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History of Optimist International
1900s – The Beginnings
As industrialization and urbanization brought many new problems to
society, citizens began forming voluntary organizations to address the
needs of their communities. In some areas, groups took the name
“optimist club” to express their desire for a positive outlook in the
face of all these problems. The first official Optimist Club was formed
in Buffalo, New York, in 1911.
Impetus for a nationwide Optimist movement began when the Optimist Club
of Indianapolis, Indiana, was formed in May 1916. Envisioning a
nationwide organization, founders of the Indianapolis club moved ahead in the
summer of 1916 to start Optimist Clubs in many other major cities.
These clubs quickly grew to more than 100 members each. As a result, a
national conference of the American clubs took place in 1917 in Indianapolis.
1919 – The Founding of Optimist International
Times were good. World War I had been fought and won and spirits were
high in America.
It was an ideal time for the birth of Optimism. The association of
clubs that is known today as Optimist International was formed on June
19, 1919, when representatives of 11 clubs held a convention in Louisville, Kentucky,
and adopted the name International Optimist Club. During the
convention, William Henry Harrison, a descendent of the ninth president
of the United States
bearing the same name, was elected the first International President of
Optimist international.
Over the next three years, the organization grew to 49 clubs and 4,000
members.
1920s – A Full-fledged Organization is Formed
In October 1920, the first edition of The Optimist magazine was published.
Each of the 27 clubs was asked to report in at least once a month with
news of their club.
In 1922, the Optimist
Creed was adopted as the official creed of the organization. Written
by Christian Larson, the creed was originally published under the title
“Promise Yourself” in 1912. Optimists in California found the Optimist spirit
well-expressed in the 10-line statement and pushed to have it adopted
organization-wide. The wife of Los Angeles Optimist James V. Westervelt
saw the item in a newspaper and clipped it for her husband. After
publishing it in his club's bulletin, Westervelt and other Los Angeles
Optimists encouraged other California
clubs to use the creed. Soon after, the creed's popularity grew.
In August 1922, the first official emblem of Optimist International was
developed and adopted. The emblem consisted of a youngster with a
beaming countenance and the words “International Optimist Club.” Along
with the smiling face appeared another symbol. It had a sun in its
center and the words “Friendship, Sociability, Loyalty, Reciprocity”
around it as a border. The emblem can be found on page 35 in Of Dreams
and Deeds.
From the beginning, Optimist Clubs directed major efforts toward youth
service. As a result, in 1923, the motto “Friend of the Delinquent Boy”
was chosen, setting the course of the organization. The motto was
introduced by Dr. Hartloft, a medical examiner in Evansville, Indiana,
who became a community leader when he served as past president of the
Big Brother movement.
In 1924, it was voted by the convention delegates that the Optimist
International motto be revised to “Friend of the Boy.”
In 1924, the first organization-wide youth service program was
established with the chartering of Junior Optimist Clubs. Its purpose
was to instill the value of volunteering in young boys. The idea of
creating youth clubs was developed in 1920 by Milwaukee Optimist Henry
Scarborough, who was well-known in his community in vocational guidance
and personnel relations. After gathering a group of young boys
together, they agreed that since the Optimists served as the group’s
sponsor, they should call themselves “Junior Optimists.”
During the 1924 convention in Milwaukee,
the Junior Optimist Club idea really began to spread. The delegates
voted the right of Optimist International to charter Junior Optimist
Clubs everywhere, with an Optimist Club as its sponsor. The idea spread
like wildfire and right before World War II, there were 42 Junior
Optimist Clubs formed with several hundred youth members.
Also in 1924, history was made when the Optimist Club of Toronto,
Ontario, was formed, the first club outside the United States. Four months
later, the second Canadian Optimist Club was chartered in Hamilton, about 40 miles west of Toronto.
In 1928, an organization-wide Oratorical Contest
was started for the Junior Optimist Clubs. Through the years, its
purpose has been to provide a valuable self-improvement activity for
the boys. Today, this remains the oldest and most well-known program of
Optimist International.
In 1929, the organization grew to 117 Optimist Clubs and 8,000 members.
On October 29, 1929, the stock market crashed and so began the Great
Depression. Optimists immediately recognized the much-needed
philosophies of Optimism.
1930s – Meeting the Challenge
During the early 1930s, as a result of the Great Depression, membership
dropped significantly. Despite the dropping numbers, Optimists
continued to increase their youth service, tripling the number of
youths reached. In fact, there were twice as many Junior Optimist Clubs
in 1931 as there had been in 1929.
In 1933 came Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal, bringing with them
the National Recovery Administration. Seeing their role as good
citizens, many of the Optimist Club members supported the NRA.
As a result of diminishing membership and a shortage of dues, in 1936,
the Life Membership Plan was introduced at the Fort Worth convention as a means of
gaining some ready cash with which to work and not have to pay back.
At the turn of the decade, membership in Optimist International had
climbed to 11,129 members, more than twice what it had been just six
years earlier.
1940s – The War Years
During the 1940s, World War II took force and both United States and
Canadian citizens recognized the need for civilian support. But what
could they do? Before many months of war production had passed, it
became obvious that normal peacetime supplies of scrap metal would soon
be exhausted in the manufacture of arms and munitions. The United States
called upon its citizens to salvage 17 million tons of scrap metal. To
do their part, Optimist Clubs quickly joined forces to start the
official Optimist Scrap Metal Drives.
Following the first campaign, an average of 25 Optimists per club
worked to obtain the scrap and a total of about 250 clubs pushed local
campaigns. The end result was an average of 12.5 tons of vital material
per club. Optimist International's concerted effort in this and many
subsequent home-front campaigns during World War II is considered by
many as the organization's highest achievement. Optimist International
was awarded a special citation from the War Production Board for its
achievements in collecting thousands of tons of sorely needed scrap
metal and rubber.
In Canada,
there was growing concern for the needs of children living overseas
near the fighting. Out of this concern arose a new project. Based on
the conviction that children are entitled to a few little luxuries and
the war had recently been depriving them of these necessities, the
Optimist Club of Welland, Ontario, created the Chocolate Fund. And the
Optimists contributed generously. By the war's end, British children
were delivered more than two million bars of chocolate – the only sweet
they knew during 10 years of war and famine.
Also during the war, millions of dollars were raised in
Optimist-sponsored war bond drives.
During the years of World War II, no International Conventions were
held because of travel restrictions and the need for Optimists to
remain on the job till the war was won. Four Wartime Conferences were
substituted for conventions to carry on the administrative work of the
organization.
Surprisingly, membership did not drop during the war years. As more and
more men discovered the value of community service, especially during
the war, membership increased from 13,000 in 1941 to 16,000 in 1945.
1950s – Launching New Programs
During the 1950s, Optimist Clubs were becoming increasingly well-known
for their efforts and youth service. It was also a decade in which many
new programs were born.
In April 1953, the first international Bike Safety Week took place,
with its purpose being to inform youngsters of the safe operation of
bikes and inspire safety habits. This program continues today to be one
of the more prominent programs of the organization.
The 1950s were also a time in which Optimists recognized that there were
kids who needed their help. In San
Antonio, a young clergyman called the
attention of his Optimist Club to the homeless and neglected boys
sleeping under bridges and on the streets. This led to the start of
many boys’ homes throughout the country. Some of the more famous
optimist-sponsored boys’ homes were the Optimist Home for Boys in Los Angeles and Boysville in San Antonio.
In 1955, the 1,000th Optimist Club was chartered.
In 1957, Optimist International celebrated the first observance of
Youth Appreciation Week on an international basis to recognize and
commend children and teenagers who are too often given a bad rap.
Youth Appreciation Week was created by late Optimist T. Earl
Yarborough, who developed the program after recognizing the fact that
youngsters are almost never publicly praised and commended. With the
help of two fellow Optimists, Yarborough worked to promote the idea of
a Youth Appreciation Day. His efforts paid off and his home state of North Carolina
observed the very first Youth Appreciation Day on May 22, 1955.
The following year, Optimist International scheduled a Youth
Appreciation Week program on a pilot basis in five states and one
Canadian province. Acceptance and enthusiasm of the program led to the
first international Youth Appreciation Week in fall 1957.
Because of Earl Yarborough's many community efforts and his work in
creating Youth Appreciation Week, a lifetime achievement award in
Optimist service was named in honor of him.
1960s – A Decade of Great Expansion
In 1960, a full-fledged campaign was launched to work against
pornography reaching school-age children through the family mailbox.
In 1963, the Optimist Youth Clubs program was expanded to include
Octagon Clubs for high school students.
In 1964, the Stay in School program was created to help reduce the
number of high school drop-outs.
In 1965, a new program was undertaken in an effort to combat apathy
toward crime and the dispensation of justice. With the cooperation of
the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police, Optimist International began Respect For Law
Week. One of the more visual aspects of this program is the Optimist
International Respect For Law Citation, which recognizes citizens for
outstanding service at a crime scene by aiding police.
In 1968, Optimist International celebrated the organization’s Golden
Anniversary convention in Louisville,
Kentucky, the site of the
very first convention in 1919. In celebration of the organization’s
50th anniversary, Optimist International participated in the famous
Tournament of Roses parade on New Year’s Day.
In 1969, membership topped the 100,000 mark.
1970s – Rapid Growth
In 1971, Optimist International grew to almost 3,000 clubs and 105,000
members.
At the 1971 convention, it was announced that the International Board
had approved the Optimist
International Foundation and that all necessary legal steps had
been taken to put it into business. The purpose of the Foundation is to
operate exclusively for the charitable, literary or educational
purposes of Optimist International.
During the 1971 convention in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, the
International Board approved the Tri-Star Basketball Program for boys,
known today as the Tri-Star Sports
Program. The first year of the Tri-Star competition saw more than
300 clubs and 75,000 young participants.
On November 5, 1971, President Nixon signed the first Youth
Appreciation Week Proclamation declaring the week of November 8 as the
official Youth Appreciation Week. Representing the youth of the time,
21 youngsters gathered around President Nixon for the signing. He said
to them: “I would say to you this is an exciting time to be alive.” He
commended them and challenged them to be leaders for the next
generation and to “build a compassionate world.”
In 1972, Optimist International’s motto was changed to “Friend of
Youth” to reflect service to both girls and boys.
Also in 1972, the 3,000th Optimist Club was founded.
In 1972, society began to realize environmental issues were
increasingly becoming a concern. The need for clean air, pure water, uncluttered
streets, and proper disposal of trash became the focus and the result
of a new Optimist program titled L-I-F-E – Living Is For Everything.
Also in 1972 was the launch of AVOID, a new program to combat syphilis
and gonorrhea. With the creation of this program, Optimist
International became the first service club organization to address
this type of need.
In 1978, the International Board of Directors voted to sponsor one the
most prestigious junior golf events in the world, now known as the
Junior World Golf Championships. Today, Optimist International sponsors
its own tournament, independent from Junior World, known as the
Optimist International Junior Golf Championships. More than 5,000
junior golfers ages 10 to 18 compete in qualifying tournaments at the
club and district level in hopes of making it to the international
tournament.
In 1978, the Help Them Hear program was rolled out, giving many clubs a
chance to do something for hearing-impaired youth and adults. The
program was designed so that clubs would implement programs to heighten
public awareness of the problems associated with hearing impairment,
provide local testing facilities and provide corrective and educational
techniques for those people with hearing impairments.
1980s – A Time of Change
In August 1980, 48 residents of Kingston,
Jamaica,
were officially installed as Optimists. The Optimist Club of Kingston
immediately became part of the Florida
district, Jamaica’s
closest Optimist neighbor. This was the organization's first step in a
successful Caribbean expansion
project.
In 1983, a new and special Optimist program for high school students
was created – the Essay Contest.
With this program, students are asked to write a 400- to 500-word essay
on a specific subject. After club and district competitions, winners
advance to the international contest. After 1988, scholarships were
awarded to the top three international winners.
During the 1980s, the most prevalent social issue around was the abuse
of drugs and alcohol. Optimist International, in concern for youth
during this time, adopted the Just Say No substance abuse prevention
program in 1985. As part of the Just Say No program, Optimists created
a chicken mascot named “Mr. Resister” (chicken being an acronym of
Cool, Honest, Intelligent, Clear-headed, Keen, Energetic and Not
interested in drugs). Although Optimists were one of the many
supporters of Just Say No, they were perhaps the most active with more
than 1.5 million children already reached in the first two years of the
program.
In 1987, concerns had grown about possible legal challenges to men-only
provisions in the organization and the Optimist International Board of
Directors responded by voting to admit women to the membership.
Also in 1987, statistics revealed that Optimist efforts reached five
million young people each year.
In 1988, the Optimist International Board of Directors established the Optimist
International Foundation of Canada, to provide a vehicle for
tax-deductible contributions by Canadian members.
In 1988, the organization recognized the rapid growth of Optimist Youth
Clubs, which had grown to 30,000 members in 1,000 Junior Optimist and
Octagon Clubs, and formed its own international organization – Junior Optimist
Octagon International.
1990s – Looking Toward the Future
In 1990, 20 Optimist Clubs were chartered in Hungary, less than a year
after its government permitted service clubs.
In 1992, a new and innovative program, titled Optimists in Action Day,
was introduced as a pilot program to unite Optimists and other
volunteers in the community in a single day of community or youth
service.
Also in 1992, Optimist International took a step further in its
substance abuse efforts by introducing the “get real!” anti-steroid
program. This program reached schools all over the world and taught
youth to become healthy and fit through nutrition and other natural
means, not through steroids.
Twelve years after the first club was built, Jamaica was awarded its own
district. With 25 clubs in Jamaica,
Barbados and Antigua, the Jamaica District was born in 1992,
with Theodore Golding serving as Charter Governor.
In August 1993, the first ever Jamaica Convention took place in Ocho
Rios, St. Ann, Jamaica. Just a few years –
and several new clubs – later the Jamaica District officially became
the Caribbean District on Oct. 1, 1996. The district had 38 clubs.
Optimism sprinkled into several new island nations, including Saint Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat,
Anguilla and Saint
Lucia.
In 1998, the islands of Dominica
and Trinidad and Tobago
were added to the Caribbean District, while Cayman, Barbuda, Tortola and the Turks and Caicos became part of
the district the following year.
In 1993, Alpha Clubs created for grades one through four became an
official part of Junior Optimist Octagon International.
On June 5, 1993, Optimist Clubs all over the world gathered for the
first annual Optimists in Action Day and made a difference in their
communities. Clubs painted homes of the elderly and underprivileged,
collected canned goods, cleaned parks and streets, and conducted many
other community service projects.
Later that summer, Optimist International kicked off its 75th
anniversary year at the 75th International Convention in Louisville, Kentucky,
the site of the first and 50th conventions.
In 1996, Optimist International received corporate backing from Morton
International for a new safety awareness program – Always Buckle
Children in the Backseat (ABC). Optimists embraced the ABC program,
making it one of the most successful programs in history. Members
visited thousands of merchants, hospitals, car dealerships, childcare
agencies and any other types of businesses frequented by parents and
childcare givers. Optimists provided educational pamphlets informing
the proper way to restrain children in cars that contain passenger-side
airbags.
In 1997 ESPN covered the Optimist International Junior Golf
Championships, making Optimist International the first service club
organization to ever have a worldwide event televised.
In 1998, Optimist International’s float won the “National Trophy” in the
Tournament of Roses Parade for best depicting the overall theme of
“Hav’n’ Fun.”
In July 1999, Optimists celebrated the 75th anniversary of Optimists
Clubs in Canada.
The International Convention in Toronto
provided a perfect location to give tribute to the many Canadians who
have become and remain members of the organization.
Optimism for the New Millennium
The turn of the century was a turning point in the organization’s
storied history. Following the International Convention in Reno, Nevada,
the inaugural Optimist International Junior Bowling Championships
(OIJBC) took place there. Junior bowlers battled for the right to be
called “Optimist Champion.”
In July 2001, Optimists found themselves seated in the White House,
pledging to support U.S. President George W. Bush’s goal to mentor one
million children. Optimist International President Bob Garner called
the meeting “yet another sterling example of ‘Optimists Bringing Out
the Best in Kids.’”
Also in 2001, Optimist International introduced the Childhood Cancer
Campaign to provide awareness and support of children battling
cancer and the challenges their families face. In 2004, the
organization made a $1 million commitment to Johns Hopkins to
underwrite a research focus.
Optimist International signed up the first Friend of Optimists in 2005.
This class of membership allows individuals to show their support of
the organization’s mission if they are unable to commit as a
traditional club member.
Also in 2005, the Optimist Junior Golf Program expanded to include the
Optimist International Tournament of Champions for top-performing
junior golfers ages 14 to 18.
Less than two decades after Optimist International welcomed women as
members in the organization, Ronnie Dunn became the first female
International President in October 2006. Her year in office was
followed by Theo W. Golding of Kingston,
Jamaica, who became
the first International President from outside Canada and the United States.
With children being introduced to the internet at earlier and earlier
ages, the organization began an Internet Safety
program in 2008 to keep children educated and safe from online predators.
Moving Forward
There are high hopes and expectations for the future of Optimism.
Growth and maturation will occur as the organization moves closer to
its centennial. From the beginnings of its youth service, the
organization has held onto its Optimistic philosophy – to think only of
the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
For a more detailed history of Optimist International, please consider
ordering the book Of Dreams and
Deeds from one of Optimist International’s suppliers.
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