Page 4 - Spring 2014 Magazine.indd

2 • The Optimist

Knock, Knock...

Who’s There?

A Message From President Ron Huxley

Most Optimists are focused on what happens in their Club and what they do for the children in their community. While that is both understandable and important, it is also necessary to keep an eye on what is going on in the Optimist world. You don't have to look far before you discover that while you are doing your projects and fundraisers in your community, another Club in another community is doing their best for the kids there too. It’s all happening at the same time. Every Club has their own way of doing things and meeting the needs of their community, but the effect is the same – Optimists are bringing out the best in kids.

I have always been amazed at how unique and creative Optimists are when it comes to the activities they of fer. The biggest thrill for me is realizing that at any given time, Optimist Clubs around this great organization are af fecting the lives of children. Let me assure you that you are not alone. We have almost 2,600 Optimist Clubs in 17 countries around the world. We all believe strongly in what we do and if we work together, we can make a big dif ference in this world. Remember the more we grow as an organization, the bigger the dif ference we can make and the more lives we can touch.

We each have a reason why we do what we do. I would wager that the source of that reason is a smile on a child's face. I call that your MO. In an effort to provide new opportunities to serve more children and create more MOs, the International Board of Directors approved a plan for Leadership Summits to be conducted across the organization. These Summits have proven to be very successful. They have inspired Members young and old to improve what they do in their Clubs. The evaluations we have received indicate that we have hit a home run. I hope each of you gain personally from these Summits. I know I have.

If you believe like I do, that we have something special, now is the time to act on it. Our bump in the road is the constant decline we continue to experience in membership. If each you are willing to recognize that thi bump can be overcome, then we can work together to smooth it out and behind us. As our Optimist Creed st we can “forget the mistakes of the pas press on to the greater achievements future."

This decline in membership has bec the source of constant discussion. Everyone has their own opinion on what we should do to overcome it a

there are as many different opinions as there are voices. I feel that every avenue needs to be acted on. Go out and share your MO, invite a new Member and put a smile on another child's face.

Be happy in what you do, share it with someone new and promise yourself to be part of the best Optimist International Convention ever this summer in Las Vegas.

Thank you,

Ron G. Huxley,

Optimist International President