OPTIVIEWSVOL 39, 1 - OCTOBER | NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2017

“By providing hope and a positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in kids.”

2016 - 2017 OPTIMIST OF THE YEAREach year the Michigan District Optimist has the pleasure of honoring a member with the very special Optimist of the Year Award. Clubs may submit qualified nominations to the District Committee Chair by June and then the winning member will be presented with the award at the annual District Convention in August.

The 2016-2017 Optimist of the Year award was presented to Nicole Ingersoll, a member of the Breakfast Optimist Club of Kalamazoo (BOCK). Nicole has been an Optimist since 1997. She has had perfect attendance for 14 years and achieved Level 5 in the PGI program this year. Nicole supports both her Club and the OI Foundation monetarily. During the 2016-2017 Optimist year, Nicole served as BOCK’s Childhood Cancer Campaign Golf Outing Chairperson and OI Foundation Representative. She was also Zone 6 Lt. Governor and Director of Committees for the Michigan District.

Nicole has been an Honor Club President twice, JOI Club Advisor, and Club Newsletter Editor. In previous years Nicole has served as District Conference and Convention Chair, as well as, OptiViews Editor. She has also provided behind the scenes support to the District that includes setting up the Friday night Hospitality Room at Conferences, assisting the OI Foundation auctions and 50/50 raffle, and creating the quarterly program for Conferences.

Many Optimists have worked with Nicole at both a Club and District level so we know the tireless work she does to support our organization. It would be great to have many other members who stepped up in the same manner to serve.

Congratulations!

From left to right: Richard Russell, Optimist of the Year Chairman, 2016-2017 Optimist of the Year Nicole Ingersoll, Governor Monetta Foster, Optimist International President Designate Nick Prillaman, Jr.

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2016-2017 CORPORATE SPONSOR OF THE YEARThe Bay City Noon Optimist Club nominated the Sunrise Family Credit Union for the 2016-2017 District Corporate Sponsor of the Year Award. At the District Convention in August, it was announced that they won such an achievement. The Sunrise Family Credit Union has been very involved in helping the Bay City Noon Optimists with local fundraising events such as selling Younker coupon books where 100% of the money collected goes directly to the Club to support youth projects. very month the Sunrise Family Credit Union provides 1-4 volunteers to help with the Club’s monthly birthday party at the local rescue mission. The volunteers help to make goody bags, help the children with crafts and then serve them cake and ice cream. The Credit Union has also helped purchase some of the craft items and gift bags. This collaboration is the true meaning of “Together We Can”.

The Sunrise Family Credit Union has even offered meeting space for the Bay City Noon Optimist monthly board meetings. They are involved in many other ways to help the community that reflects what being an Optimist is all about.

As of September 1, 2017

Our Optimist Journey begins with the 2017-2018 Optimist Year and goals toward growth by recognizing, celebrating and honoring our members. I believe we have the opportunity to create optimism in NEW communities and meet hunderds of NEW friends just like us. Serving the youth in our communities and being the TOP District in Optimist International.

Theresa Jarratt2017-2018 Governortjarratt@vpgdesign.com(586) 306-7284

Governor’s Corner

3155Members Clubs

New Club Building NEW Club Member

Friend of Optimist

Sponsor a NEW Member

100% Club Retention

College Club Member

Young Professional Member ClubClub Within A Club Member

30 Under 30 Member

STARTING THE 2017-2018 YEAR OPTIMIST STRONG AT THE FIRST QUARTER CONFERENCE!We hope you plan on spending time with Michigan District Optimists on October 20-21, 2017 in Clinton Township at the ConCorde Inn. We’re rolling out the new year and it’s going to be Optimist Strong! Our special guest will be Optimist International Board of Director, Mark Weinsoff. He’s traveling all the way from California so let’s be sure to give him a warm Michigan welcome.

We’ll be focusing on gain and growth within the Optimist organization that includes Club within a Club, NOW events, and retention. We will also have breakout sessions and/or round table discussions on topics such as: “How to Craft Your Optimist Elevator Speech”, “Bringing Fun to Your Meeting”, “How to be a Good Mentor/Sponsor”, “Working with PGI (Personal Growth and Involvement) and PDP (Professional Development Program)”. Note: topics subject to change.

Spouses and guests will have the opportunity to tour the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House and Estate on Saturday. Lunch will follow the event.

We hope to see all of you there. And this is a perfect time to get your new club members involved. Please be sure to fill out the registration form and return with payment by October 15, 2017

District Leadership2017-2018 Leadership TeamGovernor – Theresa JarrattSecretary-Treasurer – Debra BerryPast Governor – Monetta FosterGovernor-Elect – Ted DottsRegion I

Asst. Gov. Charles SnyderZone 1 – Lt. Gov. Brenda BatesZone 2 – Lt. Gov. Steve SucherZone 3 – Lt. Gov. Ron Platt Zone 5 – Lt. Gov. Denise SaboZone 7 –To Be Determined

Region II Asst. Gov. Linda IngersollZone 4 – Lt. Gov. Evelyn AveryZone 6 – Lt. Gov. Catherine BalikZone 9 – Lt. Gov. Jeffrey DenningsZone 10 – Lt. Gov. William HamptonZone 11 – Lt. Gov. Robin BroseZone 12 – Lt. Gov. Roxanne Fitzpatrick

Region III Asst. Gov. Doris ModrakZone 13 – Lt. Gov. Bill JohnsonZone 14 – Lt. Gov. Sheryl PryorZone 15 – Lt. Gov. Gerri BrownZone 16 – Lt. Gov. Maureen MooreZone 17 – Lt. Gov. James HoustonZone 18 – Lt. Gov. Patricia DewberryZone 19 – Lt. Gov. Brenda Meeks

Zone Re-alignmentThe following clubs have been realigned to new zones:

Zone 317030 – Bay City 17362 – Gratiot County 17528 – Midland 17287 – Mt. Pleasant 17350 – Saginaw

Zone 717090 – Charlotte 17240 – Lansing 17267 – BFT – Mason

Zone 1417066 – Detroit – Northwest17122 – Detroit – Metro Riverfront 17447 – Detroit – Western Int’l 17523 – WSU Warriors – Detroit 17551 - Civic – Detroit 17552 - Yesterday – Today Tri-County 17553 - Educators – Detroit

Zone 1817001 – 21st Century – Detroit 17508 – Hartford Community 17542 – Veteran’s – Detroit17545 – Michigan Int’l Ent’s Detroit 17550 - Marketplace – Southfield

District Calendar1st Quarter District Conference

October 20-21, 2017 ConCorde Inn Clinton Township, MI 48036

2nd Quarter District ConferencesREGION IFebruary 3, 2018 MacMullen Center Roscommon, MI 48653REGION 3February 10, 2018 Assumption Center St. Clair Shores, MI 48080REGION 2February 17, 2018 The Groves Center Kalamazoo, MI 49009

3rd Quarter District ConferenceMay 4-5, 2018 Kellogg Center East Lansing, MI 48825

100th Optimist International Convention

July 8-10, 2018 Ottawa, Ontario, CA

4th Quarter District ConventionAugust 24-26, 2018 Soaring Eagle Resort Mount Pleasant, MI 48858

“Where are My Roots of Optimism?”

Childhood Cancer Campaign

“Can Society Function Without Respect?

Youth Appreciation

Respect for Law

REGION I Charles Snyder

REGION II Linda Ingersoll

REGION III Doris Modrak

Growing the District one member, one club at a time!

NOW (New Optimists Welcome)NOW stands for New Optimists Welcome and is a program designed to capture the interest of prospective Optimist Members. The program is for Optimist Clubs committed to achieving a net gain of 10 Members during the administrative year.

Club FitnessHelping Clubs SucceedThis is the first focus of the Michigan District of Optimist International. There are over 50 volunteers ready and willing to help your club succeed. Are you having trouble attracting new members? We have people who can teach you step by step on how to have a NEW OPTIMIST WELCOME event. Do you want to get involved in Oratorical, Junior Golf, Youth Clubs or Essay Contact. We can help solve problems, tell you what to look for, and give you the needed encouragement. In a nutshell we’re in this together for a common goal, and the district people are yours to use. We hope you will, for the young people in your community will be better for it.

Our specialist in helping clubs succeed is Elaine Lyon. She has years of experience and will help you herself or get you to the right people. We call her our club fitness expert, as she’s dedicated to make your club in shape and exercising toward the goal of serving more kids, and increasing the attitude and growth orientation of your members. If your club needs an attitude adjustment, call Elaine for she is the perfect person to turn it in the right direction.

Elaine Lyon, Club Fitness Co-Chair (586) 201-2662 | elainelyon1@yahoo.com

Catherine Tilles, Co-Chair (810) 588-0335 | minerva1946@sbcglobal.net

MEMBERSHIPYour Optimist Club does some amazing things. Your projects are outstanding. You create new events. You work so hard to raise money. You stay financially viable. You have social events within your club. Your meetings are fun. You have outstanding and dedicated leaders. Your youth will remember your efforts for scores of years to come.

Why does this happen? Because you take the time to plan to keep your membership fresh, invigorated, and relevant. You take the time to plan for new members. You plan for attrition, because we all know we will lose a few numbers every year. You work hard to retain your members, calling them if you haven’t seen them in a while. You recognize the value of each member, and publicize that value. You smile when you walk into a meeting or an event, giving everyone a positive feeling about what they’re doing. Every member does all of

this for this is why your Optimist club is so incredible.

On behalf of the entire community of Michigan Optimists, thank you for what you do. We are confident that every Optimist Club in Michigan will follow your example and grow over the next year.

If you need some assistance in moving forward on growth and/or retention, don’t hesitate to call or email Michigan District Membership Chair Pam Barckholtz. We have the resources and experience to assist your club as they move toward that special “honor club” status. For information on that status go to www.optimist.org and click on membership.

Pamela Barckholtz, Membership Chair (248) 563-0930 | pbarckholtz@gmail.com

Every Optimist Club Can Grow

New Organization-Wide Rebranding ProgramDuring the 2016 Optimist International Convention in Quebec City, Chair of the International Marketing & Communications Committee Nick Prillaman, Jr. introduced a new marketing and branding endeavor for Optimist International. This rebranding program includes a new official corporate logo for Optimist International. The new logo will be officially in use on October 1, 2017.

A detailed handbook of brand identity guidelines is also being finalized. This comprehensive document will provide all Clubs and Districts with specifications on how to properly apply the new logo. The handbook will also provide instructions on visual identity, logotype, official color palettes, typography and other important details.

The goal is to increase the presence of the network of local Optimist Clubs that make up Optimist International.

Club Presidents of the 2016-2017 year received information via email from Optimist International Marketing Department in May or June with suggested Club logo options. Please check with the Club President to make sure your club name is going to be clearly displayed and that your local community will still recognize who you are with any changes that were made.

Growing the District one member, one club at a time!

NEW CLUB BUILDING

The Growth of the District depends on everyone working toward the same goals. To that end the Growth Committee consists of the Membership, New Club Building and Club Fitness committees work together to assist clubs be successful.

GROWTH COMMITTEE

Sponsor a New Member Today

Take One Giant Step for Kids in a Neighboring CommunityBuild a New Optimist ClubWe are often in a rush to start New Clubs but fail to identify how each Club fits within a community. As a result of our haste, the Club often fails shortly after chartering. If Optimists plan carefully, however, they can establish strong clubs that provide great community service for a long period of time. As a member of an Optimist Club, you already know the value an Optimist Club brings to the community.

Take the first step – Conduct a Needs Assessment to explore the way things are versus the way they could be within a community:

1. Perform an analysis – Conduct a demographic profile of your neighboring community.

2. Identify priorities and importance – Identify the needs of the community.

3. Identify opportunities – Identify relevant problems that a Club can help solve.

4. Identify a solution – Explain how a new Optimist Club can help meet the needs of the community.

While the Optimist Year is just starting, now is a perfect time to target a neighboring community and explore the possibility of spreading Optimism! Once you have identified your target neighborhood, contact me and the New Club Building Team will assist you in going forward.

Linda Brooks, New Club Building Chair (313) 570-6046 | lybb_1999@yahoo.com

Every Member Can Help Build a Youth Club in your CommunityThere are two service projects that our clubs can attempt this year that will truly affect the most amount of youth in a community. First, of course is building a new Optimist Club in or around your community. The second, and perhaps the most impact for your membership is to build a youth club. Youth clubs can be built at all ages, from 6 to 18, in your schools, your churches, or your community centers.

We have 30 JOI clubs in Michigan already, so we have the expertise to help you make it happen. See how inspired the members of your adults become when they are directly working with kids, as the kids significantly increase the impact of community service in your community.

See youth become leaders before your eyes.

Thomas Neal, Michigan District JOI Chair (248) 553-3279 | ttneal@sbcglobal.net

Build a Club Within A Club

Sponsor aFriend of Optimist

Sponsor a New memberwho is UNDER

30 years old

Now that our District has exhaled from our West Branch Convention, we are expeditiously and aggressively treading the path to 11:59 pm on September 30th. A giant thank you goes to everyone who shared this beautiful weekend with us. We thank Paul and Jacquie Gudmundsen for hosting our OI President Designate - Mr. Nick Prillaman, Jr.; Mary Lowery and Mary & Richard Aubin for hosting the dinner; to the clubs in Zone One and the West Branch club for the reception, the hospitality suite, and assistance with registration and who could overlook the special decorative touch by Lou Moss. Kudos to Past Governor Richard Bloom for helping to cap off our OI President Designates visit. Of utmost significant is the great conference organization by Jerry Kelley, Don Munter, Barb Sucher, Nicole Ingersoll and Juanita Bell.

I continue to be appreciative of the year-long effort by you, our members, towards keeping our District in an upward mobility mode. Yes, we have done a little zig-zagging, yet still moving forward. I have witnessed signs of new birth of both adult and JOI clubs. Thanks to our newest push by Dr. Bob Schiller, a new club in Uganda (Broadway Kakabara) has been chartered. Three to four more clubs are “cooking”! Our recent challenge of dinner with the Governor and three friends was won by Denis Stevens of the Huron Valley Club. That challenge has been renewed as we march towards the end of our OPTIMIST year. Remember, the member that brings in the most members by the end of September 30th will win dinner with three of their friends and the Governor.

“Honor” status and above is still the goal for all of our clubs. We are creating our legacy. TOGETHER WE CAN!

Monetta Foster, Ed.D. 2016-2017 Governor

From Monetta’s Desk

Southfield-Lathrup Village Optimist Club Hosted “A Mixer That Matters” at the Skyline Club From left to right - Madeline Hobbs, John Michrina, Joslyn Gaddis, Angela Anderson, Carlton Orse, Mayor Ken Siver, Brenda Matthews and far right, Darryl Cardwell and Sidney Crumley.

So, What’s Stopping You?

Helping Optimists Help KidsHappy Optimist International New Year, Michigan District Optimists! The 2016-2017 year was great under the leadership of Governor Monetta and her Fostering Growth Team! This year is destined to be just as exciting and fun under the leadership of Governor Theresa and her Team!

This year, I have the honor to serve as the District Foundation Representative (DFR) for the Mighty Michigan District. Our District remains #1 in number of members and #1 in donations to the Optimist International Foundation as well!

Two of Many Things the Optimist International Foundation is Proud of...• Sends more than 100 students annually off to college with an Optimist International scholarship.• Provides funding for every Optimist International Program, club grants, and outside campaign grants such

as Childhood Cancer.

2017-2018 Theme: Reaching New Heights Together

The Michigan District’s goal for the 2017-2018 year is to increase the number of members that make unrestricted fund donations of at least $36.50 to an additional 150 members. NOTE: This would get us to the short-range goal of 10% of our District’s membership supporting the Dime-A-Day Program.

The Future of Amazing Opportunities: employer matching funds, fundraising webinars or online meetings led by non-profit industry leaders, innovative club fundraisers, and beyond.

For the First Quarter Conference, I’d like to ask each Club Foundation Representative (CFR) to bring a donation, e.g., a basket with a few special items, to be auctioned off to raise money for the Foundation. I can’t wait to seethe uniqueness of the donations and give a shout out to the clubs as well. As always, thank you so much for your support of the Foundation and Michigan’s fundraising efforts.

Cherryl Thames, Michigan District Foundation Representative (248) 506-5118 | cherrylthames1@att.net

Details for the First Quarter Optimist Conference have been well-planned for over a year and tailored to suit your needs – as a club leader, a district leader and an emerging professional developer in Optimism. Our District Conference fees have been trimmed! We listened to the feedback we received from our members. Communication will be frequent and easy to understand and our expectation is that YOU will be looking forward to attending upcoming District conferences during the year. Each conference will include an Early Bird Discount with incentives to attend as well as a bonus raffle ticket. We’ll have clear concise layout of conferences available.

So, what’s stopping you now? Take a few moments to review the agenda, fill out the registration form and let us know that you will be attending. Governor Theresa and the Leadership Team are going to SHAKE-IT-UP and you won’t be disappointed!

See you in Clinton Township!

Debra Berry, Michigan District Secretary-Treasurer (248) 467-0592 | debinparis@sbcglobal.net

Members of the Shelby Township Area Optimist Club delivered school supplies to their adopted schools: West Utica Elementary and Monfort Elementary Schools. Shown (L to R) Kathy Corso, Nancy Garr, Principal Brad Suggs, Lou Moss, Su-z Shaw and Nancy Rylicki.

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 on 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 countance at all times and give every living creature 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 to be to happy to permit the presence of trouble.

OPTIMIST CREED

OPTI VIEWS

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Michigan District1332 Mill Creek DriveWaterford Twp., MI 48327Phone: (248) 457-0592E-mail: debinparis@sbcglobal.netWebsite: midist.portalbuzz.com