November 2020
What does it mean to be resilient?

The first line of the Optimist Creed tells us to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. The last line tells us to be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
The Optimist Creed begins and ends with resilience: the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; the ability to have faith in oneself; and the hope to keep progressing forward.
We are resilient because we are optimists. Because we are optimists, we are resilient. Any way you look at it, resilience and optimism go hand-in-hand and that is why we are looking to our Optimist Club and District leaders to help us emerge from the doldrums of the pandemic into a positive reality for our now normal. We ask you to choose optimism and thrive.
  • ORATORICAL CONTEST "Healing the World with Optimism"

  • ESSAY CONTEST “Reaching your Dreams by Choosing Optimism”

  • COMMUNICATION CONTEST FOR THE DEAF & HARD OF HEARING "Healing the World with Optimism"

  • KIDS SPEAK OUT! SPEECH CONTEST
It’s not too early to get ready for Atlanta

Did you love Virtual Convention? Do you miss your Optimist friends? Join us in Atlanta for the 103rd Optimist International Convention, June 30-July 3, 2021. Registration will open in October, however, get a head start by reserving your hotel room now. The group code is G-OPTI.
Volunteers needed!
  • Contact Dale Hoffert, dhoffert516@gmail.com to sign up as a volunteer to help hand out registration packets at the advance registration desk.
  • Contact Derick Newton derickandchell@gmail.com to sign up as a volunteer chaperone to help with youth activities designed to keep the children busy while their parents/grandparents attend the adult convention (not JOI attendees).
  • Contact convention@optimsit.org to sign up as a volunteer sergeant-at-arms, setup, or other duties as assigned.
Junior Optimist International November Notes

The Torch is published quarterly in Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer by Junior Optimist International.
Please email junioroptimist@optimist.org if your Club has participated in any projects as we would like to share in the next issue of The Torch

Thank you for all that you do!
2020-2021 Junior Optimist International Board of Directors 
CLUB OF THE YEAR SUBMISSION
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Each year Optimist International recognizes one Club as the Most Outstanding Club in the Organization as the “Club of the Year”. The award is based on service projects, community efforts, member development, increased volunteer member base and new and innovative ideas. Points in each category are awarded by independent judges and any Club is welcome to submit for this prestigious award regardless of number of members or region.

The Club named Overall Club of the Year will receive one round-trip airline ticket to the Optimist Convention, a banner patch, an award and a special article in “The Optimist” magazine and on the Optimist website. All submissions for Club of the Year are due December 31, 2020.
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November Webinar Updates:

November 16, 2020 | Planning Online Events

Virtual races, Zoom escape Rooms, Virtual game nights, etc. Learn how to plan free and paid virtual community events. 

Register Here:
Join the Club Fitness Challenge by Choosing Optimism

The Club Fitness Committee is calling on Optimists to take the Club Fitness Challenge! While Club Fitness Advisors are busy crunching the numbers to make sure we have healthy Clubs, we are also providing tools to help all our Clubs succeed. Our goal for this year is to bring fun and excitement to all Optimist meetings!
Will you commit to bringing out the FUN in Optimism? Your Club Fitness team will be rocking these sweet pink sunglasses all year, so you can find us if you want to learn more about making Optimism fun. But we know that lots of Optimists have great ideas to share. So if you want to take the Club Fitness Challenge at your Club or District meetings, throw on your own shades and join us as an ambassador of fun!
The Optimist Coffee Café is open for business

Join Optimists from around the world to chat about anything and everything as they Choose Optimism every day. The schedule can be found at Optimist.Cafe. Just find a session you would like to join and click on the link to register. While you are there, check out some of the Optimist Tech Talks scheduled and learn about some technologies that may be used in Club Business! See you at the Optimist Coffee Café!
Optimist Marketing Corner
With the start of the new year and new logos, now is a great time to review the Optimist International Branding Guidelines.

District & Club Identity:
 
2) Scroll down under the "Club Identity" list and click "Club Identities for District __”.
 
3) A list will pop down. Scroll down until you locate your Club -- #_____. 
 
4) You have the option(s) of downloading the EPS, JPG and PNG files.

For any further assistance please email us at: Graphics@optimist.org
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OIF Newsletter is out!
Covid-19 and Fundraising activities

The impact Covid-19 is having on the Foundations, in large part due to the cancellation of physical District meetings could be worrisome at this time, not knowing how long this will last!
 
Districts zoom meetings across the nation are now taking place and traditionally way to raise a good share of funds are been done virtually. 

Also the fact is, as we are doing more meetings by zoom, there are really no cost for attending and maybe instead of our usual fundraisers at Zone/Board Meetings/Conventions we could get donations from the attendees or others in lieu of this.

The AMSNW district and its DFR Vince Parker have innovative and initiated a virtual fundraising challenge…
Membership Incentive Reminders & Notices

Please note the $30 under 30, First Responders, and Teachers incentives will all be ending on Dec 31st. 2020.
Global Spotlight for Nov 2020
What are our international Clubs doing to make a difference in their community and what new Cubs have formed? Click below to find out more.
Official Optimist International Suppliers

United States and the Caribbean:
Shumsky
Canada:
Ansell's Awards and Specialties

Members outside of the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean may order from either vendor.
Contact the International Board of Directors 

If you have comments, concerns or suggestions for the International Board of Directors, please send to board@optimist.org