embership growth raises optimism to new heights optimist the summer 2012hat better way to start your day than with a hearty breakfast and a lot of laughs while learning more about this year’s convention location, milwaukee! you don’t want to miss milwaukee’s own john mcgivern live on saturday morning, july 14 at the old timers’ breakfast. john is best known for his emmy-award winning work on pbs. his stories are personal, funny, touching and familiar. his themes are based in family and remind us that as specifc as we might believe our experiences are, we all share a universal human experience. john has been the keynote speaker for the alliance for children and families, the state department on aging, the children and family service agency of wisconsin, the wisconsin defense league, christ child association, foundation for children with cancer, employee assistant professional association and has been fortunate to entertain companies such as time warner, northwestern mutual, kohl’sdepartment stores, baird, acuity, and m&i financial. come and enjoy hearing all there is to know about the convention host city. as a resident, john knows frst-hand! see john mcgivern at the old timers’ breakfast the dynamic kids fromwisconsin are performing at this year’s wonderful wisconsin appreciation luncheon at the frontier airlines center on friday, july 13. the cost is only 37.00 u.s. the host area committee is looking for registered members and guests who would like to serve as table hosts and hostesses at the appreciation luncheon. contact meredith prebec at merrilloptimist@pesobic.net.ummer 2012 • 1 features optimism spans the globe. 16 one college club took their optimism to ecuador and provided service and hope throughout their journey optimists support miracles through cota. 20 the children’s organ transplant association assists youth who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support find out how your club can help travel to milwaukee. 21 the milwaukee convention is coming up quickly find out about the special events and great training opportunities, so you can start planning your schedule meet the candidates. 23 optimist international announces candidates for the president-elect and vice presidents-elect for 2012-2013, and six optimists are running for two open seats on the international board of directors departments marketing . 6 promoting optimism begins at the local level get tips on how to market to your community and potential new members above and beyond. 9 a young cancer survivor fghts to promote childhood cancer awareness and recognize other youth who have dealt with this horrible disease internet safety. 11 cyber-bullying is on the rise and affecting a number of today’s youth optimists can play a part in taking a stand against this dangerous practice programs . 12 the cpa program has gone digital! find out how the changes will beneft your club and the entire optimist organization at your international offce 30 get to know the optimist staff member who can assist you in planning a meeting that is both fun and informative summer 2012 vol. 92 no. 4 the optimist the offcial publication of optimist international managing editor: dennis osterwisch • editor: danielle baugher • graphic designer: sandra grunzinger editorial offce: 4494 lindell blvd. • st. louis, mo 63108 • (314) 371-6000 • fax: (314) 371-6006 magazine@optimist.org on the cover: new members are an asset to the entire optimist organization. help spread the word of optimism by sponsoring a new member today.011-2012 board of directors president jack creswell, reading, pa; immediate past president danny rodgers, fort worth, tx; president-elect j.c. st-onge, saint-jerome, qc; jooi president marie-claude bourgeois, jonquière, qc; executive director benny ellerbe, st. louis, mo; dave bruns, topeka, ks; jim kondrasuk, monona, wi; chris jernigan, morganton, nc; fatima plater, detroit, mi; michael goldman, davie, fl; paul lucas, odessa, tx vice presidents dwight phillips, windsor, on; rose kohler, summerville, ga; sandy cyphers, wilmington, nc; mary ann gilpin, marshall, mo; judy boyd, urbandale, ia; patsy garner, fort worth, tx; estermarie hillman, tucson, az; claire labréche, montreal, qc mission statement by providing hope and positive vision, optimists bring out the best in kids. vision statement optimist international will be recognized worldwide as the premier volunteer organization that values all children and helps them develop to their full potential. the optimist creed 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 come 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 you meet 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. purposes of optimist international to develop optimism as a philosophy of life utilizing the tenets of the optimist creed; to promote an active interest in good government and civic affairs; to inspire respect for the law; to promote patriotism and work for international accord and friendship among all people; to aid and encourage the development of youth, in the belief that the giving of one’s self in service to others will advance the well-being of humankind, community life and the world. the optimist (issn 1085-5017) (cpn 40032242) (usps 808-320) is published quarterly in fall, winter, spring and summer by optimist international, 4494 lindell blvd., st. louis, mo 63108, a non-proft and incorporated association of optimist clubs located in the united states, canada, the caribbean and europe. periodicals postage paid at st. louis, missouri, and at additional mailing offces. subscription rate: 4.50 per year for club members, 5.00 per year for non-members. no responsibility is assumed for the opinions expressed by authors of articles or claims by advertisers. postmaster: send address changes to the optimist, 4494 lindell blvd., st. louis, mo 63108. copyright 2012 optimist international. in canada please send to 5205 blvd metropolitain east, suite 200 montréal (quebec) canada h1r 1z7. all rights reserved. 2 • the optimist • jack’s jottings optimist international at a glance membership: 93,029 * total clubs: 3,233 * founded: june 19, 1919 *as of april 15, 2012; fgure includes jooi clubs jack’s jottings dear optimists, i would like to open this letter with an expression of gratitude and congratulations. thank you for helping us to achieve “100% and then some” during the 2011-2012 optimist year. congratulations to you for all the accomplishments you have made as a member and as an important part of your club, district and the optimist organization. first lady sue and i have thoroughly enjoyed traveling to a number of districts, talking with you and learning more about the wonderful work being done in your communities. it has been an honor to serve the organization and we hope you have enjoyed this year as well. this year, we have achieved great things. optimist international dedicated itself to bringing hope to children with cancer and their families through the creation of the curing childhood cancer campaign. there can truly be no greater calling. our work is not done and i urge you to donate to the ccc and to work to raise awareness in your community. we have built a new relationship with the uso. optimists are now providing service to military children, something which brings pride to our organization. there are numerous ways your club can get involved from donating books for the united through reading program to raising funds to support the uso’s many worthwhile programs. our membership committee has introduced numerous incentives to encourage clubs to bring in new members. our membership has grown and new clubs have been built. you have brought optimism to new people and new communities. the 2012 international convention is coming up soon. please plan to join us in milwaukee. there are numerous training opportunities as well as fun activities scheduled. there will truly be something for everyone. don’t miss this opportunity to learn, pick up new program ideas and enjoy fellowship with other optimists. keep in mind that the year is not over. there is still time for us to reach new heights with our service, membership and new club building. time to stop thinking and start doing. we need your fnal efforts to reach the fnish line with a ‘plus’ in membership. come on, i know we can do it. i believe in you! let’s fnish this year on a high note. share your enthusiasm and passion for optimism. we can show the world that optimism is about reaching “100% …and then some!” see you in milwaukee! jack creswell optimist international presidentye on optimism • summer 2012 • 3 the optimist club of mesa, arizona has made their barbeque at the sunshine acres children’s home an annual event for the last 52 years. that equals 52 years of planning, preparation and serving up delicious food. sunshine acres children’s home is known as “miracles in the desert.” in 1953, the optimist club of mesa made the down payment for the property the home sits on. hundreds of children have been helped by this nurturing home without the aid of the state or federal government. the home now houses 70 children. this year, the number of guests totaled around 2,200 who enjoyed a meal of pit-barbecued beef, western style beans, coleslaw, rolls and desserts. the meat was prepared and wrapped by optimist volunteers on a friday evening and lowered into the pit of hot embers on saturday morning where it would cook for 22 hours. the meat was removed early on sunday, shredded and prepared for the frst guests who arrived at 10:30am. with temperatures in the high 70’s, the ice cream and treats provided by the nestle corporation were a big hit. the tent holding up to 250 guests and the dining room were at capacity for most of the day. optimists kept busy serving, selling entry and raffe tickets, directing people to the numerous activities being offered and answering questions about the children’s home and the optimist club. attendees had the opportunity to tour the home, watch a horse show presented by the children, browse the warehouse and boutique and enjoy great fellowship. one of the highlights of the day was a saddle presentation to the horse program. the mesa club fnancially supported vanessa shreeve with her senior project of reconditioning a saddle. vanessa donated her refurbished saddle to the sunshine acres two hearts horsemanship program. the hope is that the saddle will beneft the children and be useful for many more years. jean nagy, an optimist member designed and donated a handcrafted quilt to be used as a raffe item. the children were each asked to personalize a panel to be incorporated into the quilt. the funds raised from this year’s event will be used to purchase a new walk-in freezer for the home. the biggest reward of the day was the smiles on the faces of the children from the excitement of the event and the generous help from the volunteers. making miracles in the desert children from the home and other attendees enjoy cool treats. vanessa shreve presents her reconditioned saddle to the children’s home horsemanship program.ffcer-elect training at convention are you an incoming club or district offcer-elect? do you think you might want to be? in either case, did you know that the milwaukee convention is full of training opportunities for you? on thursday, july 12, training sessions will be held from 1:00-5:00pm for district leadership development chairs, district membership chairs and district new club building chairs, both traditional and non-traditional. there will also be training sessions from 2:00-6:00pm for club presidents-elect, lt. governors-elect, club secretary-treasurers designate and district secretary-treasurers designate. these sessions are excellent opportunities to fnd out more about what the position requires and you will have the opportunity to meet other people who are in the same position as you. these sessions fll up fast, so make plans now to attend the training and we look forward to seeing you in milwaukee! 4 • the optimist • news & views top right: the 2011-12 international activities committee gathered in st. louis to judge the 2010-11 cpa entries. pictured: bob floyd, committee chair barb scirto-sullivan (seated), director of communications danielle baugher, lonnie bertsch and ron graves. not pictured is programs manager, dana thomas. top left: barb adds feedback and suggestions to an evaluation sheet. bottom left: the committee also reviewed the international programs to ensure they meet the needs of optimist clubs and the children served. bottom right: bob reviews a submitted entry. community project award judgingnews & views • summer 2012 • 5 are you active? are you an active member the kind that would be missed or are you just content that your name is on the list? do you attend the functions and mingle with the crowd or would you rather stay at home and complain both long and loud? do you give a little time and help to make things tick or leave the work to just a few and talk about the clique? there’s quite a program scheduled that means success if done and it can be accomplished with the help of everyone so come to all the functions and help with hand and heart don’t be just another member but play an active part think it over member are you right or are you wrong are you an active member or do you just belong? author unknown the polls have closed, and the results are in! the foundation was fortunate to have two great candidates for the open director positionontheoptimist international foundation board. the foundation would like to offer a huge thank you to both of them for running, and a thank you to everyone who participated in voting. it is a pleasure to announce the winner of this year’s election, and welcome mr. edwin ‘ed’ finn from district 6, the south texas district, as the newest member of the oif board of directors. ed said he has “always had strong feelings about the work done by the foundation” and he “stands ready to get out in to the districts and share about the foundation and its needs.” the foundation staff is looking forward to working with the newest member of the team. ed has always been a strong supporter of the foundation and its work, and this is just one more way for him to demonstrate his commitment. “i hope to see continued growth and expansion of optimist international and the foundation as a whole,” said ed. “one does not exist without the other.” ed’s term will begin on october 1, 2012. welcome ed! optimists mark accomplishments in pgi the following optimists submitted their requirements for achieving levels vii and x of the personal growth & involvement program between february 1, 2012 and april 1, 2012. pgi level vii recipients name district marilyn hiliau az marilyn pell az pgi level x recipients name district carrollyn cox capva e. leslie cox capva clarence gamble kywv regis malenfant qea raymonde michaud qea james smith az ! new oif board member ed finn contributed by peggy dick, lt. governor zone 5, ams&nw districthe future success of a club depends upon its ability to attract new members and successful marketing can help facilitate that attraction. under the leadership of governor ray finocchio, themichigandistrict designated a district marketing and public relations committee to assist clubs with their local marketing and advertising for new optimist welcome (now) events. “marketing works and we are proving it every time a local paper runs an optimist story and someone shows up to a now event,” said ray. “we are showing clubs in our district that we are behind them. we support them with free marketing and publicity.” the district marketing and public relations committee, headed by bob schiller, works in conjunction with the district membership committee to increase awareness of michigan optimist clubs. governor ray explained that part of the district’s growth plan for the year is to have more communities understand who optimists are and what clubs do for the community. in addition to assisting with a marketing plan, the committees are working with clubs to increase their membership through now meetings. the district offered marketing assistance to all clubs attending the 2nd quarter conference. they invited certifed international trainer linda stein to present her “how to now” session, which gave members a basic understanding of how to conduct a successful now meeting. at the end of the presentation, clubs paired up with a member from the membership committee and the marketing and publicity committee. twenty clubs made commitments to host an event in their community. publicity starts once an event date is set. the marketing and public relations committee works with local media outlets to ensure the now event will be promoted and the membership committee helps the club develop an event agenda. “each now meeting we’ve helped with has had at least two potential members attend because they read about us in the newspaper,” said ray. this teamwork has helped several clubs increase their membership 20 to 50 percent. dedicated to increasing awareness of the great work optimist clubs do in their community, the michigan district is combining membership and marketing to help clubs stay healthy and active. 6 • the optimist • marketing by maggie fairchild, director of marketing membership m a r k e t i n garketing • summer 2012 • 7 think local local media outlets in your community want to share your club’s success. most media sources set aside space for community and non-proft events. optimist international provides fll-in-the-blank news releases that clubs and districts can use in connection with their participation in international programs, new club announcements and other activities. utilize social media does your club have a social media presence? engaging with current and potential members on social media websites like facebook, linkedin, twitter and meetup is a great way to tout your club’s accomplishments, increase community interest and connect with other optimists. an active facebook page can enable your club to speed up communications among members and the community you serve. communicate, communicate, communicate everything your club does can be newsworthy. consider setting up a club marketing or public relations committee to help promote upcoming events, fundraisers or membership drives. take a hint from the optimist club of alamogordo, new mexico who welcomed a new member by submitting an article to the alamogordo daily news . this helps increase your club’s visibility and tells the community your club is active and growing. 3 tips to simplify club marketing . membership m a r k e t i n g marketing is promoting your club and what it does to the community, potential members and the children you serve. marketing does not have to be cumbersome and time-consuming. a good marketing plan consists of creating dialogue with your audience and social outreach. the three tips below will help get your club’s name out in the local community.he southfeld-lathrup optimist club in the michigan district believes that reading is fundamental and wants to share the experience with local elementary students. the time it takes to read one or even two books to an elementary school class may be short, but the benefts have a lasting impact. the club adopted thompson k-8 international academy, a local public school. the celebrity readers program is a cooperative effort between the school system, individual members of the community and local organizations. currently, the optimist club is the only club in the area to endorse and staff the program on a school-wide scale. on reading days, optimists visit the school and spend quality time with each elementary classroom of approximately 30 students. the marquee at the front of the building proudly reads, “welcome southfeld-lathrup optimist celebrity readers.” the southfeld public library and a local bookstore has partnered with the club, so readers may borrow or purchase a book for reading day. librarians are ready to assist anyone who identifes themselves as a celebrity reader and would like some guidance. “each time i read for a class, i learn more about how young children think and what they are interested in. i’ve also learned that children love to talk about themselves, their families and their experiences,” said club member sandra tomlin. “if i have any problems when i enter a classroom, they are gone as soon as i start reading and interacting with the students.” organizing a similar reading program is simple. the frst step is to call a local school and set up a time for your club to visit a classroom. on the day of the event, share a few books with the class and tell them how reading is important in both your work and life. enjoy the interaction with the children and savor the experience until your next reading day. roll out the red carpet for reading if your club would like more information on how to set up a celebrity reading program, members can contact joyce silagy at 734-890-2050 or via e-mail at joycesilagy@wideopenwest.com for assistance. students show of their own famous rudolph (wilma rudolph) after hearing the story “rudolph’s nose knows.” 8 • the optimisttephanie is a “gold medallist,” a hero who fghts a personal battle daily and strives for recognition of all children with cancer. @ your international office... above and beyond once in a while, optimists have the honor of recognizing young local citizens for acts of extreme selfessness. here is the latest in a series of inspiring acts. going for the gold: a cancer survivor’s story by jackie kinder, childhood cancer campaign district chair, midwestern ontario district stephanie simmons, a seventeen-year-old cancer survivor from london, ontario believes in fghting for her beliefs. as a three-time brain tumor survivor, she is passionate about raising awareness of childhood cancer. stephanie began the gold ribbon stamp campaign in 2006 to petition canada post to create a commemorative postage stamp featuring the gold ribbon, the symbol for childhood cancer. “i would love to honor and thank all the survivors who have come before us; their strength and determination to beat the disease inspires us current warriors to dig in and keep fghting,” stephanie said. “but mostly i want to honor all the brave warriors who have lost their battle. i want these heroes and their families to know they have not been forgotten.” stephanie continues to fght her own battle after having been diagnosed in 2004. thirteen operations and numerous other procedures have left her with side effects that challenge her every day, such as the series of mini strokes she has suffered within the past year. despite her physical challenges, she is a full-time high school student who still fnds the will and the strength to fght for awareness of the 10,000 children with cancer in canada and the 1,500 newly diagnosed every year. her mother and father, renee and dean, and her two older sisters “pie” and nancy have been with her every step of the way. stephanie and her family helped to raise awareness for childhood cancer by successfully petitioning to have the cn tower in toronto light up in gold. on the same day, the dome of the white house in washington, d.c. was lit up in gold, thanks to stephanie’s oncologist who made contact with the us candlelighters’ alliance. stephanie and her family were also responsible for having niagara falls turn to gold. stephanie has not given up despite the gold stamp petition being rejected by canada post last year. she has thousands of canadians on her side, including a member of parliament who spoke about the gold ribbon stamp campaign to the canadian parliament. she has received the ontario junior citizen of the year award, one of 12 recipients honored from across ontario as “young individuals who are taking control and working hard to make a difference within their communities and around the world.” you can visit www.goldribboncampaign.org to fnd out more about stephanie and the campaign. canadian optimists are asked to download the petition and have club members, family and friends sign as a show of support. above and beyond • summer 2012 • 90 • the optimist • programs and activities pride is something that comes from being an optimist member. it’s not the reason clubs participate in programs like internet safety or the childhood cancer campaign, but that warm fuzzy feeling is just one of the perks. optimist international is asking clubs to share their pride with the entire organization! clubs can complete the 2011-2012 president’s pride report on the optimist leaders website at www.optimistleaders.org. a club offcer should login and click on the “reports” button on the side of the screen. under each question are boxes that can be checked to indicate the club participated in a certain activity. if the club participated in an activity that is not listed, a brief description of the activity can be typed in the box marked “other.” clubs can enter information throughout the year as they run programs and fundraisers. this makes it simple so clubs do not have to remember all the information at the end of the year! just go to the report, fll out the selected information as it happens and then hit the “save” button. when entering dollar amounts, please round off to the nearest dollar and be sure to hit the “save” button or the amount will be lost. when the form has been completed for the entire 2011-2012 year, a club offcer can click on the signature button and then the “submit” button. the form will be sent electronically to the optimist international offce. there is no need to mail or fax a copy to the international offce if it has been submitted online. once the “submit” button has been clicked, no changes or additions can be made to the report. hard copies of the blank report can be printed from the optimist website, www.optimist.org, and faxed or mailed to optimist international. hard copies of the president’s pride form will not be mailed unless requested. if you have any questions about the form or would like a copy mailed to you, please contact the programs department at (800) 500-8130 or via e-mail at programs@optimist.org. unified organization, membership value, leadership • working for a strong unifed organization that is commited to maximizing the value of the volunteer experience and developing leadership for the future. • 27-year member of optimist international • over 30 years business experience as founder and ceo of graphix, inc., a design and marketing frm. h. nick prillaman, jr. optimist international board of directors vote for paid advertisement take pride in your club’s accomplishmentsrograms and activities • summer 2012 • 11 c yber-bullying is bullying that occurs when a perpetrator attempts to engage, intimidate and cause emotional distress through the use of technology or electronic devices such as cell phones, computers and the internet. due to the growing number of children having greater access to social networking websites, this behavior is increasing. what makes cyber-bullying different, and sometimes more hurtful, is that technology allows bullies to victimize their target before an entire “community” via social networking websites. bullies can reach their target at any time or place, including in his or her own home by using their computer or cell phone. this can make youth feel there is no escape from the bully. the appeal of remaining anonymous plays a large part in cyber-bullying. when someone feels they have anonymity, the consequences of their actions are not directly felt. anyone with an internet connection can bully almost anyone else. cyber-bullying can spread very quickly and leave a permanent online trail that can have long-term consequences for both the target and the bully. the effects of cyber-bullying hurt and can be incredibly damaging. there have been a number of stories in the news about teens and young adults who have committed suicide as a result of being bullied online. cyber-bullying can have a serious detrimental effect on a victim’s self-esteem, emotional well-being and sense of personal safety. this can often lead to any number of negative outcomes including depression and self-destructive behavior. despite the potential damage of cyber bullying, it is alarmingly common among adolescents and teens. according to statistics from the i-safe foundation: o v e r h a l f of adolescents and teens have been bullied online and about the same number have engaged in cyber-bullying. more than 1 in 3 young people have been threatened online. over 25% of adolescents and teens have been bullied repeatedly through their cell phones or the internet. over half of young people do not tell their parents when cyber-bullying occurs. take a stand against cybe r- bu l l y i ng talk to youth about cyber-bullying, explaining that it is wrong and can have serious consequences. have the family computer located in a shared area of the home. do not allow youth to stay on the computer for long periods of time without monitoring their activities. encourage youth to not respond to harassment. advise youth to keep passwords protected. send a record of all harassment to the internet service used by the bully. sites, like facebook, myspace, youtube, etc. have mechanisms for reporting inappropriate content. remember - if something is negative, don’t post it, don’t text it and don’t pass it on. how to reduce the effects of cyber-bullying: *information from the national center for missing and exploited children optimist clubs can request an internet safety packet by contacting communications@optimist.org.2 • the optimist • programs & activities optimists enjoy shining the spotlight on youth in their communities and highlighting their success. now optimist international wants clubs to take their turn in the limelight and be recognized for their terrifc programs. many people hear “cpa program” and think of old, gray binders and lots of paperwork. but it’s out with the old and in with the new…the digital cpa program. the new program gives clubs a simpler way to submit their entries, makes the process more fun, offers recognition for all submitting clubs and has great new prizes. the new submission categories are… envelope please… best film and best writing in a cpa entry. in the best film category, clubs are asked to showcase their project in a 10-minute video clip. the questions from the project story need to be answered during the video and the entry must be submitted on cd. in the best writing in a cpa entry, clubs are asked to complete the project story and instead of printing it and their supporting documents, just save them to a cd in .pdf format. clubs will still need to submit informationon their publicity, references and resources used and share photos or video of their event. all club entries should be submitted directly to optimist international on cd by december 15. clubs can submit as many entries as they like in either of the categories. the offcial rules and project story form, as well as additional details on the program can be found on the optimist website, www.optimist.org. stars recognizing optimist and the winner is. three award winners will be chosen – best film (for video clip entries), best writing in a cpa entry (for .pdf file entries) and the best youth activity. the best youth activity award will be presented to a club that exemplifies the mission and vision of optimist international through its service to youth. the project should be unique and innovative, meet a need of today’s young people, have an impact on the youth involved and have universal appeal, regardless of geography. all youth activity projects in both the best film and best writing in a cpa entry category are eligible for this special award; fundraising projects will not be eligible. all international winners will receive a 500 check for their club to utilize as they see fit. the winning projects will be featured in the optimist magazine and on the optimist website. winners will be encouraged to attend the international convention, where their project can be showcased in the bragger’s hall, a workshop session or with a video played during the business sessions. all entries which meet the official rules will be included on the optimist website on the online resource library. be a part of this exciting new program and shine the spotlight on your club’s projects!onnections • summer 2012 • 13 ways to connect with today’s youth 5 ice cream yes, even in this technology-based world, today’s youth still like that old-fashioned sweet treat. it will put a smile on your face too. have an ice cream social at a local park. 1 connect with kinect kinect is an microsoft x-box 360 peripheral like a mouse to a computer. the kinect allows you to control games just by your natural movements – your body is the controller. the nintendo wii and sony ps3 move are similar devices. host a kinect event at your local community center and connect with your community. 2 science experiments kids love to see cool scientifc reactions like vinegar-baking soda volcanos or creating goop with borax and glue. see if you can work with a local science teacher to host a small workshop or demonstration for youth. 3 learn show interest in a little about their culture – music, fashion and social media. you do not have to be an expert. show a willingness to learn and listen about them frst. keep in mind not every kid plays video games. some might actually like big band music or swing dancing. we’re all individuals. 4 guidance, not pontifcation refrain from “being right.” instead, help guide youth down a path of their own discovery. they will be more receptive to your presence if you value them for who they are and talk about decision points in life. 5 paid advertisement by kai gansner, director of member services4 • the optimist • connections by denis vézeau, club optimiste de la sarre the quebec west district covers a wide area, which is the case with many optimist districts. establishing communication can be diffcult and the district was experiencing complications in maintaining contact with the ten optimist clubs in the distant abitibi-témiscamingue region. governor michel geoffroy was determined to revitalize all the clubs in his district. he decided to devote his efforts and energy into waking up these dormant clubs. with this goal in mind, lieutenant governor steve nadon initiated a somewhat unusual meeting for club presidents in zones 11 and 12. the meeting was conducted in the close yet comfortable quarters of a road coach bus. during the almost 40 km distance that separates macamic from their frst stop in clerval, club presidents received new ideas and recruitment training. the group visited la fraisonnée, a family company that specializes in jam production. then they traveled towards the newly renovated home of the optimist club of la reine to share a dinner with club members and assist in an internet safety presentation. while traveling to their next stop in la sarre, the club offcers shared information about their activities. once they reached their destination, the participants attended a hockey game played by the local team, les optimistes and governor michel took part in a formal face-off. on the trip home, assistant governor ghislain roy and governor michel talked with club presidents about their experience. it was evident that everyone had enjoyed themselves and were excited about working with their club and the district. this innovative approach may be a frst in the history of optimism. the success of the trip should serve as encouragement to others to try innovative approaches to reach their clubs and spread optimism throughout their district. on the road to innovation paid advertisement district and club offcers gather for a unique training and fellowship opportunity.onnections • summer 2012 • 15 communication is the key. it sounds like a simple statement, but it holds quite a bit of weight. communication between optimist clubs, districts and optimist international aids everyone in the mission to bring out the best in kids. optimism begins at the local level. clubs see a need in their community and members work to meet that need. wonderful things are being done at the club level and these stories need to be shared with other levels of the organization. club members are out in their communities working directly with children, so the communication has to start there. feedback from clubs allows the districts and optimist international to have a better understanding of what materials and services need to be offered. the district plays an important role in the communication chain. information from optimist international is often sent to the districts to be shared with local clubs. while the international organization does communication can always be strengthened. do you have a suggestion on the best way optimist international can share information with individual clubs? let us know at communications@optimist.org. keeping opt imists connected communicate with the local clubs through mailings, e-mails and the various publications, the district remains the best source of information for clubs. district offcers and chairpersons can provide information on the latest news and information from their area of expertise. the priority of optimist international is to assist, encourage, support and motivate members, clubs and districts. optimist staff are available to discuss ideas, answer questions, supply materials and provide assistance wherever it is needed. news and club stories are regularly posted on the optimist website to keep members informed and also to provide recognition to clubs for their service. clubs are asked to submit information on their programs and activities to be shared with other optimists in the magazine or hotline newsletter. optimism is a team effort with important players at every level. communication is the tool that helps optimists guarantee that in the end, youth are the winners. local district internat ional6 • the optimist • optimism f rom january 2-15, eight uw-whitewater student optimists and fve advisors/community members of the southern wisconsin district traveled to three of the four regions of ecuador for a service-learning experience. the trip included working with an orphanage, an organic farm, multiple schools, indigenous communities, underprivileged youth and other groups along the way. mission trips play an important role in the uw-whitewater student optimist club’s service to youth. this has been the eighth since the club’s founding in 1994. traveling to ecuador, however, was slightly different due to its ties to leap: liberal education and america’s promise. this educational initiative endorsed by uw-whitewater assisted in connecting the accomplishments of the trip to the practical world through community-based learning. the following briefy describes how this was accomplished: for his children orphanage for his children is a donation-operated orphanage established in quito, ecuador. the club was able to bring over 3,000 worth of donations to ecuador and a large number of these were used to help the orphanage to continue to serve youth. uw-w student optimists also had the opportunity to lead several craft projects for the children to help bring a little hope and optimism to their day. optimism travels to ecuador thanks to the uw-whitewater student optimist club, club president-elect, laura schoenike and club advisor, kim adams for sharing the details of their trip. whitewater students assist youth at the rio muchacho school in making sunshine crafts.ptimism • summer 2012 • 17 optimism travels to ecuador yachana foundation and technical high school after spending some time in the city, the group headed to the amazon rainforest to serve the yachana foundation, an organization focused on educational sustainability. donations were made to the technical high school, including classroom-sized maps and other educational supplies. travelers had the opportunity to build lasting relationships with the youth there through participating in a bilingual scavenger hunt. rio muchacho organic farm and school at the rio muchacho organic farm, uw-w student optimists received experience in serving not only other people, but also the environment. participants worked with animals and plants and learned how to be more sustainable. one particularly notable event was being able to present a laptop computer to dario, the founder/owner of rio muchacho organic farm, to help the farm optimize their effciency and productivity. dario was incredibly grateful for the donation and opportunity to spend time with the group because, in his words, “that’s the best food for the spirit.” upon receiving the new laptop, he named the computer “optimist” in the group’s honor. a ganar programs when looking for hope in a foreign country, your frst guess might not be under-privileged at-risk youth. for the students of the a ganar program, however, hope just might be their strongest asset. in fact, one group even preformed a “dance of hope” using the new costumes the uw-w student optimist club was able to donate. “because you are here,” they told travelers, “we know we are not forgotten.” each of these service opportunities individually demonstrates how the uw-whitewater student optimist club is committed to making the world a better place, but when linked together the impact is truly profound. the club may have started out with the intention of serving others, but participants most certainly were impacted themselves. after all, it’s nearly impossible to spread hope, joy, and optimism without receiving some in return. the travelers agree that the service in ecuador has changed who they are for the better. in the words of student optimist laura schoenike, “the experiences and relationships we built in ecuador are helping us to see an entirely different way of life. there may be miles of land and water between whitewater and ecuador, but we are forever linked through our common threads of hope and optimism.” the relationships built in ecuador continue to grow and foster through the use of technology. for more information on the uw-whitewater student optimist club’s service-learning trip, contact kim adams, faculty advisor at 608-201-2151 or adamsk@uwwedu also check out video documentation at wwwyoutube com/watch?vyobdmzr9l9m uw-whitewater student optimists show their enthusiasm during some free time on the coast. student optimists and yachana students proudly display newly donated classroom maps.8 • the optimist • foundation the optimist international foundation is always looking for ways to get involved with clubs and help them grow and succeed. each year, the foundation gives out 500 matching grants to help support a new charitable project for 20 different optimist clubs. the optimist international foundation, along with its club grant committee, are pleased to announce the 2012 club grant winners! congratulations to the clubs listed below: optimist club youth conference birminghamwest end optimist club, alabama champions for choices olathe noon optimist club, kansas youth home landscape leadership nlv optimist club, nevada optimist youth basketball league clinton sunrise optimist, missouri optimist jr. naturalist certifcation program farmington/farmington hills breaskfast, michigan puppets to go! metro riverfront optimist club, michigan art in the community clarkson area optimist club, michigan appreciation of native american culture optimist club of lancaster, pennsyvania antibullying awarness day oxford hills optimist club, maine head start christmas party optimist club arnold-imperial, missouri head start buck store and fred program optimist club of huntsville, texas first annual: safety cadet recognition day steven point/plover breaskfast optimist club, wisconcin community youth mountain boarding program optimist club of delmat solana beach, california teaching garden at the children’s home society sioux valley optimist club, south dakota ambassador program for schools wheat ridge optimist club, colorado opt-in summer fest bellbrook sugarcreel optimist club, ohio volunteer “lending” library optimist club of occoquan & woosbridge, virginia backpack for buddies dublin optimists, north carolina art from k to 12 optimist club of isle of wight, virginia grizzly field day vista hills optimist club foundation supports new club projects what do a sock-hop, re-gifting party, festa and a texas hold-‘em tournament all have in common? these very original and entertaining events have all been hosted in honor of the optimist international foundation’s 40th anniversary! this year, the foundation is celebrating being fabulous at 40. what better way to celebrate, than to throw a party? to date, 16,000 has been raised by the efforts of the 40th anniversary committee through hosting and promoting these celebrations in their districts. but don’t worry- the optimist year isn’t over yet. there is still time to become a host and join in the celebration! how it all works: an optimist member volunteers to host a party in honor of the foundation, any way they would like. ideas range from local specialty ideas to date specifc parties (like summer bbq’s or holiday parties) to just about anything in between. the host arranges the party details, invites the guests (both optimist and non-optimist) and then gets ready for a great time! a small donation, price set by the host, is requested to attend the party and that donation goes to support oif. what better way to celebrate than with all your friends, for a good cause, and give us an opportunity to spread the word of optimism to new faces? are you ready to sign up or need more information? contact emily standley at 800-500-8130 ext. 249 or via e-mail at emily.standley@oifoundation.org. members can also visit the foundation website at www.oifoundation.org for more details! join in celebration the foundation being fabulous at 40, and only becoming better with age! join the fabulous at 40 celebrationnewcomer’s perspective on philanthropic work by carole leclère, canadian children’s optimist foundation i began working for the canadian children’s optimist foundation as an administrative assistant in january. my background is in teaching and administration and this is my frst experience with philanthropic work. i amveryproud towork for theorganization.what appealed to me from the start was the dedication and drive of our board, staff and volunteers at optimist international canada and the foundation in helping support growth in our communities. our volunteers are doing a tremendous amount of work to improve the lives of youth across the nation. in a time of economic diffculties and geopolitical turmoil, it feels good to see the better side of human nature. our youth are also involved in the work we do and despite the negative side of life often depicted by the media, optimists can rest assured that they are developing into a great generation of adults. mycolleague,genevievemeilleur, isvery involved in training and educating both children and adults about the potential dangers that may be encountered on the internet, such as cyber-bullying. she has created tools and websites to help our communities. my other colleague, béatrice rossignol, is working in the membership department with great determination. she provides assistance in the building of newclubs. she has a tremendous amount of involvement with the organization. in february, we enjoyed the visit of the optimist international foundation’s new executive director, steve skodak and it was a very positive encounter.we will also be visited by shenita taylor, the foundation servicesdirector, who is going to share her extensive knowledge of fundraising and donor software. i am confdent that as we keep working together, we will continue helping optimists help kids. donate your purses to the foundation… so they can be snatched! it’s time for the fourth annual “purse snatching” held by the women’s philanthropy council and the optimist international foundation during the 2012 milwaukee convention. time to look for your newest accessory! the foundation is currently asking for donations to make the event possible. new or very gently used purses, handbags, wallets, golf bags, backpacks, luggage pieces, suitcases and briefcases are welcome. the donations you make will go to a great cause. the money raised from the sale of the bags goes to the foundation and all bags left at the end of the auction will be given to a local women’s shelter. please send your bags to the foundationoffce at 4494 lindell blvd., st. louis, mo 63108. for information about donating a bag for the snatching, please contact emily standley at 800-500-8130 ext. 249, or by email at emily.standley@oifoundation.org. mission-the kids don’t forget to be on the lookout for the newest pin from the us foundation! in accordance with the space-themed year, the convention pin will be dubbed a “mission pin” and serve as a reminder to everyone about the true purpose behind the foundation and optimism. together, working for this mission, we can all “help optimist help kids.” these pins will be available for purchase at the kiosk during convention, so stop by and get yours! foundation • summer 2012 • 190 • the optimist • endorsed organizations by doug lippert, director of development, children’s organ transplant association (cota) picture this: your daughter or niece is a healthy seven-year-old and, like many kids her age, gets what we usually call “the fu.” but, unlike most kids, she doesn’t get better after a couple of days and instead, is diagnosed with myocarditis and doctors tell you that the only way she will live is to have a heart transplant. “but a week ago she was turning cartwheels!” you protest but, the fact of the matter is, her heart has failed. within two weeks the situation has become urgent and, since no donor heart is available, your little girl is placed on an artifcial heart, a device that connects through her abdomen and pumps her blood for her. you are grateful for the technology, but seeing her connected to a machine is tough. you continue to pray for a new heart for her, recognizing that in order for your little girl to have a new life, another family has to experience a tragedy. you’re conficted, but would gladly change places with her if you could. each day that your daughter survives you rejoice, and continue to pray a donor heart is found soon. after 11 months of hoping each day that “today is the day,” a new heart is found, the transplant procedure is performed and all goes well. soon, your little girl is—once again— turning cartwheels! this is josie’s story, a cota patient from pennsylvania who spent the better part of a year on an artifcial heart and who, earlier this year, returned triumphantly to the elementary school where she had spent her frst day a year and a half ago before getting sick. with the help of scores and scores of friends, families and strangers, over 100,000 was raised for cota in honor of josie. these funds helped pay for transplant-related expenses such as travel, co-pays, deductibles and any other expense that is a direct result of josie’s health situation. while josie is now healthy, she will require expensive anti-rejection medication and medical care for the rest of her life. that’s where cota, with its fundraising expertise, comes in. since 1986, the children’s organ transplant association (cota) has been helping children and young adults who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support. cota, an optimist endorsed organization, never charges a fee for its help and every dollar donated for patient and family expenses is used exclusively for that purpose. always. by providing on-site training and support, cota shepherds people just like you who want to help someone in their community. cota, a 501(c)3 charity, has helped over 1700 families raise nearly 64 million to be used for transplant-related expenses, lightening a load that, often, families fnd unbearable. if your club could make a miracle, would you? if you would like to learn more about how your local club can assist a cota family in your area, please contact doug lippert, director of development at 317.519.9836 or doug@cota.org. to read more about josie’s story, please visit www.cotaforjosieb.com.onvention • summer 2012 • 21 this is where you want to be this summer if you are an optimist member or would like to be even more optimistic. it is great to see so many optimists taking advantage of the time before and following convention to get acquainted with everything the city of milwaukee has to ofer. make sure to share in the celebration of fellowship at the cele”brat”e fest before and the scenic cycle ride for childhood cancer after convention! please check the convention page of the website frequently and defnitely before you leave for milwaukee to fnd out about the latest and greatest happenings. remember to take a detailed convention schedule to help you fnd where you need to be, so you do not miss any of the great training or fun events scheduled. visit www.optimist.org/convention to fnd the schedule and much, much more. july 12-14 frontier airlines center (milwaukee convention center), hilton milwaukee city center, hyatt regency milwaukee, doubletree by hilton milwaukee downtown milwaukee, wisconsin see you i n mi lwaukee! wednesday, july 11 noon-1pm box lunch for district foundation training (by invitation) 1-5pm district foundation training 6-9pm cele”brat”e fest 6 30 -9pm governor-elect dinner including teammates thursday, july 12 7 30 am-6pm registration, credentials, host area/youth information desks 8am house of optimism ribbon cutting 8am-12pm governor training 8am-4pm house of optimism 9am-3 45 pm workshops 10am-6pm meet the candidates noon-1pm foundations presidents club member luncheon 1-5pm district chair designate training 2-6pm club president-elect training 2-6pm club secretary-treasurer designate training 2-6pm district secretary-treasurer designate training 2-6pm lt. governor-elect training 3-5pm philosophy of optimism 4 30 -6 45 pm foundations william h. harrison society recognition dinner 7-9pm opening ceremonies 9 15 -9 45 pm meet & greet your regional candidates friday, july 13 7-8 15 am cp-e breakfast 7 30 am-5pm registration, host area/ youth information desks 7am-5pm meet the candidates 7 45 -8 45 am credentials desk 8am-3pm house of optimism 8-8 45 am town hall meeting 8am-5pm president’s banquet coupon exchange 9-11 30 am 1st business session 10-10 45 am hostess/host meeting for appreciation luncheon noon-1 45 pm appreciation luncheon theme: “wonderful wisconsin” 2-5 30 pm workshops 6 30 -7pm president’s banquet reception (cash bar) 7 15 -8 30 pm president’s banquet 8 30 -10pm president’s ball (dance) saturday, july 14 7-8 30 am old timers breakfast 7-8 45 am credentials desk 9am-12pm 2nd business session 12 15 -1 30 pm foundations hat luncheon 1-1 45 pm credentials desk 2-4pm 3rd business session 8pm-12am hospitality night2 • the optimist • convention tweet about it! have you always wondered what goes on behind the curtains at convention? interested in fnding out more about the candidates, workshop presenters and where to get the best burger in town? then you are in luck! by following the convention hashtag, #oiconv12, you will be the frst to know about convention happenings. you can use this hashtag to participate in the conversation and follow what everybody else is saying, too! socialmediaat the # live from convention all of the action at this summer’s convention will be streaming live! the july board of directors meeting and all of the convention business sessions will be streaming on the optimist channel at stream.optimist.org. here are approximate times for each big event (note times are central). optimist international would love to see all members in milwaukee, but for those who can’t make it, this is a great chance to tune in. 2012optimistconvention board of directors meeting: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. july 11 openingceremonies: 7-9 p.m. july 12 first business session: 9-11:30 a.m. july 13 secondbusiness session: 9 a.m.-noon july 14 closingbusiness session: 2-4 p.m. july 14 find information quick keep an eye out for these funny-looking boxes at convention. the box is a two-dimensional bar code called a qr code. qr stands for “quick response.” the qr codes can be read by any smartphone with qr reader software. optimist international will use them to put more information at your fngertips and help guide you at convention. if you have a smartphone, the software is free. search for a “qr reader” application. download the reader and scan the qr code printed on this page. twitter 101:whatarehashtags? the # symbol, called a hashtag, is used to mark keywords or topics in a tweet. hashtags help twitter users categorize tweets by a keyword. • people use the hashtag symbol # before relevant keywords (no spaces) in their tweet to categorize those tweets and help them show more easily in twitter search. • clicking on a hashtagged word in any message shows you all other tweets in that category. • hashtags can occur anywhere in the tweet – at the beginning, middle, or end. follow @optimistorgummer 2012 • 23 get to know the candidates candidates have been announced for the positions of 2012-13 international president-elect and vice president-elect as well as for two positions on the international board of directors. eligible delegates to the 2012 international convention in milwaukee will have the opportunity to vote to fll these positions. basic biographical information on the candidates can be found on the following pages. more extensive candidate information is available at www.optimist.org. theodore f “ted” gaffn member: optimist club of foothills yuma, arizona (joined 1996) and optimist club of east valley, yuma, arizona (joined 2007). former member, sunrise optimist club of yuma (joined 1980) occupation: certifed public accountant optimist service: honor & distinguished club president, sunrise yuma (1991-92); honor and distinguished club president, foothills yuma (2005-06); honor club president, east valley(2009-10);club president, foothills (2009-10); distinguished lt. governor, arizona district (1992-93); governor, arizona district (1995-96); optimist international foundation rep (1998-2001); member, oi international development committee (2001-02); international vice president and member of international board (2003-04); member, international credentials committee (2004-05); chair, international membership committee (2005-06); member, international finance committee (2007-2009); member, international governance committee (2011-12); international field rep (1999-present); builder of excellence (5 times); faculty member, international convention workshops; certifed district trainer; personal growth and involvement program (p.g.i.) level 10. ron huxley member: optimist club of ausable port franks, ontario (joined 1983) and optimist club of jeffersonville, indiana (joined 2002) occupation: jeweler and fire chief optimist service: honor club president (1985-86); lt. governor, southwestern ontario district (1986-87 & 1987-88); honor, distinguished & outstanding governor, southwestern ontario district (1990-91); member, international youth clubs committee (1991-1994); member, international programs development committee (1994-95); international vice president (1996-97); member, international candidate qualifcations committee (1998-2001); member, international ad hoc currency exchange committee (1998-99); chair, international youth clubs committee (1998-99); chair, international leadership development committee (2001-02); chair, international finance committee (2002-03); chair, international activities committee (2003-04 & 2006-07); member, international board of directors (2004-2006); member, international governance committee (2007-08); chair, international growth panel (2007-08); chair, international activities committee (2008-09); member, international audit and finance committee (2009-2011); chair, international credentials committee (2011-12); international field rep; international ccc speakers bureau; international certifed club builder; international certifed club trainer; international president’s rep. international president-elect candidates 2012 20134 • the optimist h nick prillaman, jr member: optimist club of atlanta-buckhead (joined 2008); former member, optimist club of cumberland-vinings, georgia (joined 1985) occupation: ceo and founder, graphix, inc. optimist service: club president, cumberland-vinings (1986-87); lt. governor, georgia district (1987-88); honor & distinguished governor, georgia district (1992-93); member, international credentials committee (1994-95); member, international convention committee (1996-97); host area committee chair, atlanta convention(1998); member, international membership committee (1998-2000); international vice president (2001-02); member, international governance committee (2002-03); chair, international membership committee (2003-2005); member, international leadership development committee (2009-10); chair, certifed trainer board (2011-12); chair, international membership committee (2011-12); certifed international trainer (2003 to present); certifed new club builder (2003-2005) gil ortiz member: optimist club of greater southwest austin, texas (joined 1983); optimist club of san marcos, texas (joined 2001); and optimist club of saltillo, coahuila, mexico (joined 2001) occupation: supervisor-adult probation services optimist service: honor club president, southwest austin (1993-94); lt. governor, south central texas district (1996-1998 and 2010-11); governor, south central texas district (2000-01); member, international development committee (2005-06); international field rep (2005-present); optimist international vice president (2008-09); member, international credentials committee (2010-11); certifed club trainer; international diplomat (2006); p.g.i. level 10. marlene phillips member: optimist club of riverside-windsor ( joined 1995), roseville fontainebleu (joined 2002), essex and essex youth centre (2004), all in ontario occupation: self-employed accountant optimist service: double distinguished club president, riverside-windsor (1995-96 & 1999-2000) and club president, riverside-windsor (2007-08); lt. governor, southwestern ontario district (1996-97); governor, southwestern ontario district (2003-04); member, international convention host area committee (1997); chair, international college club committee (2005-06); member, international activities committee (2006-07); member, international finance committee (2007-08); member, optimist international board of directors (2008-2011); member, international audit & finance committee (2011-12); member certifed international training board (2011) international board member candidates 2012 2013ummer 2012 • 25 rick quinlan member: optimist club of bellevue, nebraska (joined 1991) and noon optimist club of dubuque, iowa (joined 2011); former member of dawn optimist club of bellevue, nebraska (joined 1994) occupation: computer programmer optimist service: distinguished club president, bellevue (1993-94); lt. governor, nebraska district (1995-96); governor, nebraska district (2000-2001); member, international leadership development committee (2004-05); member, international membership committee (2005-06); international vice president (2007-08); member, international audit & finance committee (2008-09); chair, international governance committee (2010-11) international board member candidates 2012 2013 edwin wint member: breakfast optimist club of kingston, jamaica (joined charter member 1986) occupation: founder and principal of several companies in jamaica optimist service: distinguished club president (1989-90); lt. governor, south florida district (1991-92); member, international development committee (2001-03); member, international new club building committee (2003-04); chair, international development committee (2004-06); member, international membership committee (2006-07); international vice president (2008-09); member, international marketing committee (2010-11); ncb field representative (2003 – present); certifed builder (2004 – present); certifed trainer (2004 – present) mike woodward member: optimist club of plainfeld, indiana (joined in 1976) occupation: professional accountant (retired) optimist service: honor club president (1980-81); lt. governor, indiana south district (1991-92); governor, indiana south district (1997-98); member, international finance committee (2002-03 and 2004-05); member, international convention credentials committee (2003-04); member, international junior golf committee (2005-06 and 2009-11); international vice-president, middle america region (2008-09)6 • the optimist northeast & great lakes region (atlantic central, central ontario, michigan, midwestern ontario, new york-new england, southwestern ontario) harry j margo member: optimist club of kent, grand rapids, michigan & optimist club of grand rapids, michigan occupation: president & owner of custom enterprises, inc optimist service: honor club president, kent-grand rapids (1992-93); club president 5 times; distinguished lt. governor, michigan district (1993-94); lt. governor 7 times; governor, michigan district (1998-99); member, international credentials committee (2005-2008); member, international convention committee (2008-2009); member, optimist international foundation club grant committee (2009-2012); faculty member, international convention workshops (2009-2012)(2005-present); optimist international vice president (2008-09); member, international credentials committee (2010-11); certifed club trainer; international diplomat (2006); p.g.i. level 10. southeast region (alabama-louisiana-mississippi, caribbean, georgia, north florida, south carolina, south florida) lois s philbrick member: optimist club of tri-county, florida and optimist club of leesburg, florida (joined 2005); former member, optimist club of humble area, texas (joined 1987) occupation: retired school teacher optimist service: club president (humble and tri-county); distinguished lt. governor, southeast texas district (1999-2000), distinguished governor, southeast texas district (2002-03); member, international new club building committee (2004-2006); co-chair, international new club building committee (2005-06); member, optimist international junior golf committee (2006-2008); chair, optimist international junior golf committee (2010-2012); member, optimist international foundation women’s philanthropy council (2007-08); international certifed club builder (2003-2008) international vice president-elect candidates 2012 2013ummer 2012 • 27 middle america region (east missouri, illinois, indiana north, indiana south, ohio, west missouri) carl e westenbarger member: optimist club of brentwood, missouri (joined 1978) occupation: retired computer specialist optimist service: distinguished club president (1982-83); lt. governor, missouri district (1983-84) and distinguished lt. governor, east missouri district (2001-02); distinguished governor, east missouri district (1987-88); member, international credentials committee (1989-91); member, international leadership development committee (1993-94); member, international convention committee (2002-2004); member, international finance committee (2008-2010); chair, international credentials committee (1995-96); host area chairman, international convention (2003-04); optimist international convention ambassador (1988-89); optimist international foundation rep (1989-1992 & 1993-1995)); faculty member, international convention workshops (1990-1995 & 2001-02); optimist international field rep (1990 to present); international c.p.a. judge (2002-2004) mid atlantic region (capital-virginia, kentucky-west virginia, maryland-south delaware, north carolina east, north carolina west, tennessee) willie m lee, jr member: optimist club of radcliff, kentucky (joined 1999) occupation: retired from u.s. army and department of defense optimist service: honor club president (2004-05); distinguished lt. governor, kentucky-west virginia district (2005-06, 2006-07 & 2011-12); honor, distinguished & outstanding governor, kentucky-west virginia district (2008-09); optimist international foundation rep (2007-08) international vice president-elect candidates 2012 20138 • the optimist great plains region (alberta-montana-saskatchewan & northern wyoming, dakotas-manitoba-minnesota, iowa, nebraska, southern wisconsin, wisconsin north-upper michigan) jim boyd member: optimist club of urbandale, iowa (joined 2001); former member, daybreak optimist club of cedar rapids, iowa (joined 1995) occupation: broadcast journalist/news director optimist service: club president, urbandale (2002-2004 & 2009-2011) honor club president, 3 time distinguished club president; distinguished & outstanding lt. governor, iowa district (2003-04); governor, iowa district (2005-06); member, international new club building committee (2005-06); member, international convention committee (2006-07); member, international marketing committee (2007-2011); member, ad hoc fidelity card committee (2011-12); member, optimist international foundation planned giving committee (2006-2012); international president’s rep (2011-12) southwest region (arkansas, colorado-wyoming, kansas, new mexico-west texas, north texas, oklahoma, south texas) ruth nelson member: noon optimist club of olathe, kansas (joined 1999), and evening optimist club of olathe, kansas occupation: retired assistant director of community development optimist service: honor club president, olathe-noon(2002-03) and honor club president olathe-evening (2008-09) and club president (2009-10 & 2011-12); distinguished & outstanding lt. governor, kansas district (2003-04); honor district governor, kansas district (2005-06); member, international membership committee (2009-10); faculty member, international convention workshops (2009-2011); international field rep (2005); certifed club trainer (2009); member, optimist international foundation club grant committee (2011-12); p.g.i. level 10 international vice president-elect candidates 2012 2013ummer 2012 • 29 west coast region (arizona, california south, pacifc central, pacifc northwest, pacifc southeast, pacifc southwest) bill meyers member: optimist club of bonita, california (joined 1999) and s.u.c.c.e.s.s. optimist club of san diego, california (joined 2008) occupation: systems engineer senior staff, lockheed martin optimist service: honor club president, bonita (2004-05); club president, s.u.c.c.e.s.s. (2009-2011); lt. governor, california south district (2005-06); distinguished governor, california south district (2007-08); optimist international foundation representative (2009-2011) ralph r perez member: optimist club of arroyo grande, california (joined 1989) and the builders of excellence optimist club, california (joined 2006); former member of the five cities optimist club, all of california occupation: retired at&t communications engineer, city of madera planning commissioner, united way, corporate representative for pacifc bell, cal poly university, mesa advisory board member, rossi benevolent foundation, ambassadors program director optimist service: club president (1990-91); honor, distinguished & outstanding lt. governor, pacifc southwest district (2003-04); honor, distinguished & outstanding governor, pacifc southwest district (2006-07); district foundation representative(2007-08); member, international membership, recruitment & retention committee (2007-08); builder of excellence; master builder international vice president-elect candidates 2012 2013 saint lawrence region (eastern ontario, quebec center, quebec east and acadia, quebec east-north shore, quebec south, quebec west) pierre beaulieu member: optimist club of trois-pistoles, quebec (joined 1974) occupation: doctor of chiropractic optimist service: club president (1974-75 & 1996-97); lt. governor, quebec east & acadia district (2003-04, 2004-05, 2007-08, 2010-11); governor, quebec east & acadia district (2006-07)0 • the optimist @ your international office... if there’s anyone at the international offce who knows the importance of a great meeting, it’s ronda vaughn, director of meeting services. ronda recently set aside time to offer some insight into her role with the organization and why every member can beneft from attending the international convention. how long have you been with optimist international? i have been with the organization for over 10 years (2002-2012) and have been working in the meetings industry since 1986. after college, my career in meetings began working for a general contracting company for 9 years (1986-1995), where i coordinated the logistics for a different convention almost every week. i sawmany convention centers and hotels in almost every state in theunited states.when the offce in st. louis downsized to just a sales offce and i turned down a transfer to atlanta, my career took on a whole new life working for one group, the american optometric association. when my son turned 5 or 6 years old and started school, i changed jobs and began working for optimist international and hope to retire from here. why do you think meetings are important for optimists at the club, district and the international levels? it is very important for optimist members to attend meetings to network with other members. not only can members learn a ton of information from our frst-class trainers, there is so much they can learn from each other as well. in fact “survey says” fellowship/networking and training are the number 1 and 2 reasons people attend the international convention. very seldom do we have any no-shows at the leadership training conferences. do you have any words of wisdom to share with members planning a meeting? when planning your own conferences andmeetings, know thehistory andkeep your budget handy and in mind at all times. don’t be afraid to ask for something; most everything is negotiable and be sure to stay in touch with the person(s) at the facility you are working with. create checklists and check everything more than once. delegate to trustworthy people. remember they can always contact me for advice. the international convention is our biggest meeting with optimists attending from all the districts, as well as various other countries. you are at the center of the action and play a big part in making convention happen each year. how do you plan and carry out such an important event? i always try my best and follow the marf theory – maintain absolute rigid fexibility. i accept the fact that no matter how much i plan and try to stay ahead, there are going to be changes and some will come at the last minute. since the milwaukee convention is almost here, is there anything you can tell members to get them excited for next year in cincinnati? we have a great group of volunteers from the local area helping out every year and the folks from ohio are no different. if a member has not been to cincinnati or has not been there in a while, they are in for a treat next year. you’re not only an optimist staffer, but also a member of an active club. is there an optimist activity or program that you enjoy most? it is great to get out of the house to get together with the other club members for meetings and road clean up. you seem to enjoy keeping busy! what do you do in your free time outside the offce? i love to garden and spend time with my husband, 16-year-old son and two dogs, eva and cheyenne.istrict representative avg member contribution arizona nova sipe 12.07 tennessee rhonda luebke 8.02 georgia frank cullins 7.78 south texas jack hopkins 7.34 north carolina east bill edgerton 6.81 california south jim walker 6.65 north florida ric carvalis 6.35 new york-new england robert crabtree 5.97 michigan marc katz 5.74 colorado-wyoming ronald benson 5.24 district representative total contributions michigan marc katz 18,975.00 georgia frank cullins 13,109.09 south texas jack hopkins 13,007.00 arizona nova sipe 12,080.85 tennessee rhonda luebke 10,287.50 colorado-wyoming ronald benson 9,347.98 west missouri janet price 9,335.70 alabama-louisiana-mississippi james miner 9,278.00 north carolina east bill edgerton 8,956.50 north florida ric carvalis 8,890.37 canadian children’s optimist foundation district representative avg member contribution pnw eddie murphy iii 23.39 ams&nw doug kirby 15.07 eont alain leblond 8.03 district representative total contributions ams&nw doug kirby 9,800 qc gaétan globensky 6,766 swont nina strickland 6,004 donor listing • summer 2012 • 31 christian d larson partners membership 467. kathy denise howard 468. theodore heim 469. lois stroh 470. bennie e. bass, jr. **the list can be found in its entirety on the optimist international foundations website at www.oifoundation.org. the following is a record of lifetime accumulation levels achieved through february 29, 2012, for individuals and clubs. this listing is for gifts recorded up to the deadline date for the printing of the optimist. donor listing **bronze benefactor – 15,000 north carolina west optimist club of boone, nc southwestern ontario optimist club of petrolia-lambton central midwestern ontario optimist club of london-carling heights central ontario optimist club of oakville **eminent benefactor – 10,000 ab, mt, sk, n.w optimist club of medecine hat, alberta indiana north optimist club of muncie, in pacific northwest optimist club of abotsford, bc optimist club of chilliwack, bc peter smith southwestern ontario optimist club of windsor-forest glade ray stanley midwestern ontario optimist club of london-fanshawe west missouri john w. baxter **distinguished benefactor – 5,000 ab, mt, sk, n.w vince parker central ontario ian carter east missouri optimist club of moberly, mo illinois optimist club of waterloo, il indiana north optimist club of anderson, in québec ouest cub optimiste de lachenaie southern wisconsin aaron and lois johnson west missouri jerry d. henderson **honored benefactor – 2,500 ab, mt, sk, n.w marilyn bushell james mcwilliams john anderson irene hoggarth alabama-louisiana-mississippi james r. miner illinois j. christopher and debra smith nebraska mark a. mandelko north carolina east wayne e. sidelinger midwestern ontario optimist club of st-jacobs eastern ontario yvon quesnel gaétan labelle henri sylvain gaétan globensky pacific central frank p. haas optimist club of oroville, ca québec ouest andré jobin **benefactor – 1,000 alabama-louisiana-mississippi martha p. gargis arizona optimist club of east valley-yuma county, az optimist club of tucson-foothills, az georgia rose m. kohler southwestern ontario brian r. denning midwestern ontario jack & teresa van nes optimist club of mannheim central ontario barbara holly eastern ontario gerald mayer optimist club of st-eugène sylvie p. couturier gaétan bougie alain leblond ghyslaine laliberté québec central andré prud’homme club optimiste de lasalle québec ouest pierrette laroche gilbert jolin claude normand nicole normand québec est-acadie diane lavoie south florida optimist club of miami lakes, fl southern wisconsin frank marshall west missouri tim r. glasscock 3 to read about the foundation’s mission, check out page 19 3 top districts as of february 29, 2012* 32 • the optimist sunnyside a teenager is... a person who can’t remember to walk the dog, but never forgets a phone number. a youngster who receives his allowance on monday, spends it on tuesday and borrows it from his best friend on wednesday. a whiz who can operate the latest computer without a lesson, but can’t make a bed. a student who will spend 12 minutes studying for her history exam and 12 hours for her driver’s test. an enthusiast who has the energy to ride a bike for miles, but is usually too tired to dry the dishes. a young woman who loves the cat and tolerates her brother. a boy who can sleep until noon on any saturday when he suspects the lawn needs mowing. an original thinker who is positive that her mother was never a teenager. branch of service an elementary school was honoring local veterans. the students were a bit intimidated and did not know how to approach them. “start by introducing yourself,” the teacher said. “then ask what branch of the military they served in.” one student walked over to a vet and promptly asked, “what tree are you from?” lighter side these are supposedly actual signs that have appeared at various locations. sign at the dry cleaners: drop your pants here! sign at a hotel: help! we need inn-experienced people. sign on a used car lot: “secondhand cars in frst crash condition.” overweight is something that snacks up on you. the four food groups: fast, frozen, instant and chocolate! submitted by the midwestern ontario districtecruiting friends of optimist volunteers is an effective way to increase your club’s membership while accommodating the very active lifestyle people have today. there are lot of people in the volunteer marketplace that would like to be part of the optimist international organization, but don’t feel they can commit the time to join as a traditional member. a friend membership allows individuals fexibility while adding to your club’s volunteer workforce. new members bring new ideas, new energy and new leadership. don’t forget the friends of optimist membership is only a one year commitment. in order for a friend member to stay active, he or she must renew their membership annually. stay in touch with your friends though club newsletters or emails. let them know how their support has helped your club “bring out the best in kids!” encourage them to renew their friend of optimist membership to continue supporting the youth programs in your community. every club can use friends! don’t forget your friends of optimists!arallel district conferences 2o12-2o13 grow from the best training that optimist international has to offer – agendas designed for current leaders, past leaders, future leaders and every optimist member! save the date and prepare for new opportunities in optimism! fantastic fellowship meet, laugh and make friends with optimists from all over your region, your governor, your international vice president and your 2012-2013 international president, jean claude st-onge and first lady marcelle. seize this dynamic opportunity to take your club to new heights in shaping the greatest generation yet. know that every optimist is invited and encouraged to attend, especially club presidents – your club and those you serve will beneft from this fun and inspirational event. more information is available at www.optimist.org/pdc be certain that you are part of this amazing experience! western optimist workshops conference las vegas, nv february 15-17, 2013 assemblée de la région quebec city, qc march 8-10, 2013 parallel district conference #2 southeast region augusta, ga may 17-19, 2013 parallel district conference #1 southeast region tampa, fl nov 16-18, 2012 mid-atlantic parallel district conference roanoke, va nov 2-4, 2012 leave a legacy member development conference toronto, cn oct 19-21, 2012 the 2013 middle america optimist workshop terra haute, in april 12-14, 2013 great plains region pdc deadwood, sd march 22-24, 2013 southwest region conference oklahoma city, ok march 2-3, 2013