Meet the 2011-12 District Growth Team
The District Growth Team is responsible for fostering a significant growth in District membership by assisting fellow Optimists to recruit new members and build new adult and JOOI clubs, and by enhancing the knowledge and skills of Optimist leaders and members. We are pleased to introduce the District Growth Team for 2011-12:
Leadership Chair: Don Morrison (Regina)
Don is returning to the District Team after a few years rest to assume the role of Leadership Development Chair. Don is celebrating his 20th anniversary as an Optimist, joining in 1991. Don hails from the Optimist Club of Regina, having serverd as Club President on numerous occassions, and was honoured as a Distinguished President in 2008-09.
Don served as Distinguished Lieutenant Governor for Zone 8 in 2003-04. In addition to serving a the Distinguished District Governor in 2006-07, Don has served as New Club Building Chair (2004-05), Membership Chair (2005-06) District Secretary-Treasurer (2007-08) for Past Governor Norm Sagen, and Leadership Development Chair (2008-09).
What is the primary reason you continue to serve as an Optimist? "I am an Optimist by nature, and try to live my life by The Creed. I feel there is no greater service, than that to our communities and in particular to our Youth."
Don has had great success building new clubs, having be recognized as a Builder of Excellence for assisting with building 3 clubs: the Pile "Ol" Bones in Regina, SK; the Valley County Optimist Club in Glasgow, MTl and the Optimist Club of Williston, ND.
What do you hope to accomplish as the Leadership Development Chair this year? "This year I hope to be a vital member of Governor Ted's administration and GROW our District with much needed new members."
As part of the Growth Team, his role is to plan, promote and conduct the training of Club and District leaders making them more effective leaders. Don believes in all the aspects of Optimism and the great things we stand for and he invites everyone to attend the quarterly District Conferences to participate in the many informative workshops.
Find out more about Leadership Development
Membership Chair: Roger Lesofski (Great Falls Uptown)
Roger is a long serving Optimist since 1984 who is strongly commited to leadership development as part of building a strong District. In addition to serving a the District Governor in 2003-04, Roger has served as Leadership Development (2002-03,2006-09, and 2010-11), Membership (1999-2000), New Club Building (2001-02), and District Convention (2004-05) Chairs in previous years. Roger served as Club President (Distinguished) in 1997-98 and as Zone 1 Lieutenant Governor for 1998-99 and 2005-06 (Distinguished), and he has helped to build 3 clubs in our District.
Why did I become an Optimist? "Initially to get on a softball team the optimist club had."
Roger enjoys helping the kids and all the great friends he has made because of Optimism.
What is the primary reason I continue to serve as an Optimist? "The realization that without Optimists there will be no one else to do the projects we do to help KIDS and our community. I find it very fulfilling and nice that I am doing something worthwhile."
What do you hope to accomplish as District membership Chair this year? "As membership chair I hope to inspire members to make the effort of bringing in new members and letting the new member grow in our organization. Kids in our community need our help and Without new members and their enthusiasm, our ability to help is becoming less and less."
Membership is the lifeblood of any Optimist club. Clubs that run one community service project a month, one fund raiser per quarter, ensure that all members are assigned to a club committee, enjoy a strong and active membership. Running a successful new member recruitment drive is vital to the future success of your club. I invite you to attend the quarterly District Conference workshops on membership.
What do I enjoy most about being an Optimist? "My Optimist friends throughout the District and in my club, and getting the opportunity to meet new optimists. It's fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Find out more about Membership
New Club Building Chair: Edie McInnes (Blackfalds)
We welcome Edie McInnes back to serve another year as our New Club Building Cahair. Edie is a Charter President (Distinguished) in Blackfalds in 2002-03 and Zone 3 Lieutenant-Governor (Distibguished) in 2004-05. Edie previously served on the Growth Teams for Past Governor Don Morrison (as New Club Building Chair), Norm Sagen (as Membership Chair) and Doug Kirby (as Membership Chair) where she was successful in helping the District achieve Distinguidhed growth goals. Edie is the recipient of the Alex M. Wilson Award in 2008-09.
How did I become an Optimist? "I became an Optimist because I had two small children and I realized that our little town did not have much for kids to do. I wanted to get some stuff started so that by the time my children were teenagers there would be activities and areas to keep them busy and hopefully out of trouble! Building the "Optimist SK8 Park" was our first project and now here we are nine years later and both of my twins hang out there all the time!!!"
What do you enjoy about being an Optimist? "I love the friendships I have made! My closest friends are Optimist members!"
Building a new Optimist club in a community without a club is one of the most satisfying projects that you can participate in, and is one of the greatest gifts that you can give to a local community. I really believe that every community needs an Optimist Club! I would like to help start a new club in all the small communities, like my own, because it has helped our little town so much. I invite you to attend our New Club Building workshops at the quarterly District Conferences this year.
How do you hope to accomplish as New Club Building Chair this year? "I am hoping to help our District build at least 3 clubs this year. I want to be a wealth of information for anyone needing help building a club."
Find out more about New Club Building
JOOI Chair: Lee Weiszhaar (St. Albert)
Past Governor Lee Weiszhaar is returning for a second term as our JOOI Chair. Lee has served as an Optimist in St. Albert since the early 90's. She served as a Distinguished Club President and Secretary-Treasurer. In addition to serving as Distinguished & Outstanding Governor in 2000-01, Lee has served on previous District teams as Club Services, Faculty, Essay and Candidate Qualifications Chairs. Lee is looking forward to meeting fellow Optimists who want to build new JOOI clubs throughout the District.
JOOI clubs are often more active delivering projects in their community. Building a JOOI club goes a long way to helping to train the leaders of tomorrow. I invite you to attend the JOOI club building workshops at the quarterly District Conferences this year.
Find out more about District JOOI Clubs
Personal Growth & PGI: Jeff Barnhart (Great Falls Uptown)
Jeff joined the Great Falls Uptown Club in 2001 and has served as Honor Club President in 2003-04 and as Distinguished Lt. Governor in 2006-07. Jeff has been bestowed a life time membership by his club for his work as an Optimist.
"Throughout my military career I believed that only with the help of many can we make a difference. I was intoduced to the Club and found that here were many who wished to help a very needy and deserving population of our community. I appreciated the intense meaning of the creed which supports our organization's goals and phylosophy and I appreciated the opportunity to give back to my community."
"Each year that I have enjoyed working with the club, makes me less cynical about where our younger generation will lead us. I enjoy seeing the effort that we do materialize into some greater good that one person alone could not accomplish. Some of our working members I know have their own problems and concerns, but regardless, will take some time off without first thinking of themselves and whats in it for them. It is a pleasure to work with a strong team who see the rewards of their labor without first thinking of themselves."
Running an active PGI program at the club level helps to strengthen an active membership by enabling them to take ownership of their participation. We will continue to run PGI training modules at the quarterly District Conferences. This is an excellent opportunity to train your next club PGI Chair.
"I have found that the best part of being an Optimist is what it has forced me to become ... I realized that the sincerity of those that are in the organization with me is habit forming, and not only brings out the best in kids, it also brings out the best in the adults. I believe I have been better prepared to perform my duties at work and at home with a better feeling of satisfaction and a far better appreciation for our fellow man."
As the PGI Chair Name plans to encourage all the incoming Lt. Governors and incoming Presidents to get every member who already has achieved one level of PGI to aspire to move up at least one more level. In addition he hopes that all the new members recruited this year will be enrolled into PGI and as a minimum will complete their first level as quickly as possible.
Running an active PGI program at the club level helps to strengthen an active membership by enabling them to take ownership of their participation. We will continue to run PGI training modules at the quarterly District Conferences. This is an excellent opportunity to train your next club PGI Chair.
Find out more about the PGI Program