Introducing the District Youth Programs Team

The District Youth Programs Team is responsible for running the District Scholarship Contests, and supporting clubs with running other OI sanctioned youth programs. We are pleased to introduce the District Youth Programs Team for 2010-11:

Childhood Cancer Campaign Chair: Rod McKendrick (Regina Downtowners)

Rod McKendrick

CCC Chair

Res: (306) 464-2229

Rod is returning to the District Team as the CCC Chair. In addition to serving a Club President and Zone Lieutenant Governor, he served as District Governor in 2005-06. Rod has served as Membership, International Ambassador and Candidate Qualifications Chairs in previous years. Rod has a strong passion for Childhood Cancer Campaign looks forward to engaging club leadership to become familiar with the communities’ programs already in existence for childhood cancer, and seek out ways to enhance those programs through Club involvement.

My primary role is to promote the Club/Zone participation in a childhood cancer program. I urge Club leadership to seek out opportunities to serve children with cancer and their families. We have a lot of valuable resources available to you to help with your active participation in the Optimist International Childhood Cancer Campaign.

  Find out more about the Childhood Cancer Campaign

CCDHH Contest Chair: Wyn McAra (Edmonton Dinner)

Wyn McAra

CCDHH Contest Chair

Res: (780) 479-0223

Wyn is returning to the District Team for a second consecutive year as the CCDHH Contest Chair. She has been very active with running the club and Zone Oratorical and CCDHH competitions in the Edmonton area for many years. Wyn is passionate about the power of public speaking and how it helps to give youth the courage to overcome personal obstacles. invites you to become active with engaging local Schools for the Deaf to run local CCDHH contests so that a sizeable field of competitors can participate in the District competition.

It is important for club leadership to conduct a local CCDHH contest, or otherwise sponsor a youth from one of the schools supporting deaf and hard of hearing students into a District Contest if the number of participants are limited at the local level.

My primary role is to promote Club participation in the Communications Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and to conduct a District Competition. I invite you to become active with engaging local Schools for the Deaf to run local CCDHH contests so that a sizeable field of competitors can participate in the District competition.

We have a lot of valuable resources available to you to help with your active participation in the Optimist International Club and District CCDHH Competition.

  Find out more about the Communication Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Essay Contest Chair: Wendy Skoretz (Lloydminster Border City)

Wendy Skoretz

Essay Contest Chair

Res: (780) 875-3860

Wendy has been a member of the Lloydminster Border City Optimist Club since it chartered April 29, 1995. She has served on many committees and as Club President in 2005-2006. In 2004-2005 she served on the District Team as the
Oratorical / CCDHH Contest Chair. Wendy has been married to David since 1991. Her and David have a blended household that consists of 5 children and 3 grandchildren. Wendy volunteers on a variety of activities that the younger children participate in. She has been a Administrative Secretary for 25 years.

My primary role is to promote Club participation in the Essay Writing Contest and to conduct a District Competition. I invite you to become active with engaging local Schools for the Essay contests so that a sizeable field of competitors can participate in the District competition.

We have a lot of valuable resources available to you to help with your active participation in the Optimist International Club and District Essay Competition.

  Find out more about the District Essay Contest

Oratorical Contest Chair: Peggy Salsbury (Magic City)

Peggy Salsbury

Oratorical

Contest Chair

Res: (406) 652-6195

Peggy is returning to the District Team after serving as Zone Lieutenant Governor last year. Peggy is looking forward to hosting a very active Oratorical contest at the 3rd Quarter District Conference in Billings in May 2011. Please contact Peggy for information on how to setup and run local Oratorical contests to locate competitive young speakers for the District contest.

My primary role is to plan, promote and conduct the annual District Oratorical Contest Finals at the Third Quarter Conference. I invite you to become active with engaging local Schools for the Oratorical contests so that a sizeable field of competitors can participate in the District competition.

We have a lot of valuable resources available to you to help with your active participation in the Optimist International Club and District Essay Competition.

  Find out more about the District Oratorical Contest

Junior Golf Chair: Mike DeNicola (Calgary)

Mike DeNicola

Jr. Golf Chair

Res: (403) 208-7039

Mike is returning for a second year as the District Junior Golf Chair and plans on an even more successful District competition in early August, 2011. Mike is a long serving member of the Calgary Optimist Club since 2000 and was recently awarded a 'Life Membership' from his club. Mike has served as an Honor President (2001-02 and 2002-03) and he helped build the Calgary Traditional Optimist Club in 2005. Mike is passionate about Junior Golf and is active with promoting Juvenile Curling throughout Alberta.

What is the primary reason you continue to serve as an Optimist?  "I continue serving as an Optimist because there are several Optimist projects that I feel very strongly about and I want to help them succeed."

Mike served as a Distinguished LG for Zone 6 in 2005-2006. He served as District Essay Chair and District Oratorical Chair 2007-2008.

What do you enjoy most about being an Optimist?  "I really enjoy the positive feedback I get from the community when I'm assisting on a project."

My primary role is to plan, promote and conduct the District Junior Golf Tournament, and to increase participation in local and International OIJGC. "As Chair of the Junior Golf Program this year, I want to increase the number of local qualifying Junior Golf tournaments in the District and increase the number of participants". Mike invites you to attend the Junior Golf workshops at a Quarterly District Conference nearest to you.

  Find out more about the District Junior Golf Contest

Juvenile Curling Chair: Reg Lakness (Govan)

Reg Lakness

Juvenile

Curling Chair

Res: (306) 484-4352

Reg is returning for a second year as the District Juvenile Curling Chair and plans on an supporting the Under-18 OI Juvenile Curling Competition this year. Please contact Reg for information on how to support Juvenile Curling in your local community and the Province or State Competitions.

The Optimist International Juvenile Curling Competition started as a partnership between Alberta Optimists clubs and the Alberta Curling Association to form a curling competition for under-18 youth curlers. The first competition was held in Calgary in 2001, and it has grown into an international competition that features boys and girls teams from Canada, the United States and Japan. The Optimist International Youth Programs Committee officially sanctioned Juvenile Curling as an Optimist International Program in late 2009.

My primary role is to promote the Juvenile Curling Competitions and encourage Optimist Clubs throughout the District to participate and assist with local U18 youth curling competitions.

  Find out more about the OI Juvenile Curling Program

Internet Safety Chair: Ted Huber (Bozeman Breakfast)

Ted Huber

Internet Safety

Chair

Res: (406) 587-3482

Ted is a long serving Optimist with the Bozeman Breakfast Optimist Club. Ted has served as Club President and Zone Lieutenant Governor in 2008-09. He is returning to the District Executive to serve as District Governor-Elect and Internet Safety Program Chair. Ted invites you to explore and deliver internet safety training programs in your local community.

Internet Safety is a relatively new initiative from Optimist International who partnered with ikeepsafe.org to develop an Internet Safety education program which includes training for youth, adults and adult educators. Suitable for introduction in local schools and youth organizations like Boys and Girls Clubs, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, and youth sports teams.

We have a lot of valuable resources available to you to help with your club's active participation in the Optimist International Internet Safety Program. Ted invites you to attend the Internet Safety Program workshop at a Quarterly District Conference nearest to you.

  Find out more about the Internet Safety Program