Do you have a story of community service?

Sometimes I have a little trouble finding a story to tell.  I know that sounds crazy given that there are more than 65,000 projects performed by Optimist Clubs each year. But the challenge for any storyteller is to tell the story in a new way, to engage our readers and to touch their hearts

Instead of telling a story today, let's take a look at some ideas that will help you tell a good story.

Storytelling* can be a powerful tool because it creates an emotional bond with your audience. Adapted from The Elements of Persuasion, here are some tips to help you tell a compelling story about the reason your club members participate in Optimist Club projects: 

1. Be passionate: Are you inspired by your mission? Do you wake up every morning ready to do something good for your cause? Use that passion to motivate others to do and to give. 

2. Build your characters: Every good story has a protagonist and an antagonist. The protagonist is your hero. He is someone that the group you are speaking to will respect and relate to. The antagonist is the problem. Identify what is at stake if the antagonist continues on: people will go hungry or students will not have coats to wear in the winter. Be descriptive. 

3. Generate awareness: Build up to the “Aha” moment when your listener learns something from your hero’s experience that he wouldn’t otherwise have known. Give the story real-life meaning to act upon. 

4. Affect change: Your hero should mimic the actions you want your listener to take. How does awareness lead to action? What should the listener do next?

Experience Optimism wants to help tell your Optimist Club story. Please send us your story of service today. 

*Reprinted from the Experience Optimism newsletter, December 2007.