Say what? My Optimist Club gets together every week to fulfill the Optimist International motto of being a friend to youth. Could it be true that they only get together every five years?
Of course not. What is left unsaid is they only celebrate their accomplishments every five years; that is, they only pat each other on the back, award each other for service and brag to each other about what they have done in a formal setting every five years. The rest of the time they are leading sports programs, hosting scholarship contests, involving students in community service, holding informative club meetings and recruiting new members to carry out their mission of being friends to youth.
This made me think; one of the first things we tell our leaders is to give thanks to members, recognize them and celebrate their accomplishments. Could it be we do that too much? Has our mission of service gotten lost in the social activities and glad-handing?
The key to survival for any organization is to have a good mix of both social and service activities that creates a positive experience for all. That means as a leaders and members, you must go out of your way to make sure everyone - members and guests - feel welcome and that their voice and service are welcome additions to the club. You must also take care to include everyone in projects by letting them know why your club does it and how to be involved. Finally, most people are busy and they don't need a social group to eat with - they
have family, friends and co-workers for that. If your group meets over a meal, make sure that there is a speaker or program at every meeting so that everyone has the opportunity to learn something new every time your Optimist Club gathers.To the left, the "Healthy Club Checklist" outlines many other steps you can take to ensure that your Optimist Club is doing its best to serve its members and community. Download a copy and share it with your club's board of directors today.
