the mid 1980's and provided another boost to Optimist Junior golf and golf in general. The Optimist Junior World Championships saw growth from 300 players to over 600 players and the challenge of Optimists to keep up grew increasingly difficult. In 1993, Optimist International decided to conduct their own 100% Optimist International Junior Championship and began play in Florida in 1994, where the competition has remained ever since. (The Junior World event in San Diego continues also but with other sponsors). Junior golfers from all over the Optimist world qualify and take part yearly in both events, with Optimist International also operating a special "Optimist Champions" event in November, annually, and other satellite events in the Spring time. I highly recommend that each Optimist Club promote the junior golf opportunities there.

The link to Optimist International Junior Golf at http://www.optimist.org/e/juniorgolf_delete/about1.cfm  has video and other information that puts out graphic evidence of children having fun and enjoying the unique Optimist junior golf program."

It's easy to see that Harry has a passion for the Optimist Junior Golf Program and the Junior Linksters. Our thanks go to him for his leadership throughout the years. When tournament dates for 2017 are solidified, they will be shown on this website. 

If you want to share how you have promised to live the Optimist Creed, please email a photo here.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Donation leads to advertising for Oregon City Optimist Club

Optimist Clubs serve their communities in different ways.

Sometimes the clubs receive recognition
for their involvement and many times they don't. I think most members would say that just knowing they have made a difference is enough recognition for them.

But it is still nice to be recognized. Recognition helps attract new members to your club because people see the good that you are doing. Recognition elevates your status in your community and in addition to recruiting new members, it encourages collaboration and support with other organizations and businesses. Simply put, recognition helps your Optimist Club do more.

The Oregon City Optimist Club recently participated in a major fundraising for the high school wrestling team. Their donation funded new wrestling mats and as a bonus to doing a good deed, the club's name is now printed on two of the mats for all to see.

That sounds like a win-win situation for sure. Good job Oregon City Optimists!


Photos: Esther Hunt, Oregon City Optimist Club

Sunday, December 4, 2016

Promise to live the Creed 1.8

fran bounds optimist creed
Fran Bounds is the Lt. Governor for Zone 3 Oregon ... again.

That's right, she's such an optimist that she volunteered to repeat in her position and to help Optimist Clubs grow and serve their communities in Oregon. She also made the promise, as did all of PNW District leaders, to live the Optimist Creed.

As we head into the holiday season, we look forward to the second quarter super zone meetings beginning in Fran's area on January 28, 2017. This is your invitation to join the Oregon Super Zone Meeting.

The meeting will be in Lebanon, Oregon, hosted by the self-proclaimed most-happenin' club in town - the Lebanon Optimist Club.

The Lebanon Optimists have experienced steady growth over the past three years earning Distinguished Optimist Club status. They've had some catalysts to their growth and promise to share their secrets - and their optimism - with all attendees.

Join the Lebanon Optimists and Lt. Governor Fran Bounds on Saturday, January 28, 2017 and experience the optimism of Southern Oregon. Click here to register now. 

Have you promised to live the Optimist Creed? We'd love to hear from you! Send us a note now. 






Thursday, December 1, 2016

Caldwell Optimists share the wealth

Bob Kafka (far left) and Joe Shreve (far right) were representing the Caldwell Optimist Club when they visited Ridgevue High School on November 9, 2017 to present the Robotics Club a check for $945.75.

The check represented the club members' compensation for community service. Students helped the Optimist Club with its concession booth at the College of Idaho football games this season. Of course, the College of Idaho deserves kudos as well. By helping the Caldwell Optimist Club with their fundraising activities, the club was able to pay it forward to others.



The Robotics Club’s faculty sponsor, Tegan Byerly, said the funds would help the club purchase materials to design and build their robots, as well as travel to robotics competitions.


Photo: Robert Kafka

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