31 days of optimism

Here in the Pacific Northwest and all around the globe, the #beanoptimistchallenge has brought 31 days of Optimist Club projects and positivity to the forefront. Some from our district that we enjoyed the most are included in the following video.

The clubs and their projects highlighted in this video include:

• Hillsboro Optimist Club - Bicycle Safety
• West Tacoma Optimist Club - TriStar Basketball
• Chehalis-Centralia Optimist Club - Historical Bike Ride
• Jerome Optimist Club - Special Needs Fishing Derby
• West Tacoma Optimist Club - Optimist International Oratorical Contest

There are so many more projects that our clubs do each and every day to bring out the best in youth, community and themselves. We thank you for your service in making the world a better place to live and we invite you to tell us your story. Please send a note and a picture and let us know what is happening in your Optimist Club.

It may be Day 31 of the #beanoptimistchallenge, but let's not allow it to be the final day of celebrating our service. Stay optimistic!

Rocking a great time with the Jerome Optimist Club

Every day, Optimist Clubs perform amazing projects with an emphasis on activities that help children be the best they can be. This was especially true for the Jerome, Idaho Optimist Club on May 7, 2018, at one of its favorite programs, the Special Needs Fishing Derby.

Co-chairperson of the event, Sheri Mitchell, shared the following photos and this message:

"The Jerome Optimist Club is so lucky to have had beautiful weather and sunshine for its annual Special Needs Fishing Derby. The JOC has joined the Martin Farms Family for 40 years with the Special Needs Fishing Derby. We are so lucky that the Jerome School District still allows us to open our hearts and fish for lots of fun. We had over 150 students, plus their teachers, aids and parents, as well as, 9 Optimist Members, 23 Jerome High School Students and 41 other community volunteers. We rocked at a great time!!!"

Thanks to Sheri for sharing the #OptimistsinAction story with us and many thanks to the Jerome Optimist Club and participating community members for making a special day for some special children.

Share optimism by sharing your Optimist Club projects

The #beanoptimistchallenge continues through May 31, 2018, and the PNW Optimist Clubs website is playing along. We are highlighting some of the projects that Optimist Clubs do in their communities. Today we look at the Beaverton Optimist Club, the North Okanagan Optimist Club, and the Middleton Area Optimist Club.

The Beaverton Optimist Club has been providing community service with roadside clean-up for many years. This year it added some extra hands with some youthful volunteers.

In Vernon, BC, the North Okanagan Optimist Club sponsors a huge, community-wide Unplug and Play Week. One of the objectives is to help children and families find the outdoors again. In this picture, a muse leads a group of children on a musical adventure.

The Middleton Area Optimist Club partners with the Middleton Rural Fire District to host its fundraising bingo nights, among other things. In return, the club helps the Fire District with its events like raising money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. At bingo, they make a muscle for the brave individuals affected by this disease.

Please click on the photos to enlarge.

Please share a photo and story - a few lines will do - about the projects that your Optimist Club performs in your community so we can celebrate your successes with you. Thanks for all that you do as an Optimist Club member.

We are thankful to be a part of your community

The authors of pnwdistrictoptimist.com are participating in the 31-day #beanoptimistchallenge coordinated by Optimist International.

In the first 10 days, the topics have included gratitude, enthusiasm, and leadership, among other things, some of the most important qualities of an optimist. We thought we'd share a few of the photos here.

We encourage you to watch for more photos as the month progresses.

One day to May

Heads up! This notice is about tomorrow, May 1.

Beginning tomorrow, there are several things taking place in the world of Optimist Clubs and Optimist International of which you need to be aware:

• Optimist International Elections - Optimist Clubs that are current in their club financial obligations are invited to vote for the Optimist International President-elect, Regional Vice President-elect, and two candidates for the International Board of Directors. There are five candidates running for two positions on the Board, the only contested races. The Optimist Club president will receive their voting credentials from Survey Ballot Systems (SBS) on behalf of Optimist International. The voting must take place on or before May 31, 2018. Find out about the candidates here. 
• Optimists in Action Month - The month of May has long been Optimists in Action month; however, this year it is being promoted especially well. Share pictures of what your Optimist Club is doing in your community on Facebook, Twitter, and through your club bulletin and other print media. Please share your stories here. 
• For the first time, Optimist International is hosting the #beanoptimistchallenge on Twitter and Facebook to encourage the sharing of photos, especially for those clubs that aren't hosting events in May. Using the 31 prompts shown here, share a photo of an Optimist activity on your favorite social media platform.
• Optimist Club Officer Elections and Reporting - As always, the club officer election report (COER) is due by May 20. Please login to optimistleaders.org and report your club officers so that Optimist International and the District may begin to communicate with the future leaders of the club. This is a requirement for Honor Club.

Being an Optimist Club member is an invitation to serve your community. May you serve with a positive outlook in the month of May, and throughout the year.