Start a new Optimist Club

One of the most rewarding projects that any Optimist Club can undertake is to start a new Optimist Club in a new community. The location for a new Optimist Club may be adjoining your neighborhood or city, or it may be across the county or state line. For some, it isn't even that far as they work to start new Optimist Clubs with groups of people, united by ideas and goals rather than location.

Whatever the group, fostering involvement in doing good in our communities provides a source of pride for the new Optimist Club builders. Sponsoring club members tell stories about their projects and purposes of an Optimist Club and testify why they support the cause; that is, they explain why they are members. Their stories strengthen their own club in the process.

Increased fellowship and shared achievements bring the members together as they promise to continue their commitment long into the future.

If you have an idea that you would like to get off the ground, or a group of people who are looking to get together for social good, consider helping them start a New Optimist Club. The community, children and they will thank you for the special gift of service through an Optimist Club.

Click here to join an Optimist Club.

Click here to find out about starting a new Optimist Club.

Click here if I can answer any questions or schedule a time to come to your community. 

Do the right thing. Always.

Two weeks ago, I attended the movie "Selma."

The movie depicted Martin Luther King's leadership of the civil rights movement in the United States in 1965; specifically, it detailed the events leading up to the march on the Edmund Pettus Bridge as black Americans made their way to Montgomery to register to vote.

Beaten and tear-gassed on the first attempt, Martin Luther King knelt and prayed and then turned his followers around on the second attempt. Although they could have continued to march, he feared the violence that would ensue and determined to wait for the adjudication of a court order to limit or enhance the nonviolent actions of the civil rights marches. This was a wise, respectful, and much criticized decision. 

Such was the plight of the negro in the south in the 1950s and 1960s. As I watched the movie, I cried at the indignity that was placed upon fellow human beings and the grace with which it was accepted. Their grace was a survival mechanism, I'm sure. Look away, walk away, and live to fight another battle, another day. 

It saddens me that the battle continues today; not for all, but for some. Recent shootings of young black males in cities like Ferguson, MO and Cleveland, OH and the choke hold death of Eric Garner in New York, NY highlight the fact that black males must raise their hands in submission rather than question why they are being approached by a law enforcement officer. 

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the United States. Government offices are closed and it has been declared a national day of service. I wonder if it should instead be named a day of integrity; a day dedicated to doing the right things, and being just towards all.

Martin Luther King said, "The time is always right to do right." I think that time is now. 

Guns and stupidity cannot cohabit

Although I am not shocked, I am saddened by the verdict in the George Zimmerman trial. Accused of stalking and shooting Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old black youth who was visiting his father, on Saturday, July 13, 2013, a jury found Zimmerman not guilty.

My sadness comes from the fact that guns and stupidity cannot cohabit. That's right. A country that enables any and all persons to arm themselves and "stand their ground" as Florida law allows, will continue to have tragic outcomes.

I fully believe that as a neighborhood watch captain, Zimmerman racially profiled Martin and when the 911 operator told him not to follow the suspect, tapes have clearly shown that he disregarded the request. These two incidents, combined with the fact that Zimmerman was driving around with a gun in his pocket led to Martin's death.

We will never know what occurred during the direct confrontation between Zimmerman and Martin and because of that fact, a jury was forced to acquit the man on trial for a youth's untimely and tragic death. However, the world cannot excuse Zimmerman's stupidity.

Zimmerman's racist behavior combined with extremist views that guns are needed in order to protect oneself point to a society that is building itself on fear and hatred. If we look at the world with suspicious eyes, we won't be able to see the good when it arrives. And that adds to my sadness.

As the author of the Experience Optimism blog, I know there is plenty of good to be seen. From something as simple as donuts that make people happy or quotes that inspire people to live up to their full potential, we have wonderful opportunities to leave a positive impact on the world.

In my opinion, guns only detract from the possibilities. Perhaps we should pick up a fishing pole instead. When we teach a kid to fish, we teach patience and wonder that one can feel throughout their life and that is a much better lesson than violence in any form. Who knows, with a little luck, that slower, less suspicious pace will leave the space we need to be happy and to just get along.

The convention concludes; that means it's time to get to work

The Optimist International Convention 2013 has come to a close. I watched most of it live via Ustream, but it was not quite like being there in person when the enthusiasm from others can infect you and make you happy about most everything that you see and hear. It's easier to be critical of the production quality, and sadly, the message, from afar.

Perhaps it is not very optimistic of me to comment, so please accept my apologies up front if my criticism offends you; but to watch the convention come to a close with a slideshow of random children from around the world without linking them to why they should matter to me or to other Optimist Club members can only be described as an example of a poor public relations strategy. A much stronger ending would have been to show us how Optimist Club members touch the lives of so many in their communities every day. Uploaded to YouTube, such a video could have served double duty as a membership recruitment and retention tool.

It's sad to miss opportunities, but that is what happens when there is not a professionally-designed and managed communications plan in place.

On a more positive note, I am quite enthralled with 2013-2014 International President Ron Huxley's theme. He plans to lead the organization with "MO." Standing for "My Optimism," President Ron explained that belonging to an Optimist Club means something different to each person. We all have different reasons for continuing our commitment to our clubs and the organization and to recognize such individuality, "MO" will give us the opportunity to share our stories with others. As a social media activist for optimism, I'm looking forward to bringing this theme to life.

Melvin Bannister speaks against individual
memberships to Optimist International

In other happenings at the Optimist International Convention, I'm happy to report that the amendment to the bylaws that would have started a pilot program for individual membership to Optimist International thereby bypassing Optimist Clubs failed. Perhaps there are more folks like me who know how important it is that Optimist Clubs have a voice in the management and strategic direction of Optimist International. With that knowledge, perhaps we can begin to design a more collaborative future vision, one where Optimist Clubs come first.

Please contact me, Linda Vaught Jackson, to share ideas so that we may be involved in designing that vision and working together to make our dreams real.

Meet the St. Norbert College Optimist Club

Today I learned about the St. Norbert College Optimist Club in De Pere, Wisconsin  because I followed a suggestion on Facebook. Sometimes it's a good thing to follow your friends' recommendations!

What I discovered was a busy, medium-sized club that started in 2007. It has some history behind it and theoretically, it has graduated its first members and possibly more. I was impressed to learn that the college had recently awarded the Optimist Club a service award for having the most service projects on campus. That's a group of Optimists for you - always busy, giving their time to help others.

One of the club's ongoing fundraisers is the Pulsera Project. This art and commerce project raises money for programs in Nicaragua and focuses on fair trade, education, worker's rights and shelter support for the people of Nicaragua. It also provides micro-loans for a number of different projects including creating the pulsera bracelet.

The St. Norbert Optimist Club tells its own story in the following video recap of the year. Watch to see how it served over 2,000 children last year. Please enjoy.

Sometimes you have to feel the difference

There is a perception in this world that we think and say, "What's in it for me?" Actually, it is more of a reality. Fifty years ago, it was normal to join a group like an Optimist Club in order to give something back to the community. Today, potential and existing members evaluate the time that they will have to give to attend meetings and projects and look for how their involvement will advance their career.

Rarely do individuals examine the social nature of belonging and I find that even after many years of participating, I still have trouble putting it into words succinctly. The experience is different for each individual, but for me, belonging to an Optimist Club means that I have:

• The opportunity to learn about what is happening in my community from learned experts during presentations at club meetings
• A social group that shares similar values and goals
• A network of peers that I work with to conceive and perform projects that make our community a great place to live
• Knowledge and appreciation of the work performed by others in order to collaborate, not duplicate, efforts
• An increased awareness of local, national and international challenges
• The willingness to take the steps to make a difference. 

In writing this post, it comes to my mind that making a difference should not be the key motivator for service for the words imply that there are immediate benefits to our actions when we volunteer our time. It belies the reality that time, planning, fundraising, and other critical steps must be taken by someone in order for everyone to realize the benefits of action; not to mention it ignores that there are consequences of inaction or misguided action. 

That is why nonprofit and charitable organizations persist. It's easy to give money for others to organize so that you may, or may not, show up to perform a volunteer task. If you are truly committed to taking the steps to make a difference in your community, I ask that you reconsider your gift. Instead of money, please give your time and perform ground roots organizing through a service club. Your end result may not be as flashy, but your efforts will be more sincere. You will feel the difference rather than see it. 

Please click here if you would like more information about joining an Optimist Club in your community.

Champion women in your life and around the world

Last year I celebrated International Women's Day with an impassioned plea for more women to be chosen as international leaders for the umbrella organizations to which community service clubs like Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis and Optimist belong. In the twenty-five years since the Supreme Court ruling that enabled women to join these and other membership associations which were previously restricted to men, there has been only one woman rise to such a position. She represented the Optimist International organization.

I guess that I should say congratulations to Optimist International for its forward thinking. However, instead, I'm going to make a confession about something that still stings to this day. Last year, not long after I saluted that woman for her achievements, she chose to defriend (unfriend?) me on Facebook.

We weren't ever really friends. We knew each other through our volunteer involvement. However, at last year's international convention where I received the two top awards that Optimist International can bestow on a district leader, I chose to speak out in favor of a new program, The Childhood Wellness Campaign, over the existing Cure Childhood Cancer Campaign. To me, it's a very realistic choice that we should encourage Optimist Clubs to serve all children, not just those with cancer. I never said don't help kids with cancer. Childhood wellness speaks to all.

The defriending took place immediately after the convention and that made me realize that by speaking out, I had become a target. I still haven't figured out if I am a target of those who fear my ideas, those who don't want another woman to succeed or those who prefer the balance of power to stay the same. It is a sad statement, however, when women in leadership positions who work for the same cause can't be civil enough to be connected through a social network.

Our global, networked, engaged society has deemed March 8 to be International Women's Day. This is the day we champion other women, women's rights, and the struggles and successes of women around the world. It is not a day to whine over "why me;" but I shared my story for one reason alone: women must champion other women. It's okay if you disagree with their views and beliefs. It is not okay if you don't respect them enough to listen.

If you can't hear what someone who is "like you" says, how will you ever understand those who aren't?

I encourage you to read the "Top 5 Reasons you Should Care About International Women's Day" at www.policymic.com:

1. Violence against women is rife worldwide
2. Women are under-represented in politics
3. Women are disproportionately affected by conflict
4. Women are more likely to suffer from poverty and lack of education
5. Double standards exist on how our societies perceive, value and judge men and women

As you read why International Women's Day matters, think about my story, as trivial as it may seem, as an example of how injustice prevails when someone turns a deaf ear to the communication they should hear. 

My plea for International Women's Day 2012 is that women and men will become better listeners. We must understand that such problems exist for women in order to fix them. 

Photo credit: www.internationalwomensday.com