It's the Year of the Honor Club

Optimist International President Jim Kondrasuk has declared the 2016-2017 administrative year to be the Year of the Honor Club.

What's this? Isn't every year the year of the Honor Club?

Each year, less than 25% of all Optimist Clubs earn the Honor Club recognition, so that means even fewer go on to receive the Distinguished Club designation. We can do better than that!

Clubs that meet the Honor Club designation have completed the minimum steps to ensure their Optimist Club is healthy and growing to serve future generations. Clubs that earn the Distinguished Club designation have served not only their club and community, but they have also expanded the reach of Optimist International by starting a new Optimist Club or adding fifteen or more new members to their club, equivalent to starting a new Optimist Club.

In an effort to encourage more Optimist Clubs to seek the best in administration, community service and growth, President Jim created a Goal Setting Plan for 2016-2017. In case this is the first time that you have seen this plan, be assured, March is as good a time to get started as October. There's plenty of time to make your Optimist Club an Honor Club.

Click on the pictures to enlarge and print. Here are the eight steps to Honor Club:

• Complete three or more service projects each year 
• Complete the President’s Pride Report and Club Officer-Elect Form 
• Recognize a Club member or local community individual 
• Grow Club by Net of +3 in membership
• Appoint a Club Foundation Representative and make a non-restricted contribution to the OIF or CCOF 
• Conduct a Membership Recruitment/Drive such as a NOW Program 
• Club President or Club President-Elect (or two Designees) attend District Convention (or two other District meetings/conferences) 
• Be current on District and OI Dues and Fees

Add one more step and be a Distinguished Optimist Club:

• Add Net + 15 in membership OR Build one or more new Clubs OR 
• Increase by Net + 8 and build two or more JOOI Club

Please do your part to make certain that your Optimist Club is an Honor Club.  

Together we can make our communities and our organization healthy, vital and brimming with optimism. Together we can. 

Wild Bill rides for kids and the Oregon City Optimist Club

Bill Upton is 75-years-old. When he was 51, he had a heart attack and at 55, five stents were placed in his heart. Seven years later, two more stents were put in, but none of the surgery has stopped Bill from raising money to support youth programs in his home town of Oregon City, Oregon.

His latest effort is a cross-country bicycle ride in honor of the Oregon City Optimist Club, especially its pay-to-play school sports grant program. "I should probably be raising money for the heart people, but I really admire the Optimists and their dedication to kids," explained Bill.

A former teacher and coach at Ogden Middle School, Bill likes that the Oregon City Optimist Club is always available to help with youth and community service projects. Some of its projects are the Oregon City High School's JROTC program and graduation party, Pioneer Pantry, the Oregon City Public Library, Angels in the Outfield, Building Blocks for Kids and the Sycamore Lane Therapeutic Riding Center, among others.

Bill and six friends are leaving on March 5, 2017 from San Diego, California. They will take a 50-day, 3,100-mile journey to St. Augustine, Florida. He is confident that he can make the trip and asks that you cheer him on by making a donation to the Oregon City Optimist Club in honor of "Wild Bill," as he has been dubbed by the Oregon City Optimist Club members.

You can cheer Wild Bill on at this link: Wild Bill's Ride for Kids

The Oregon City Optimist Club would like to thank you for your support.

Mission Optimists choose the Mother of the Year

Each year for Mother's Day, the Mission Optimist Club chooses the Mother of the Year. 

This year the honor goes to Michelle Hillier.

Hillier was selected after her daughter, Aryanna, a student at Mission Central school, wrote a short essay on why her mother deserves the award. More than 500 elementary school students participated in the challenge.

Shown in the picture is Optimist Club member Dick Brodie, Michelle Hillier and Aryanna. Dick presented Hillier with a gift basket and flowers. The club also donated $1,000 to the PAC at Mission Central for being the winning school.

Why did you join an Optimist Club?

Why did you join an Optimist Club? 

Monique Connors tells us her story: 

I had never heard of the Optimist Club until the day my daughter Katie was picked as her 8th grade Student of the Month at her school.  

She was picked for being an outstanding student by the entire staff of the school and had to go before the Chehalis/Centralia Optimists and answer questions for a chance to win a $500.00 scholarship. Even though she did not win I did; I had found something in the club that knew I could stand for and could do something positive for the kids.  

In today's world, where values are changing, the Optimists work hard to preserve the very foundation America was built on. The Optimist Clubs all over the world strive to empower and bring out the best in the youth so that they can move on to the great achievements of the future.  

I was amazed and then embraced by my club and am thankful for all they have done and are yet to do.

Monique is a member of the Chehalis/Centralia Optimist Club in Washington. This year she is serving as lieutenant governor for Zone 4 which includes the entire Washington State plus a club or two in Portland.

We'd love to hear your Optimist Club story! Tell us here.

Optimist Club members are superheroes

It is my learned opinion that Optimist Club members are superheroes. We stand on guard in our communities to protect and serve in so many ways. Among other things,we host programs that involve and mentor children, perform beautification projects, and hold fundraising events, just so we can give our money away to others so that they too can do more to advance themselves and the place where we call home. We may not wear a cape or hide behind a mask, but as a group, our superpowers are immense.

Typically once a year at the first quarter district meeting, Optimist Superheroes dress up and share their fun-loving spirit at a costume party. This year, that party will take place Friday, October 24, 2014 at opening ceremonies for the district quarterly in Hood River, Oregon. Don't be a party pooper - be creative and join the fun.  See you there!

Plan for the future with hope and positive vision

The McCall Optimist Club takes the summer off. After all, what's a club to do when it meets in a resort location but enjoy the busy-ness and commerce that accompanies all the visitors to their community. But when September hits, the club is back at work making sure that their resort is also their home.

Every week, we receive a weekly email reminding members to attend. This quick little message is both informative and inspirational. Most of all, it encourages members to get up early on Tuesday morning and be ready to learn about their community.

This week's message said a little more. It said that the board will be meeting and they want all members to attend and help plan the installation dinner and budget, line-up speakers, and plan a membership drive.

Now those are some positive administrative duties indeed. The McCall Optimist Club is planning for the future. Is your Optimist Club doing the same?

You have to plan for the succession and growth of your Optimist Club. It does not happen by accident.  It takes hope and positive vision, and a little planning, to bring out the best in not just children, but in all of us.

Optimist goes from British Columbia to India to share hope and positive vision

K.P. Aujilay, member, Optimist Club of Vancouver, BC wrote in this week with a story of international proportions. Read on! 

For the last 12 years I have been coordinating Oratorical and Essay Contests for the Vancouver Optimist Club. I am amazed at the insight of young students now a days. They are not only thinking of their own communities they are also aware of what goes on the world. 

I was born in India. Realizing that this spirit of optimism could do wonders for children in developing countries like India I often wondered the best way to assist children in my country of birth.

Optimist International does not have Optimist Clubs in India. But this did not stop me. With financial assistance from my family,ten years ago I started holding Essay Contests at local colleges close to where my parents live. Education and Sports are my passion. This passion also encouraged me to start holding Annual Track Meet for Elementary and High School students for schools close to where my parents live in India. 

It has been an amazing and fulfilling experience. It also taught me that rich or poor children are always full of dreams. I am glad that I am able to assist in bringing out the best in kids; kids that do not get the same opportunities that our kids get in developed countries.

Well done, K.P.! Thank you for sharing your optimism abroad and at home.

Beaverton Optimist Club honors Brittany Chandler with scholarship

Brittany Chandler receives the Dean Mitchell Public
Safety Scholarship from Marv Thompson,
Beaverton Optimist Club

The Beaverton Optimist Club had a busy day on Thursday, June 12, 2014. The first order of business was to honor Brittany Chandler as the recipient of the Dean Mitchell Public Safety Scholarship.

Dean Mitchell was a local businessman, former Optimist Club president and district lieutenant governor. As an Optimist, one of his favorite club projects was the Respect for Law program. After his death, his widow helped the Beaverton Optimist Club establish this annual scholarship designated for a student from the Beaverton area to pursue a career in public safety.

On hand to help make the presentation special was Sheriff Pat Garrett of the Washington County Sheriff's Department.

And rounding out the day with a little monkey business was a visitor from the Hillsboro Optimist Club. He came to fetch the club's gavel which President Wally Johnston had graciously hidden inside a bag of wood chips.

Rumor has it that the Beaverton Optimist Club's gavel is missing now!

See more pictures of the day on Facebook courtesy of Eric Squires. 

Oregon City Optimist Club honors the Oregon City Police

Oregon City Optimist Club honors
the Oregon City Police

Brian Shaw, President, Oregon City Optimist Club, wrote in today to share information about the club's Respect for Law program. He said that the club has been honoring officers for around 25 years. Usually held in early June, it rotates between the Oregon City Police Department and the Clackamas County Sheriff Department.

The 2014 event was held on June 10 and instead of honoring one individual as officer of the year, as is the norm, Oregon City's Police Chief Jim Band recognized the entire department. It was a tough year, with the tragic loss of an officer, and all pulled together to serve the community through their grief.

Thirteen officers were treated to breakfast with the Oregon City Optimist Club and were honored with the Optimist International Respect for Law plaque.

Thanks for sharing the story and pictures, Brian.

Breakfast with the officers

Presentation:
Respect for Law plaque

Why did you join an Optimist Club?

During the regional meetings, Governor Fred Wallace asked each attendee to consider the question, "Why did I join an Optimist Club?" At the meeting I attended, a few people shared their reasons, but we quickly went on to other topics and other ideas. And that is the challenge with our fast-paced lives, we become so involved with the pressure of the next thing we forget to savor the moments that brought us to where we are today. 

I hope that as you left the meeting, you took time to consider your story of joining. In Chilliwack, BC, Glenda Standeven did and she sent the following to me to share with you:

Someone saw me playing with my kids on a playground over two decades ago (my youngest is now 23 years old) and gave me a card with the Optimist Creed on it. He said, "My wife and I have been watching you play with your kids. We think you're an Optimist and we'd love to have you attend one of our meetings."

He was right! I AM and Optimist! I went to a meeting and three weeks later (YES WEEKS!) I was not only the new president but I brought in ten new members and became a Distinguished President. There were only three active members in the club when I joined. It just goes to show you, if you don't ask, you don't get! Ask someone - anyone - who LOOKS like they are an optimist to join your club. 

By the way, that day I was invited to attend a meeting I was on crutches. I lost my leg to cancer. I may only have one leg but that didn't stop me from playing with my kids in the restaurant playground and it doesn't stop me from being an Optimist!

                                           ~ Glenda Standeven, Optimist Club of Chilliwack, PNWD

So let's hear it, Optimist Club members. What's your story? Why did you join an Optimist Club and more important, why do you keep coming back?

Write a comment below, send us an email or complete this form and share your story of optimism today. Thank  you.

The positive approach to membership growth

Serving as governor of a district in Optimist International, there are many things that crosses one's desk. There are club programs, notices from Optimist International, leadership questions, meeting planning tasks, and events to attend, among other things; and always, there are thoughts about how to make our Optimist Clubs stronger through membership growth.

With that in mind, Governor Fred Wallace emailed today with the following message:

Cougar Says
Hey Ladies and Gentleman of the great Pacific Northwest. Great News today from Optimist International. We are only down 68 members. That puts us way ahead of many Districts. Thanks for all your hard work. I know there are several New Clubs in the works, so I know we will come out on top. I am so proud of District 32. Talk later.

Governor Fred is right. Being down 68 members at the halfway point in the year is not a bad statistic. And I have even more good news for you:

If your club and every club will commit to becoming an Honor Club in 2013-2014, the loss in membership will be cleared and your Optimist Club will be even stronger, and better able to serve more children in your community. It's statistically shown that every member touches the lives of at least 30 children every year. When your club adds new members, it extends its reach locally, in schools and beyond.

So how do you do it? How do you get new members to join your Optimist Club? It ends with 8 words, "Do you want to join my Optimist Club?" But how does it start?

Wyatt King, member of the Lebanon Optimist Club says that the secret to adding members is optimism. According to Wyatt, the Lebanon Optimists are always upbeat at their meetings and programs and their positive attitude is inviting; people want to share in the good vibes. There must be some truth in Wyatt's secret. So far this year, the Lebanon Optimists have added 10 members and lost 2 for a net membership growth of 8.

Your Optimist Club can do it too. Just be positive, set the right attitude...and don't forget to ask those 8 words.

Childhood Cancer Campaign goes to sea

Click to enlarge and print flyer.

This year, you know her as the Membership Co-Chair for the PNW District - Optimist International. You may also know her as the bulletin editor and publicity chair, among other things, of the Twin Falls Optimist Club. And you may even know her as a travel agent. I'm talking about none other than the bubbly Robin Stanhope.

Robin has found a way to merge travel and fundraising for an Optimist International cause together and has asked me to share the project with you.

What is it? A Caribbean Cruise! 

That's right, you can sign up now to go cruising for childhood cancer. Working with the Twin Falls Optimist Club, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines has promised to donate $100 to the Twin Falls Optimist Club Cure Childhood Cancer Fund for every cabin that is booked for this specially designated Optimist Cruise set to sail from Tampa, Florida on January 31, 2015.

Find out more by contacting Robin directly at 208 734-9486 or rastanhope@gmail.com.
 

Sauce and Toss for Scholarships

Sharon Speer wrote in today to let us know about the benefit dinner that the Portland Peninsula Optimist Club will hold on February 26, 2014. This will be the second year that Christie's Restaurant, 5507 N. Lombard, Portland, has helped with the "Sauce and Toss" with proceeds going to the Portland Peninsula Optimist Club Scholarship Fund.

 For only $15,you'll be treated to your choice of 4 types of pasta and 5 types of sauce plus all the trimmings. Click on the picture to enlarge and read more.

Then pick up your tickets from any Peninsula Optimist Club member or at:

• Christie's Restaurant, 5507 N. Lombard
• Copy Pilot, 4784 N.  Lombard
• Edward Jones, 7326 N. Leavitt
• St. Johns Twin Cinemas, 8704 N. Lombard

The greatest thing about being an optimist is...

Optimist International, along with the Optimist International Foundation and Canadian Children's Optimist Foundation, ask you and your Optimist Club to complete the sentence, "The greatest thing about being an optimist is...," for the 2nd annual Reel Optimism video awards.

The grand prize is a $1,000 Club grant. Deadline for submission: March 15, 2014. Put on your director's hat and show us what's great about being an optimist. For complete details and contest rules, please visit: http://www.optimist.org/reeloptimism/.

Add a member, eat ice cream

Robin Stanhope and Chris Stearns are co-chairing the PNW District Membership Committee this year and they've organized a district-wide plan for membership growth based on the model that has been used in the Twin Falls Optimist Club for the past three years. It's worked for their club, allowing it to grow from 75 members to its current status of 131 members, and earn Honor and Distinguished Club recognition along the way. Most important, the new members have brought new ideas and allowed the club members to tackle new programs for their community.

The crux of the membership program is to get everyone involved. We all have associates, friends and family that would benefit from belonging to an Optimist Club, but without extra encouragement from your club about increasing membership, we often forget to ask them to join. Through the membership plan, Robin and Chris suggest that you recruit membership chairs (yes, more than one) and then allow them to organize a friendly competition inside the club to see which group can add the most members.

The plan recommends potential target membership groupings: Torch Carriers, Business Partners, Non-English Speaking, Invitation Plan, Family Plan, Friends of Optimist, Matching Funds Members, Prospective Members and 30 under 30.

Most important, the plan also focuses on retention. When you add new members, and for those clubs who have added members recently, be sure that the new members are involved and understand the organization that they have joined. We can't grow our clubs when members are coming in the front door and going out the back door at the same time.

Finally, the co-chairs have also proposed a district competition. District leaders, including the executive committee and past governors will make up one team. Everyone else makes up the second team.

At the 4th Quarter Convention, the winning team - the one that has added the most members - will be served by the losing team during an ice cream social.

It's just about fun. And growth. And doing more things in your communities. Now go get that new member.

Read more about the membership plan here. 

Contact Robin and Chris here. 

Baby, it's cold outside!

It's amazing how quickly the cold weather hit Idaho and that means that the Optimist Clubs of Jerome and Twin Falls were thrown into overdrive as they scrambled to get their Coats for Kids drive underway.

The Twin Falls Optimist Club reached out to the local television station and began advertising for donations.



They also applied for a Powering Lives grant with Idaho Power. Committee Chair Patsy Bland shared the Coats for Kids story on the Idaho Power Facebook page and asked her friends and the public to vote for the club to win. Click on over and give them a vote!

In Jerome, President Sheri Mitchell went a little softer with her sell, reaching out to club members and community stakeholders to express the need. In the monthly newsletter, she wrote,

"The Jerome Optimist Club has chaired the Coats for Kids project for 38 years and still running strong. Coat barrels are located at the Jerome Wal-Mart (north entrance), the Jerome Library and the Jerome Middle School. Also assisting the Jerome Optimist Club is the Snake River Corvette Club, Falls City 4 H Club, JMS Leadership Students, Jerome Girl Scouts and Brownies, Horizon/Jefferson Elementary and Wal-Mart. PLEASE remember kids come in every size so adult coats are needed too. For a coat please call Sheri 308-3264."

According to Sheri, the Jerome Optimist Club has already delivered 122 coats this year.

Your donations will help keep kids warm this year. If you can give, please contact the club presidents at the following links: Twin Falls Optimist Club     Jerome Optimist Club .

It is time to complete your paperwork

Well, it's September 29, 2013. Another Optimist Club administrative year is about to begin. But, before we start, we owe it to our club and district leaders to do all that we need to do to make this year complete.

One of the greatest accomplishments that every Optimist Club can celebrate every year is attaining the status of Honor Club. Clubs that perform at this level make a promise to club members and their communities that they intend to be around for a long time and are acting in a manner to do so. The Honor Club requirements are simple: 

You must complete this form for Club
Honor or Distinguished recognition

• Complete at least three service projects a year
• Recognize a Club member or local community individual
• Grow Club by net plus 1
• Be current on District and Optimist International dues

Some Optimist Clubs will do just a little bit more. By completing the above requirements and making Optimist Club growth a priority, a small number of clubs will also attain the Distinguished Club recognition. They must complete all that is required of an Honor Club plus: 

• Grow their Optimist Club by net 15 members, or 
• Start a new Optimist Club

So this message is meant to encourage Optimist Club leaders to close out their leadership year in style by completing the paperwork that tells Optimist International and the district that their club has completed some or all of the above requirements. 

Log in to Optimistleaders.com now and complete the President's Pride report. Add any new members that may be waiting. Make sure your financial obligations have been paid. And finally, download this certification and notify Optimist International that your club has recognized a club member or local community individual for their optimism. 

Don't just be an Honor Club or Distinguished Club. Take pride in telling others that you have accomplished this level commitment and allow Optimist International recognize you and your Optimist Club for its service. Our communities and our Optimist Clubs deserve it. 

Optimist football - it can touch your heart

Football is a passion for some of the Optimist Clubs in Idaho including Boise, Nampa, Mountain Home, Emmett and Horseshoe Bend. It's that last club that recently shared some Optimist football history with me.

Deb Miller, a charter member of the Horseshoe Bend Optimist Club shared this picture of four generations of her family being involved in Optimist Football as players and coaches.  Shown are the members and coaches of the flag football team. She explained that her son, John Wolsleben is the head coach and his father, John, and Grandpa, Ben are the assistant coaches. The second player from the right is John's little brother Jerrod and not shown in the picture, is John's daughter Ashlyn, an Optimist Football cheerleader.

Horseshoe Bend Optimist Club Football

According to Deb, this story of Optimist mentoring touches her heart. I'm sure you'll agree, as I do, that it touches yours too. 

Thanks for sharing, Deb!

Portland NE Optimist Club announces Donna Jo Anne Flye Memorial Scholarship

The PNW District received a note from Boyd Yaden today that announced the passing of a long time Optimist Club member of the Portland NE Optimist Club, Donna J. Flye.

According to the announcement, she was an outstanding optimist and the club has decided to honor her memory by creating a scholarship in her name. The Donna Jo Anne Flye Memorial Scholarship will be an annual award and full details are available by contacting Boyd Yaden, Treasurer, Portland NE Optimist Club at 503-702-3812. 

Donations may be made to the scholarship fund by mailing the  Portland NE Optimist Club, attention Boyd Yaden, Treasurer, 13640 SE Hwy 2012, #103, Clackamas, OR 97015-8511. 

Optimist Clubs add to a community's quality of life

An Optimist Club helps you create a kind of
community where you want to live. 

With the international convention over, it's time to return our focus to our region and especially to our own Optimist Clubs. The Optimist International organization thrives, and the mission of bringing out the best in children continues, because local Optimist Clubs continue to serve in their local communities. By serving needs that only local persons can know, Optimist Clubs make a difference every day.

On Monday, I attended the Middleton Area Optimist Club meeting. I learned that in addition to the successful bingo fundraisers that they hold almost monthly, and the Free Movies in the Park program that will run through the summer, they are also behind the scenes serving in ways that may not be known.

For instance, the club recently contributed almost $1,500 to an individual who is receiving cancer treatment to help with travel expenses. On Memorial Day, a number of Optimist Club members assisted the American Legion in decorating the Veterans Cemetery and for the 4th of July, the Optimist Club funded the choreography for the fireworks display. .

President Russ Nelson pointed to another need that the community has regarding the fireworks display. The fireworks are purchased solely by donations and that is why some years they have larger demonstrations than others. He proposed that the club consider lending some of their fundraising efforts to the fireworks fund to help make it more stable and perhaps in time, more spectacular.

The club didn't reach a decision on this particular effort yet, but I share this with you as an example of how our Optimist Clubs might mobilize other people's money for community good. With their fundraising strength, the Middleton Area Optimist Club is touching all areas of their community, meeting local needs, and building a positive quality of life.