Under that face mask, share-a-smile

Oh my, what can happen in one year? There have been births and deaths, celebrity sightings and political strategizing, travel wonders and travel warnings, extremes in the weather, and days of inexplicable sorrow and delight. The Earth has traveled its course around the sun and new marvels and challenges have emerged.

None have been more life-changing than the challenge with which we are now all facing. COVID-19 - a dangerous, lethal virus - that has disrupted our daily lives forcing people around the world to stay home to stay safe. Lives have been lost as healthcare workers, scientists, and world leaders push for answers that will eradicate the virus and return economic stability to all.

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Optimist Club meetings, among other gatherings, events, and daily business, have been canceled or postponed. Individuals are allowed out of the home for essential services and it appears that soon we'll be going back to our traditional lives in a "new normal" way.

One of the staples of our new normal will be the face mask, worn to protect ourselves and others from the airborne transmission of the deadly virus. Optimist Club members from the Share-A-Smile Optimist Club wants to lead the reminder that life is good. Under that face mask, remember to just keep smiling.

A smile lifts your spirit and your eyes will transmit its warmth to all you meet. Share-a-smile, your smile, with others today.

The Optimist Creed is good at any time

Three years ago (wow, has it been that long?), I served as the Vice President of the West Region, Optimist International.

One of the things that VPs get to do is visit Optimist Clubs and Districts and to encourage them to share their optimism with others.

October 31, 2015, found me in San Diego, California where I led a breakout session on creating videos and my key point was that with our smartphones, it is so easy to do!

Yes, we can buy editing software and be professional about it, but we can also be spontaneous and authentic, just like this group of Optimist Club members in the California South District.

Please join me in reciting the Optimist Creed as you enjoy the video.

Like, share, and comment about this membership tip

Once a month, I share a membership retention or recruitment tip on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pnwoptimist/. 

I could probably share more ideas more often, but the timing is meant to allow individuals in Optimist Clubs, wherever they are around the world, the time to give the suggestion a try. One month seems to be a good standard. 

This month, June 2018, we are on membership retention and recruitment tip #58:

Get everyone involved in promoting your Optimist Club. 

Budget time at every meeting for reflection. Ask your members to think about and share what they appreciate most about being a member. 

When we start new Optimist Clubs in new communities, we tell the potential new members about the heartwarming projects that we provide our neighborhoods and explain how rewarding it is to do them with our fellow members, people who share our same goals. Often that process reminds us how great it is to be an Optimist Club member. Doesn't it make sense to share that feeling with your fellow members? 

Create a social media post after every meeting that expresses one member’s thought or testimonial. Ask every club member to share that particular post on their Facebook timeline. 

One of my favorite testimonials comes from Judith Hillend of the Gresham Optimist Club. Speaking about the Optimist International Oratorical Contest, she said, "When you are allowed to listen to nineteen wonderful students speak to you how optimism helps them over obstacles, the outcome is overwhelming. These children of several ages spoke from their hearts about their lives, their obstacles, and their successes - obesity, family problems, hard of hearing and deafness - it brought tears to my eyes and many other Optimists in the audience. The previous list is very limited, but these kids were talking in one of the greatest obstacles in any child's life, talking to adults in a crowd. They are all winners, and those who didn't win prizes are encouraged to return next year. We will be waiting!"

Isn't that a great way to learn about the Optimist International Oratorical Contest? I think so and shared it on the PNW District Optimist Clubs website way back in 2012. It still garners hits today. 

 

Homegrown public service announcements will help others be aware of who is involved in your local Optimist Club, what projects it performs, and how it will make them feel to be a member. It will warm people to joining. Now all you have to do is ask. 

200 reasons to #JoinAnOptimistClub

This website shares information and ideas with its sister page Optimist Clubs in the Pacific Northwest.

One of the things both are known for is the #JoinAnOptimistClub promotion that has been ongoing since September 2014.

Since that time, www.experienceoptimism.org and www.pnwdistrictoptimist.com have shared more than 200 memes with the hashtag #JoinAnOptimistClub.

Most can be found on Facebook on the author's public page. All are meant to be shared.

The thought behind the campaign is that many times we forget to ask people to #JoinAnOptimistClub. With this fun twist, maybe we'll be more inviting and our clubs will be more approachable. Share optimism today by sharing a #JoinAnOptimistClub meme.

Click here to find an Optimist Club near you.
Please send a message if you would like to start a new Optimist Club in your community.

Your friends are always welcome

I am a member of the Share-a-Smile Optimist Club in Fircrest, Washington. We're a small group, and we are still fairly new for we began two years ago in May 2016.

Aside from sharing optimism, our primary focus is dogs, and to be honest, it is a rather selfish focus at that.

We like to get together for dog walks. It gives the animals and humans some social time and provides the extra benefit of exercise.

Optimist Clubs exist because someone is passionate about what they do. Optimist Clubs thrive when that mission is shared with others.

If you live in the Tacoma-Fircrest area, we would love for you to join us for a walk. Please send me a message here: Linda Vaught.

If you are optimistic and would like to share that passion with others, we invite you to #JoinanOptimistClub near you. Click here to find an Optimist Club.

If there is not a club in your community, no worries. We can help you start one. Click here to send a message and get going today: start a new Optimist Club.

Don't let the light go out in your Optimist Club

I write stories about Optimist Clubs. I share optimism nearly every day on this site, at www.pnwdistrictoptimist.com, or on Facebook by telling what Optimist Clubs do and how their actions impact youth and the community in which they live.

Most importantly, I highlight how they make their members feel about belonging to a group of positive-thinking do-gooders. I try to share the feeling of fellowship that is gained by working together for a common cause.

When I saw this post today from Poetry in Motion, I knew right away I was going to share it because it truly sums up why I write about Optimist Clubs. Perhaps my eyes fill with light as I write these stories. I know for certain that the stories I write about have struck me because of the light I have seen shining brightly from the storytellers.

Sadly, my positive light story is going to have a bit of a twist today; it is a downer, so to speak. While I hate to do it, I feel I must because if we don't talk about it, we can't fix it.

Saturday, March 24, 2018, I attended a Super Zone Meeting for the Optimist Clubs in Washington and Oregon, PNW District - Optimist International. It was sparsely attended, which was disappointing, and the agenda was rather thin. But that's okay, I thought, if nothing else, I'm going to gain enthusiasm from my fellow attendees about the projects that we do in our communities.

Sure enough, we heard lists of projects with fundraisers and Respect for Law programs taking the forefront and the Childhood Cancer Campaign and other Optimist International programs taking a less prominent position, among a few other community-specific programs. What we didn't hear from any of the Optimist Club participants was passion. No one lit-up or got excited talking about the projects they do. They simply said, we do this, this and this, and moved on.

Instead of the usual optimism and contagious energy, concerns about participation and communication dominated the discussion. Even the club fundraisers had challenges that the storytellers shared.  And sadly, nothing was suggested to help the participants and Optimist Club members solve their clubs' problems. Unlike the positive environment we expect when we attend an Optimist District or Optimist Club activity, it was not upbeat and quite frankly, it did not include information that would help the clubs succeed.

I've expressed in my blog posts before that not everyone is an inspirational or informed leader. The PNW District has suffered through two years of such poor leadership and we had high hopes that this year would be the one to turn us around. Challenges still remain. In defense of the current governor, he pulled out information from Optimist International that explains the purpose of the District - to be an administrative arm of Optimist International and to help clubs succeed. However, from the agenda I just witnessed, he seems to be taking his cues of what help looks like from the previous administration.

I'm disappointed that the light has been dimmed in so many Optimist Club members' eyes. I hope and pray that this will be turned around soon by bringing back the leaders that share their energy and passion for the organization. They are out there and like me, they are just waiting to be asked.


For an enthusiastic presentation on what it means to be an Optimist Club member, please contact Linda Vaught here.

#pressforprogress, not for bull

I do not fully agree with the #metoo movement nor do I fully understand what's up with the Time's Up group.

However, I believe anything that brings inequality to the forefront is necessary and recognize that some activities are more sensibly organized and better funded than others.

Using celebrities to chant they have been given ten million dollars to act in a movie instead of the twenty million dollars given to their male counterpart is certainly a first world issue slightly above my pay grade.

Using those same female celebrities to recount ways they have been sexually intimidated, sometimes twenty or more years ago, seems rather disingenuous to me as well. They knew what was happening and chose, or were forced, to go another way. For those who didn't move on and stayed in their inferior position, they recognized the choice they were making.

As a woman, I have been sexually preyed upon, I have been belittled, I have been overlooked for promotion, and I have been denied the bump in salary that I deserved. I meet all the criteria for crying #metoo; but many years ago, I made a conscious choice to rise above finger-pointing and name-calling and to continue to try harder.

That is why I am quite pleased with the International Women's Day 2018 theme: #pressforprogress.

We must #pressforprogress in the way that best suits our style.

During the Academy Awards Ceremony, someone said that the celebrities were mentors and role models and by them taking a stand, the world would take notice. Perhaps. I merely hope that their struggles to overcome million dollar inequities can positively impact all women including those who are unpaid and enslaved in situations that are not as glamorous as those who are being heard the most.

Ida B. Wells was a journalist, feminist, and an early leader in the Civil Rights Movement. She said, "The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them."

In one sentence, she captured my belief and my mission for International Women's Day 2018. I will #pressforprogress by not only speaking of the popular women's movements that are trending today but also, by not being afraid to call bullshit when appropriate as well.

Why not join us? We're Optimists

On the second Saturday of each month, we share a membership recruitment and retention tip on the PNW Optimist Clubs Facebook page. 

Most tips remind the reader to communicate better with their internal and external audiences, members and stakeholders. Some, like today, inform of best ways to sell the intangible product: membership. Take a read, please, and share with your Optimist Club for greater success. 

Membership retention and recruitment tip #54: Be less salesy. 

Perhaps you have seen this happen at a club meeting - the speaker has just completed her presentation and the chairperson stands up to thank them and before they are through, they are waving a membership application in the speaker’s face asking them to join. 

We often say that in order to recruit, we just need to ask, but there are some preparatory comments that will help you seem less aggressive when asking someone to join your club. 

Consider asking if the prospective member has belonged to a club previously, what they did or didn’t like about their experience, and what they might hope to gain by joining your group. 

These questions, among others, will start a relationship, gain their trust, and show that you and your organization cares about its members.

We invite you to join an Optimist Club. Click here to find an Optimist Club near you and get involved!

Share optimism with the Optimist Creed

The year of 2017 has left us and now, as we move forward in 2018, we must always promise ourselves to do so with optimism.

To help maintain your positive thoughts this year, we propose a daily reading of the Optimist Creed. To help others maintain their positive thoughts, we encourage you to share optimism by sharing the Optimist Creed.

Please click to download a copy and then share with your friends and colleagues both online and offline. Please keep the optimist movement going throughout the year! Thank you.

Share optimism with a Friend of Optimist membership

If you are reading this and still have last-minute Christmas shopping to complete, don't worry! We've got you covered. Take your mouse and head right on over to Optimist International's website and click on the Friend of Optimist membership.

For only $100, you can share optimism every day and support the most positive service organization in your community. Optimist Clubs meet on a regular basis to share optimism and bring out the best in youth, community, and the members who join them. However, with a Friend membership, the attendance recommendation is totally waived. It's enough to know that you are affiliated with this group of do-gooders and that you support their cause.

The best way to share that kind of optimism is to enjoy the gift of optimism. Click here to give that gift today. 

In case you are wondering what your membership supports, be it a Friend or traditional membership, click here to see some of the projects performed by Optimist Clubs in the Pacific Northwest.

Be kind in December, and every other month too

Before you get too busy this holiday season, Action for Happiness has a great idea to help you experience the best of the season. The first thing it recommends doing is to share this calendar, and I do this now, with you. There are thirty more days to be kind this year. Use them wisely, friends and optimists. Many cheers to you!

What are you giving this season?

It's the giving season. Thanksgiving is this Thursday and then we slide downhill, gathering speed and steam, into Christmas and the new year.

Some might tell you to remember to be grateful and share your gratitude with others, but really, isn't that somewhat trite? Gratitude shouldn't be evident only in November. It should be a year-round practice.

Others might tell you to slow down and enjoy the season, your friends, and family. This is also good advice; but from experience, I know that doesn't always seem possible. It is, but depending on your age, you may not have figured that out just yet.

There are some who wish for expensive toys, gadgets and trinkets and others who struggle to deliver those wishes to everyone on their Christmas list.

And there are some who are sad because of many reasons. It seems that the holiday season can bring out the best and the worst in all of us. That is why I encourage simplicity and optimism at this time of year.

One simple statement will allow you to give the gift of yourself to all you meet. What is it?

Promise yourself to wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

You can celebrate every season, not just the holiday season, when you start every day with a smile.

Click here to enjoy the full Optimist Creed.

Expanding optimism with speech

In 2016, Optimist International updated its oldest program: the Optimist International Oratorical Contest. Started in 1928, the oratorical contest has always asked students to write and speak on a single topic. The contest would begin at the Optimist Club level and end with a scholarship award for the first place contestant at the District level.

The 2016 update moved the contest beyond the Optimist Club. In conjunction with St. Louis University, a global category was added to include persons where Optimist Clubs are not yet formed.

It then rebranded the contest to be the Optimist International Oratorical World Championships and added an international level to the competition where all District winners could go on to compete for additional $20,000 in scholarship prizes.

The contest has been well received and participation seems to be increasing. Please enjoy a look at the 2017 Optimist International Oratorical World Championships with this video.

The topic in 2018 is "Where are My Roots of Optimism?" Students under age 18, we encourage you to find an Optimist Club near you and get involved.

But I've already done that

On March 1, 2017, Optimist International announced the International Candidates Qualifications Committee's nominations for those who might lead the organization in 2018-2019, the year leading into its 100th anniversary. The nominations included one candidate for president, eight candidates for vice president, one for each region; and two nominations for the two openings on the board of directors. After that date, individuals could self-nominate with the deadline of April 1, 2017 to declare their intention in preparation for online voting which started June 1 and runs through June 30, 2017.

Another candidate for president and four candidates for the board of directors were eventually added to the official slate.

In the past, I have indicated concern with this process. Sometimes I agree with the committee's selections and sometimes I do not; but more important, I believe that having a select committee proclaim certain people to be above others seems controlling and makes others, people who are well-qualified, unwilling to step forward and run at-large.

Of course, as many of my readers know, I am one of the few who have run at-large and won, but this post isn't about me or the candidates chosen by the CQ Committee.

The purpose of this post is to emphasize the importance of leadership selection at all levels of the organization.

As membership in all service clubs dwindles, the choices for those who will be our leaders are also diminished.  I worry, at times, that the choices have turned to the "rats that have not left the sinking ship" - people who would have otherwise never risen to the top of the leadership pool.

We cannot be complacent. It is easy to select from those who are left; after all, they have proved they are always there. It would be even easier to walk away; but we can't. I am calling on all old-timers who have succeeded in their year(s) of Optimist Club, District and International leadership to return to the helm. In the 100th year, let us step-up one more time  to do what made the years we served successful and what the organization sorely needs: grow.

When we grow in membership, we grow in revenue and service.

A friend often reminds those who will listen, "If it is to be, it is up to me." I think the time has come to heed his warning. Leadership at all levels is an honor, but it also a responsibility that must be placed in the most capable hands.

Ensure that your club and district are making the right choices. Don't be afraid to say no to the hangers-on and especially, don't be afraid to ask someone to return and turn things around. The make or break year is approaching. Don't let this opportunity slip away.

First impressions matter

Once a month, I share a membership retention and recruitment tip on the PNW District - Optimist International Facebook page.

Most, if not all, deal with communication. Over the years, I've discovered that many Optimist Clubs fail to keep their members informed, possibly because their projects and culture are so ingrained, the person leading project thinks that everyone already knows.

This is especially hurtful when new members join the club. Without direction, they feel left out. Perhaps unintentionally, they feel left out of the clique simply because they don't know where to go, what to do, or why.

The same can often be said for attending a regular meeting. If there is no greeter, people always sit in the same place, and inside jokes are being told, new members wonder what is happening and question if they've made the right decision to become a part of the group.

I  have always believed that the best way to attract a new member to an Optimist Club is to show them that its worth the effort to join; and that ten or more years from now, their service and friendship will be valued. That all starts with the first impression.

It doesn't take a big orientation process, but rather, I suggest that an Optimist Club should orchestrate a series of good first impressions. Send a welcome email with links that explain the club's projects, committees, and leadership structure. Highlight the core purposes of Optimist International and explain how the club practices those values. Include a calendar of events, membership directory, and suggestions for who to call to get involved. Remind the new member's sponsor to sit with the new recruit and and introduce her to others. Make a point to be open and inclusive with new members and veteran members and they will feel, and continue to feel, engaged, valued, and committed to the cause.

First impressions can make a difference in a lifetime of service.

Membership retention and recruitment tip #45: First impressions can make a difference. When someone joins your Optimist Club, they seek first impressions that validate their choice to join. From the first email, meeting or website visit, they need to feel welcome and valued. Orchestrate those first impressions and you will be on your way to engaging members for a lifetime.

Patriotism and the Optimist Club

I receive a number of Optimist Club bulletins each week. Probably the most interesting comes from the Breakfast Optimist Club of Sacramento, California because its editor, Flavio Soria, is an avid photographer. He includes a number of pictures that show the fellowship that is shared as the group comes together for its meetings. It also shows the respect that Optimist Clubs hold for their country.

In this picture, members of the Optimist Club are shown as they recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

In the United States, Optimist Club meetings begin by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. In other countries, the same respect is shown for their governments as they toast, recite or sing their respective vows. The reason for this ritual may be found in the purposes of the organization:

• To develop optimism as a philosophy of life, utilizing the tenets of the Optimist Creed;
• To promote an active interest in good government and civic affairs;
• To inspire respect for the law;
• To promote patriotism and work for international accord and friendship among all people;
• To aid and encourage the development of youth, in the belief that the giving of one’s self in service to others will advance the well-being of humankind, community life and the world.

Three of the five purposes actively speak to good citizenship. Optimist Clubs make a difference because they model the behaviors that make our countries flourish including cooperation, tolerance, service and optimism. These are the very traits that bring good citizens to work together to make their communities stronger, more vibrant, and more accessible to all. 

I am convinced that Optimist Clubs make our world a better place to live. Does it not follow that more Optimist Clubs would make it the best? 

Signs

Sometimes I wonder why I care so much about Optimism. That's Optimism with a big O - Optimist Clubs - as opposed to the little o - the emotion. You see, today I saw in my Facebook feed that people were headed to St. Louis for a 2017-2018 international committee meeting. Hooray for them and hooray for holding the meeting in a more timely manner than has been done in the past. It usually takes place in September or October which doesn't necessarily allow for the smoothest handoff between administrations.

However, on the downside, this  also means rejection for me as I am not on my way to participate. Until seeing this gathering take place, I could still hold out hope that I might be asked to join the team; but now, that hope is waning.

So that brings me to a big soul-searching question. If I can't share my experiences, knowledge and drive with the organization, why do I continue to try?

I guess the answer comes down to one reason, and one reason only. I continue to share optimism because it is the right thing to do. On the journey we call life, optimism is the one way to happiness. Positive thoughts and actions lead us to a better place. If that place is an Optimist Club, then so be it.

If it is somewhere else, the importance is to enjoy the journey and to follow the signs to your true place of belonging, satisfaction and service.

Stop the busy-ness

Early in my membership, I learned that people are too busy to join an Optimist Club. At least that is what they say. Often they promise that when their schedule lightens up, they'll think about it, only to find that their schedule never lightens up at all.

So to overcome that excuse, a real optimist will typically say, "Busy members make the best members because they know how to prioritize their time."

That works. Sometimes.

But let's face it, busy people are not always the most productive because they often glorify their busy-ness. What do I mean?

In between work, chauffering children, eating dinner with the family, taking time for elderly parents, going to church, completing housework and yardwork, and a million and one other tasks that consume our days, we often find that we are focused on the action and not on the results. We have to go here, go there, do this, do that, and then start it all over again, day after day.

Caught up in all that busy-ness, multitasking becomes the norm and causes busy people to lose their focus. This message is meant to sound an alarm. Focus is good; it brings clarity before action and allows one to choose their next steps with a desired result in mind.  There is a saying that the proof is in the pudding. That means, results will do the talking; i.e., don't tell me what you are going to do. Show me.

My message today: STOP the busy-ness in your life.

Take time to make a difference in your life, your community and with youth by joining an Optimist Club.

Devoting one hour per week, or less, as an Optimist Volunteer will lead to positive thoughts and actions. And with clarity of focus, it will lead to a positive life.

Click to find an Optimist Club near you or send me a message and I will help you start one in your community.

Every day is a day of service

In the story of Bambi, Thumper said, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

Sorry, Thumper. I tried very hard to see this effort as a good thing for all service clubs because it encourages collaboration and is an effort to raise awareness of the impact such organizations have on the communities they serve.

Next, I tried to ignore it because my opinion is just my opinion and in the grand scheme of things, it matters very little.

However, I would not be true to myself or my efforts of helping raise the awareness and relevance of Optimist Clubs if I let the International Week of Service slip by without commenting that it is not the best idea to come out of the international office.

The International Week of Service is a program of Lions Clubs International. With staff-level coordination and acceptance, the Lions invited other service organizations, Optimist International, Rotary International, Sertoma, Kiwanis, Soroptimist, and others, to participate and many accepted. Lions Clubs International developed a website and a Facebook page and included links for individuals to get involved. It also included a link for participating organizations to submit their story of service.

Sounds simple, innocent and perhaps even benevolent, doesn't it?

But here is the rub: Optimist International already has an activity that is similar. Optimists in Action was designed for Optimist Clubs to engage others, non-members, other organizations and service clubs, in a joint activity on one day, any day in May. Why is this activity not the one being promoted?

Here is the concern: Lions Clubs International, the largest service organization of all, has been given carte blanche to interact at a club level as it collects not only stories of the community service efforts, but also the contact information of the most active members in all brands of service clubs around the world.

Okay, some might think I sound paranoid, but it sounds like a potential membership recruitment strategy to me. Why would we ever want to give our stories or our valued members away?

As I have stated many times on this website and other forums, Optimist International must develop an integrated marketing communications strategy and it should hire a professional to do it right. Service organizations like Lions, Rotary and Kiwanis have already done this.

Organizations with more professional images will not suffer from this potential membership grab that I fear is in the making, and we can be fairly assured that long-time members passionate to the mission of Optimist International won't be tempted to jump ship. However, those newer members, the ones who are more accustomed to robust online relationships, may find it more interesting to volunteer with an organization that "gets it."

I'm not really tempted to move on; but sometimes, when I see efforts like this one, I wonder, doesn't Optimist International understand what Optimist Clubs do every day? Every day, Optimist Clubs reach out to their communities - other service clubs included - to make a difference.

Why? Because, together they can.

Friends are the pot of gold you seek

Holidays, real and imagined, bring Optimist Club members out to party. Sometimes it's with children, like Christmas, and sometimes it's an adults-only activity, like St. Patrick's Day.

In Idaho, two Optimist Clubs are fundraising on this day of wearing o'the green. In McCall, Idaho, there will be a bingo game with cash prizes. "Do you feel lucky?" the Optimist Club asks. Dress up in green and lucky players might win a special prize in addition to their potential bingo winnings!

In Meridian, Idaho, the Optimist Club will host its Luck o'the Irish Casino Night. No cash prizes are available at this one, but there is plenty of fun in the casino-style game night, plus door prizes and raffle items to boot.  The Meridian Fire District Drum and Bugle Pipes and Drum Corps are partners in this 9th annual event.

These events have more in common than their green themes. Both are good examples of how the Optimist Club raises money and sparks fellowship at the same time. Optimist Club members will tell you that putting on a program or carrying out a project builds a team spirit and helps our members get to know one another better. Club membership - fellowship - leads not only to good deeds for the community; it leads to friendship for all.

Join an Optimist Club and you'll find that pot of gold known as friendship.

Click here to find an Optimist Club near you.

If you would like to start a new Optimist Club, click here and I'll lend you a hand.

Or, click here to be a Friend of Optimists.