Governor's Message - Third Quarter 

An Optimistic Hello to all our Optimist Friends out there in the SWIS District!!!!  They say ‘time fly’s when you are having fun.  We must be having lots and lots of fun.  Four months until we move into a new Optimist year.

A couple messages to share in this Governor Newsletter and dig into a little deeper from my perception

I pick these two quotes as I believe if we look further, we will see they firmly support each other and also have a connection with being an Optimist.  Let’s take a look

We live in a daily whirlwind, many still employed yet others find themselves retired and volunteering.  Many times, the volunteer hours result in more than a normal work week.  My point being, we find ourselves without enough hours in a day.  As strange as it may be, what we are doing, an 8-hour work day or volunteering, we enjoy ourselves and gain satisfaction for our efforts.  It is this feeling of contentment that opens the door to tomorrow, wondering, as good as today was, how can tomorrow be better?   Oh yes, it is nice to sit down in the evening and stretch and after a while, we begin to think about the next day and what it will bring.  It’s tomorrow and we start all over again, and find we have not yet reached our limit of what we can do.  Our belief in ourselves and making the most of each and every day teaches us our only limit is within ourselves.  We have more to do, more to offer and more to give.  Some with rewards, some without rewards; however, all come with our own internal rewards knowing what we did made a difference for someone.    

And how do these two quotes link to being an Optimist?  Let’s start with Believe….  We have an Optimist Creed and as members when we recite this Creed, we Promise ourselves on multiple levels, not knowing what tomorrow may bring.  We work to ‘Bring out the Best in youth, our communities and ourselves, not knowing exactly how we are going to do that.  And, last but certainly not least, we join together with individuals throughout the world all different and yet all with the similar goals.  What we do not know and yet believe, are our Optimist brothers and sisters and committed to the Optimist Creed as are we? 

What is your limit?  Only you can answer this question.  Without members sharing time and talent within their clubs and within the SWIS District, we might ask ourselves, how can this organization survive.  You have heard this before; however, it is worth repeating, each member serves 35 children.  Your club and the SWIS District need you.  When was the last time you attended a meeting with your club members?  When was the last time you attended a SWIS District conference?  By your presence, you make a difference.  Your ideas and suggestions can make a difference in what you do and how you serve your community.  By attending a SWIS District conference, you build relationships with other club members, gain new ideas and become involved which leads to better understanding of our organization, Optimist International.  All this leads to Bringing out the Best in Youth, our Communities and Ourselves.  Take the step to make a difference.

In four short months, the gavel will pass to new administration.  There is still time to invite a friend to join you for coffee or lunch, depending on when your club members get together.  Give someone the opportunity to realize and perhaps share in that which you do as an Optimist.  New members are always welcome and it is up to us to help our clubs and the SWIS District continue growing.  Believe in tomorrow and you have no limit!

Optimistically: Co-Governors:  Jo'El Pearlman, Maxine Lane, Maureen Crombie