77th Annual District Convention 2024-2025

Hello Optimist Friends and Partners,

I am inviting all of you to join me in my adventure!!!!!

As we start Optimist year 2024-2025, I am looking forward to working with all of you. My style of leadership is to lead with you, to be in partnership with all of you. I am excited to expand our Ohio district so we can reach out to even more children. My theme this year is “Creating Optimism in Kids.” I want to capture the inspiration we all have for bringing out the best in kids, our communities and ourselves, to provide the training needed to feel confident that we can be successful, provide a plan to follow for success and provide a sustainable fiscal future of Optimism in Ohio.

Being the governor for the Ohio District Optimist was never a goal of mine HOWEVER when the invitation to be governor, I felt that I might be able to make a difference. I know that we need to continue to reach out to the children in our hometowns and bring optimism to as many as possible. I have served as president of two clubs and been Lt. Governor two times. I am retired and have children and grandchildren living all over the country. I feel I have done my part to forward the call of Optimism. HOWEVER…. the need is still here. Therefore, I need all of you. Just like me, you have served before, please reach deep down and say….” I will help again!!!” Help me influence others in your club, your community and share the value of optimism with everyone. Together we can really make a difference. I KNOW we can …. The time is NOW. I just need you to partner with me.

My goals this year are simple:

1. To stop our clubs from disbanding and Optimist members from leaving. We need to make our existing and new members feel welcome and valued. We then need to grow our clubs and show the new members how valuable they are to our clubs and our community.

2. To educate and train our members so they have the tools they need to lead. First we will provide leadership training so optimist members at all levels will feel they have the tools and confidence they need to lead their clubs.

3. We will provide a road map, a marketing plan, that will spell out a process for us to reach out to our communities to be successful.

4. And lastly, we will balance our budget and be fiscally responsible. As membership grows, we can again expand our programs and expenditures. But for today and for the months ahead we must plan for the future.

I am asking you all to make a real effort to attend the conferences and convention in 2024-2025. If you can’t attend the entire weekend, please consider attending at least the Saturday sessions. The 2024-2025 leadership team is putting together meetings that are worthwhile and beneficial. Please take time to read the attached summary of the first leadership training. There is homework for you (Very easy, don’t get scared).

I am excited to be getting to know all of you and to be able to work with you closely. Please share with me all the exciting things your club is doing. Kids you are making a difference for. In summary, we need to grow optimism in Ohio and everywhere. Our children and ourselves depend on it. I need you to be my partner!

Yours in Optimism,

Governor Terry Schalnat