Optimist Clubs at the Minnesota State Fair

For twelve days, Optimist Club members in Minnesota have taken to the State Fair. Running from August 22 to September 2, 2013, several different Minnesota Optimist Clubs will be hosting a booth in search of new members. They'll also share the projects that stir their passion and interests and generally let others know about the good things that Optimist Clubs do in their communities. They'll let kids know how to participate in the scholarship programs and adults will learn how to join or contribute and be a part of the most positive movement in town.

But what I found especially cool about this project is that it is being documented with a video tribute called "Optimists at the Fair." The video below was posted by My Music Matters Radio Show; however, more videos can be found on Facebook uploaded by Kelly Casey.  She's posting a new one every day.

Sharing the Optimist Club story with potential new members is essential and the Minnesota Optimist Clubs have proved that it can also be fun. You want to join now, don't you?

Looking for contestants? Make your program look like fun

Thirty-two students participated in the Prior Lake Optimist Club Oratorical Contest. I think that is awesome!

Prior Lake, Minnesota is a community approximately 20 miles southwest of St. Paul with a population of approximately 23,000 people. I've heard of much larger communities that have trouble getting three or four students to participate in the Optimist International Oratorical Contest. Teachers and advisors often say that the students are too busy or that the award ($2,500) isn't enough to inspire their students.

I think that as Optimist Clubs we need to be more inspirational on our own. We need to appeal to the students where they are most likely to notice. Facebook and Twitter must be in the mix, and for the greatest appeal, head on over to YouTube and upload a video that makes the contest look fun. Talking heads droning on about "Why my voice is important" is not fun. But short snippets from students, filmed at locations that matter to them, might be. Use your imagination, be creative and inviting, and you'll find that students are more interested in your program.

Weekly programs are pure gold

With summer in full swing, our Optimist Clubs have been busy performing service projects out in the community. From bicycle rodeos, to car shows and pancake feeds, you've heard about them right here; but what you haven't heard about lately is what I consider to be one of the most important projects of all: club programs.

That's right, club programs. Most clubs gather every week for fellowship and project planning. The clubs who are most engaged in their communities take those weekly meeting opportunities to have guest speakers.

Guest speakers explain what is happening in their organizations and give their perception of what is needed or what is good in the community. It's a great way to learn how and where the Optimist Club might fit in. It's also an easy way to read the business and community service climate and take notice of trends so your club can act accordingly. Of course sometimes guest speakers can be entertaining and other times merely there to generate awareness for their cause.

The reason for this post came from an article that I saw in the Richfield Community News & Voices. Last week, the Optimist Club of Richfield, MN welcomed Joseph Imholte, Director of Special Exhibits, Science Museum of Minnesota to their meeting. He was there to promote the latest traveling exhibit "Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs," on display through Labor Day.

According to Imholte this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see these artifacts. Isn't that the truth?

Can you imagine your Optimist Club making certain that children of all ages have the opportunity to see King Tut? Can you imagine them taking their families and friends to the exhibit as well? Wouldn't you?

Being part of an Optimist Club means learning about what is going on in the community so you can share the experience with others. Make sure that you are inviting speakers to visit your club frequently, if not every week. You'll learn more about the place you call home and as a bonus, share your love of optimism with new people every week.

Service clubs thrive on competition

I admit, I had a twinge of schadenfreude when I read this headline, 'Kiwanis clubs clash over Bike-A-Thon.'  But then I read the article and felt a little bit of envy for the friendly rivalry that the two service clubs in Albert Lea, Minnesota share.

Bike-A-Thon takes riders on 100-
mile trip around Freborn County

The long-time rivalry between the Noon Kiwanis Club and the Daybreak Kiwanis Club centers around an annual 100-mile bike ride to benefit the American Cancer Society.  Every year, the presidents of the clubs make a friendly wager to recruit more riders to their teams, to garner more pledges and raise more money.

As they visit each other in the weeks leading up to the ride, their enthusiasm and word of mouth marketing entices more people to be involved. The prize to the winning Kiwanis Club is ownership of a traveling trophy. The benefits to the community are huge.

One of the greatest benefits of having active service clubs in a community is the organized group of volunteers they have at the ready for any community event. Of course some are more personal and members are more inclined to be involved, but in my experience, most service clubs will always try to do something when they are asked to help.

Activities like the Bike-A-Thon are perfect because all they ask for is time. Members choose if and how they want to participate. It is a bonus when the cause is such that it spurs an instant rivalry. Everyone benefits from the participants, to the organizers, to the ultimate beneficiaries.

If you are organizing an event, consider getting your local service clubs involved. You'll like the energy they bring to the table.

If you live in the Albert Lea, Minnesota area, please join a Kiwanis Bike-A-Thon team or make a pledge. Contact Kent Erlandson at 507.383.1840 to learn more. The 2011 Freeborn County Bike-A-Thon will take place on May 8.

Frozen Goose Walk-Run leads the way

Hurry, hurry, hurry! There is still time to participate in the Frozen Goose Run in Rochester, Minnesota, but you have to act now because the race takes place tomorrow, Saturday, February 5, 2011. Your next opportunity to freeze your tail feathers will come in February 2012 when the Frozen Goose Run will celebrate its tenth consecutive year as part of the Rochester Winterfest.

The Rochester Winterfest is a community event organized by the City of Rochester to raise awareness for nonprofit organizations that serve the community. It is taking place February 3-13 in different indoor and outdoor venues throughout the city.

The Frozen Goose Run is a project of the Optimist Club of Rochester. Proceeds of the benefit will go to Mayo Clinic Childhood Cancer Research and Brighter Tomorrows.

The Optimist Club of Rochester is leading the way in cause related activities for Optimist International's Childhood Cancer Campaign.  For nine years, Optimist International has encouraged Optimist Clubs to donate to research to eradicate childhood cancers. Last year, the organization completed a pledge to John Hopkins Research University and stepped up their effort to encourage clubs to donate to local causes. In fact, this year, Optimist International is encouraging clubs to organize a walk to benefit the Optimist International Childhood Cancer Campaign as part of an organization-wide campaign.

No doubt the efforts of clubs like the the Optimist Club of Rochester have served as a inspiration to creating greater awareness for a cause that most Optimist Club members hold dear. Thank you for your leadership.

Junior Optimists collect Toys for Tots

Junior Optimist Clubs are good at finding new service projects to do and they manage to stay busy throughout the year. Christmastime is no different.

One of the projects that came across my desk this week is taking place today, December 11, in Prior Lake, Minnesota. The Prior Lake High School's Junior Optimist Club is collecting Toys for Tots at Prior Lake Marketplace from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. They ask that the toys be unwrapped and they ask for toys appropriate for all ages.

The Junior Optimist Club started six years ago. They have been collecting toys for four years. To date, members have collected more than 5,000 gifts. To find out more about the project or the Prior Lake Junior Optimist Club, please call Amy Raetz at 952.447.1137.

Crosstown rivalry earns money for booster clubs

The President of the Optimist Club of Wahpeton/Breckenridge serves the twin towns of Wahpeton, North Dakota and Breckenridge, Minnesota. At least once a year during football season, that is like serving two masters as the community ramps up for the rivalry.  What's a club to do?

Hold a fundraiser! For a donation of your choice, the Optimist Club paints car windows and decorates vehicles in the team colors. Then they donate the proceeds to the booster clubs for each team. This year the Wahpeton fans were more enthusiastic giving $553 to the Breckenridge's fans with $415.

Nearly was $1,000 raised for the crosstown rivalry. Now that's team spirit.

Story first reported in the Daily News for Wahpeton, ND and Breckenridge, MN. 

How to become an Optimist

You can bet "How to become an Optimist" is a headline that is going to catch my attention. Today's "How to become an Optimist" headline comes from Minneapolis, Minnesota where Carolina Reyes, a wellness writer for examiner.com offered up the following tips for being an optimist:

• Smiling
• Thinking of positive thoughts
• Look at adversity as a a learning experience
• When something positive happens in your life, give yourself credit for making it happen
• Share good news with others
• Imagine future possibilities
• When you do less than your best, think about how you will improve in the future

Finally she lands on what really makes me smile: volunteering. And guess who she recommends to volunteer with? That's right - an Optimist Club. Since she's in Minnesota, she directed her readers to a few local clubs, but here is a link to an Optimist International Club directory so that you can find a club near you.

Why don't you become an optimist today by joining an Optimist Club.

Service clubs provide friendships and fulfillment

The Daily Globe in Worthington, Minnesota is celebrating the great contributions of their local service clubs in a section called Positive Perspectives today.With such a title, it's only fair that they begin with the Optimist Club.

According to the story, the service clubs are a community lifeline where members find friends and fulfillment. Please read the full story about the Worthington Optimist Club.

Bowling for scholarships

Here's a twist on the usual scholarship offerings.  The Morning Optimist Club of St. Cloud, MN sponsors a bowling tournament where junior bowlers compete for scholarships.  The twist?  There are a few:  First, there is a $20 entry fee and bowlers may enter more than once and in different divisions.  Scholarships of $150, $100, and $50 are given to the top three bowlers in each category.

The St. Cloud Optimist Club has been sponsoring this event for three years.  They start with $3,000 and then attract more money from entry fees.  Almost $11,000 has been given away so far. 

According to the Optimist Club spokesperson this is a great event for juniors because "there is a dress code, with a penalty of 20 pins per game for non-compliance: Slacks and collared shirts or USBC shirt; no holes, frays or bad hems; no caps, shorts, skirts, sunglasses, tank tops or sleeveless shirts."

The bowling tournament teaches discipline and builds self esteem and sportsmanship while allowing children the opportunity to compete for meaningful prizes.  Building character in our young people and helping them reach their potential are some of the reasons to belong to an Optimist Club.  It's interesting to learn how bowling can further the Optimist International mission of bringing out the best in children.