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The Southern Exposure Indiana South District – Optimist International

Volume 24, Issue 2 January 2019

2018-2019

“Make a Difference Today”

Michael R. Novak, Governor

Mark Wilson, Immediate Past

Governor

David Osborne, Past Governor

Beverly Oehrle, Governor Elect

Pat France, Secretary-Treasurer

Lt. Governors Zone 1- Walt Willms (Indianapolis Bft) Zone 2- Merrill Smith (Greensburg) Zone 3- Andrea Osborne (Mill Creek) Zone 4- Cary Albin (Terre Haute Noon) Zone 5- Bill Cherolis (Santa Claus) Zone 6- Open Zone 7- Kent Reyling (Jasper)

Zone 8- Open

Attention: Committee Chairs & Lt

Governors The deadline for submitting

articles for the next District

Bulletin is March 15, 2019. Send your articles to

p_grant@fastmail.fm if you have

e-mail. If you prefer, send it

snail-mail: 770 N County Road

625 E, Avon, IN 46123.

DON’T FORGET!

A message from Mike, your 2018-2019 Indiana South District Governor

Hello Fellow Optimists,

I hope all of you had a Merry Christmas and

are looking forward to a Happy and Blessed

New Year. It’s hard to believe our first

quarter of the 2018-19 Optimist year has

come and gone already. I have enjoyed

traveling around the District to install new

officers, visit at club meetings, and simply

talk to old friends and meet new Optimists as

well. Traveling to Evansville to speak to

approximately 200 high school students,

mentors, and fellow Optimists, at the Youth

Appreciation Breakfast, was truly special. I

have read and heard of many of the wonderful

activities and projects being done by each of

the clubs throughout the District. You are

definitely “Bringing out the Best into the

Next Century.”

As we begin the 2019 calendar year, let’s also

place a great deal of emphasis on celebrating

the 100th Anniversary of Optimist

International in each of our communities.

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Someone before us brought Optimism to our community; it is our responsibility

to continue it. We need to promote our individual clubs and recognize this special

anniversary year. If you haven’t started promoting and celebrating yet, here

are a few ideas you can use:

• Plant a tree in the community with the Centennial placard.

• Work with your local Chamber of Commerce to declare an OPTIMIST Day.

Publicize the proclamation at schools and businesses, in the newspaper, on

websites and use various social media.

• Have your Mayor proclaim” OPTIMIST Day/Week/Month/Year.”

• Have an Optimist float in a parade.

• Collect 100 canned goods for a food pantry, 100 pieces of clothing for

children, help 100 needy families in some way.

These are just a few ideas that can be used to celebrate our 100th Anniversary.

You may already be planning something and that is fantastic. Please share your

ideas with me and the rest of the District. This occasion will only come around

once in our lifetime, we need to cherish it, promote it, and celebrate it.

Of course, none of these things can be done without all of you. In this Centennial

Year, we all need to reach out to those individuals in our community and ask them

to join our ranks. Sponsor a new member or ask a former member to return as

part of the Homecoming New Member incentive. For us to continue “Bringing

out the Best into the Next Century,” we must grow in numbers. Without doing

so, our survival is in question. It is up to each of us to spread Optimism wherever

we go and “Make a Difference Today.”

I am looking forward to seeing you at our next District Conference on Saturday,

January 26th at the Hilton Garden Inn in Greenwood, Indiana.

Mike Novak, Governor

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2018-19 Indiana South District Essay Contest

The Indiana South District Essay Contest will be held at the third quarter conference on April 12th - 13th at the Hilton Garden Inn in Edinburgh, Indiana. This year as in years past, there will be a $2500 scholarship awarded to the winning entry. Your District Chair is Andy Tice (Plainfield Optimist Club) and he can be reached at (317) 838-0230 or by email at ticeandrew@yahoo.com. This year’s contest topic is entitled “When all the World’s Problems are Solved, is Optimism Still Necessary?” Personally, I think there will always be a need and room for Optimism in our world. But I don’t want to spoil anyone’s essay! Essays are to be between 700 – 800 words around this central idea. The essay contest has been a great way for contestants to develop their critical thinking and writing skills. Local Clubs are encouraged to work with their school corporations in preparation and when seeking students to compete. Club contests need to be completed by February 28th in order to allow for enough time to get the essays to the district competition and for judging. Clubs will also need to pay an entry fee of $50 for the winning essay from their club. To learn more about how to run a contest within your club, go to the Essay contest section of the Optimist International website. Students who are less than 19 years old as of October 1st are eligible. The students must also not be enrolled in a post-secondary institution. Clubs are also allowed to give a cash award up to $500 if they choose to do that. Good luck to all and let your optimism shine through!

Andy Tice 2018-19 District Essay Chair

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CCDHH

Happy holidays Indiana South Optimists!

I'd appreciate your help for the District CCDHH. What is CCDHH? Communication

Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. That is a mouthful, I know. What it

boils down to is a select few students, through grade 12 that meet a defined,

measurable hearing loss, competing in an oratorical contest. The topic? Same as

the Oratorical contest - Is There a Fine Line Between Optimism and

Reality? Kids in this contest may deliver speeches by voice or American Sign

Language.

I know your first reaction is to think you don't know anyone that fits. If you will

think of school or school corporation contacts, that you will send my way, I'd very

much appreciate it. Send me a name that I will follow up with, I know we can make

this work. The scholarship is $2,500. It is rare we have this event, I'd like to

change that. Let us honor these students as we do our Oratorical Contest

participants.

We need 3 contestants, I have one, surely, we can identify 2 more. I will work with

each contestant to get the proper paperwork and see they can give a good

presentation.

The time frame for this getting done is June 2019. Let us go to the convention

having made this little difference. Little to us but perhaps life changing for the

student winner.

Thank you for your time and consideration. RBCondon@aol.com or

rcondon@gccschools.com.

Rick Condon

2018-2019 CCDHH Chair

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Oratorical The Editor has not received anything from the Oratorical Committee, but I know

it’s time to gear up for your club’s local contest. Remember that this year, clubs

are to hold non-gender contests. But you may send the top two contestants on to

the semi regional contest.

Topic for the 2018-19 school year is: “Is There a Fine Line Between Optimism

and Reality?”

Who: Youth under the age of 19 as of October 1, 2018 (and is not enrolled as a

degree seeking student of a post-secondary institution) in the United States,

Canada or the Caribbean. There is no minimum age.

How To Enter: Interested students submit a speech on the pre-assigned topic to

their local Optimist Club. To find out the contact in your area, please e-mail the

Programs Department at programs@optimist.org.

Students

The deadline to enter is determined by the sponsoring Optimist Club. All Club-

level contests are typically held by late March.

Clubs and Districts.

The District deadline to submit winners to Optimist International is May 15,

2019. Optimist International does not set Club/Zone/Regional deadlines.

The Optimist Oratorical Contest gives youngsters the chance to speak to the

world. More than $150,000 in college scholarships funded by the Optimist

International Foundations is awarded annually from this program.

First conducted in 1928, this is the second most popular Optimist International

Program. Nearly 2,000 clubs participate in this program each year. The winners

at the Club level receive medallions and Zone winners receive a plaque. Districts

have the opportunity to provide a first-place scholarship of $2,500, a second-

place scholarship of $1,500, and a third-place scholarship of $1,000.

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2018 - 2019 Optimist Conferences & Convention

2nd Quarter January 25-26, 2019 Hilton Garden Inn, Greenwood, 5255 Noggle Way, Greenwood, IN 46237

3rd Quarter April 12 & 13, 2019 Hilton Garden Inn, 12210 N Executive Drive, Edinburgh, IN 46124

DISTRICT CONVENTION August 8-11, 2019 Tropicana Evansville, 421 NW Riverside Dr, Evansville, IN 47708

A&A Results – Year End Final Results

Club # Club Name Membership Zone Points

05-588 Indy Pub Club 29 1 4880

05-280 Indianapolis (Downtown) 39 1 15489 – 2nd Silver

05-010 Avon 27 3 15653 – 1st Gold

05-090 Terre Haute Breakfast 37 4 5135

05-483 Santa Claus 82 5 12817 – 3rd Bronze

05-235 Georgetown 41 6 14295

05-130 Clarksville 10 6 3400

08-190 Falls City 13 6 5745

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2018-19 Governor’s Citation Award

This citation shall be awarded to one member of any club, that is in good standings with the Indiana

South District and Optimist International. This individual should have demonstrated an exceptional

dedication to his/her local club, its members, and/or the Indiana South District during the 2018-19

year. Criteria for this award may include, but are not restricted to these examples:

• Regular attendee at meetings

• Exceptional membership recruitment

• Building a new club

• Dedication and involvement with a Junior Optimist Club

• Involvement in fundraising

• Involvement with patriotic and/or respect for law projects

• Dedication and involvement with local youth activities. These can be local club or community

sponsored events.

• Exceptional participation at the club, zone, and/or District level. Can be in the form of serving on

a committee or chairing a committee, as well as attending zone and/or District meetings.

Members of the Executive Team are not eligible for this award.

• Lives the Optimist Creed in their community

Club Presidents and/or Lt. Governors can nominate members, from their club and/or Zone, for this

Governor’s Citation directly to the Governor.

Contact Information:

Mike Novak

1222 E. Troy St.

Greensburg, In 47240

812-614-6588

minovak@msn.com

We are off to the Races-to see how you can add these patches to your

banner; see the next page.

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2018-2019 District Governor’s Incentive Program (Make a Difference Today)

Membership - Individual Awards

• One Member OI New Member Pin, District Certificate & Pin

• Two Members OI 14 oz. coffee mug, District Certificate

• Three Members OI ball point pen & mechanical pencil set, District

Certificate

• Four Members OI 4” square Optimist Creed Coaster, OI stylus

pen, District Certificate

• Five Members OI Five Member Pin, District Certificate,

Governor’s Choice

Membership-Club Awards

• Clubs who gain a net +1 in membership between the1st Quarter (October 1st-

December 31st) will achieve the Belmont Stakes Banner Patch.

• Clubs who maintain a net +2 in membership from (October 1st - March 31st) or gain a

net +2 in membership during the 2nd Quarter (January 1st - March 31st) will achieve the

Preakness Banner Patch.

• Clubs who maintain a net +3 in membership from (October 1st - March 31st) or gain a

net +3 in membership during the 3rd Quarter (April 1st - June 30th) will achieve the

Kentucky Derby Banner Patch.

• Clubs who maintain a net +4 in membership from (October 1st - September 30th) or

achieve HONOR CLUB status from Optimist International will be awarded the Triple

Crown Banner Patch.

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Changes in 2019 for the Optimist International

Junior Golf Championships and the

Indiana South District Junior Golf Program

In 2019, the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships return to Doral Resort & Spa,

Miami, Florida. home of the first Championships in 1995. Doral has four exceptional championship

golf courses including the Blue Monster which has hosted many PGA Tour events. The Championships

will be held July 16 - 31, 2019.

To qualify for this International tournament, junior golfers must participate in a District qualifying

tournament. This year, the qualifying tournament for the Indiana South District of Optimist

International, for all boys and girls age groups, will be held at Deer Creek Golf Club

in Clayton , Indiana on Friday, June 14, 2019.

The Indiana South District Junior Golf Program will expand in 2019 to include at least four Regional

or Local Tournaments in addition to the District Championships.

The purpose of the Regional or Local Tournaments is to make more junior golfers aware of the

program, and to give them the opportunity to participate in a tournament experience without having

to travel so far, and at a registration fee of $25.00. Regional or Local Tournament age group winners

will be invited to enter the District Tournament at no additional cost. All other Regional or Local

Tournament participants who decide that they also want to participate in the District Championships

may apply the regional registration fee towards the registration fee of the District Championships.

Players who know they want to participate in the District Championships do not have to enter a

Regional or Local Tournament.

The Santa Claus Optimist Club will host one Regional Tournament. Other Clubs (or Zones) that

wish to host and conduct a Regional or Local tournament or want more information should contact

District Junior Golf Chair Mike Woodward (optimist.mike@gmail.com or 317-753-5221). Regional

or Local tournament sites will be announced early in 2019.

For more information, check out the following “Optimist Golf” web sites:

Optimist International Junior Golf Program

Doral Resort and Spa, Miami, Florida

Indiana South District Junior Golf Program

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2018 Optimist International Junior Golf Championships,

Indiana South District Participants

Jack Besner, Whiteland

Kayla Benge,

Plainfield

Alex Heck,

Greenwood

Jacob Deakyne,

Noblesville

Jackson Franchville, Coatesville

Five players from the Indiana South District competed in the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Jack Besner of Whiteland competed in the Boys 12-13 age group. His father, Allen reported that both he and Jack had a great tournament experience.

All four Indiana South participants that competed in the oldest age groups made the “cut” (top 50) to compete in the final round. In the Girls 15-18 tournament, our District winner Kayla Benge, from Plainfield, finished 16th. There were 138 players in the field. Kayla is now playing on the women’s golf team at Xavier University.

In the Boys tournament, our District winner Alex Heck, from Greenwood finished 22nd, Jacob Deakyne of Noblesville finished 42nd, and Jackson Franchville of Coatesville finished 47th. Jackson was also a member of the All-Scholastic Team and is now a freshman at Purdue University. The boys tournament, also had 138 participants.

Alex Heck will also be competing at the Optimist Tournament of Champions in Orlando the first weekend in November.

The District could have sent more participants to the Championships. However, two age groups had no entries in the District Tournament and some potential participants did not shoot a qualifying score, and three participants who did qualify elected not to enter the International Tournament.

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Club Grant Program

The Club Grant program enables the Foundations to assist Clubs implementing new

projects in their community! Club grant applications are due to the St. Louis office by

March 9, 2019, or to the Montreal office by March 31, 2019. For more information, click

here for United States and Caribbean Clubs

CONDOLENCES TO PAST GOVERNOR STAN STEWART ON THE LOSS OF HIS

MOTHER.

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Childhood Health and Wellness

In response to requests from Optimist Clubs and recognizing the broad range of childhood health-related issues, Optimist International and our Foundations are excited to announce the Childhood Health & Wellness Program. The Childhood Health & Wellness Program will build on the highly successful Childhood Cancer Campaign to expand our impact. Clubs and Districts will now have the opportunity to initiate projects and services to improve the quality of life for children in their communities across a broader spectrum of needs. Childhood Health & Wellness will include four focus areas (not limited to the examples below):

• Healthy Lifestyles (Child Obesity, Healthy Eating, Physical Fitness, Happy Heart Advice, March of Dimes)

• Chronic Diseases (Childhood Cancer, Juvenile Diabetes, HIV, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Sickle Cell Anemia)

• Mental Health (Depression, Bullying, Abuse) • Disabilities – Physical, Intellectual & Developmental (Autism,

Special Olympics)

As of January 1, 2019, the Optimist International Foundation will accept contributions for Childhood Health & Wellness with the intent of creating a grant program. Contributions previously made to the Childhood Cancer Campaign (CCC) will be used to support Childhood Cancer. The Canadian Children's Optimist Foundation (CCOF) had previously introduced a Childhood Health and Wellness initiative called "Spread Relief". Canadian Clubs must apply through the Canadian Foundation, please visit www.ccof-foec.org. There is an exciting opportunity to start supporting the Childhood Health & Wellness Program to serve more children in our communities!

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Official Optimist International Suppliers

United States and the Caribbean: Shumsky www.OptimistStuff.com

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Useful Web Links

Optimist International Structure & Services: http://www.optimistleaders.org/LeadershipInfo/ClubInfo/ClubAnswerBook/OI_Structure_&_Services.pdf

Club Organizational Model:

http://www.optimistleaders.org/TeachingMaterials/OfficerTraining/Club_Organization_Model.pdf

Optimist International Foundation:

The Optimist International Foundation is a 501C3 organization whose purpose is to receive and manage funds exclusively for the charitable, literary or educational purposes of OI and its member clubs. See website link: http://oifoundation.org/about-us/

Official Optimist International Supplier: Shumsky www.OptimistStuff.com

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Club Presidents: Please

make copies of this

Bulletin and distribute to

the members of your club.

The Southern Exposure is published for all Optimists

located in the Indiana South District, Optimist

International. The editor is Paul R. Grant, 770 N County

Road 625 E, Avon, IN 46123. Submissions may be sent

to p_grant@fastmail.fm and are subject to extreme

editing.

Attention ALL Club Presidents

Presidents of all Clubs in the District serve as members

of the District Board of Directors. Make sure to attend

your Board meeting at every District Conference and at

the Convention.

Update Member Information

To ensure each Optimist Member is receiving important information from Optimist International, encourage each Member to update their contact information with a leader in your Club. This includes addresses, email addresses and phone numbers. Each leader (Club President, Secretary, or Treasurer) has a log-in for Optimist Leaders to update the Members’ information.