Like Michelle Obama, Optimist Clubs must be role models

First Lady Michelle Obama spoke to the Democratic National Convention and among other things she said:

"And make no mistake about it, this November, when we go to the polls, that is what we're deciding — not Democrat or Republican, not left or right. No, this election, and every election, is about who will have the power to shape our children for the next four or eight years of their lives."

Like our government leaders, teachers, parents and other role models, Optimist Clubs share the responsibility of helping children reach their full potential. Our motto is Friend of Youth because we take that responsibility with fervor and pride. Our projects are designed to bring out the best in youth, community and ourselves for a reason. We want our world to be the best it can be today and far into the future.

Please volunteer to make the Optimist difference by joining an Optimist Club today.

Click here to find an Optimist Club near you.
Click here if I might help you start a new Optimist Club in your community.
Click here to be a Friend of Optimists. 

Optimist Club receives the Golden Milkbone Award

In a bit of a role-reversal, students from the Maryville, Missouri Middle School recently recognized the Maryville Optimist Club for their community service.

The Community Recognition Action Team bestowed the Golden Milkbone Award to the Optimist Club following the 2016 Optimist Oratorical Contest.

According to the Action Team, the Optimist Club lives their motto Friend of Youth by maintaining great relationships with all Maryville schools and involvinvolving the students in many contests, activities and events.

Optimist Clubs pride themselves on recognizing students during Youth Appreciation activities, among other things. Receiving an award from the very students they serve is indeed an honor. Congratulations to all.

To find out more about the Golden Milkbone Award, please visit the Maryville Middle School website.

Photo credit: Maryville Middle School

Super Kids are the focus of the Breakfast Optimist Club

In Quincy, Illinois, the Breakfast Optimist Club sponsors a Soap Box Derby.

Over the past three years, it has grown from 65 to 122 participants and enlarged from a 1-day event to 2-days.

The competition takes place at the 18th Street Hill near Bob Mays Park, and that is a perfect location to generate some speed and excitement for the Super Kids Soap Box Derby Competition.

Who are the Super Kids who take part?
Special needs children from local organizations.

According to race director Ray Wilson, Quincy, Illinois will soon be known as the epicenter for the Super Kids Soap Box Derby. Although the Derby is a fundraiser for the Breakfast Optimist Club's cancer fund, the Super Kids are not charged an entry fee. Local sponsors like Hy-Vee and Home Depot, among others, make it possible to treat the children to a great event and support another great cause. "This whole project sounds enormous to many," said Wilson, "but it is not difficult when people's hearts are in the right place."

Wilson went on to explain that many of these parents have difficulty involving their sons and daughters in sporting events. The Super Kids races are very positive event for them, the children and the community.

That's what being an Optimist Club member is all about: Bringing out the best in youth, our community and ourselves.

Photo: Michael Kipley

Optimists celebrate Snow Day 2016

There is no shortage of snow on the US East Coast this week as a blizzard hit calling off school and  sending children of all ages to play outdoors and record their shenanigans as the #blizzardof2016.

However the Optimist Club of New Holstein, Wisconsin celebrates every year with a Snow Day. This year found children, hosted by the Optimist Club at the Optimist Park Chalet, and their parents enjoying popcorn and hot chocolate along with arts & crafts and simple games on SnowDay2016.

I can't think of a better way to spend a snowy afternoon than with children and optimists. Can you?

Click here to find an Optimist Club near you and join! 

Photos: Mark Sherry

What's a Jammie Jog?

File this under too cute not to share.

The new Optimist Club at Iowa State University held its first fundraiser on November 7, 2015. For a $10 entry fee, students were encouraged to participate in the Jammie Jog: a 1-mile run around campus and all money raised was earmarked for ChildServe of Ames.

According to founding club member Christina Dittmer, the club hopes to "create opportunities for today's less privileged youth."

The fundraiser-jog came about after brainstorming throughout the spring and summer. For the entry fee, the club awarded t-shirts to the top 100 runners and generated a great deal of enthusiasm for their cause.

Wouldn't it be great to see Jammie Jogs on college campuses all around North America raising awareness for Optimist Clubs?


Photo: Max Goldberg/Iowa State Daily

BTS: Shop with a Cop

With so many communities struggling to find ways to connect police officers to those they serve and protect in a positive manner, here is a thought. Many Optimist Clubs, among other service clubs and groups, host Shop with a Cop events at Christmas. Why not hold a similar event right now to help children get ready to go back to school?

I would like to take credit for this little brainstorm, but I borrowed the idea from Caldwell, Idaho where the Fraternal Order of Police recently launched its first Back to School Shop with a Cop event. Shopping day will take place on August 14, 2015 and it will be similar to the Christmas event; however, this shopping spree will find the children buying school supplies, backpacks and shoes, among other things that students need throughout the year.

Each participant will receive $200 and the police officers will accompany the young students on their shopping  trips to ensure they are using their money for the intendend purposes. As we Optimist Club members know, given the chance, the children often try to buy for others first before buying for themselves.

Shop with a Cop programs help humanize the police officers and set a positive tone betwen young people and those in authority so that if a child finds himself or herself in trouble, they are able to trust the police.

Why would an Optimist Club be involved in such a program? Because it meets two of the purposes of Optimist International:

• To inspire respect for law 
• 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

Along with our other two purposes: 

• To promote patriotism and work for international accord and friendship among all people
• To develop optimism as a philosophy of life, utilizing the tenets of the Optimist Creed

Optimist Clubs are working to bring out the best in youth, our communities and ourselves; right here, right now.

Photo credit: Canyon County Sheriff's Office

Le Père Noël visite le Club Optimiste de Templeton

No matter the language, Santa is Santa, children are children, and Christmas is Christmas.

My friend, Andre Therrien, an Optimist Club member from Quebec, recently posted this delightful 1-minute romp through the Optimist Club of Templeton's Christmas program.



Delighting children, and thereby ourselves, is what Optimist Clubs do best.

I invite you to share the magic. Share optimism. Join an Optimist Club today. And have a very Merry Christmas.

Shop with a Cop brings kids and cops together

The Fort Smallwood Optimist Club, Annapolis Optimist Club and Cherry Hill Optimist Club came together on December 5, 2014 to hold the 11th Annual Shop with a Cop program. The clubs paired police officers with 82 children and set them loose in Walmart to do some Christmas shopping.

The officers were there to provide moral support for the children's shopping spree. Afterwards, they had lunch at the Outback Steakhouse and tackled some Christmas wrapping for the presents they bought for others.

Shop with a Cop programs are popular because they give children an opportunity to interact with police officers in a positive manner, building trust and letting them know that police officers can be their friends.

As Optimist Clubs provide youth-serving projects for communities, they are a natural catalyst to bring the two groups together. They provide the administration and funding support to make the program successful.

Fort Smallwood Optimist Club
Shop with a Cop 2014

Photos courtesy of the Fort Smallwood Optimist Club. Check out the full collection on Facebook.

Optimist Clubs bring out the best in you

I served as governor of the Pacific Northwest District in 2009-2010. The butterfly logo shown in the above picture is from that year.  The butterfly signified change and growth as it emerged from the octagon, a traditional symbol for Optimist International.

As governor, it was my goal to inspire adults to do more in their communities through their involvement in an Optimist Club. I believed then and I believe now that an Optimist Club brings out the best in its members. It brings people together, from all walks of life, to make their community the best possible place to live. Much of the focus is on youth because the original mission of the founders of the Optimist International organization was to address young boys who were vandalizing and burglarizing their businesses. In fact, "Friend of the Delinquent Boy" served as the organizations tagline for many years until it was changed to "Friend of Youth" in 1972.

However, I believe that the real focus of an Optimist Club is the development of its members. By providing social and business networking opportunities along with the opportunity to perform community service projects, an Optimist Club attends to the whole person. It allows one to grow personally and professionally and through the application of knowledgeable compassion an Optimist Club can bring out the best in you.

You might ask, what is "knowledgeable compassion?" Let me explain. It's somewhat easy to be compassionate and to care about the needs of others, but that doesn't always make you take action. However, with knowledge, we know where we fit in and how we might make a difference. Knowledge enables us and by practicing knowledgeable compassion within an Optimist Club, we make strategic decisions that allow us to give of ourselves in the most beneficial way.

An Optimist Club brings out the best in you because through your involvement you combine your talents with others to make meaningful contributions to your community. It's a bonus that you can grow your business and find friends along the way.

Optimists are rooting for Team Jack at the ESPYS

Optimist Clubs around the US and especially those in Nebraska are rooting for Team Jack today to win an ESPY award. ESPYS are the awards given by ESPN to recognize outstanding moments in sports that have been filmed in the past year.

They had an outstanding moment in Nebraska when 5-year old Jack Hoffman made a touchdown run in a game for the Cornhuskers during the spring.

A little over two years ago, Jack was diagnosed with pediatric brain cancer. While undergoing treatment, he became a fan of Nebraska football player Rex Burkhead. Rex, in turn, became a fan of Jack's and was instrumental in organizing a local chapter of Uplifting Athletes to raise funds for his cause. Rex also used Jack's name to lift his teammates spirits when they were down. "Jack's not giving up," said Rex, "and we're not giving up."

Late in the evening on April 5, Nebraska director of football operations Jeff Jamrog called the Hoffman residence to see if young Jack wanted to suit-up for the game the following day. The result follows in a dream come true for Team Jack.



After its first broadcast, the clip made its way through the talk shows and Jack and Rex were invited to meet President Obama at the White House. Perhaps the fairy tale will end at the ESPYs. Jack's TD run faces such other outstanding moments of the year as Andy Murray, the first Brit to win Wimbledon in 77 years; Alex Morgan scores the winning goal in the Olympic semifinal; and Chuck Pagano's return to the Colts.

Outstanding, all, but it's tough to beat a childhood cancer survivor. They're tough and they're optimists.

 Click here to cast your vote now.

Optimist Club of Monaco South, Denver, recognized for philanthropy

According to the website, National Philanthropy Day in Colorado is:

"...the special day set aside to recognize and pay tribute to the great contributions that philanthropy -- and those people active in the philanthropic community -- have made to our lives, our communities and our world. Celebrations are held annually in many states across the nation."

 On November 9, ten businesses, individuals and organizations were honored for their service to their communities. Among them were the Optimist Club of Monaco South in Denver Colorado. Randy Marcove, President, shared this video on YouTube. It describes what Optimist Clubs do to bring out the best in youth.

Congratulations to the Optimist Club of Monaco South on your recognition. Thank you for your service.

It's all in how you say it

In a feature known as "Good Morning Hartland" in the Hartland Patch, ladies from the Optimist Club of Hartland, MI sent a message to their community to encourage them to help with the holiday gift giving program by adopting a family this Christmas.

Of course we know that please and thank you go a long way in showing respect. In another part of the country, the Optimist Club of Perdido Bay, Alabama came together with members of their community to say thank you for being "Friends of Kids" and to award them with donations to help carry out their projects in the coming months. Approximately $7,000 was given to local organizations including the Lillian-Perdido Bay Library, Baldwin County Special Olympics, Alabama Sheriff's Ranch, Baldwin Tech Center and more. Read all about it in the BaldwinCountynow.com

Optimist volunteers help special needs children

The Optimist Club of Tall Timbers, 2nd District, Tall Timbers, Maryland received a well-earned honor this week when they were recognized by the St. Mary's County Disability Commission for their work with special needs children. As part of the ceremony, Commission Chair Susan Erichsen explained that the Tall Timbers Optimist Club is "dedicated to bringing out the best in kids through its local community service and outreach programs."  She described the Spring Dance, Shop With a Cop and the Fall Festival full of kid-friendly activities.

She then hit on two programs that set the Tall Timbers Optimist Club apart from the rest: Camp Inspire and donations annually to a specific local child in need. Each year, the Fall Festival proceeds are designated to these two programs.

• Camp Inspire is the first summer day camp in Southern Maryland designed especially for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. It is coordinated by the St. Mary's Recreation & Parks District. 
• Specific children in need are also beneficiaries of the Optimist Club's fundraising efforts. Among others, some stories of past recipients include a 4-year old with cancer whose family received help with medical bills and a young boy with Cystic Fibrosis. 

The members of the Tall Timbers Optimist Club received the honor together as they were named "Volunteers of the Year."

See more at the Optimist Club of Tall Timbers, 2nd District website.

Can the Optimist come out to play?

Q: Is it the children or the adults that make an Optimist Club special?

A: Both!

As you can see in this video from the Optimist Club of Waterloo, Illinois, an Optimist Club is about sharing positive activities with each other. Sometimes it is all about the kids. Other times it is about the adults. But the best times and truest smiles come when they are together, doing projects, learning skills, and playing.

Yes, playing.



Let the big kid in you out once in awhile. Find an Optimist Club and join today.

Music Sunday: Why Can't We Be Friends?

Over the weekend, I visited the Optimist Youth Home and Family Services, and the Optimist High School in Los Angeles, California. I was there as part of the Pacific Southwest District Meeting; a one-day activity to provide education and inspiration for Optimist Club members, but meeting at the Optimist Youth Home was inspirational in itself. The facility, founded in 1906, has been supported by Optimist Clubs in California since the late -1920s.

Optimist Club members volunteer at the Home, serve on its Board of Directors, are involved in fundraising, and make philanthropic donations. It is one of the largest examples of living the Optimist International motto, "Friend of Youth" and inspired me to choose today's Music Sunday song, 'Why Can't We Be Friends?'  This version, from Bridge to Terabithia, reminds me of diversity and how important it is to reach out to others. Enjoy.

Optimists reinforce good behaviors

For an organization whose original motto was "Friend of the Delinquent Boy," Optimist Clubs do a lot of recognizing of good children.

Could it be that Optimist Clubs believe in positive reinforcement of good behaviors? I would say so, yes.

Optimist International has five driving purposes. (Purposes of Optimist International) All are aimed at making our society a better place to live by developing responsible, caring citizens and fostering a positive outlook on life. To that end, the founders of the organization created social programs to address the needs they saw in their communities and adopted a framework that would be flexible as time passed and needs changed.

Since its adoption in 1922, the motto has changed from "Friend of the Delinquent Boy," to "Friend of Boy," to "Friend of Youth," and has now largely been forsaken in favor of the last clause of the mission/vision statement "Bringing out the Best in Children." Over the years, the needs have changed and Optimist Clubs have evolved to meet specific needs in their own communities.

One constant has remained: Optimist Clubs help children reach their full potential by honoring them, recognizing them, working with them, and encouraging them to be better citizens. One might even say that  Optimist Clubs hold Youth Appreciation Week year-round, fifty-two weeks a year and by showing their appreciation, they encourage others to try harder and do more to contribute to their families, schools and communities.

Such positive reinforcement is a model for a positive, optimistic life.

Thanks to the Optimist Club of Bixby, Oklahoma for the photo of Susan Bevard, Club President presenting honor cords to student members of the National Honor Society. 

Two groups that inspire community service

The young men in Boy Scout Troop 225 in Roseburg, Oregon have been busy campers. They meet weekly, are active in the community, perform community service projects, and learn life skills through overnight camping trips. They are also grateful to the local Optimist Club for helping them make a difference.

Four young scouts visited the Roseburg Optimist Club on February 25 to share stories and appreciation with the Optimist Club, one of their major sponsors. 

Nash Edwards talked about how the troop uses the trailer that the Optimist Club purchased for them.  Taylor Ferraro described some of their favorite community service projects. Christian Sifford detailed what happens in an average weekly meeting. Jacob Dundas gave a presentation on a recent overnight camping activity in the snow at Diamond Lake. The boys call this annual trek Klondike.

Troop members visit the Optimist Club several times a year to give updates. According to one member, it's fun to hear from them personally and as a bonus, the visits allow the children to practice their presentation skills.

Many Optimist Clubs sponsor Boy Scout Troops and often work side-by-side with them as troop leaders and mentors. Optimist International considers the scouting organization to be a community service resource and partner for teaching civic responsibility and good government to young people.

Thanks to Beth Edwards for the picture. 

Operation Bear Care brings huggable heroes to children

Optimist Clubs and their members are always looking for projects that will help children. One of the most special ways that I am familiar with is a program called Operation Bear Care performed by the Noon Optimist Club of Boise, Idaho. 

Operation Bear Care takes place once a year, yet serves the community year-round. Through a one-evening event, the Optimist Club collects enough stuffed animals to fill the trunks of first responders so that when a policeman or fireman comes upon a traumatic event that involves a child, be it a fire, motor vehicle accident, or abusive situation, they have something huggable to give to the young victim. 

It is such an easy program to perform, and while the Boise Optimist Club can collect all they need in one day, it is totally scalable. Take a day, week or month, the key is to get the public involved by asking them to donate a clean, new, or even gently used, non-themed stuffed animal to the cause. 

The Boise Noon Optimist Club has very close relationship with Boise State University Athletics. Their Operation Bear Care actually takes place during a home basketball game and thousands of stuffed animals are collected. When it began approximately fifteen years ago, the fans would actually throw the animals to the center of the court at half-time, creating a mound of fluff to be collected by the club. With a little more respect for the heroic service that the bears provide, the donations are now collected as the fans enter the arena. They are boxed up and given to the police and fire departments throughout the valley. 

Over the years, as others have taken to collecting stuffed animals in their organizations, I have heard the Optimist Club consider letting the project go. However, the simplicity of the project, combined with the joy of giving something that will bring a smile to a child at a most difficult time, has made the project a club favorite. I predict the Boise Noon Optimist Club will be performing Operation Bear Care for many years to come.

Make mom proud

The Optimist Club of Austin, Texas is encouraging membership in their club. They have been serving the community since 1935 when then sitting governor James V. Allred decided the community needed to work together to help homeless children who were wandering the streets during the Great Depression.  He chose the Optimist Club above all other service clubs for their motto, "Friend of the Delinquent Boy."

That motto remains today with an emphasis on all children. As "Friends of Youth," Optimist Clubs conduct projects that are most needed in their community.

However, according to the Austin Optimist Club you should join the Optimist Club today. They say, "Give back to your community in the most amazing way you can imagine. Make Mom Proud!"

Do  you want to make Mom proud?  Find a club near you and join today.

Being a friend of youth

Optimist Clubs often find causes or segments of the population that get special attention. In Pinal County, Arizona, the Sunrise Optimist Club of Casa Grande  are giving special attention to children in foster care.

For the sixth consecutive year, the Optimist Club has provided an evening of fun at foster family night at the Casa Grande Aquatics Park. They reserve the facility and offer a swim party and pizza night for foster children and families and children in group homes. Judges, county personnel, CASA volunteers and advocates join them.

As of this writing, there are 566 children in the foster care system who have been neglected, abandoned or abused by their families. Efforts like this give the kids something to look forward to especially the siblings who have been separated from one another due to the system.

The Sunrise Optimist Club doesn't stop with the party. When the children go home, they leave with a backpack full of school supplies to help them be ready for the coming school year.

The project draws community-wide awareness to the foster care program and encourages others to be involved by donating or providing assistance and care to the children who fall under the court system's supervision through no fault of their own. But for the Optimist Club, it's just another way to be a friend of youth.