New Recruitment Incentive

Optimist International is excited to announce a new Sponsor Pin incentive.  Starting October 1, Members will receive pins when they sponsor their 1st, 5th, 15th, 20th, and 35th Members.  

This incentive was established by the 2013-2014 International Membership Committee to reward those Members who are helping the organization grow and reach more children in our communities. Each Member should be proud of how many people they have brought into our organization and encourage everyone else to continue to promote Member recruitment.

Please note this incentive is cumulative and permanent.  It will not be retroactive before this year.  Please contact the Membership Department at (800) 500-8130 ext. 227 or email membership@optimist.org with any questions. 

Originally published in "Hotline" the "Optimist International Leadership Publication, October 2014

Have you heard the latest ... Coffee Recruitment

Have you heard about the latest idea in recruiting new members for your club?

It's as simple as a cup of coffee ... literally.  That's what it involves; just inviting a friend or a neighbor for a cup of coffee, or tea, or milkshake (whatever strikes your fancy).

• Invite - Extend an invitation to "coffee" and be ready to pick up the tab.
• Enjoy a coffee and Listen - Begin to build a relationship by taking the time to ask questions.  Share stories about your club and how they can have an impact with community service projects to help kids.
• Engage - let your guest know about an upcoming project and invite them to participate.

Once your guest meets your fellow club members running an activity ... you'll often hear a question about how to become more involved.  Download the Coffee Recruitement Program brochure to get more ideas.

Blackfalds Optimist Club Signs 20 FOOs

Because Edie McInnes, John McCrimmon and Heather Osborne of the Blackfalds Optimist Club in Alberta, Canada chose to be "in the arena," they made it happen and made twenty new Friends along the way. 

Population: 6,000

When Edie McInnes heard about the success of the Greenfield, Iowa Optimist Club's efforts to take-on Optimist International President Danny Rodgers's challenge to recruit twenty Friends of Optimists between July 1st and September 30th in their town of 2,000 people, she felt compelled to make it happen in her town of 6,000.

Edie had self-doubt, but that self-doubt turned into inspiration. She thought, "well, I can probably get quite a few, and I could get a few of our Members to help out." The Blackfalds Optimist Club had a party on Edie's deck.  "We just started brainstorming," says Edie. Within days they talked to the President of the Chamber of Commerce. Within hours an email was distributed to Chamber Members. Within minutes Edie recieved a direct response from Denise Nielsen. That same day, Edie faxed Denise the Friend of Optimists application and Denise joined. 

Remove the pressure, and it makes it easier for Optimists to ask and for the potential Friend to say, "yes."

Heather's story

Heather Osborne is a longtime Member of the Blackfalds Optimist Club. She says, "I've overcome a lot of small issues within me by being an Optimist Member. So this is just another little challenge along the way." With the tenacity "To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best," there's no doubt why new Friend Denise Nielsen says, "If these guys need anymore help, get a hold of me."

Twenty Friends in Two Weeks -- IT CAN BE DONE

Optimist John McCrimmon says, "I know I had my Chiropractor appointment this morning, and I was talking to the ladies in the office about it." Chiropractor, Doctor, Dentist, Superintendent, Teacher, Firefighter, Mom, Dad, Neighbor, Brother-in-Law, Sister-in-Law and Friends...all of these people can be part of your  Twenty Friends.


Learn more about Regular Membership and Friends of Optimists.

Originally provided by Kai Gansner from Optimist International

21 Top Optimist Questions (Part 2)

Our first article on common Optimist member questions provided answers and links to online resources. Here are another 7 common questions:

8. Where are the District Meetings for the coming year?
9. What are Optimist Youth Programs and where can I find more information?
10. I need to provide information to prospective new members. Do you have something on what Optimists clubs do?
11. I have a club project that I want to advertise online as soon as possible. Can you help me?
12. I have been asked to build a club website but I don't know how to start. Do you have some information?
13. I am new and keep hearing all these acronyms. What is NCB, CPA, PGI, NOW, OI, OIF and CCOF?
14. Where can I get a copy of the Optimist Creed and Mission?

8. Where are the District Meetings for the coming year?

The schedule for District meetings can be found on the District Meetings page. We also publicly announce each meeting about 6-8 weeks prior on our "OptiNews" blog, and the information for the upcoming meeting is always located in the right hand column on each "OptiNews" blog page.

9. What are Optimist Youth Programs and where can I find more information?

Optimist International sponsors many international youth programs that clubs can choose to participate in. Those programs include internet safety education, education scholarship competitions, fighting childhood cancer, youth sports competitions like golf and curling, youth safety and youth appreciation. You can check out details on any of the available programs on the District Youth Programs page.

10. I need to provide information to prospective new members. Do you have something on what Optimists clubs do?

We certainly do. Here is a brief introduction on What Optimists Clubs Do that you can provide to prospective new members.

Your club should also have a supply of membership application brochures that contain information on youth programs, and you can always suggest to your club that they create their own brochure to hand out to prospective new members.

11. I have a club project that I want to advertise online as soon as possible. Can you help me?

The quickest way to get information online is to post it to your club website or blog. We also invite you to (1) post the information about the activity on the District Facebook Page. You will need a Facebook account and you must "Like" the District Facebook page to post information. (2) You can email the information including any graphic files, brochures, invitations or registration forms (all in PDF format) to optinews@gmail.com and we will post the information on the District Blog.

12. I have been asked to build a club website but I don't know how to start. Do you have some information?

We have just created a new educational blog called "Put Your Club Online" that will contain information on how to build a Facebook page, a club website/blog, a Twitter feed account, and club portal "just for members". Articles and "How-to" PDF guides will be made available in the near future.

13. I am new and keep hearing all these acronyms. What is NCB, CPA, PGI, NOW, JOOI, OI, OIF, CCOF, DFR and CFR?

I guess that all orgainizations have their own glossary of special terms. Here is what those acroynms mean:

• NCB - New Club Building
• CPA - Community Project Award
• PGI - Personal Growth & Involvement
• NOW - New Optimists Wanted
• JOOI - Junior Optimists & Octagon International
• OI - Optimist International
• OIF - Optimist International Foundation
• CCOF - Canadian Children's Optimist Foundation
• DFR - District Foundation Representative
• CFR - Club Foundation Representative

14. Where can I get a copy of the Optimist Creed and Mission?

Our Optimist Creed has a copy of the Optimist Creed, the Optimist Mission, and the Optimist Purpose. You can orders copies of the optimist Creed on business cards from Optimist Supplies.

Other Questions:

• The First Set of Common Optimist Questions
• The Third Set of Common Optimist Questions (coming soon)

Comments or suggestions:
Do you have a common question that you need answered or additional suggestions for the questions we listed above? We invite you to share your contribution.

"Twenty Friends" Awards - District Challenge

Here’s a new initiative that clubs should be reminded about.

It’s an opportunity to bring funding into your club, which you can dedicate to additional programs or additional members. $40 of every $100 Friend of Optimist membership is sent directly to the club.

I’ve heard of one club in North Carolina which purchases a $17 engraved plaque to present to businesses who become Friends of Optimists, and the club still receives a net $23 return.

Can we challenge our clubs from now till September?

Download the full contest details.

Originally provided by Governor Tim Bell

A Friendly Incentive for Your Club

Fellow Optimists,

Optimist International is excited to announce a new incentive that helps Clubs stay healthy and help more kids in their community!

From January 1 - June 30, Clubs will be rewarded for making new Friends - Friends of Optimists that is.

Clubs that add 3 Friends during the second and third Optimist quarter will receive 3 rewards!

• The addition of a new traditional Member at no processing charge.
• Waived dues for that Member until September 30, 2012. 
• A special Club banner patch.

 We want to see your Club succeed!  Go to www.Optimist.org/FindSomeFriends for helpful Friends recruiting tips!

Good luck!

P.S. Keep an eye out for a Friends application in the next issue of The Optimist. 

Governor Tim's Optimist Address

AMSNW Governor (Tim Bell) Welcome Address at Prince's Island Park in Calgary on the second day of his year as District Governor.

Notes for Club Membership Chairs

Less than two months left to take advantage of "Free for Four" membership drive.  Read about "Tribes" words of wisdom from Seth Grodin and other delightful news for club membership chairs.

Originally submitted by Opt Ruth Nelson (Past Gov District 37), OI Membership Committee

FOO Challenge

Fellow Optimists. Your Governor and you have been challenged! The Governors of the other Districts in our Great Plains region have dared to say they can find more new FOO members than we can before August 31. Even though we are leaders in FOO members they think they can trounce us. Obviously they don’t know how the AMS&NW District reacts to a challenge. Let’s show them who we are.


Darryl Sim
Governor
AMS&NW District 13

More Information:

Friend of Optimists (FOO)

Individuals can show their support of Optimist International by becoming Friends of Optimists. A Friend of Optimists may be someone who does not have an Optimist Club in their area, or they may not have time to dedicate to a local Optimist Club. Optimist Clubs can also bestow a Friend of Optimists membership on a community member who has shown great support for the Club. To learn more, check out the Friend of Optimists Brochure and read the Frequently Asked Questions. To apply for membership online, click here.

Now it's Time to Grow

Club Presidents and Fellow Optimists

Thank you for your commitment this year to improve what we do, how we do it and when we do it, for the betterment of our clubs, both now and for the long term. You are doing a great job! See how well you have done when you look at our District Goals. You care about the kids we serve and you care about your fellow Optimists.

So now we are ready to take the next step---growth. Together we will add new clubs, new members, new FOOs, new JOOI clubs! The third attachment has our incentives to get all of us together to do this and have fun too. International President Mark's new plus 4 incentive plan is a great addition to our tools for success. Here is a brochure to send to members and an FAQ that explains the free membership dues opportunity.

Our District growth Incentives. Make sure you add a new member or FOO member for each quarter. Catch up if you are behind. Make that commitment now and especially when you consider the power of all of you doing that this year. I pledge to do the same.

We will be net plus 125 members, form 4 new clubs, and add 50 new FOOs by July 7, 2010!

Thank you,

Darryl Sim

Governor - AMS&NW District