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Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Christmas tree sales fund year-round Optimist Club projects


The Meridian Optimist Club has completed a successful season of Christmas tree sales. Through this major fund raising effort the club supports a Junior Air Rifle Club and Shooting Range, all Optimist Scholarship Programs, the Meridian Food Bank and more than twenty-five other special projects in the community. That's at least two projects per month! Go MOC!









Friday, December 7, 2007

Experience Optimism

Sign up for the monthly newsletter created by the designers of newoptimistclub.com and you'll get tips, tricks, and tools for making your Optimist Club the premier service club in your community.

Click here to send your email address today.

Click here to view a sample newsletter.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Participate in an Optimist Scholarship Contest

Every year, Optimist Clubs around the world participate in Optimist International sponsored scholarship programs for writing and speaking. All begin at the club level and have different criteria to progress through zones, regions, and district judging. The topics for 2008 and a PNW District Contact email address for each contest are as follows:

Essay Contest - "Today's Choices Shape My Future" Email

Oratorical Contest - "Why Me? Why Not?" Email

Communications Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CCDH) - "Why Me? Why Not?" Email

Find out more, including entry requirements, at newoptimistclub.com.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Optimists recognize students

A time-honored tradition among Optimist Clubs is to recognize students for the great things they do, both small and large. In fact, we even set one week a year aside as Youth Appreciation Week.

Over the years, and from community to community, the type of honor varies. The Pasadena Optimist Club near Houston, Texas recognizes kids from the JOOI Club on a weekly basis.

The Plant City Optimist Club near Tampa, Florida chose to honor four students based on academic achievent, athletics and service to their community.

According to Angie Bridge with the Jerome Optimist Club in Jerome, Idaho, this year their club will honor at least sixty students on November 14. Their criteria, "They don’t necessarily have to be straight-A students, athletes or honor society members –we just want to honor the kids who deserve to be honored just because."

How does your club celebrate Youth Appreciation Week? Send us a picture! Let us know! We want to help you get the word out that kids and Optimists are appreciated!

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Poulsbo meeting motivational

PNW District Governor Steve Andersen reports that the first quarter district meeting in Poulsbo, Washington was motivational. Just thinking about all the great things Optimists do in their home clubs has him charged up and ready to start the workweek with enthusiasm. Optimist International VP Chris Jernigan unveiled his special pin that will be given to every Optimist in his region that brings in two members. Those recipients will henceforth be known as Jernigan's Heroes.

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Optimist International year ends, begins again

September 30 marks the end of one Optimist administrative year and the beginning of another. Today, the PNW District congratulates out-going Governor Gay Enyeart and welcomes in-coming Governor Steve Andersen.

Best wishes to all Optimists as they begin the 2007-2008 year. As you travel through this year, remember to be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
Promise yourself to expect only the best.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

PNW Optimists to hold meeting in Poulsbo

The most recent addition to the PNW Optimist family is hosting the first district meeting for Governor Steve Andersen's 2007-2008 administrative year. The Optimist Club of N. Kitsap County encourages you to discover Poulbo, WA on October 26-27. For registration information please visit the PNW District webpage.

There will be training for new club presidents and secretaries, a public relations presentation and a workshop led by an Optimist International certified trainer. It's a great way to get the year off and running.

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Optimist in Action Day

October 20 has been declared Optimist in Action Day. Optimist Clubs will come out around the world to do public service in their community. Since this is a one-day event, your club might want to consider some quick, low or no-cost activities that make a difference in a hurry. Some ideas can be found at: http://www.newoptimistclub.com. Just click on Quick and Easy in the navigation bar.

Let us know what you have planned. Send the PNW District an email today.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Optimist District Convention a Success

Optimists gathered for the PNW District Convention in Eugene, OR. This marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Pacific Northwest District with the current boundaries. OPtimist International President Designate Theo Golding was the guest of honor. Highlights included a curling exhibition at the Lane County Fair led by Al Kersey, a fabulous fiesta party hosted by Sue Broadwater and the Roseburg Optimist Club and the Governor's Banquet where Steve Andersen and his team were installed and made ready to assume their duties on October 1. Soon-to-be the Immediate Past Governor, Gay Enyeart encouraged those present to continue leading all districts in Optimist International by adding more members and building new clubs. Peter Smith, Coquitlam Optimist Club was elected governor-elect for the coming year. Adele Heinrich, N. Kitsap County Optimist Club and Rocky Jackson, Jerome Optimist Club were honored with the Roy Proctor Lifetime Achievement Award for their outstanding District Service.

Monday, August 6, 2007

PNW Elections for Governor-elect

Pacific Northwest District Optimist Clubs will be asked to choose their district leadership for 2008-2009 at the District Convention on August 16-18. Three Optimists have announced their candidacy for Governor-elect of the Pacific Northwest District. In alphabetical order, they are Linda Jackson, Jerry Sheetz and Peter Smith.

Friday, July 27, 2007

Jernigan's Heroes

Chris Jernigan, OI Regional Vice President for the Alberta, Montana, Saskatchewan & North Wyoming (AMSNWY), Colorado-Wyoming (COWY), Kansas, Nebraska and Pacific Northwest Districts has launched a website for his team.

Click here to find out about how they plan to be the #1 Region for Optimist International.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Celebrating Women

Twenty years ago, a Supreme Court ruling upheld women's rights by declaring service clubs such as Rotary, Kiwanis or Optimist could not withhold membership based on gender changing the stodgy old men's club image forever.

Optimist International has declared this to be the year of the woman. Watch for women in Optimism to make a difference in your community and join them when asked. It takes caring men and women to bring out the best in kids.

Monday, June 18, 2007

I Can See Clearly Now

Optimist Karaoke

"I Can See Clearly Now," with clips from the movie Cool Runnings, has been declared the official Optimist song for 2007-2008. Won't you join us in an Optimist sing-along?

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) Sun-Shiny day It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) Sun-Shiny day

Oh yes I can make it now, the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is the rainbow I've been prayin' for
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) Sun-Shiny day

Look all around, there's nothin' but blue skies
Look straight ahead, nothin' but blue skies

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Here is the rainbow I've been prayin' for
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) Sun-Shiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) Sun-Shiny day bright (bright), bright (bright) Sun-Shiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) Sun-Shiny day It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) Sun-Shiny day

Sunday, June 17, 2007

PNW Optimist Convention to be held August 15-18

Optimist Clubs in the Pacific Northwest are gearing up for the District Convention. This year, we will welcome Optimist International President Designate Theo Golding of Jamaica to our annual gathering.

Plan to join us for the festivities, inspiration and friendship. Register today.

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Optimist Creed

A lot of people try to claim the Optimist Creed as their very own. Written by Christian Larson, the Optimist Creed has been a part of Optimist International since 1922. Optimist Clubs recite this creed any time they gather. Optimist members support optimism as a way of life.

Please enjoy our favorite, uplifting words:

Promise yourself ~
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism com true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Top ten reasons to build an Optimist Club blog

10) It's free and easy
9) It's open 24/7
8) It gives your club an Internet presence
7) You can link it to the District blog and the District blog can link to your club
6) You can publish your club agendas and newsletters online
5) It’s a forum to tell the world about the great activities that your club performs
4) Participants can write about the great experiences they had at an Optimist function
3) It's dynamic - you can make changes every day...every hour...every ten minutes...whenever you want
2) You can send reporters and potential new members to the blog to find out more about Optimism as a way of life
1) Governor Gay wants you to

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Add your blog to our list

Optimist Clubs in the Pacific Northwest District are encouraged to start a blog. By linking all of our sites together on the PNW District Optimist Blog, we'll have a great networking tool of positive thoughts, good deeds and community service. Add your Optimist Club short story to our list.

Please send your link to us newoptimistclub.com today.

Friday, May 4, 2007

Optimists gather in Yakima

The PNW District met for the Third Quarter motivational session in Yakima on May 4-5, 2007. Nearly 100 people gathered to hear the Optimist Oratorical Contest. Additionally, Governor Gay Enyeart spoke of public relations efforts underway to make Optimist Clubs more recognizable.

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