AMS&NW is on the plus side ... WOW

Hello Everyone:

First of all I would like to “Congratulate” you all for helping to make our district move into the plus side. This is the first time in quite a while that we are at this stage this time of the year. Please give yourselves and all of members your club a hearty pat on the back and keep up with the good work.

We are #5 this week on the leader board and to think that the increase is due solely with Member retention as well as new Members being brought in to all of our clubs. Wait until all of the clubs that we have on the go come in. Wow and double Wow. This district is on the way up. It really is nice to see the upward climb rather than the downward decline. Once again “Congratulations.”

See you all in Billings

Soaring to Greater Heights for Children

Governor AMS&NW District 13

Nick A Markowsky

462-23 Street East

Prince Albert, SK

S6V 1P8

Ph 764-6199

Fax 764-9149

nmarkowsky [at] sasktel.net

Welcome from Governor Nick Markowsky

Good Fellow Optimists:

I would like to welcome you all to “This Great Year for the AMS&NW”. 2012/2013 will be the best year this district has seen in a long time. To do this we must take stock of our clubs and our district. As you all have heard, our district is shrinking.

To reverse this trend we must go out and build New Young Clubs not only this year, but for the next few years. We have a lot of clubs with the majority of members who are sixty plus in age. My quick evaluation is that if we do not start now or do not bother to build New Young Clubs we will lose up to 25% of our clubs in 5 to 10 years, because we as members are having a hard time attracting young people to join “our” Old Clubs. The ones that we do sign up are around our own age group. As a district we are getting older instead of younger.

Now do not get me wrong, Member retention as well as existing club growth is still important. My Club the High Noon Optimists was started as a new “YOUNG” Club, because the young people did not want to belong to an old club. This still exists today whether we like it or not.

So my final words are go get cracking and find New Young Clubs to build. You go out as a club, Clubs, or complete zones to build clubs collectively if that is what it takes. Do not let the OI recognition part hold you back as a collective group. We need Clubs not recognition for our District to grow.

Soaring to Greater Heights for Children

2012-13 Governor
AMS&NW District 13
Nick A Markowsky

Being Number 1

I am so happy to welcome you to the District #13 Group of Optimist International.  Thank you for taking up the challenge of growing the District to new heights in 2011-2012.

The District pin is the number 1, but it represents two messages: 

1. You (or you say to the person you are giving it to) are the number one volunteer for Optimist International.  
2. Bring in one new member.

I look forward to an exciting and rewarding year for our group.

Sincerely Optimistic,

Governor Ted Huber

District Goals to Bring Out the Best in Kids!

Ted Huber
2011-12 Governor

International President Jack Creswell encourages all Optimists to do "100% and then some!"

Whatever we do and how we do it must always result in raising kids to a new level.  We simply cannot give just 50% or 90% as our goal and accept it.  100% and then some must be the operative.

The time has come; 2011-2012 is the time for change.  We must move forward with the groundwork that has been laid from past governors to move forward toward "Spiraling Upward" into the future.

How do we do that?

1. Review, reflect, debate, and embrace the new generation who have the willingness and the energy to facilitate change.
2. We must review our organizations, including how the District does business.  Each Club should set aside time to review their mission statement and the programs that are ongoing, and then ask questions that encourage debate about the future needs of the local community.  Reflect on the great things the Club has accomplished.  We all need to know that what we are doing is indeed making a difference in kid's lives.
3. It is difficult for me to learn a new language, and maybe you as well. But we all must learn to bridge the communication gap between the older members and those just chomping at the bit to propel Optimism and Optimists into the future.
4. Let's all do a media blitz.  Shout about the town, "THIS IS WHAT WE DO"!!  Come join our Optimist group and help us develop new programs, help with existing programs, and you will "Bring Out the Best in Kids."

I get goose bumps just thinking about how we can make a difference. We can "Bring Out the Best in Kids." We can create a "Spiraling Upward"!!


Ted Huber
2011-2012 District Governor
Alberta, Montana, Saskatchewan & Northern Wyoming

Business Winds Down

As we close the business portion of this year's Annual District Convention, we have some important information  to pass along.

Nick Markowsky
Gov-Elect 2012-13

Governor-Elect Chosen.  Congratulations go to Nick Markowsky (Prince Albert High Noon Optimist Club) who was elected by acclamation as our District Governor-Elect for 2012-13.

District Meeting Locations Announced.  The locations for the District meetings for the coming year have been announced:

• 1st Quarter Conference:  Great Falls, MT (Oct 28-29)
• 2nd Quarter Conference:  Havre, MT (tentative - dates TBA)
• 3rd Quarter Conference:  Calgary, AB (dates TBA)
• 2012 District Convention:  Red Deer, AB (dates TBA)

1st Quarter District Meeting.  Past Governor Roger Lesofski (Great Falls, MT) has provided some details for the upcoming 1st Quarter District Conference.

• Meeting dates:  Oct 28-29, 2011
• Location:  Holiday Inn & Conference Center, 400 10th Ave S., Great Falls, MT
• Rooms:  $89.95 USD per night.  Reservations - 1-406-727-7200
• Early Bird Registration Fees:  $90 (member/spouse) and $25 (child)
• Late Registration Fees:    $110 (member/spouse) and $25 (child)
• Registration Form will be made available very soon
• Training workshops schedule will be posted in the near future
• Facebook Event Page:  2011-12 1st Quarter District Conference

Next Year's OI Convention.  President Danny Rodgers announced that the 2012 Annual Optimist International Convention is scheduled for Milwaukee, Wisconsis.  Dates and details will be made available on the www.optimist.org website in the near future.

Bring Out The Best in Kids !

2010-2011 will prove to be an interesting and rewarding year under the leadership of International President Danny Rogers.

"If it's not working, change it!" is a quote taken from Seth Godin’s book titled TRIBES, recommended reading material for all incoming District Governors.

Fellow Optimists, change is coming and this change is necessary to build and strengthen on the successes of our clubs at the community level.

As we pass the baton from Immediate Past Governor Darryl Sim, I look forward to your continuing support to strengthen and grow the AMS&NW District. It will be a challenge, for both me and you. Here's another quote from TRIBES that I would like you to consider, "If you are not uncomfortable in your work as a leader, it's almost certain you’re not reaching your potential as a leader". So I ask you these questions:

• Is your Optimist Club a leader in the community?
• Are your members challenged?
• Are you reaching your potential as an Optimist member?
• Are you content with the status quo?

 

Let me share with you my goals for this Optimist year?

Optimist International looses 20% of its membership on an annual basis, and as a district our average losses are near 21% of our total membership. We cannot continue to benefit our AMS&NW communities if we continue to let our membership decline. I urge you to reach your potential by:

• Increase your yearly number of projects for community service. Become that service club that has social events rather than the opposite.
• Recruit 20% of your membership as new Optimists. Invite those prospective candidates to your new community projects.
• Encourage and promote active participation in personal development and leadership training at the district and club level.
• Enhanced communications at all levels; within the club, within the zone, and in the district.
• Reach your potential as an Optimist and as a Club in your community. Dare to be uncomfortable.
• Overall growth of 25% in district membership, and the building of 5 new clubs.

I am truly honored to become your District Governor, and look forward to this challenging year.

Together, we can succeed - In the Arena! In the Race! In Tune!

Tim Bell
2010-11 AMS&NW District Governor

A Year of Opportunity

It has been a year of challenge and opportunity for all of us in the AMS&NW District.  The economy has continued to place a burden on our ability to maintain our club activities and encourage new members.  However, we have still achieved good growth in both members and the quality and capability of these new members.  Our conferences are more interactive, informative and faster paced.  We are reaching out to clubs more effectively and getting better feedback. And we have had fun throughout the year!

Being your Governor has been an honor and a privilege.   From today up to September 30 as one of my final requests I ask each club to add 2 new members in support of this year's District team.  Club Recognition for 2009-10 ... Thank you.

Darryl Sim
Governor
AMS&NW District

Club Recognition for 2009-10