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

At the 2nd Quarter District Conference

Isn't this great ... I am sitting at the back of the main conference room enjoying all the presentations and learning more about the Optimist initiatives in our great District.

I was just approached by Governor Darryl with an idea to create an internet-based District-wide JOOI club for the children of our current Optimist members throughout the District. Working with Fred Verzani (JOOI Chair) we will be working out the concept for build that new JOOI club.

Have You Heard About Internet Safety

Statistics show that 99% of all teens have access to the internet and 94% of students admitted to being cyber bullied and did not tell an adult. The importance of protecting the children in your community is a major undertaking and Optimists Clubs can play a vital role.

Optimist International has partnered with the Internet Keep Safe Coalition to address issues of youth safety as children use the Internet and to educate parents on the online dangers to youth. See our Internet Safety page for more details.

Scholarship Competition Topics Announced

Originally submitted by District CCDHH Chair Wyn McAra

The topics for the Optimist International Scholarship competitions have been announced:

Essay

"The Internet: Today's Evolution or Tomorrow's Menace"

Oratorical & CCDHH

"The Internet: Cyber Communication - Progress or Problem?"

Clubs are free to run a club-level competition to select winners to move on to the applicable Zone, Regional and District level competions. Clubs can award monetary awards of up to $500 per winner for each competition.

There are club level planning guides available for each competition:

• Club Program Planning Guide - 2009-10 Essay Competition
• Club Program Planning Guide - 2009-10 Oratorical Competition
• Club Program Planning Guide - 2009-10 CCDHH Competition

Garnering interest in Oratorical competitions has been difficult in recent years so clubs may want to consider approaching elementary schools (grades 5 & 6) to start a "Kids Speak Out" program or club.

All materials for club competitions can be purchased from Corall Group by visiting www.canadianoptimist.com, or by calling toll-free 1-866-739-9555 or by faxing an order to 514-739-7558.