JOOI of Service

Happiness: The new productivity

Vishen Lakhiani

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=T8ZFU4FoNvY






Thanks to OI Facebook page and Jonathan Wood Logan

February Reminders

Scholarship Contests

The entries for the Essay and Oratorical competitions are to be with the zone no later than Friday, February 17.  Entry forms are to be submitted with the applicable fees. The zone run-offs are scheduled for Saturday March 17.  These contests are designed to bring out the best in our children so don't let the children down now. 


Q2 District Conference

Optimist International Caribbean District  second quarter conference is scheduled for February 24 - 26 at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort, Montego Bay. The accommodation hotel is El Greco. Lots of training and fellowship opportunities are in store.


The activities and special moments at conference will be worth remembering. Training modules include he following:
- Organizing and Leading Effective Teams
- Future Leaders - Catch a Rising Star
- Strategic Planning for Highly Successful Clubs
- Communication Skills
Register and be part of a the winning combination as Caribbean Optimists unleash the power of one. 
Of course the big red carpet night is Saturday the 25th.  Governor Joe's Reach Out 2010-2011 Awards Ceremony kicks off at 8:30 that evening.  The recognitions are big this year and so are the plans for the event. We hear mention of Grammy style!

OI President on the Rock

Also scheduled to be in the house for Q2 conference are Optimist International President Jack and First Lady Sue.  The Conference team is pulling out all the stops to ensure that the big man receives the customary warm Caribbean welcome as well as experience the usual fun-filled high energy learning and fellowship the District has mastered over the years. We all should be part of that experience.




And don't forget
Zone 4 Fundraiser #1 is Oliver Samuels' Who A Di Don? and that is set for Sunday March 25, 2012 at Stages Theatre, Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston. Thanks for supporting the children of our communities.

OI7804 Optimists - Harnessing the power of one.

Zone 4 Benefit: Who a di don?

Coming up on Sunday, March 25, 2012 is the Zone 4 benefit performance of the entertaining family production WHO A DI DON? by Dean of comedic theatre, Oliver Samuels himself. Make sure you get your tickets from your club leaders.
Check out a review here: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20111220/ent/ent3.html

Q2 Zone Meeting

Saturday, February 4, 2012; another success feather in our cap. Confidence in my fellow Optimists, not conceit!

On a Saturday afternoon with 29 of us from the 7804 Family of Optimists in attendance, that was not a bad turn out. The special guest, Caribbean District Governor Dwight spoke about the need for Optimists to work as a team and encouraged us to focus our energies on restoring pride of place for Optimism within the voluntary service movement. It was also good to have had five of the six clubs on roster present with four club reports done by the Presidents and one by the Secretary-Treasurer. 

Respect is due to the Optimist Clubs of West St Andrew and Kingston Central who did an incredible job at covering all the logistics including the preparation of a full meal. As joint hosts they were superb in planning and execution. Much thanks to presidents Shyama and Janette and of course their teams. Special thanks also to PLtGs Margaret and Al for leading on some critical behind the scenes matters. Thanks also to the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority for accommodating us.

One of the features introduced at the meeting is “From the Floor” which gave members an opportunity to talk about issues of concern. The initiative is really a practice platform for conference and with the Governor present, what better time to open the microphone, so to speak. Dues payment, membership recruitment, and recognition criteria came up for discussion and remain issues that need deeper and wider discourse among the membership as well as the leadership of the movement. At some point we are going to have to face the issues honestly and in a most fulsome manner. I am happy that members are so welcoming of the initiative and look forward to doing it again. 

On the other hand, I am disappointed in not getting the Optimism Awareness Quiz off to a blazing start but the trophy is there ready to be presented at the next zone meeting set for Sunday May 6 and I know the teams will be fully in place and anxious to go then. 

Way to go 7804 Optimists!

Of Dreams and Deeds

The full story of the Optimist International movement is now available online at:
http://www.ofdreamsanddeeds.org/

Learn the history of this great voluntary service organization. Get on board and read.

Q2 Zone Leaders Meeting

I feel so blessed and privileged to be working with such positive leaders of the 7804 family.  Thanks so very much for your continued support of this initiative where all sitting presidents, secretary-treasurers and past Lieutenant Governors can meet, dialogue, and come to consensus on how to move our clubs, zone, and by extension. our district and Optimism forward. The meeting on January 21was indeed productive and I look forward with expectant delight to the success-filled execution of our responsibilities as leaders and Optimists.

Coming up for our immediate attention are:

1. The Oratorical and Essay Competitions.  Entries are due by February 10. Work with those participating in the Communication contest for the deaf and hard-of-hearing (CCDHH) should also be well advanced at this time.
2. Q2 Zone meeting is scheduled for Saturday February 4 with registration scheduled for  2:00pm.  The meeting will be held at The Civil Aviation Authority, 4 Winchester Road. Hosts are OC West St Andrew and OC Kingston Central.  Of course, I am looking forward to the Optimism Awareness Quiz which will be held as part of the meeting and should provide both a platform for education and friendly competition among the clubs.
3. OC West St Andrew, Kingston Breakfast and Sunset Liguanea are also leading on an initiative that should include a recruitment blitz and NOW meetings aimed at growing the numbers for the clubs and Optimism in general. This is also in tandem with our efforts at membership retention by twinning clubs to maximize the strengths and resources available across clubs.

Coming soon! A benefit performance of a current play. Looking forward to the tremendous support for this.

An appeal from District Life Membership (DLM) Chairperson Nutilia Simon from the
beautiful island of Antigua: Cp Nutilia is encouraging Caribbean Optimists to sign for the DLM programme and see the tremendous benefits for the district and individual.
Give her a link at email: tilialeslie@yahoo.com

Expecting only the best.
LtG Patrick