Quick slideshow that can be used when visiting groups interested in starting a new club.

1. OPTIMIST
INTERNATIONAL
“Help Us Bring Out the Best in Kids”

2. OVERVIEW
• WHO WE ARE
• CLUB OPERATIONS
• CLUB PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS
• ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
• OPTIMIST CREED
• GETTING STARTED
• QUESTIONS?…CONTACT US

3. WHO WE ARE
• Optimist International is an international service
organization that has focused on “Bringing Out
the Best in Kids” since 1919.
• Mission Statement
– By providing hope and a positive vision, Optimists
bring out the best in kids.
• Vision Statement
– Optimist International will be recognized
worldwide as the premier volunteer organization
that values all children and helps them develop to
their full potential.

4. FUN FACTS ABOUT US…
• There are over 3,000 autonomous Optimist Clubs
worldwide. This includes Optimist Clubs in:
– England, France, Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and
many other countries!
• There are over 95,000 Optimist Members worldwide.
• Optimists conduct 65,000 service projects per year,
serving over 6 million children.
• Optimists spend $78 million on their communities
annually.

5. HOWEACHCLUBOPERATES
• Each Optimist Club is AUTONOMOUS, and operates
independently.
• Each Club elects their own Officers and Board of
Directors to oversee Club Activities.
• Each Club also picks and chooses the programs and
activities that most benefit the children in the
community.
– Ask yourself what are the needs of the children in the
community? What are the youth issues facing your
city/town?

6. EXAMPLES OF OPTIMIST
PROJECTS ANDPROGRAMS
• Childhood Cancer Campaign
• Support Youth Programs like Scouting, Guiding, Bike
Safety, Sports
• Deliver Internet Safety Training
• Optimist International Junior Golf Championship
• Scholarships and Oratorical Contests
• FOCUS ON SUPPORTING YOUTH NEEDS IN OUR
COMMUNITY – MEMBERS DECIDE WHAT WE
SUPPORT

7. SPECIFIC PROJECT PROFILE
HEALTH & WELFARE
Project Name: Camp Jordan
Sponsoring Club Name: Richmond West
Central Optimist Club
Location: Mechanicsville, Virginia
Target: Children with diabetes
Purpose of Project: To provide children
with diabetes a place to interact with one
another.
Project: The Club holds fundraisers to
donate money and supplies to Camp
Jordan and provide scholarships for
children who do not have the financial
means to attend the camp. The Club
Members also assist the camp
representatives with opening day check-in
and camp games and activities.
Results: For more than 35 years, the
Richmond West Central Optimist Club
has contributed to maintaining the
quality of service and education for the
campers at Camp Jordan. Their
contributions are now approaching the
$1,000,000 mark!

8. SPECIFIC PROJECT PROFILE
COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT
Project Name: L'art sur casiers
(Works of Art on Lockers)
Sponsoring Club Name: Club
Optimiste de Lorraine
Location: Quebec, Canada
Target: Elementary school children
Purpose of Project: To help beautify a
school while educating children.
Project: Optimist Members talked to
the school principal and decided to
give the school a slight makeover by
using the students’ lockers as
canvases. Optimist Members provided
materials and worked with each class,
assigning different environmental
issues to portray on the lockers.
Results: 343 students from the
elementary school participated in
painting the lockers, and 600
people attended the unveiling
ceremony. Commemorative
plaques with all the participants’
names were given and displayed
in the school.

9. ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
ASSOCIATEDWITHOPTIMIST
CLUBS
• OI Foundation Pass-Through
– Canadian Clubs have the ability to pass funds raised through
the Foundation so that they can issue tax receipts for
donations.
• Liability Insurance
– Each Optimist Club is covered under an 11 million dollar
umbrella liability insurance policy; therefore, members of
your Club are covered in the unlikely event of litigations
while you are conducting community service projects and
sponsored activities.
– This policy covers all active Optimist Members as well as
their spouses at Optimist activities.

10. THE OPTIMIST CREED
Promise Yourself-
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism
come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect
only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are
about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater
achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living
creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have
no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

11. STILL INTERESTED?…HOWCAN
YOU HELPUS GET STARTED!
• We will need a minimum of 15 Charter Members in order
to establish an Optimist Club in our community.
• Application Form – Join Us
• Bring in a Friend to our next information night … when ??
• We would like to charter a new club by Nov 19th
, 2009..

12. TIPS FORGETTING STARTED
• 1. Needs Assessment
– Identify a purpose and focus for establishing an
Optimist Club.
– Start by researching the Internet or talking to other
members of the community and identify youth-related
opportunities.
– Determine what your Optimist Club can do to help
meet these community needs.
• 2. Recruitment
– Develop a “hit list” of key people you think would make
great Optimists.
– Approach these people and talk to them about who we
are and what we do. Be ready to answer the question
“What is an Optimist Club?”

13. TIPS FORGETTING STARTED
• 3. Meetings
– Once you have a handful of people interested, invite
them to attend a meeting.
• These meetings should be informational but fun!
• Set a constant location, date, and time. Routine is good!
• Have an agenda prepared and always set goals for the
next meeting.
• 4. Advertise, Advertise, Advertise!
– Talk to your local newspaper and see if they will
feature your Club in an article, or advertise your
meeting in the newspaper’s calendar of events.
– Prepare a Press Release.
– Hang up flyers, hand out brochures, etc…

14. THANKS FORYOURTIME!
• PLEASE CONTACT OI STAFF AND MEMBERS FOR
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS REGARDING STARTING AN
OPTIMIST CLUB IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
• YOU CAN ALSO REQUEST THE FOLLOWING
MATERIAL THROUGH THE OI NEW CLUB BUILDING
DEPARTMENT:
– BROCHURES/MEMBER APPLICATIONS
– PRESS RELEASES
– FLYER TEMPLATES
– COLLEGE CLUB POSTCARDS
– PROJECT PROFILES
800.500.8130
www.optimist.org