Help when and where you can

"Don’t give up the opportunity to help five children because you think that you should be able to help twenty." - Nutilia Simon, Governor-elect, Caribbean District - Optimist International 

In a motivational note to the members of the Caribbean District, Governor-elect Simon shared that nugget of hope and wisdom. I've seen it happen; individuals and their respective Optimist Clubs get so caught up in the potential of their ideas that they spend most of their time planning and little of their time doing. They talk a good game, but fail to take action. 

The two main reasons that clubs give for lack of action are universal: 

1. We're underfunded.
2. We don't have enough members.

Both speak to the beauty of Governor-elect Simon's message. Help those you can, when you can and one day your club may have the capacity to do more. Your Optimist Club's good deeds will draw attention and others to the cause. And if it doesn't, you will still have made a difference because you gave of yourself in service. 

Photo courtesy of JOOI Barbados on Facebook. 

Caribbean District plans to make a difference one child at a time

October 1 marks the beginning of a new administrative year for Optimist International and its Optimist Clubs and Districts. As the current leaders push hard to add more new members to their rosters, new leaders are finalizing their plans and motivating their teams to take office immediately. It's always nice when the two administrations are able to work together, and for the most part, they do; however, at some point the new leaders have to start sharing their message. 

One way that the leaders will inspire their team is by developing a new logo that signifies their theme for the year. The logo, including a tagline, is not meant to distract from Optimist International's mission. It is designed to enhance it by bringing a local touch to the message.

Over the weekend, I began to see the logo developed by the Caribbean District. Lynden Buchanan, Governor 2012-2013 will ask the team to make a difference by focusing their attention on "One child at a time."

I'm impressed with the message and the design, but Governor Lynden has even more to share about teamwork and individual responsibility within one's team. He used a story about a feared but respected hunter, the wolf,  to make his point. You can watch The Wisdom of the Wolves to learn more, but I think "The Wolf Credo" by Del Goetz, contained in the video, says it all:

Respect the elders
Teach the young
Cooperate with pack.

Play when you can
Hunt when you must
Rest in between.

Share your affections
Voice your feelings
Leave your mark.

The Caribbean District of Optimist International is off to an inspirational start. I'm looking forward to the mark it leaves for all.

Your stories are needed!

Sometimes, try as I might, I don't find a project or story to write about and it makes me feel sort of sad. After all, I know so many great things are happening. Many people are coming together to do good in their communities and many are volunteering their time to an Optimist Club.

Can you help me out of this dilemma?  Will you help me out?  Please send your stories and pictures to me so we can share our good deeds with the world. I can't wait to hear from you!

What motivates people?

Author Daniel Pink talks about what motivates people in his new book Drive and you can see a quick synopsis in this YouTube video. You may be surprised to learn that studies at MIT and Carnegie Mellon Universities and reproduced by psychologists and anthropologists around the world have shown that bonuses actually lead to a diminishing return on creative tasks.  

According to Pink, our employees and volunteers respond better when they are given autonomy, mastery and purpose. Take a look.