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Wednesday, September 30, 2015

It's not over yet

It's after 6:00 p.m. PT on the last day of the Optimist International administrative year. It's at this time each year that we take a look back at our accomplishments and then promise ourselves to press ever onward to the greater achievements of the future.

It's been a great year. As of this writing, PNW Optimist Clubs have added 71 net new members to their respective Optimist Clubs. More than 50% of the clubs are eligible to earn the respected Honor Club award. At least three clubs - maybe four - are eligible for the Distinguished Club award. That's awesome.

But it is not time to rest yet, my friends. Dick Disney, Governor 2014-2015 is still hoping for the most Honor Clubs of any District in the organization. Please do your part by completing the President's Pride report. We have four more hours, as of this post, to make it happen and I know we can do it because in the PNW District, we are REAL FRIENDS of YOUTH. Thank you.

Saturday, September 26, 2015

What's so special about Honor Club?

pnw optimist clubs honor clubI've been an Optimist Club member for almost 30 years. When I joined, there was one determination as to whether your Optimist Club had a good year: Honor Club. If your club received the Honor Club recognition, then you had done all that you could do to make your club the best it could be.

At that time, Honor Club required the same steps as we currently have:
Plus the following:
  • Complete all reports on time to include the Club Officer Elect Report (COER) and the Annual Club Planning Conference (ACPC)
  • End the year with +5 or more members
  • Recognize a club member as a Life Member of Optimist International in place of the Optimist of the Year award
Not every club made it and that's what made it so special; those that did gave just a little bit more of their time to earn the recognition that an Optimist Club deserves. More important, the care and maintenance of an Optimist Club today helps ensure it will be here next year, and many more years to come. 

As we close out the 2014-2015 administrative year, everyone can help ensure that their club is the best. There's 4 more days to recruit another member, finish reports and make your payments to the organization. I doubt there is any club that hasn't conducted way more than 3 service projects, but just in case, there is even time to do a quick and easy project in one day or less. 

All hands on deck! Let's make this Optimist Club year one to remember.

As of this writing, Optimist International is very close to having added 10,000 new members for 2014-2015. With 42 or more new members, we'll reach that mark, one the organization has not realized for some time. Let's all do our part to get us to 100,000 members by the 100th anniversary of Optimist International.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Honor Club: You've got this!

Governor Dick Disney sent a message to all PNW District Optimist Club members today. It was a note of optimism. It was a note of excellence. It was a note of encouragement.

Ten days remain in the Optimist International administrative year. There's time for every Optimist Club to meet the District's number one goal: Honor Club.

The requirements of Honor Club are:

  • Complete 3 service projects
  • Complete all financial obligations
  • Complete recognition of a community or club member as an Optimist of the Year or Friend of Youth
  • Complete the President's Pride report
  • End the year with +1 or more members than were on the roster when the year began

People often say that they aren't in an Optimist Club to receive awards. Well, that's fine; Honor Club is not an award - it is recognition that your Optimist Club is completing the minimum requirements that will keep it healthy for years to come. It is recognition that your Optimist Club cares about its community and its members as well as it cares about children. It is recognition of a year well-served.

Don't let the year end without reaching your goal. Click here to see what your Optimist Club needs to do to march its way into an Honor Club. 

Monday, September 14, 2015

Welcome to the new Optimist Club of Gresham Scouters

pnw district optimist clubs 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.


Tuesday, September 1, 2015

September is for Honor Club

Welcome to September. It's that time of year when children go back to school and Optimist Clubs get back to work following summer vacations.

For Optimist Club presidents, the work at hand is the final drive to HONOR CLUB.

An Optimist Honor Club truly means that your Optimist Club is doing all that it can to be around this time next year and far into the future. It signifies excellence in administration and service.

The steps to Honor Club are fairly simple. The Optimist Club must conduct at least three service projects each year and meet all of its financial obligations with Optimist International and the District. You've got this, right?

Next, your Optimist Club must recognize a community or club member as an outstanding Optimist, Friend of Youth, or other honor, and report the recognition on this form.

Your Optimist Club president must complete the President's Pride report. This report is available at Optimistleaders.org and may also be printed, completed and returned by mail by downloading the President's Pride report form here.  The President's Pride report serves as an annual report of activities so that the impact of your Optimist Club can be quantified. Together with other Optimist Clubs, the true depth of projects and impact on communities can be measured.

Finally, your Optimist Club must end the administrative year with one more member than it started with on October 1, 2014 (net +1).

The good news is almost every Optimist Club in the PNW District has a real chance of being an Optimist Club. Only two or three clubs will have to stretch to make the membership goal. For every one, it's worth it. Show your pride, demonstrate your commitment to your community and make your members proud by making your Optimist Club an Honor Club - right here, right now.

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