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There are no average Optimists because they are doing extraordinary things. If every Member were to strive to grow the project they are the most passionate about by 10% each year, they would need to recruit more volunteers to achieve their goals. Bigger and better projects mean more Members and more kids affected by Optimists!

“Members need to consider the Optimist legacy a power of our organiz We can do good thin individually, but great things as a group and greater things as a larger group,” Ken says. “We can’t stop doing good things for kids just because we grow older and pass into the next life; that means we must recruit to keep this passion alive.”

The 2014-2015 year will be focused on signifcant growth in

membership, in our leadership pools and in

Junior Optimist Octagon International. There will also be a concentrated effort on increasing the number of children affected by Optimists, the number of people who know what Optimists do and personal growth of the membership.

Ken encourages all Optimists to do a better job of making sure everyone near an Optimist event knows that the Optimists are the ones conducting the activity. This can be as simple as displaying banners, wearing Club shirts or giving away items that promote Optimism. Members should make sure the press is aware of their activities and use social media to their advantage. Every Club should have a Facebook page to let their community know what they are doing, when and where.

“As a Boy Scout, we have a responsibility to leave everything better than we found it. I see the ame thing here. I see us h a renewed vigor and belief we can reverse the negative e have seen in the past. We will have more baby boomers, gen X and millennial Members working together and attracting attention from many of our successes and the impact we are making in our communities.

In fve years, we will be once again an organization of 100,000 Members who are more effective than ever before because we will be actively using technology to help us in our mission. In ten years, we will be a strong worldwide presence.”

The Optimist team is made up of dedicated players and great coaches in our leaders. President Ken and First Lady Patsy are prepared to lead our team to a championship year and years to come. Remember we have a goal to reach 100,000 by the 100th convention! Don’t be afraid… we can do it because WE ARE THE OPTIMISTS!

[ RIGHT PHOTO: Ken with four of the grandkids - Camden, Crewe, Kourtnie and Cavin. CENTER PHOTO Ken and Patsy at the 2014 Optimist International Junior Golf Championships. ]