Optimist International Canada
E-Newsletter
February 2010 - Number 12 |
| Message from the Director - Jacques Pelland |
 It is hard to remain indifferent to the catastrophe earthquake that afflicted Haiti over a month ago. The resulting confusion and hardship that the Haitian people have had to endure is a call for help that addresses the fundamental values of the Optimists: human solidarity.
Given these events, it is important to underline our Optimism and stand up for the guiding principle of our organization. Our best Credo is our anthem:
Promise yourself...
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
But it has to be put into practice.
Finding balance in everything is the basis of a healthy society, especially for the Optimist movement. In the face of disaster the Optimists will strive to bring a ray of hope to those in the most need, without forgetting to celebrate their successes.
For all these reasons, we must be implicated in our mission and look for opportunities to put our beliefs into practice.
Over the next few months each one of you will have the opportunity to demonstrate his solidarity. See you there! | |
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Full speed ahead! |
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| Claire Labrèche |
 Member at large of the OI Board of Directors, she addresses you concerning the legacy that you, as an Optimist citizen of the world, leave behind. Click here to see what she has to say. |
| Marie-Pier Tremblay |
 For more information and to learn about the JOOI International President's projects, click here. | |
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| Parallel District Conference |
 Inspired by the success of the October, 2008, St. Lawrence region's conference which assembled together the region's districts, President-Elect Danny Rodgers has decided to use the same idea throughout the entire organization for the year 2010-2011.Therefore, all the regions headed by a vice-president will organize a parallel district conference to be held within the first quarter. Parallel district conferences allow all participating districts to hold their respective administrative meetings and to attend workshops that are open to everyone. Holding an event like this gives districts access to each others expertise and the opportunity to gather the best trainers and invite quality speakers. If there is one Optimist event to attend next year, or even in your lifetime, this is it.
The parallel district conference for the Great Plains region will be held November 5-7, 2010 and that of the Northeast and Great Lakes will be October 22-24, 2010. For the St. Lawrence region, set aside the weekend of October 29-31, 2010.
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| Working together for a better future |
 For the first time in the history of Optimist International, the governors and governors-elect conferences were held at the same time. In fact, President Mark Shriver and President-elect Danny Rogers agreed to bring their respective teams together in order to profit from the experience of one team and the energy of the other. They both were of the opinion that ... Read on |
| Training for Internet Safety Presenters |
The Internet Safety Program is a great success. However, as many members have pointed out, there is admittedly a major shortcoming in the program: most Optimists have a lack of expertise and experience in this field.
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| The Directory, check it out! |
 The Optimist International Canada website was conceived above all to interest the public in the Optimist movement. It is an opportunity for your club to be seen and to post the activities it organizes simply by filling out the page in the directory. It is also a good spot to place a contact person's information, add a logo or make a link to your club's website.
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| My activities, my community! |
Still with the objective of promoting your club, the Optimist Community is a fantastic forum. You can display photos, videos and in the My Status space, you can write an Optimist event or activity, or even put a link to an interesting web page. Also of interest, your status can be displayed on other social networks such as Facebook, Linkedin, MySpace, just go into My Profile and select the Share button. That way, all our friends in other networks can see that we belong to the Optimist International Canada organization. Free publicity for the movement! Come join the ranks of our community and invite your friends to join. Be proud and let everyone see what we are capable of! | |
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| Over a half century of Optimism |
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A club celebrating its 55th year is already incredible, but having two of its founding members who are still active is extraordinary! During its anniversary dinner December 8, 2009, the Grantham Club in St. Catharines, Ontario, highlighted the unflagging, priceless contribution Optimists Ron French and Alex Mannell have made to their community.
Photo: In the usual order, the Grantham Optimist Member Jim Bradley (also MPP for St. Catharines and Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing for the Province of Ontario), and the honoree, Ron French. |
| Nearly $20,000 given to Montréal hospitals |
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On January 11, 2010, thanks to a day of Optimist fundraising, the zone representing the clubs from Longueuil, Québec were able to present two $9,738 checks to representatives of the Ste-Justine Hospital and the Montréal Children's Hospital. The fundraiser started with sponsored activities for young people followed in the afternoon with a walk-a-thon through the streets of Vieux-Longueil. During that day, a booth was set up and manned by Optimists to promote the Optimist organization. In addition to the participation of seven clubs from the zone, over 300 young people contributed to the successful unfolding of the fifth edition of that event.
The zone received $3,000 for that project from the Matching Grants program which assists with CCC fundraisers.
Click here for more information about this program. |
| An Optimist receives Achievement Award |
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 Last October 28, Gaëtan Simard, a resident of Cornwall, received the Ontario Senior Achievement Award. The award recognizes Ontarians over 65 years of age for their outstanding contributions to their communities.
Read the entire article published in Le/The Journal. |
| Investing in safety |
A third of Canadian clubs have ordered the Internet Safety Program kit, proof that it has aroused interest.
Mark Kerr, Internet Safety Program Chair, heavily promoted the program to members as well as local police services within the Midwestern District of Ontario.
As for Daniel O'Connell from the Eastern Ontario District, he also presented the program to a provincial police agent who was very interested. She said that she would need the clubs' collaboration for presenting it during the May/June period, and she has already presented the Faux Paw program to one school. Read more. |
| Optimist International's unique official supplier |
 As of January 1, 2010, Promotions Corall is the new official supplier for the entire organization. Consequently, all Canadian, American and Caribbean members can benefit from their good service. | |
Translator : Diane Beaulieu |
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