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Junior Optimist International Convention

Members from the United States, Canada and the Caribbean celebrated the 25th Annual Convention in

Albuquerque, New Mexico from July 3-5, 2017! The attendees participated in many teambuilding projects,

group activities, the 4th of July fireworks show and finished with the President’s Banquet with the theme

“A Day at the Races”.   

The guest speaker was Elaine Swann and is America’s Leading Lifestyle & Etiquette Expert. She is the

founder of Elaine Swann Leadership Academy, an institution committed to enriching the lives of individuals

through the instruction of professional development, etiquette and social courtesies. Elaine uses her

extensive knowledge to educate organizations, universities, businesses and individuals throughout the US. 

Through her extensive knowledge of the etiquette trade, Elaine helps professionals and individuals improve

their social skills and executive image. The New York Times dubbed Elaine Swann as “The Emily Post of the

Digital Age.” As an authority on social etiquette and lifestyle practices, Elaine has appeared on all major

networks, including the TODAY Show, CNN, E Entertainment and Huffington Post Live, and has been

quoted in many top lifestyle publications. Her latest book, Let Crazy Be Crazy, is on bookshelves now.

Junior Optimist International Convention Workshops and Descriptions

Teambuildingpresented by O’Hara Wickham This workshop will share ways to successfully inspire/motivate and enable team members to come together. Icebreakers and group projects will be shared that are excellent for use in your Club along with strengthening team building!

Stand Up and Talk presented by Avery Jorgensen Overcome your nervousness of “PUBLIC SPEAKING” before large groups. This is the number one fear of people. This workshop will share ideas on how to present a good speech, what to focus on during your presentation and what you need to wear to impress during your presentation.

Searching? Searching? presented by Niyati Shah Are you searching for ideas, suggestions and answers for your Club? This workshop will help you generate ideas for community service projects, fundraising projects and numerous Club activities.

Social Media in Your Club (Bilingual)presented by Frédérique Théorêt When running a club of multiple people it can be hard to reach every member when you have a message. A great way is social media and/or mass mail, but that means posting relevant content, knowing your demographics and knowing the best time to do so. This workshop will share tips and tricks on getting people to like, follow and read your posts.

Assistance for New Advisor presented by Gerri BarnettIf you’re the new “kid” working with JOI, we’ll provide some tips and tricks.If you’re a veteran Advisor who has “words of wisdom” you’d like to impart, this session is for you, too!

LOLLLLLLLLLLL (Bilingual) presented by Nicole Paquette (Isleta)‘Communication Evolution’... Come on in and see where the old generation was and the new generation is going!

Junior Optimist International Convention Workshops and Descriptions

Marketing and Communicating JOI Within your Communitypresented by Logan Clemente Everyone inside our organization knows exactly what a Junior Optimist Club is all about. However, outside of us, no one fully understands its purpose. Attend this informative workshop to learn how to market your JOI Club and not only promote your name, but also grow in Members and Optimism!

What Makes a Successful Club? (Bilingual)presented by Allison Wilson Come check out my workshop and find new ways to bond as a team, communicate with others and participate in a fun activity!

The Art of Persuasion (Bilingual)presented by Mathew Nacev Attend this workshop and learn how to convince people of the Optimist way, collect donations and MUCH, MUCH MORE! See you there!

Transition from High School to Adult Clubspresented by Sean MuellerHave you enjoyed being a Member of your Junior Optimist Club? Wish that you could continue doing community service and developing leadership skills to help you towards your career? Well you can by becoming a Member of Optimist International. Join your local Optimist Club, or join a College Club if you are planning to attend college. Learn the different ways to be an active Member of the Optimist family by doing more community service and serving in more leadership roles to help create a new legacy for Optimist International.

Advisors Annual Meetingpresented by David Pudles/Doug Fritz Collectively the Advisors at this year’s JOI Convention have over 75 years of experience with JOI! Come learn from the experts – YOU! This group discussion is for Advisors to share ideas about what works in their JOI Club. Even first year Advisors have fresh, new ideas to share.

Junior Optimist International Convention Workshops and Descriptions

Teambuildingpresented by O’Hara Wickham This workshop will share ways to successfully inspire/motivate and enable team members to come together. Icebreakers and group projects will be shared that are excellent for use in your Club along with strengthening team building!

Stand Up and Talk presented by Avery Jorgensen Overcome your nervousness of “PUBLIC SPEAKING” before large groups. This is the number one fear of people. This workshop will share ideas on how to present a good speech, what to focus on during your presentation and what you need to wear to impress during your presentation.

Searching? Searching? presented by Niyati Shah Are you searching for ideas, suggestions and answers for your Club? This workshop will help you generate ideas for community service projects, fundraising projects and numerous Club activities.

Social Media in Your Club (Bilingual)presented by Frédérique Théorêt When running a club of multiple people it can be hard to reach every member when you have a message. A great way is social media and/or mass mail, but that means posting relevant content, knowing your demographics and knowing the best time to do so. This workshop will share tips and tricks on getting people to like, follow and read your posts.

Assistance for New Advisor presented by Gerri BarnettIf you’re the new “kid” working with JOI, we’ll provide some tips and tricks.If you’re a veteran Advisor who has “words of wisdom” you’d like to impart, this session is for you, too!

LOLLLLLLLLLLL (Bilingual) presented by Nicole Paquette (Isleta)‘Communication Evolution’... Come on in and see where the old generation was and the new generation is going!

Junior Optimist International Convention Workshops and Descriptions

Marketing and Communicating JOI Within your Communitypresented by Logan Clemente Everyone inside our organization knows exactly what a Junior Optimist Club is all about. However, outside of us, no one fully understands its purpose. Attend this informative workshop to learn how to market your JOI Club and not only promote your name, but also grow in Members and Optimism!

What Makes a Successful Club? (Bilingual)presented by Allison Wilson Come check out my workshop and find new ways to bond as a team, communicate with others and participate in a fun activity!

The Art of Persuasion (Bilingual)presented by Mathew Nacev Attend this workshop and learn how to convince people of the Optimist way, collect donations and MUCH, MUCH MORE! See you there!

Transition from High School to Adult Clubspresented by Sean MuellerHave you enjoyed being a Member of your Junior Optimist Club? Wish that you could continue doing community service and developing leadership skills to help you towards your career? Well you can by becoming a Member of Optimist International. Join your local Optimist Club, or join a College Club if you are planning to attend college. Learn the different ways to be an active Member of the Optimist family by doing more community service and serving in more leadership roles to help create a new legacy for Optimist International.

Advisors Annual Meetingpresented by David Pudles/Doug Fritz Collectively the Advisors at this year’s JOI Convention have over 75 years of experience with JOI! Come learn from the experts – YOU! This group discussion is for Advisors to share ideas about what works in their JOI Club. Even first year Advisors have fresh, new ideas to share.

New Junior Optimist Clubs

Alpha Optimist Bobcat Club, Iowa

Baker Elementary Junior Optimist Helping Hands, Georgia

Beavercreek Junior Optimist Club, Ohio

Beddingfield High School Junior Optimist Club, North Carolina

Big Shanty Intermediate School Junior Optimist Club, Georgia

Burleson Collegiate High School, Texas

Camarillo Junior Optimist, California

Cape Henry Collegiate, Virginia

Cornwall Junior Optimist Club, Ontario

CVMS Bobcats Junior Optimist Club, California

Dakota County Junior Optimist, Nebraska

Dossin High Five Junior Optimist Club, Michigan

Downtown St. Louis Junior Optimist Club, Missouri

Hillside Secondary School Junior Optimist Club, Michigan

Hope Model Girls Junior Optimist Club, Michigan

Javawockies FRC Team 6336, Ontario

Jeffersonville High School Junior Optimist Club, Indiana

Junior Octagon Club of Mukwonago, Wisconsin

Junior Optimist Auto Club, California

Junior Optimist Club of Holston Middle School, Tennessee

Junior Optimist Club of Mississauga, Ontario

Junior Optimist Club of Oak Park, Ontario

Jesus Cares Primary School Junior Optimist Club, Uganda

Karambi Secondary School Junior Optimist Club, Michigan

Since October 1, 2016, 47 new Junior Optimist Clubs (totaling 863 Members) have been added:

Madison Starlings Junior Optimist Club, Wisconsin

Maeola Beitzel Elementary School, California

Meadowbrook Junior Optimist Club, Texas

Minot Junior Optimist, North Dakota

Model High School Junior Optimist Club, Georgia

Monte Vista High School Junior Optimist Club, California

Octagon Club of Garrison, Barbados

Paso Robles High School Junior Optimist Club, California

Place Bridge Academy Junior Optimist Club, Colorado

Ralph L. Fike Junior Optimist Club, North Carolina

Ranch Elementary School, Arizona

Rolla Junior Optimist Club, Missouri

Salem Awesome Alpha Club, Alabama

San Diego Junior Optimist Pony Scouts, California

SPHS Octagon Club, California

Scott Elementary Junior Optimist Club, Colorado

Seaholm Junior Optimist Club, Michigan

St-Pascal Baylon, Ontario

Student Optimists Helping Others, Michigan

Truth Youth Junior Optimist International, Barbados

Village Junior Optimist International Club, California

Waukee Junior Optimist Club, Iowa

Winter Springs High School Junior Optimist Club, Florida

Welcome to the Junior Optimist family! If you are interested in sponsoring a new Junior Optimist Club, contact the Youth Clubs Department at youthclubs@optimist.org

Junior Optimist SocietySubmitted by: Katie Huck, Junior Optimist Society Club Adviser

The Junior Optimist Society collected items from the Ronald

McDonald House wish list. Both Junior Optimists and the Twin

City Optimist Club gave items to donate – totaling two full

carts of goods. Two ladies from the Twin City Optimist have

collected thousands of can tabs, which will add up to money

to maintain supplies and upkeep of the Ronald McDonald

House. Ambassadors for the Ronald McDonald House gave

the Clubs a tour of the facility and answered questions.

Oakville Junior Optimist ClubSubmitted by: Vicki Mains, Oakville Junior Optimist Club Advisor

Sometimes people ask what a Junior Optimist Club accomplishes in a year. From September to June, the Oakville Junior Optimist Club volunteered 766 hours, impacting 1182 children – which is 38 children impacted per Member of the Junior Optimist Club.

Congratulations to every one of you for a successful and fun year!

The Optimist CreedPromise 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 at 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 countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet 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 too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

C O N TA C T I N F O R M AT I O N

Sandy Cyphers – Chair scyphers@ec.rr.comGerri Barnett jooiful@gmail.comFrédérique Théorêttheoret.frederique@live.caSean Mueller muellesa@hotmail.comDavid Pudles oviedooptimist@aol.com

Connect with Junior Optimist International!

youthclubs@optimist.org

junioroptimist.org

Facebook: Junior Optimist International

Twitter: @Junior_Optimist

Instagram: @junioroptimist

Snapchat: junioroptimist