Optimist International
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Optimist International, commonly called Optimist Clubs, is an international service club organization with 3,200 clubs and over 103,000 members in 200 countries around the world. The international headquarters is located in St. Louis, Missouri.
It was founded in the U.S.A. in 1911 in Buffalo, New York. Membership is set by each club, but is usually open to anyone and attendance at meetings is expected on a monthly or twice-monthly basis. As a religious organization, invocations, with generic prayers, are a regular part of their meetings.[1]
Optimists are a community-based organization with a hierarchy that can take a member from a club to office at zone, district, national and international levels. Each club raises its own funds and chooses its own service projects. Typically, these projects are aimed at children. Sponsoring youth athletic leagues, scholarship essay and speech contests and supporting local schools are examples of typical projects.
Optimist International's motto is "Friend of Youth." Optimist Clubs demonstrate their caring attitude by carrying out the mission/vision of the organization, "By providing hope and positive vision, Optimist Clubs bring out the best in kids."
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[edit] Overview
Meeting the needs of young people in communities worldwide, Optimist Clubs have been "Bringing Out the Best in Kids" since 1911. Optimist Clubs conduct positive service projects aimed at providing a helping hand to youth. Club Members are best known in their communities for their upbeat attitudes. By believing in young people and empowering them to be the best they can, Optimist volunteers continually make this world a better place to live. There are 105,000 individual Members who belong to more than 3,200 autonomous Clubs. Optimists conduct 65,000 service projects each year, serving six million young people. Optimists also spend $78 million on their communities annually.
On October 1, 2006, the first female international president in Optimist history, Ronnie Dunn, took office for the standard one-year term. In October of 2007, Theo Golding of Jamaica became the first person of color to be international president.
[edit] Mission Statement
By providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in kids.
[edit] Vision Statement
Optimist International will be recognized worldwide as the premier volunteer organization that values all children and helps them develop to their full potential.
[edit] The Optimist Creed
Promise Yourself-
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
[edit] Purposes of Optimist International
To develop optimism as a philosophy of life utilizing the tenets of the Optimist Creed; To promote an active interest in good government and civic affairs; To inspire respect for the law; To promote patriotism and work for international accord and friendship among all people; To aid and encourage the development of youth, in the belief that the giving of one’s self in service to others will advance the well-being of humankind, community life and the world.
