Super Zone meetings come to a close in the PNW District-Optimist International

Bringing the second quarter meetings to a close, the Washington Oregon Super Zone Meeting for the PNW District was held March 24, 2018. It was a small turnout, with most representation from the furthest distance Optimist Clubs of Roseburg, Tri-Cities, and Tacoma. Also on hand were members of the Portland-area Optimist Clubs of Vancouver, WA, Portland Northeast, Oregon City, Gresham,  and Hillsboro. Governor Bruce and Judy Gilbertson traveled from Salem, Oregon to be with us. In all, there were about 20 Optimist Club members in attendance.

Lieutenant Governors Scott Keller, Peter Sudduth, and Gary Smith expressed special concern with club presidents not returning email or phone calls making it difficult to plan and frankly, to learn the projects and health of the clubs to which they are assigned. For those who have been in their roles before them, we understand this to be a common problem. It is a sad situation, however, when only seven Optimist Clubs in the entire district appear to be holding the Optimist International Oratorical Contest. What can we do to correct this?

As always, those in attendance shared information about the club projects about which they are the most passionate and it is always good to gather inspiration from others with shared values and goals.

As stated in an earlier post, I will hope and continue to lobby for a return to a full district meeting in the second quarter. At the very close of the meeting, as he did at every Super Zone gathering, Governor Bruce shared a webinar produced by Optimist International about Optimist International structure and governance. One of the main points of the webinar is that the District is an administrative arm of Optimist International and exists to help its clubs succeed.

The ability to gather its club leaders together is a primary step in sharing information, tricks, tools, and resources for club growth and achievement. This is better accomplished when priority and importance are expressed through the gathering of the whole body for recognition, education, and most of all, the inspiration that we gain from one another. Moving forward, I fervently hope, this level of relevance may be communicated to all members of Optimist Clubs in the PNW District.

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