If you're looking for a way to get involved in the community and you have a heart for children, allow us to introduce to you Optimist International. There are multitudes of chapters in cities throughout the US and several other countries. There hasn't been an active chapter in Tallahassee for several years until local businessman Doug Weier stepped up. Doug launched the group in October of 2011 with 22 other Tallahassee Locals. Not many folks know about Optimist International and we're trying to change that.
What Optimist Clubs Do
Optimist Clubs are dedicated to "Bringing Out the Best in Kids" and do their part through community service programs. Since each Club is autonomous and run by members in their community, Optimists have the unique flexibility to serve the youth of their area in any way they see fit. Optimist Clubs see a need in their community and react to it.
Optimist International officially sponsors several International Programs: the Childhood Cancer Campaign, Internet Safety, the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships and the organization's scholarship contests (Essay Contest, Oratorical Contest and Communication Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing). In addition, Optimist International encourages involvement in several other community activities:
Optimists conduct 65,000 community service projects each year, spending $78 million in their communities. Annually, six million kids are positively affected by Optimist programs. To read testimonies from just a few of these six million youth, click here.
Each year the organization awards unique, innovative and well-run community service projects through the Community Projects Awards (CPA) program. Click here to see some unique project ideas from the 2008-2009 CPA winners.
The local Tallahassee chapter adopted a family in crisis this Christmas as their first act of community service. If you'd like to come to a chapter meeting to see if Optimist is a good fit for you contact Chapter President, Doug Weier at 850-574-1010.
Tags: Optimist International Optimist Tallahassee
