Watch Notes from Nick!

Notes from Nick are weekly video messages from 2017-18 International President Nick Prillaman. Every Wednesday, a new Notes From Nick will be uploaded to our YouTube channel , social media accounts, and website . 
Join Us in Louisville!

Meet your Optimist friends in Louisville, Kentucky next summer for the Annual Optimist International Convention / Centennial Celebration, Sunday, June 30 – Wednesday, July 3! Registration will be available soon. Visit here to book your hotel. For questions or more information about the annual convention, contact convention@optimist.org .

Centennial "Fast Start" Awards include an opportunity for Districts and Clubs to receive a discounted convention registration. Districts with two new Clubs and +15 Members and Clubs with one new Club and +5 Members by March 31, 2019 can earn $100 registration for EVERY Member!
Junior Optimist International

Visit www.junioroptimist.org and click on the joiNUS button for a step-by-step guide to starting a Junior Optimist Club and recruiting Members! For more information about Junior Optimist International or if you have questions about starting a Junior Optimist Club, contact junioroptimist@optimist.org.
Global Spotlight
The Optimist International Global Spotlight was created to provide another means of communication between Optimist International and the Optimist Club Presidents outside of the United States and Canada. The newsletter is sent monthly. To view the August Global Spotlight, click   here .
2018-19 Scholarship Contests

Optimist International sponsors three scholarship contests for students to earn money to pursue opportunities in higher education: the Communication Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CCDHH), the Essay Contest and the Oratorical Contest. The contests are conducted at the Club level, then Zone and Regional (if necessary) and at the District level. District-level scholarships are funded by the Optimist International Foundations and awarded by Optimist International.

Essay topic for the 2018-19 school year: "When All the World’s Problems are Solved, is Optimism Still Necessary?"

CCDHH/Oratorical topic for the 2018-19 school year: “Is There a Fine Line Between Optimism and Reality?”

For more information, planning guides, and contestant applications, visit www.optimist.org/scholarships
Club Officer-Elect Form

The Club Officer-Elect Reports for 2018-19 officers can still be accepted. The form can be accessed here . If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Charlotte Baker in the Member Services Department at Charlotte.Baker@optimist.org . Canadian forms can be sent to Morenike Fakorede at Morenike.Fakorede@optimist.org . 
Oversees Partnerships
Optimist International is in need of Clubs in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean nations that are willing to be mentors for new Optimist Clubs forming overseas. If your Club would be willing to be listed as a potential mentoring Club, contact the New Club Building Department at newclub@optimist.org . 
Upcoming Webinars

A Goal Without a Plan is Just a Wish
Monday, October 8 at 7PM (CT)
You have thought of a plan and month after month you tell yourself, I need to get this done, but nothing happens and the months slip by. That’s where goal setting comes into play. Whether this is for Optimist use or for personal use, setting goals helps you accomplish more in the time frame that you want to get it done. Success will be yours when your goals are met. Join this Webinar to make your Optimist year successful. To register, click here .

100 Years Stronger: The Centennial Mission
Monday, November 12 at 7PM (CT)
What an exciting time to be a part of our amazing organization! Optimists have been serving their communities and bettering the lives of children for 100 years. Celebrating this milestone is not just a benefit from an international perspective. Join the webinar to learn what celebrating the Centennial means to you as a Member, a Club, and how it will make each of us stronger. To register, click here . 

For questions about webinars, contact the Leadership Development Department at leadership@optimist.org.
Official Optimist International Suppliers

United States and the Caribbean:
Shumsky
Canada:
Ansell's Awards and Specialties
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
Certified Club Builder Training

Upcoming training sessions will be available to create a new group of Certified Club Builders. This group will supplement the existing Certified Club Builders throughout Optimist International. The one-hour Zoom sessions will be Monday, September 25 and Wednesday, September 27 at 7PM (CT). There will be an additional session in early October to discuss various scenarios and overcoming obstacles when working on a project. The sessions will be recorded and later available on www.optimist.org . If you would like to participate or need more information, contact the New Club Building Department at newclub@optimist.org . 
Canadian Children’s Optimist Foundation

Congratulations to the Club Optimiste de Montréal-Mercier, Quebec, which applied to Spread Relief program and earned $3,000 in seed money. They will use it to organize a great benefit show and raise money for their annual chores at Camp Papillon, a summer camp for disabled children. Does your Club have a project idea related to children’s health and wellbeing? Apply through the Canadian Children's Optimist Foundation's Spread Relief program before September 30! Visit our site for more information: ccof-foec.org