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 [email protected]. 

 

This is just one of the nearly daily inquiries that arrive at Optimist International via www.optimist.org asking about starting an Optimist club overseas. This initiative began when President Dave Bruns remarked that international expansion is part of the mission of Optimist International and it also rings true to the name of the organization. "If we are truly to be an international organization, it is important that we actively promote the building of Optimist Clubs throughout the world. Undoubtedly, there are people in every country who share our passion for making the world a better place by helping children," said President Bruns.

 

There are now efforts in several countries outside the United States, Canada and the Caribbean to establish an Optimist presence. Director of Strategic Growth Jim Boyd is currently working with contacts in Great Britain, India, Egypt, the Philippines, Cameroon, Senegal and Australia. These countries are following successes earlier this year in Thailand and Morocco. The Thailand Club was formed out of a contact made at the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships where the Thailand Junior Golf Governance Association sends a team to play every year. The Club Optimiste-Morocco is a result of an idea from the vice president of a company in Morocco looking to apply the Optimist philosophy to some of his corporation's existing programs. If you have contacts in a country overseas that would embrace the Optimist philosophy, please contact Director Boyd at  [email protected].

Sponsors Clubs Sought for Expansion Initiative

The success of any effort to develop new Optimists clubs, whether in the United States, the Caribbean, or overseas hinges -- at least in part -- on sponsor Clubs. While the International Office can provide a great deal of guidance, it is extremely important for existing Optimist Clubs to develop relationships with new Clubs. They will be mentors for the new Clubs in order to ensure that these new Optimists experience success during their first months and years as Members. The International offices in St. Louis and Montreal are seeking existing Clubs willing to become sponsors of these new Clubs overseas. If your Club is interested in the idea of overseas mentorship, contact [email protected].

Spotlight on Our International Clubs

One of the driving forces behind this newsletter is to focus on the great work being done by Optimist Clubs overseas.  Therefore, a recently completed project by an overseas Club will be featured each month.

For this issue, we visit the Optimist Club of Georgetown, Grand Cayman. President Sandra Rowe submitted a project her Club completed in cooperation with a local group, the Early Childhood Association of the Cayman Islands.  The Early Childhood Association of the Cayman Islands hosted its ninth Pajama Party at Camana Bay in celebration of the Week of the Young Child on April 6, 2016.

 

The evening was marked by a number of exciting and kid friendly activities such as bedtime stories, musicians, a magic show, children's Zumba, face painting, crafts, nutritious snacks and fresh juices.