You make a difference

We serve our communities as members of an Optimist Club without expecting to be thanked. It's always a pleasant surprise when a youngster looks up and says, "Thank you!"

That extra spark brightens the mood and the project of the day as it brings smiles to the faces of many.

It's extra proof that what we do makes a difference. To inspire gratitude as we share optimism is a gift. That's why you should join an Optimist Club today.

Click here to find the Optimist Club nearest to you.

If you don't see one, we'd love to help you get one started in your community. Just drop us a note at the link.

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.

Two Optimist Clubs, two projects

Saturday, August 6, 2016, the Tacoma, Washington area was brimming with optimism.


In University Place, the West Tacoma Optimist Club was holding its 21st Annual Pancake Breakfast/Silent Auction/Book Sale.

This activity is as popular with the members as it is with the public as they meet with the members that they see sometimes only this one time a year.

The Sea Scouts of the Verite were there to lend a helping hand and pancakes were enjoyed by all.

As of this writing, we're not sure how well the auction and book sale went, but from the looks of the bids and the happy faces on the customers, I think it was  another successful event for the club.

The top photo shows co-presidents Jim Ferris and Dick Driskell and club photographer Tom Kryger. The bottom photo shows some crew members of the Verite.

Meanwhile, at Narrows Glen, the new Share-A-Smile Optimist Club was holding its first event - a Dog Parade!

About forty pets and their two-legged friends showed off their tail-wagging skills and more.

Mud Bay donated frisbees and scarves for the dogs and the club honored all pets with a prize.

Treats were enjoyed by dogs and people alike as they answered trivia, marched their pets and shared their smiles with one another. Yes, the dogs were smiling, too.

In the top photo, mom and grandma smile with their fur-baby, all dressed for a rainy day. Luckily, the showers held off! Below are a number of the pets posing with their people as they ready for the parade.

Both Optimist Clubs worked on membership during their events with poster that explained what Optimist Clubs do - They bring out the best in youth, community and you.

Click to see more pictures here:
West Tacoma Optimist Club Pancake Breakfast
Share-A-Smile Optimist Club Dog Parade

What projects has your Optimist Club performed this summer? Send us a story and a picture so that we may publish it here.

New Optimist Club named Share-a-Smile

We're excited to announce a new addition to the PNW District Optimist family.

On May 18, 2016, the Share-a-Smile Optimist Club of Narrows Glen was started with 17 new Optimist Club members.

The new Optimist Club plans to live up to its name by sharing optimism, happiness and smiles with the residents in the Narrows Glen community and the surrounding Tacoma area.

Shown here are president T.J. McIntyre and board member Cindy Crooks. They promised a group picture soon.

Welcome and best wishes to the new Optimist Club and its members.

New Optimist Club coming to Fircrest-Tacoma

A new Optimist Club building effort is underway in Fircrest, Washington. Fircrest is a small community bordered by Tacoma and University Place. In the heart of the city is a lovely park and the Fircrest Recreation Center, home to the soon-to-be Fircrest Optimist.

According to new Optimist Club builder Linda Vaught Disney, this club will have a little different focus than the average Optimist Club. It will focus on dogs. "The primary focus," explained Linda, "is to connect people for exercise as they walk their dogs in the park. Spending time with people and pets is a great way to share optimism."

From that point, she hopes that the club will do projects that make the community even more dog-friendly than it already is. Possible ideas include organizing pet food drives, hosting dog training courses for adults and children and hosting grooming and health tips presentations from local experts, among other things.

Of course, the main reason for starting a new Optimist Club is to share optimism and that will happen too. According to Linda, the potential new members are already in love with the Optimist Creed.

If you live in the Fircrest-Tacoma area, or know someone who does, please share our contact information and this post with them. Three meetings are scheduled for January 6 and 13, 2016 with the goal of organizing the club on January 20, 2016. Meetings are held at the Fircrest Community Center, 555 Contra Costa Avenue, 11:00 a.m.

For more information, call 208.861.2310 or click to email Linda here. You can also follow the calendar at Tacoma-Fircrest Optimists.

Welcome to the new Optimist Club of Gresham Scouters

It's always fun to welcome new members into our Optimist Clubs. It's even more fun to welcome new members into their very own Optimist Club!

On September 13, 2015, Governor Dick Disney visited Gresham, Oregon for just that purpose: to welcome a new Optimist Club to the PNW District - Optimist International.

With the vision from Ben DeRemer, 18 new Optimist Club members came together to form the new Optimist Club of Gresham Scouters. Ben, Builder of Excellence for the new Optimist Club explained that there can be more collaboration between an Optimist Club and the scouting groups that it sponsors. He proposes that scouting alumni provide that bridge and with this new model, we'll see if the single-purpose Optimist Club serves more children in the Gresham area.

In addition to scouting endeavors with the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Explorer Post and Venture Crew, the new club plans to host the Optimist International scholarship programs and provide service and helping hands for community service through the area Optimist Clubs.

The new club is sponsored by the Gresham Optimist Club and the Portland NE Optimist Club.

Linda Vaught served as the Field Representative for Optimist International. "It's exciting to see so many young adults ready to serve their community. We're going to see great things from the new Optimist Club of Gresham Scouters," she explained.

Ready to hit the ground running, an installation of officers will take place on September 24, 2015 in place of a traditional charter banquet. Congratulatory gifts or wishes may be sent to the Gresham Optimist Club for presentation at that time.

A new Optimist Club in Terrace, BC

Good news from the great northern reaches of optimism! The Kermodei Optimist Club of Terrace, BC was organized on July 1, 2012.

That means next year the PNW District can celebrate the club's first anniversary right along with Canada Day. And we all love reasons to celebrate, don't we?

According to Builder of Excellence Dallis Winsor, the club was organized by Esthermarie Hillman, West Region VP and Bill French, Governor. They have set their sights on a zone of at least three clubs to bring out the best in kids between Terrace and Prince Rupert. We wish them good luck in all future endeavors.

Kermodei Optimists, we welcome you to the PNW District and Optimist International!

Find out more about the Kermodei here. 

A Party in the Okanagen

BOE Peter Smith and
President Jan Mori

Although it was organized in September 2011, the charter banquet for the North Okanagan Optimist Club of British Columbia was only just held on March 24, 2012. I'm going to imagine it was the distance involved in getting all the parties together for the celebration. Governor Bill French had to travel from Hillsboro, Oregon and members of the sponsoring club, Coquitlam, had to travel four hours to attend. Others in the lower mainland joined the party as well.

Those who regularly attend district meetings have probably heard of the potential for building in the Okanagan and the Vernon project was discussed throughout the 2010-2011 administrative year, coming to fruition on September 27, 2011, just as the leadership of the district was about to change hands. It was Governor Bill French and Evelyn that enjoyed the honor of recognizing the new club at the charter event.

Governor Bill French unveils the club banner.

Explaining why they were interested in starting an Optimist Club, President Jan Mori said, “I heard about the Optimist Club through a longtime curling friend. He suggested getting a club going here and the more we talked about it, the more I thought it would be a good thing for the community. We have a great group of people from all backgrounds and all ages, men and women. People like the idea of the camaraderie of a service club, doing some good in the community and helping all children.”

The new club is interested in curling, however, their aim is to fill gaps in community services for kids. So far they have completed the Optimist International Essay Contest and are looking how to get more involved in the community. 

The North Okanagen Optimist Club meets the second Monday evening of each month at The People Place in Vernon, 7:00 p.m.

The Optimist Club brand

At the PNW District Regional Meetings held in February and March, New Club Building Chairperson Gay Enyeart shared ideas about brand development and how to explain what an Optimist Club can bring to a new community.

She emphasized connecting with groups, chambers of commerce and PTAs, among others, in order to share your vision. When you passionately share your vision, it's easier to find a key person in the new community to help make your dream of a new Optimist Club a reality.

One of the benefits of starting a new Optimist Club project is that every person who participates also reflects on what belonging to their home club means to them and that makes their commitment deeper. The PowerPoint takes you through some of those ideas. Enjoy.

New Optimist Club Building

New Optimist Club building goes NxNW

Dallis Winsor, a former governor of the Alberta, Montana, Saskatchewan and N. Wyoming District (AMS&NW) has moved to Terrace, British Columbia and is working hard to bring optimism with him by starting up the brand new Kermodei Optimist Club of Terrace. In addition to prompting verbal support from the other Optimist Clubs in the PNW District, his effort brings up some questions that we will attempt to answer here. 

Where in the BC is Terrace? 

Spirit Bear 

Terrace, BC is north, way north of the bastion of Optimist Clubs that populate the lower mainland. The city's website boasts that Terrace is the heart of the northwest. By air, it is 550 miles northwest of Vancouver, BC. According to Mapquest, it would take approximately 16 hours to drive the 850 miles from Vancouver, BC to Terrace, BC.

PNW District Optimist Club members might find this reference helpful: Terrace is halfway between the sponsor club Hillsboro, OR and Fairbanks, AK. Yes, that is north by northwest.

What's a Kermodei?
A Kermodei is a blonde or light-colored bear known by native tribes as a "spirit bear." The taxonomy claims that the  Kermodei may be an albino black bear, but Wikipedia better defines the color morph as due to a recessive allele common in the population of the subspecies of the American Black Bear living in the region.

Cool! How can we help from a distance?
Dallis says he appreciates the support shown by the Optimist Clubs in the PNW District. Knowing that there is a base of support and other Optimist Club members and projects to turn to as they are beginning will help invigorate the new community. Please go to Facebook and become a fan of the Kermodei Optimist Club of Terrace now. (Please like the PNW District Optimist page, too.)

According to a status update on Facebook: 

There are TWO more organizational meeting this week to put us over the top in the chartering of the brand new Kermodei Optimist Club of Terrace so that we can get on with the pleasant task of "Bringing Out the Best in Kids". A meeting was held yesterday at the Terrace Public Library. It was good to see some new, but enthusiastic, faces. Not everyone can make every meeting and, so, we've decided to offer two alternatives this week (but feel free to come to both get-togethers):

Wednesday Feb. 8 @ Boston Pizza @ 6:30 PM (FREE pizza!) and Sunday Feb. 12 @ the Terrace Public Library meeting room @ 2:00 PM (FREE snacks!). See you there. Bring your friends and neighbours---

Let's keep our thoughts positive for Dallis and the Kermodei Optimist Club of Terrace to reach the charter member number this week so they can start working on projects to bring out the best in children in Terrace.

If you live in or near Terrace, don't wait; be an Optimist and join today. Reach out to Dallis at 250-635-5352.

Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons

A new Optimist Club joins the PNW District

We're pleased to share a note with you found on Governor Ed Murphy's Facebook Page today. Welcome to the new Optimist Club in Kirkland, WA.

Building a new Optimist Club: It's about expecting only the best

Here is a word from Danny Rodgers, President, Optimist International, about new club building.




In the Pacific Northwest District there is a targeted new club building effort going on in the Seattle area - Kirkland, WA to be exact. The group has received some positive press with notices in the Kirkland Reporter.

As well as being involved on the ground, Mark Weinsoff is serving as the new club building team's communication liaison. Sample what the potential new Optimist Club members receive every week as the organization date gets closer. Kirkland Optimist Club Bulletin

Last week, Governor Ed Murphy sent a message requesting help with this new club in order to organize by April 4. Optimistic? Maybe. Doable? Yes. Ed has set the following schedule of informational meetings:

• Thursday - March 24th - 7pm - 8pm
• Thursday - March 31st - 7pm - 8pm
• Monday - April 4th - Organizational Meeting

If you are available to help the Kirkland Optimist Club, please contact Governor Ed now to volunteer.

Eagle, Idaho is home to a new Optimist Club

Please help us welcome the newest member of the PNW District family:  The Eagle Optimist Club.

The Eagle Optimist Club was organized on Tuesday, November 17.  They meet at 12:00 noon on Tuesdays at Chicago Connection, 344 W. State Street, Eagle, Idaho.

Sixteen charter members are working on several programs for the season.  The first is Coats for Kids, chaired by Rachel Cushing.  New and gently used coats are being collected, cleaned and repaired and redistributed to children in the community. 

Also in the works are Christmas Food Baskets, chaired by Brian Doerty.  Both projects are being coordinated with the Landing Community Center. 

The Eagle Optimist Club is currently welcoming new members and charter membership status will remain open through December. Please contact us for more information.   A charter banquet is being planned for January. 

Showin in the picture (left to right): Board Member Jessie Horney, Co-President Mike Harris, Board Member Brian Doerty, Co-President Gretchen Brown, and S/T Randy Rabehl. 

New Optimist Club underway in Eagle, Idaho

You gotta own it. That's what I have been telling myself for a couple of days now because I have been hesitant to write about a new club building effort that is underway in Eagle, Idaho. Why have I been afraid to talk about it? Perhaps because of the fear of failure; but no more. I am ready to own the effort and and I am ready to meet the challenges and greet the opportunities that await us in Eagle and other communities in Idaho and beyond.

Here is the scoop: Rocky Jackson, Ron Petersen and I have been walking the streets talking about starting a new Optimist Club in the Eagle community. We have the green light from the mayor, we have spoken with hundreds of business owners and residents and we are now poised for our first formal informational meeting. It will be held on Thursday, August 6 at the Willowcreek Grill, 1065 Winding Creek Road, Eagle, ID.

At that time we hope to wow them with all the fantastic projects that an Optimist Club can perform. We also want to hear from them just how they think an Optimist Club will enrich their community. We'd love to hear from everyone! Please send me a message if you are interested in participating or just join us at 7:00 pm, August 6. I can't wait to meet you!

Are you an Optimist Club member in the PNW District that is ready to overcome their fear of starting a new club? Please give Rocky a call and he will help get you started today. 208-870-3414.

Could you be a CCB?

The Certified Club Builder (CCB) Program is coming to the PNW District on October 29-31 in Gig Harbor, WA. Peter Smith, Governor 2008-2009 is looking for ten candidates to participate.

According to Optimist International: The Certified Club Builder will be an Optimist member who has a successful track record in New Club Building. They must possess an extensive knowledge of Optimist International’s history, policies, programs and culture. The Certified Club Builder must be available to travel and must be available to spend consecutive days working in the field. In addition to leading the building efforts within a community this individual must be able to train and instruct other key Builders in the “how-to’s” of successful New Club Building.

Please send an email to the governor to be considered for a slot in this upcoming class.