Optimist Club of the Year

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Congratulations to the The Centerville Noon Optimist Club for being named the 2020-21 Optimist Club of the Year!

The Centerville Noon Optimist Club Members are like many, dedicated to bringing out the best in youth, in ourselves and in our community. The Club sets examples and embrace an optimistic mindset for all to see. Being awarded the Optimist International Club of the Year twice within five years is an honored recognition of our Members who display leadership, work ethic, creativity and development both locally and throughout the world. The Club does this by working closely with schools, libraries, parks, law enforcement and firefighters. The Club and Members pride themselves on consistently providing mentors, optimism, scholarships, and recognition for their local youth.

How we help kids:

Reaching out with meaningful youth programs

Making a major impact with our youth

Working with youth-oriented organizations

Providing scholarships

Working closely with schools, libraries, and park

Their Members:

Embrace a totally optimistic mindset

Display leadership skills/li>

Develop community working relationships

Participate in fund raisers such as Avenue of Flags, Tee Off for Youth and Christmas tree sales

Support many Junior Optimist Clubs

Start new optimist Clubs annually like Optimist 2.0 and St. Leonard

N.O.W. (now W.O.W.) events online during the most recent pandemic, eventually adding more than three Members.

How we give back::

Oratorical and Essay contests

Easter Egg Hunt and Haunted Trail events

Tri-Star Basketball and Soccer

Youth scholarships

Build-A-Bear events for sick children

Fishing Derby and Safety on Wheels Bike Rodeo

Visual Arts and GOT TALENT contests

Citizens of the Centerville, Ohio, community, who want to give back look toward joining the Centerville Noon Optimist Club to advance personal development. Their weekly lunches are full of fun, food, friendship, and a little frivolity. Within two weeks after the pandemic shutdown announcement, the Club kept meeting via Zoom, holding weekly meetings and a guest speaker. Even Optimist International President Adrian Elcock spoke to the Club during this trying year. By reimagining their Club’s youth activities, they were able to pull off a drive-thru Easter Egg Hunt and Build-a-Bear event in order to keep giving back to the community. Above all, the Club is proud that they even grew their legendary Avenue of Flags program as residents of the community stood on the front porches (socially distanced) and applauded their efforts during the shutdown. The Club found themselves helping other organizations that served at-risk children like Food2Go and Shoes4thrShoeless. When they found themselves in crisis due to overwhelming need, their Club, with the success of Avenue of Flags proceeds in its bank account, sought out and made major donations to each program, thus truly making a difference in the lives of the children their Members most want to serve. During the most difficult year in memory, The Centerville Noon Optimist Club continued to not only grow but to also showcase what makes their Club the very best this year.

Optimist Club President: Debe Dockins
Vice President - Robert Glavin & Beth Duncan Secretary -Jean Pummill
Treasurer - Roland Rapp

The Optimist Club of the Year

The Optimist Club of the Year is the highest achievement an Optimist Club can attain in the Optimist organization. The recipient of this prestigious award will be chosen regardless of number of members, or region and will be known as the “Best Overall Club” in Optimist International.

The Optimist Club of the year award is presented annually to the most outstanding Club in the organization based on the following criteria:

	Maximum Points
Service projects sponsored by the Club	30 points
Member Development Programs a year (i.e. PGI Program, Optimist International Conventions and Summit, etc.)	25 points
Club Growth and Increased Community Awareness Campaigns (i.e. NOW Program, Marketing Campaign, etc.)	25 points
Increased Volunteer Member Base	10 points
New Community Efforts	10 points

Points in each category will be awarded by independent judges based upon community outreach, impact on children and Members, new and innovative ideas; and benefits to the individual Club Members.

Interested Clubs are invited to submit information as outlined on the judging form. Clubs can submit any materials they chose as the items relate to the specified criteria.

The Club named Overall Optimist Club of the Year will receive one round-trip airline ticket to the Optimist Convention, a banner patch, an award, and a special article in The Optimist magazine and on the Optimist website.