15 Member Club Pilot Program Extended

This year a new "Pilot Club" type was introduced in the "New Club Building" program. For the first time sponsor clubs can build a new club with a minimum of 15 new members. To qualify for Distinguished Club recognition, a sponsor club would have to build two Pilot clubs in the same Optimist year. This gave us the flexibility to extend the reach of Optimism to smaller communities who could not support building a 25 member club.

The "Pilot Club" program was approved for a one year period to end September 30, 2009. This program was so successful, that a motion was adopted at the 2009 Optimist International Convention to extend the "Pilot Club" program to September 30, 2012."

The Optimist International office reported that of all the "Pilot Clubs" that were approved, most chartered with 25 members. Approval is required to sponsor the building of a "Pilot Club" in a community. Check out the details about how to sponsor and build a "Pilot Club".

1st Quarter District Conference Invitation

Originally submitted by LG Don Holmstrom and President Karen Holmstrom

You are invited to the 1st Quarter District Conference scheduled for October 22-23, 2009 in St. Albert, Alberta. Enjoy the hospitality of the St. Albert Optimist Clubs and take the opportunity to meet with the District Team led by our Governor, Darryl Sim.

Both a "Kids & Companion Programs" are available so you can bring the entire family. Just complete a Registration Form and book your room before they are all reserved!

The rest of the District meetings for the 2009-10 Optimist year will be held:

• 2nd Quarter District Conference - Calgary, AB - Feb 5-6, 2010
• 3rd Quarter District Conference - Saskatoon, SK - May 14-15, 2010
• Annual Meeting & District Convention - Bozeman, MT - Aug 19-21, 2009

Farewell to Emma Collins

It is with a great deal of sadness that I report to you that Emma Collins passed away this morning.

Emma came into our club through the Saturday Mornings Communications Club, now known as the Brailtone College Club, and worked as a mentor in the project until her health put a halt to it. She worked hard on our Board of Directors and served as President of our club, and helped out with the Oratoricals program when she could.

Emma also was very active in the Toastmaster Organization and belonged to several of those clubs as well and was a Past Governor as well as President of several Toastmaster Clubs. There is an advanced Toastmasters Club named after her at the U of A where she worked before retiring.

Originally submitted by Opt Keivin Wallace, Edmonton Dinner Optimist Club