New Club Building

WOW, this should be a great incentive to start that New Club Building that your Club has been contemplating. Remember that you can be a Distinguished President or an Outstanding Lt.-Gov. by being active in building that new Club. The rules for the incentive are: New Club Building Incentive • The Sponsor Club that builds a new club in the 3rd Quarter (April 1 to June 30), shall receive a dues credit for their club (the Sponsor Club) for $150.* • If the new club is built at 25 members, or reaches 25 members within 30 days of chartering, the Sponsor Club will receive an additional $250 dues credit.* • Total dues credit for building a 25-member (or greater) club is $400. *Credit will be issued once the follow-up program has been submitted. *Friends of Optimists (FOOs) may not be included in the original charter group, but may be added once the new Club has been chartered to achieve 25 members (or more). Need help to get started, Call me or Governor Nick and we will find someone close to you who can assist. Need to get started now to make the June 30th deadline. Lets do it NOW and "Bring out the Best in Kids" in that new community. YIO Glen Kreller, District NCB Chairman

Clubs ... Sponsor a Local Youth to the District Oratorical Contest

Has your club started preparations for running a local Oratorical Contest?  Why not?

Please consider running a club competition and sponsoring a winner to compete in the Zone, Regional and District Speak-offs.

Topic:  "Why My Voice is Important"

Who: Students  under the age of 19 who have not yet graduated from high school or the equivalent and who are educated in the United States, Canada or the Caribbean.

When:  Speak-Off Contests Competitors will participate in a series of "Speak-off Contests" with the finalists moving forward to participate in the next highest level speak-off. These speak-off contests are scheduled so that the finalists will compete in a District Speak-Off:

• Club Speak-off: This is the entry level contest were one or several clubs will conduct a community-level speak-off contest to select one male and female finalist per club to compete at a Zone speak-off.
• Zone Speak-off: The club finalists will compete in a multi-community competition to select a male and female finalist to move forward to compete in a Regional speak-off.
• Regional Speak-off: The zone finalists will compete in a province or state level competition to select a male and female finalist to move forward to compete in the District speak-off.
• District Speak-off: The District Speak-off between the Regional finalists will be held in Calgary, Alberta during the 3rd Quarter District Conference in Billings, MT during the 17-18 May 2013 weekend.

How:  Contact Shirley Green (the District Oratorical Competition Chair) for more details.  Clubs can find all of the details, instructions, forms and planning guides on the Optimist International Oratorical Contest webpage.

2012-13 3rd Quarter District Conference Invitation

You are invited to the 3rd Quarter District Conference scheduled for May 17-18, 2013 in Billings, Montana. Enjoy the hospitality of the Billings Optimist Clubs and take the opportunity to meet with the District Team led by our Governor, Nick Markowsky.

Early Registration Deadline: May 3, 2013

Hotel: Billings Hotel & Convention Center, 1223 Mullowney Lane., Billings, Montana, U.S. Call (406) 248-7151 or 1-800-537-7286 for reservations.

Both a "Kids" and a "Companions" Program will be available so you can bring the entire family. The theme is "May Fest" Like Oktoberfest but the weather is so much nicer. Friday night games of skill and chance with a Bavarian twist. Prizes galore! Special prizes for Best Dressed Bavarian.

Early arrival bonuses:  Thursday golf outings available. Thursday night soirée hosted by Past Outstanding and Distinguished Governor Doug Kirby. Check the Registration Form for details.

Just complete a Registration Form and book your room before they are all reserved!

Originally submitted by Optimists Debbie & Jay Strever, Combined  Optimist Clubs of Billings

Not too late to attend the Great Plains Regional Conference

Dear Optimist Member,
It's not too late to register for the Great Plains Regional Conference!* The conference will take place March 22-23 in Rapid City, South Dakota.
For more information and registration options Click Here.

Here are a few of the many reasons to attend:

• Valuable training to help you grow as an Optimist member.
• Meet and share ideas with other Optimists from the Great Plains Region.
• Meet and Greet Optimist International President J.C. St-Onge and his wife Marcelle.
• Kick back and enjoy dinner and entertainment at Friday's Social Night!

We hope to see you there!
*Online Registration deadline is March 17.

Agenda
Attractions
Fun Facts Flier