Choose Optimism

Join us today as we welcome Tom Majerek from the Niles-Riverfront Optimist Club in the Michigan District. He explains how he started a club in 2002 begun to support a community music festival and sustaining a club for the past 23 years. Have a listen.

Join us as we welcome March Osland from Phoenix, Arizona, he played in the 2025 Junior Golf Championships at the Doral Golf Course in Miami Florida. He competed in the boys 14-15 division. He'll tell us about his experiences.

Join us as we welcome Jim Boyd and Erin Reese from the Urbandale Optimist Club Iowa, they will be sharing their insights in creating social media ad's in canvas. They will also share how social media has affected membership.

Join us as we welcome our guest Ritchie Stewart, the Sunrise-St. Thomas Optimist Club and the Governor of the Southwest Ontario District. His district came in the top clubs in growth for the 2nd quarter.

Elise Lim from Sacramento, California joins us to tell her experiences at the 2024 Junior Golf Championships at the Doral Golf Course in Miami, Florida - she played in the 10-12 Girls division. Join us today.

Join us as we welcome Avery McGrath from Falls Church, Virginia a player in the 2024 Junior Golf Championship. She shares her experiences on and off the course. She finished in 4th place.

On today's podcast welcome Lev Abramson from Denver, Colorado a 2024 player in the 16-18 division of the Junior Golf Championship at Doral Golf Course in Miami, Florida. He shares his experiences and aspirations for the future.

Join us with Avery Hollingsworth from Houston, Texas and played in the 2025 Junior Golf Championships in Miami, Florida.

Join us today as we hear from Kaden Frierson on his experiences with the Junior Golf Championships. Kaden is from Austin, Texas he is the 2025 winner in the 16-18 division.

Our guest this week is Tom Neal, from the Farmington Hills & Farmington Optimist Club of the Michigan District. Tom is going to share his insights on building and maintaining Junior Optimist Clubs within the Public Schools. https://f2hoptimists.org

Join us today as we have Olivia Blair, a Junior Optimist member reflects on her time being a Junior Optimist (JOI) as well as competing in the Oratorical and Essay contests.

Join us today for our guest Lucie Régimbald from the Carlsbad Springs Optimist Club of Ontario. She shares her insights on the challenges of small clubs, Lucie has been an optimist for 32 years and tells the importance of listening to young people.https://www.facebook.com/optimistintl/videos/691483021360233/YouTube video - https://youtu.be/9ZyNNWSdox0

Today's guest is Kristi "Cricket" Palmer from the Rushmore-Noon Optimist Club, on how to amp up your club meetings to a more exciting and dynamic events energizing members.View content on YouTube.

Our guest today is Rick Gillespie who is on the Optimist International Growth Committee. He is also a member of the London-Fanshaw Optimist Club of Canada. He will be talking to us about plans for "Growth" in the 2025-2026 Optimist Year.View content on YouTube.

Join use as we talk to Connie Sohnleitner, District Governor of Atlantic Central District, her district is ranked 3rd in retention. she will share her insights on retention.View content on YouTube.

Join us as we talk to President Ed Finn from the Kids Mental Health-Canada Optimist Club, he is ranked 7th in Growth / 6th in Retention, he will tell us about some special programs he uses to increase retention and growth.View content on YouTube.

An interview with 2 top 10 leaders in growth, President Michelle Meyers from the Brighter Days Optimist Club and Governor Larry Harper from the Central Ontario District.View content on YouTube.

Join us today as we talk to Erin Reese, from the Optimist Club of Urbandale, Iowa, she'll be telling us about Risk Management & Safer Events for Clubs and Optimist International Insurance coverage.View content in YouTube.

Join us as our guest Dan Mills, from the Breakfast Optimist Club of Kalamazoo shares his take on what the "Power of Wonder" can give you a feeling of surprise. He tells about the breakout he gave on this topic from the 2025 Optimist International Convention.Dan's club is in the western side of the Michigan District. he has served as a club president, Lt. Governor, is a Past Governor and served on the Optimist International Leadership Committee as the chair.Learn more about the Breakfast Optimist Club of Kalamazoo.View content in YouTube.

Join us as our guest, Carroll Metzger, from the Twin Cities Optimist Club of Missouri, shares what the Period Project is through the Aunt Rose Project. They also provide young men hygiene products and education materials. The Aunt Rose Project works with non profits in Jefferson County Mo to provide free period products to people in need. https://www.facebook.com/theauntroseproject/Learn more about the Twin Cities Optimist Club https://twincityoptimist.org/

Join us as our guest, Cheryl Brenn, Executive Director of Optimist International shares her thoughts on civility and why we need it so much today. She will also share her thoughts on direction of our organization and where we are heading.Learn more about Optimist International https://www.optimist.orgView content on YouTube.

Join us as our guest Donna Johnson, from the Temple Optimist Club of Georgia shares a joint community project Just A Minute in the Park. This is a joint project with the Temple Recreation Department, to target mental health for total wellness and issues that youth have. This event is FREE to provide information to families. It also gave youth fun activities. Along with other donations the club received a grant from Optimist International Foundation.Learn more about JAM in the Park https://newsandviewsusa.com/event/j-a-m-in-the-park-healing-with-heroes-2/ and https://www.facebook.com/events/240-rome-st-temple-ga-30179-3932-united-states/jam-in-the-park/1743042776607385/More information about the Temple Optimist Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/1162842953779467/Club Grants from Optimist International Foundation https://www.oifoundation.org/downloads/2025-Club-Grant-Info.pdfView content on YouTube.

Join us as Corey Rieck, from the Gilmore Optimist Club of Georgia shares how starting a Golf Tournament Project and raising money for youth activities in the community helped him build relationships by growing membership.Learn more about the Gilmore Optimist Club https://www.facebook.com/GilmerCountyOptimist/View content on YouTube.

Join us as we welcome Bonnie Sherbert, the Governor of the South Carolina District who shares her take on the Magic of Leadership and how it is for everyone. She shares the aspects of leadership. Learn more about the South Carolina District https://www.scoptimist.org/

Join us as Valerie Gordon from the Optimist Club of Roseburg, Oregon shares her insights on a unique project to raise funds for the club. She also shares how other club projects help to grow relationships. Learn more about the Ghost Tours and get tickets: https://www.hauntedroseburg.com/

Join us as we welcome Bonnie Sherbert from the Palmetto Optimist Club in the South Carolina District. Bonnie is the current Governor and shares with us the engaging community events that her club is doing to engage youth in her area. You'll find that partnering with the community is rewarding for everyone.

Join us today as Lorin Richter, Optimist International Marketing & Communication Chair shares her insights on marketing strategies and improving it on a budget. Learn how to use external marketing to improve your club brand and increase community awareness. Lorin is a member of the Audubon-Lower Providence Optimist Club and a Past Governor of the Atlantic District.

Join us as we welcome Michael Shue, a member of the Waterville-Brother Town Optimist Club and current Optimist International Membership Engagement Chair share his insights on engaging new members as well as what the C.A.R.E's program entails. Michael is a Past Governor of the New York/New England District and will serve as next years Membership Engagement.

Join us today as Karen Tolley from the Roseburg Optimist Club in the Pacific North West shares how the club does a great community event, Sidewalk Chalk Art. This is something for the kids and how they got this started, what it entails and how many kids and families. Learn more about the Roseburg Optimist Club and the Sidewalk Chalk Art

Join us as our guest, Cathy Hicks from the Capitol Optimist Club in the Pacific North West District. Cathy is located in Sacramento and tells us how to start a community project to help the kids can read by giving free books in the community. This project started in Southern California and was taken north. Learn how easy and inexpensive it is to get this going in your community.

Mark Feilmann, Optimist International Growth Chair for 2024-2025 talks about growing membership, new club building, and young adult optimist clubs. He talks about what is new for for governors and the growth teams in their district. Join us to learn more about how new ideas bring new life into the organization.

Get ready for an inspiring conversation! We have the incredible opportunity to speak with Jan Oord-Graves, the Optimist International President for 2024-2025! She'll be sharing her remarkable journey of transformation into an Optimist and unveiling her ambitious goals for the organization. We are thrilled to have her join us today—this is a session you won't want to miss!

This week our guest is Jim Pipe from the Midwest Ontario District and the Cambridge South Lath Optimist Club. We are excited to hear about building new clubs using social media. Join us in learning a new way to use the internet and build a new club in your community.

We are joined by Past International President Don Arnwine who shares his recollections of his 62 years of optimism. Don joined the South East Denver Optimist Club in 1962 and started his optimist career rising to International President in 1977-1978. He gives his insight into leadership through optimism and volunteerism - through speaking, facilitating, and more. Don is from the Breakfast Optimist Club of East Fort Worth, Texas - learn more about the club and optimism.

Today we are joined by Len Tilney, known as “Mr. Optimist”, he joined the Sunrise Optimist Club of Lockport, Inc. in 1972, and served as its President and Chairman of the Board of Directors. He shares his wisdom, insights and stories over the years.Learn more about the Sunrise Optimist Club of Lockport - click here

Today we are joined by Rhonda Scharf, renowned and award-winning speaker, author, consultant, and trainer, is the “go-to” expert for the Administrative Professional and Executive Assistant community.With over 250,000+ trained across the globe, Rhonda is THE authority for fun and uplifting education for admins, because #ADMINSROCK!Author, Professional Speaker and Trainer, Rhonda attended the Optimist International Convention in June we are excited to have her on the podcast.Learn more . . .

Today, we have Patrick Prendergast, Optimist International Board of Directors and member of the Sunset Liguanea, Jamaica talks creative ways to engagement members.

Today we have Governor Chuck Erickson from the Wisconsin North - Upper Michigan District (WINUM). Chuck is an Independent Education Consultant and has been an optimist since 2018. He gives us some insight on his club and the district are doing and what his goals are. Learn more about his district at www.facebook.com/WINUMOptimists

Today our guest is the 2023-2024 Illinois District Governor John Good talks about his club, district and the path to leadership. He spotlights successes and member retention - Top 10 District at the half way mark after convention. Learn more about the Illinois District https://illinoisoptimist.org/

Today's guest is Sunjay Nath, a guest speaker at this years Optimist International Convention (June 21 - 26 2024). Sunjay captivated us at the convention with his insight on leadership and much more. Join us to learn a little more about him and how he can inspire you.Learn more at www.sunjaynath.comBooks available 10-80-10 Principle & ABC's of Student Leadership by Sunjay Nath. BUY eBOOK!

We look back to the optimist stories from the first year of the podcast with Shane and Theresa. Hear from Russ, Nick, Shane and Dave as they tell their optimist stories from the 1st broadcast and then we hear from Tina, Crystal and Melissa as they tell their story of friendship from the 4th broadcast.

Join us as we hear from Chuck Sawyer from the Atascadero Optimist Club about their Festival of Trees for Christmas Fundraiser.

It's patriotic, optimistic and lots of fun, join us as we learn about the Avenue of Flags from Mike Athmer of the Kettering Dorwood Optimist Club. Mike will tell us how to start and maintain this great fundraiser starting with any size club be they small, medium or large.

Today's topic is a super idea to get the whole community involved in raising funds for a community park, helping kids and making a difference! Larry Harper from the Spencerville and District Optimist Club is here to tell us how his club gets everyone involved to raise more that $30k, from having the youth who are involved in the culinary arts plan, execute and clean up on a fabulous dinner and having three mini-silent-auctions and one live auction.

Here is another interesting "Fundraising" idea from Marlene Phillips a member of the Riverside Optimist Club. Marlene tells us how to start a Euchre Tournament. What, you have no idea what Euchre is? Well, she will give you all the details and how fun this event can be not only a fun way to raise money in the community but also be a great social event for your club. Join us to learn more about it.

In this episode on the topic of "Fundraising" we hear from Chris Scott a member of the Helena Optimist Club about a fundraiser that began as a memorial for a former member. Learn how the club started a Pool Tournament that might be a something you might be able to do in your community.

Join us as we learn about the Striping Program with Bob Pancich from the Uptown Great Falls Optimist Club. He tells us how to start a parking lot striping program in your club.

We begin a new fundraising series to help clubs learn about different ideas across the Optimist International. Join us in learning about the Camel Races - Charles Snyder from the West Branch Optimist Club talks about how to start this fun event in your club variations and all.

Danny Rodgers, Past Optimist International President, tells us his optimist story and talks about the Optimist Creed Series: "To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Nick Prillaman, Past Optimist International President, tells his optimist story and talks about the Optimist Creed Series: "To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others."