Optimist International has partnered with Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) to administer the 2021-2022 International Board of Director and Officer election. To assure your Club's election specific broadcast email arrives safely in your inbox on May 1, simply add the following email address as an approved sender: noreply@directvote.net Your Club's dues must be paid in full prior to be being allowed to vote.

The Optimist International Candidate Qualifications Committee is inviting Optimist members to join us on Tuesday, April 20 and Tuesday, April 27 at 7:00 p.m. CST each day to spend some time getting to know the qualified candidates for Board of Directors at Large and President-Elect. Optimist International Executive Director Benny Ellerbe will be emceeing both events. As space is limited, registration is required in order to attend. Please preregister for the events no later than Friday, April 9, 2021.

Recorded live on April 20 – Get to Know the Board Director at Large Candidates Video


Recorded live on April 27 – Get to Know the President-Elect Candidates video.

If you have questions, contact Tom Carver at (800) 500-8130 ext. 243 or (314) 881-1343, or email tom.carver@optimist.org.

• 2021-2022 Voting Flyer
• Election Rules

Below are the candidates for the 2021-2022 International Officers and Board of Directors election:

2021-2022 President-Elect Candidates:

• Melvin Bannister
• Sandra “Sandy” Larivee
• Robert “Bob” McFadyen

2021-2022 Board Director at Large Candidates (2 to be elected):

• Carol E. Jacobs Haynes
• Dwight Phillips
• Russell “Russ” Thomas

2021-2022 Vice Presidents-Elect Candidates:

• Region 1 Northeast & Great Lakes – Marlene Phillips, & Thomas Kendo
• Region 2 Southeast – Gwen L. Gable
• Region 3 Mid-Atlantic – Donna M. Aker
• Region 4 Middle America – Julie Robison
• Region 5 Great Plains – Rod McKendrick
• Region 6 Southwest – Linda McDonald
• Region 7 West Coast – Lynn Reiter-Woodhead