Programs Resources – the Unknown Treasure Chest

Planning Guides  The sections include step-by-step instructions and all the forms you will need to run the program or community activity.

Did You Know?  You can view and print sections of the Programs planning guide as needed, from your own computer!  Public libraries offer free internet access.

How to Access the Guide  Step 1: Access the Optimist website at Place your cursor over the Members menu.

Step 2  Move Your cursor down to Clubs & Districts.

Step 3  Move your cursor onto Programs & Activities.

Step 4  Click on the name of the program. A general information page will open.

Step 5  Scroll down the page to the link “Click here to view the Planning Pages.” Click on the link and the pages will open. You must have the latest version of Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.

Another Way to Access the Guide  Go to the Members menu  Put your cursor on Forms and Publications  On the menu that appears, click on Publications  Scroll down to International Programs and click on the name of the program  You will still need Acrobat Reader to view and print the pages

On-Line Resource Library  Is your Club looking for new and unique program ideas?  The Resource Library provides programs material at your fingertips.

Club Activities Page  features projects or programs that have: – earned Community Projects Awards (CPA) recognition –are examples of Club projects/programs that are unique and innovative or –were submitted by Clubs for international program status consideration

Fundraising Page  provides suggested ideas and successful fundraising projects completed and documented by Clubs and listed by fundraising category.

Please Note  Club activities and fundraisers will only be listed if the submitting Club agrees to allow the contact information of the project’s coordinating Member to be listed on the website.

Community Resource Page  features endorsed, national and regional organizations that offer service resources and/or partnering opportunities to Optimists  Community organizations nominated for inclusion must provide a service scope large enough to cover an entire state, province, country and/or District.

How Can My Club Submit Something to the Library?  Clubs that would like to submit an activity or fundraising project or recommend a community resource organization for consideration for inclusion in the Resource Library should contact Optimist International.  Programs staff will send a submission form for your Club to fill out and return.

Optimist Annual Events  Clubs and Members should take every opportunity to get the Club’s name out to the public.  Optimist International sponsors a few events that may help Clubs attract media attention.

Optimist in Action Day  Optimist in Action Day is the third Saturday in October and is a single unified day to promote the mission and values of Optimism to the public.  Clubs can participate in any way they choose. Sponsor a community service event or a fundraiser.  The idea is for every Club to spread the word of Optimism in a way that best suits their Members and their goals.  Invite the media to your event! Send press releases!

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month June is Optimist International Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.  Clubs are encouraged to start a program that creates awareness in their community or they may conduct a fundraiser to support the CCC and donate the funds to support the Optimist International research initiative and the matching grants program.  Funds can also be used to support local cancer initiatives, hospitals or families dealing with childhood cancer.

Optimist Earth Day  Optimist International has proclaimed the first Saturday in June as Optimist Earth Day in connection with World Environmental Awareness Week.  The International Board of Directors has approved the event through 2010.

How Can My Club Participate in Optimist Earth Day?  Plant a tree, flowers or bulbs  Clean up a park, playground or stretch of road  Take recyclables to a local drop-off point  Develop an educational program for local children to teach  Clean up a building that has become a victim to graffiti  Pledge to walk, bicycle or use mass transit for a day

JOOI of Reading Month  In connection with the JOOI of Reading, JOOI Clubs can designate a month to promote reading for fun to the students in their schools.  Contact your local JOOI Club to see how you can help with their plans for JOOI Reading Month.

What is the Community Needs Assessment tool?  Some Clubs do not know how to best assess needs in their local communities and develop plans to meet those needs that are consistent with local Club resources.  This is a step-by-step tool that will help Clubs determine what needs exist in their local community and if the Club has the resources to help meet those needs.

How to Use This Resource  The Community Needs Assessment can be found on the Publications page of the Optimist website,  Steps include: –Establishing a Club Committee –Contacting local organizations –Establish meetings and interviews –Analyzing the results –Determine support needed –Survey Member’s level of interest –Implement Action Plan

President’s Pride Form

Show Your Pride!  Every President has plenty of reasons to be proud of the work their Club does in the community!  This form replaced the Annual Activities Report.

Benefits of the Form  This form allows Club Presidents to help decide the future of international programs and community activities.  The information will be used for prospective grants and sponsorships  The results will help determine what programs will receive emphasis in the coming years.

How Do I Fill Out the Form?  The form will be available on the OptimistLeaders website ( by January 1 st of each Optimist year.  Click on the “Reports” button on the right side of the page.  Click on the boxes to indicate whether your Club participated in an activity.

How Do I Fill Out the Form?  If your Club participated in an activity that is not listed, type a brief description in the box marked “Other.”  Please round to the nearest dollar amount when entering monetary amounts.

The “Save” Button  Allows Clubs to enter and change information throughout the year until they are ready to submit the form at the end of the year.  You must hit the “Save” button after every time you enter dollar amounts or they will not save to the form!

Don’t Forget to Submit!  When the Club has completed the form for the entire year, a Club Officer should click on the signature button and then click “Submit.”  Once this is done, the Club will be unable to change or add to the form.  The form is sent electronically to Optimist International.

What if I Don’t Want to Fill It Out Online?  Hard copies of the form can be printed from the Forms page of the Optimist website ( and faxed or mailed to Optimist International.  Copies will not be mailed to Clubs unless requested.  The form is due to Optimist International by September 30 th.

Program Evaluation Forms  Evaluation forms have been developed for each of the programs and community activities.  The forms ask for a summary of the event, sponsorship and publicity received, outside organizations that participated and suggestions for improvement.

Why Should I Submit a Form?  To provide worthwhile programs and make necessary improvements, Optimist International needs feedback from its Members.  The submitted forms will be reviewed when updating programs for upcoming years.

Where Do I Find the Forms?  An evaluation form will be included in each section of the Planning Guide.  Each form will be listed on the “Forms” page of the Optimist International website,  These forms will not be mailed unless requested.

A Final Resource  You may not realize it but Optimist International staff are a great resource!  They’re happy to answer questions, direct you to the appropriate form, or just discuss a new program idea.

Staff Contact Information  Programs Department –(800) ext. 235 or 261 –Via at

Discussion  How many of the resources have your Clubs utilized?  Please share how your Club utilized the resource(s). Have they been helpful to your Club?  Are there any Programs resources your Club uses that we did not discuss?