Bringing Out The Best In Kids!
Join Us To Make A Difference In The Lives of Children
Optimist International is a worldwide volunteer organization made up of more than 2,500 local Clubs whose Members work each day to make the future brighter by bringing out the best in children, in their communities, and in themselves.
Purposes of Optimist Clubs
- To develop optimism as a philosophy of life utilizing the tenets of the Optimist Creed;
- To promote an active interest in good government and civic affairs;
- To inspire respect for the law;
- To promote patriotism and work for international accord and friendship among all people;
- To aid and encourage the development of youth, in the belief that the giving of one’s self in service to others will advance the well-being of humankind, community life and the world.
This site is operated and managed by Eclectic Sales & Creative Marketing, LLC (ESCMI). ESCMI is operated by Dave Crabill and Jeff Dennings, both Optimist Club members. They recognized the need to help clubs promote their great events and programs online and developed a simple to implement plan to do just that. Scroll down to check out all the great things that Optimist Clubs do to help local children and get involved in any way you can! Children are our future! Use the Menu to find a club in your area and make a difference!
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Latest Optimistic News
West Flint Optimists Newsletter – 8/9/18
Our distinguished guest this morning was Jack Stock representing Kettering University. I hope Jack doesn't mind me stealing his bio. He has demonstrated a history of working in the higher education industry. He is skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Coaching, Event...
Members of West Flint Optimists Pack Lunches for CANUSA Kids
Steve Schlott had all the goodies ready for us as members gathered to pack lunch sacks for the kids. We started at 6:00 pm or something very close to that. We were done before 7:00. Pictured left to right: Jeff Dennings, Ken Cullen, Jack Medemar, Matthew Dennings...
West Flint Optimist Newsletter – 8/2/18
Tauzzari Robinson, CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Greater Flint and himself a member of BGC, updated us on the leadership shuffling at BGC and program status at the organization. The annual budget of just under $1M is used for maintaining, upgrading, and reconfiguring...
West Flint Optimist Newsletter – 7/26/18
Chris Christenson, area attorney and currently a candidate for Circuit Court Judge, was guest of standing Circuit Court Judge and Club member Joe Farah, presenting his credentials and history in a way that he hopes will stand out among the many candidates in the race....
West Flint Optimist Newsletter – 7/19/18
Casey Schlinker, in her current role as Program Manager at Whaley Children's Center, updated us regarding the Optimist House that we and other area clubs acquired, refurbished, and support for Whaley's kids. An "Independent Living Pilot Project" is now housed in the...
West Flint Optimist Newsletter – 7/12/18
Before the fourteen members started discussing the $5,000 Raffle (the morning's agenda), the Pledge, prayer, and fines filled the wait for. and consumption of, our breakfast. Ken Cullen passed a fine against Ron Ballard for failing to shake everyone's hand. Bill...
West Flint Optimist Newsletter – 7/5/18
For those of you that are avid readers of the newsletters, you may have noticed that Comments are now allowed. You may be asking Why now? or Why haven't they always been available? The problem with opening up comments is quite typically you are leaving your website...
West Flint Optimist Newsletter – 6/28/18
Amy Krug spoke with us about the need for, changes is, and impact of Ele's Place: a "Healing Place" for people (especially youth) struggling with grief, loss, and death issues. Focusing on ages 3-18 and operating in a "facilitated peer support" format, trained...
3rd Annual Walt Widder Memorial Scramble
Saturday, September 15, 2018 THE WALT WIDDER MEMORIAL SCRAMBLE IS A 4 PERSON TOURNAMENT FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO THE 1ST, 2ND, AND 3RD PLACE TEAMS, AS WELL AS 1 LUCKY RANDOM TEAM VIA DRAWING. CONTESTS TO WIN PRIZES FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN WILL...
West Flint Optimist Newsletter – 6/21/18
Kayla Bright spoke to us this morning after an introduction by the incredibly brilliant yet excessively modest Speaker Chair Jeff Dennings. Kayla teaches Special Education at Swartz Creek Middle School. As you may already know our club sponsors the Community Based...
West Flint Optimist Newsletter – 6/14/18
West Flint Optimist Newsletter – June 14, 2018 Lieutenant Governor Jeff Dennings followed up on last week's presentation by Optimist International's Jim Boyd, talking about recruitment and membership, very important aspects of our Club function in light of the data...
West Flint Optimist Newsletter – 6/7/18
West Flint Optimist Newsletter – June 7, 2018 Jim Boyd, Membership Director for Optimist International, has experience in Club development and expansion: 44 new clubs have been started this year with a total of 57 expected by year end. Despite this, OI is expected to...
West Flint Optimist Newsletter – 5/31/18
West Flint Optimist Newsletter – May 31, 2018 Bill Hentgen sold "50/50" tickets as we gathered for the morning meeting and after the typical opening ceremonies (Pledge, Prayer, Presentation of the Crown), "King" Phil Holmblade immediately fined the entire Club for not...
CANUSA Games and Flint Olympian Games 2018
On May 10, 2108 Mic Goulet arranged to have two guests representing the CANUSA Games, Sean Croudy and Jim Whitinger, address the Club. This year will be the 62nd Flint Olympian Games and the 61st CANUSA Games, and this year the CANUSA Games will be held in Hamilton,...
West Flint Optimist Newsletter – 5/3/18
West Flint Optimist Newsletter – May 3, 2018 Rick McNally, Attorney currently living in Flushing and running for Circuit Court office this fall, was Mic Goulet's guest this morning, speaking with the Club about some of the vagaries of auto insurance coverage. Noting...
West Flint Optimist Newsletter – 4/26/18
West Flint Optimist Newsletter – April 26, 2018 Cathy Blankenship, Vice President for Development and Communications (accompanied by Trina, her new Outreach Manager) came to breakfast this morning from the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. The Food Bank's task...
2018 Chicken Dinner
Yesterday, April 29, we held our annual chicken dinner fundraiser at the Masonic Temple in downtown Flint, chaired by Bill Hentgen. We had a good showing of workers to help serve delicious 😋 chicken 🍗 dinners. Workers from our club included: Bill Hentgen, Mic Goulet,...
West Flint Optimist Newsletter – 4/12/18
West Flint Optimist Newsletter – April 12, 2018 Susanne Gunsorek, Hurley Food Pharmacy Coordinator and Registered Dietitian,spoke with the Club this morning about her "Food Farmacy" endeavors. A 2016 survey called attention to the "food-insecure" segments (13%...
West Flint Optimist Newsletter – 4/5/18
West Flint Optimist Newsletter - April 5, 2018 Dave Geiger, former Police Chief and now Mundy Township Supervisor, returned as the guest of Peter Venos to speak of developments in and of the township's Hill Road Recreational Park. With drawings, maps, and financial...
West Flint Optimist Newsletter – 3/29/18
West Flint Optimist Newsletter - March 29, 2018 Our Oratorical Contest winners, Jason Van Tol (1st Place) and Jacob Winter (2nd Place), were here to speak this morning on their "Roots of Optimism". Accompanied by family members, the young men gave very interesting...
West Flint Optimist Newsletter – 3/22/18
West Flint Optimist Newsletter - March 22, 2018 Newly appointed Circuit Court Judge Celeste Bell, guest speaker scheduled by Judge Joe Farah, introduced herself to the Club this morning, having arrived before Hizzoner (costing him a fine). This newest Circuit Court...