Fellow Optimists,

This has been a Quarter in which we have observed the youth of our communities in action. Oratorical Contests have been held at the Club, Zone, and Regional levels. Essays have been judged and submitted to the District Chair. If your Club sponsored one of these contest, or you attended the Zone or Regional Contest, you know that the range of ideas on the themes were diverse. We will be honored to hear the District Essay read at lunch on Saturday at our 3rd Quarter District Meeting. Saturday night, we will be treated to hearing the finalist for the Oratorical Contest. Those in attendance will be in for a treat!

The Junior Optimist Octagon International (JOOI) District Convention held in March was a sounding success! The students came prepared to learn, to share, to grow, to be creative, and to plan! The JOOI leaders have left a positive legacy for next year's officers and Board members! Job well done!

Other opportunities for Optimists to show that we are the Friend of Youth, are the Optimist Respect for Law and Optimist Day of Non-Violence programs. These are generally held in May, but may be held at any time. The HOBY program for high school sophomores will be in the summer. There is still time to plan and support these programs.

The 2nd Quarter has ended. Our goals have not changed. We must work together to provide programs for the youth in our District. We must be committed to growth through increased membership in existing Clubs and building new Clubs. With an increase in membership, we can be a true testament to our mission statement - "By Providing Hope and Positive Vision, Optimists Bring Out the Best In Kids".

See you in Mobile!

Give your fellow Optimist a "High Five" Take care. Enjoy Today!

The second JOOI District convention was held March 14 - 15, 2009. Everyone had a great time, the kids and the adults. The convention was a great opportunity for the young people to meet others from across the District, develop their leadership skills, run for and/or elect district officers, and just have a good time. Dorothy Irvin, her crew and Harold Stratz did a superb job putting on the convention. Thanks to everyone involved in this successful effort.

If you have a JOOI club, start planning now to have your JOOI members attend next year's JOOI District Convention. If you don't sponsor a JOOI club - get busy and start one. The rewards are immeasurable.

Photos from the JOOI Convention are now available on-line.CLICK HERE to go to the photo gallery.

At the end of the Convention a quiz covering the topics taught was given to the JOOI Members and many prizes awarded. First prize - a 19" Digital TV/DVD player was awarded to Franchestia Flennory from the Orrville JOOI Club. Congratulations Franchestia !!!

Congratulations Ladies - we are looking forward to a successful JOOI year. We are proud of your accomplishment.

Hello Optimist!

If you were in attendance at the 2nd Quarter District Meeting, you KNOW what a great time we had! Thanks to the members of the Alexandria Optimist Club for holding a Bingo game on Friday evening. Thank you also to Zone 14 for the hospitality throughout the weekend.

There were training sessions on: Membership, NCB, PGI, and Catch A Rising Star. Information on the Oratorical Contest, CCDHH, Essay Contest, HOBY, JOOI, CCC, and the A & A programs. In addition, a session on "Winning With People" was presented. The Lt. Governors presented a module on Creative Problem Solving. The OIF report was encouraging and we still have 7 months to reach our goal. Are you confused or a little uncertain as to what the letters in the previous sentences mean? If your answer is YES, there are ways to learn more about YOUR Optimist organization:

These acronyms are vital programs in Optimist International. They are programs through which we can show that we are indeed "Friends of Youth".

Our 2nd Quarter is in progress. Our goals have been set: the responsibilities lay before all of us. Where are you, in your commitment to fulfilling Optimist goals for yourself, your Club, your District and the youth in your communities? Remember, in order to reach our goals, we must have action. Thinking about something and doing about something are two very different processes. We must be doing!

Our commitments (our doing) include new Club members, new Clubs, new JOOI Clubs, increase in District membership, and Community Project Awards. Together, as we work toward these goals, we WILL make a difference in the lives of the young people in our communities.

Remember to give each other a "High Five". Take care. Enjoy Today!

Hello Optimist! Happy New Year! Did you make New Year Resolutions? If you did, I hope one of them was to renew your commitment to the Oath you took as a new Optimist member. I , ______________ do pledge to develop Optimism as a philosophy of life, promote an active interest in good government and civic affairs, inspire respect for law, promote patriotism and work for international accord and friendship among all people, and encourage development of youth, in the belief that giving of one's self in service to others will advance the well being of humankind, community life and the world. These are simple words, but the impact can be tremendous.

At the Governor's Conference held in January, our Region was ranked #2. (We were #1 for two and a half months!) The AL-LA-MS District was ranked #2! This was due in part to meeting some of our tat Quarter goals. The AL-LA-MS District had a 1 % growth in membership and one new Club. Thanks to all of you in helping to meet these two goals!