The Optimist International Global Spotlight was created to provide another means of communication between Optimist International and the Optimist Clubs outside of the United States and Canada.  The newsletter will be sent monthly. If you have suggestions for improvements, Club projects, articles for inclusion and/or other information about your Club, contact communications@optimist.org
New International Clubs

Two new Optimist Clubs joined the ranks of those located outside North America and the Caribbean in January. Fifteen people came together in the Jhapa, Nepal to organize a Club. Optimist Clubs in Kathmandu and Pokhara are sponsoring the new Club in Jhapa, which is located near the borders of India and Bangledesh.

"We have been waiting for this moment," said Jhapa President, Khagendra Oli.

"Serving as Charter President provides you with the unique opportunity to develop the foundation and traditions that will sustain and guide your Club for many years to come," said International President, Nick Prillaman, in a message to Mr. Oli. "I hope you are as excited as I am about having you and your fellow Members become part of the Optimist International organization."

Jhapa is the fifth Optimist Club established in Nepal since June 2017.

Meanwhile, the expansion of Optimist International in Uganda continues. The COCLAD Optimist Club of Kagadi organized with 23 Members. Kagadi is found 246 km west of the Ugandan capital of Kampala. It was sponsored in part by the KAMP Optimist Club in Uganda, making COCLAD the second Club sponsored by KAMP this Optimist year. The West Bloomfield Optimist Club in Michigan is the co- sponsor of the new Club

There has been a reorganization of sorts on 
the island nation of Haiti, where Optimist
International has had a presence since 2013. The Club recently added 11 Members to its roster bringing membership to 20. It has formed an executive committee and plans to launch an initiative in the spring to generate more interest and awareness aboutOptimist International in Haiti. A ceremony is scheduled for next month to induct the 11 people into the Optimist family.
100th Annual International Convention

Now is the time for our overseas Clubs to begin preparations in order to attend the 100th Optimist International Convention July 8-10 in Ottawa, Canada. Click here for more information about registration, housing information and the agenda for the three-day event.  It is strongly recommended that if Members from Africa and Asia are looking to travel to Canada this summer, they should begin the process now to obtain a travel visa. Optimist International has had experiences in the past in which Members had registered for the convention and made their housing arrangements only to have to cancel the trip at the last minute because of a denial of the visa request.
Serve People Optimist Club of Lumbini, Nepal


The Spotlight this month is on the Serve People Optimist Club of Lumbini, Nepal. Club Members recently conducted a clothing drive to coincide with the holiday season and distributed the donated goods to children at a nearby school who were in need.

"We have already supported more than 100 children and we have to support more, so we are doing fundraising for this project as well as supporting them," said Club President, Deepak Bhandari.