Optimist International hosts the #iMagine 2020 Virtual Convention June 27-28

Beginning Saturday, June 27, and ending on Sunday, June 28, Optimist International will host its first major online event. The iMagine 2020 Virtual Optimist International Convention will be a creative and innovative way for Optimist Club members to unite for learning, inspiration, fellowship, hospitality, and even a little business.

The agendas are shown to the right.

Details for virtual hospitality rooms can be found online at Optimist International's Facebook page. 

The convention will offer a variety of workshops and keynote presentations from Jermaine Harris and Rachel Wilson. Click here to view the workshop menu.

And of course, there must be some Caribbean hospitality, as we all look forward to the Caribbean Night when we gather in person. This year, members and guests are invited to a virtual Escape Room where they might win a trip to Barbados. Find out more in the graphic below.



















We look forward to seeing you online!

JOYA observed by the Lebanon Optimists

The good news today comes from the Lebanon Optimist Club. Each year, it recognizes students with the JOYA awards, the Junior Optimist Youth Appreciation program. With innovation, club members were able to reach out to keep this annual tradition going. Most importantly, they were able to interact with and show their pride and appreciation in some well-deserving young people.

 

The photos show a modified drive-through ceremony where kiddos from Cascade School and East Linn Christian School were honored by the Lebanon Optimists for scholarship and service to their community. 

We send congratulations to all the recipients and to the Lebanon Optimist Club for its innovation and respect.


Click on the photos to enlarge. Photos courtesy of the Lebanon Optimist Club.

Watch our garden grow

A few weeks back, while on my daily walk, I saw a sign on a church that read:

Want to see some good news? 

Watch our garden grow.

I chuckled to myself for their community garden was weeks away from showing much more than rich brown dirt. As I've passed more recently, there are green sprouts peeking above the ground and more often than not there are two, three, or four volunteers raking, pulling weeds, and happily chatting while still maintaining proper social distancing protocols. They are the embodiment of good news.

This story reminded me of our very own North Okanagan Optimist Club in Vernon, British Columbia.

In April, in the middle of the stay-at-home orders from the COVID-19 pandemic, the North Okanagan Optimist Club optimistically advertised its annual spring fundraiser on Facebook. The club posted: "Deadline is looming (April 19) for you to order your spring flower, herb, succulent or Zonal geranium basket to beautify your landscape while you #stayhome. We are partnering with Bloom Thyme Nursery to continue to 'bring out the best' in our youth and community with the proceeds from this fundraiser. Stay home, stay safe and stay optimistic with a beauty like this in your garden!"

As is the experience for many of our clubs' Facebook pages, there weren't any comments or likes. There were two shares and as I also shared the fundraiser on the PNW Optimist Clubs' Facebook page, I wished them well.

Last week we saw an update from the North Okanagan Optimist Club. Their fundraiser was completed! In addition to saying thank you, they also said: "Stay tuned for our swag and poinsettia sale in December..... something to look forward to over the next few months of social distancing!"

Kudos to the North Okanagan Optimist Club for its perseverance. Most importantly, thank you for making your community brighter with such lovely flowers and succulents as well as with your hopeful spirit.

When we cultivate an optimistic spirit, we can truly watch our gardens grow. We can watch as our positive actions help our communities change for the better.