Introducing the District Services Team
The District Services Team is responsible for providing services that support the District Team, Zone Lieutenant-Governors, and Clubs. We are pleased to introduce the District Services Team for 2011-12:
Activities & CPA Chair: Bert Hancock (Edmonton Dinner)
Bert is a long serving member with the Edmonton Dinner Optimist Club. He has served as Club President, Zone 5 Lieutenant Governor, and Past Governor (1999-2000). He last served on the District Team as the CCC Chair in 2008-09.
As part of the District Services Team, my role is to promote the participation by member Clubs in all of the youth program and community-serving projects sponsored by Optimist International. I'm also responsible to organize the judging of the Club CPA and Scrapbooks at the 1st Quarter District Conference in 2012.
Find out more about Activities & CPA
District Bulletin & PR Chair: George Lewko (Prince Albert)
George joined in 1986 and has served as Honor Club President (1994-95) and Club President (2009-10). He has also served as Bingo Chair, OptiMart Chair, Newsletter and Website Chair; and he served as Zone 7 Lieutenant Governor in 1996-97.
Why did you become an Optimist? "Dad was a member before me, and as a kid I helped the Optimists with the EX Food Booth, and Country North Show Canteen, and such. So when I came back from University I looked up Optimist Stan, and he joined me up."
As a serving webmaster for his club, George runs a website and a facebook page. At the 3rd Quarter District Conference on May 15, 2010, George presented an informative workshop about using 'Vertical Response' as a mass email tool to regularly send out club bulletins to club members. George brings a wealth of experience as he returns for a second term as the District Bulletin Editor and PR Chair.
What do you hope to accomplish this year as the Bulletin & Publicity Chair "I'm hoping to help clubs give better email newsletters, and help clubs with their online presence. We started the first Convention Registration online last year, and hope to do even better this year, with a different platform."
What is the primary reason you continue to serve as an Optimist? "I enjoy helping kids, and the fellowship is fantastic."
Understanding and utilizing print and online media can greatly extend the reach to the general public that a club needs to ensure a successful project or fund raiser. Club bulletins provide that 'personal touch' and are an excellent tool for members to recruit new members. Besides publishing a regular District Bulletin, George is willing to help any club with publishing a club newsletter and produce press releases.
Find out more about Bulletins & Public Relations
District Convention Chair: Susan Hannet (Red Deer Waskasoo)
It takes a treamendous amount of organizational skill to manage the team that runs the annual District Convention. This year the team of Zone 3 club volunteers is being led by Opt Susan Hannett from the Penhold & District club.
Susan is returning to the District Team after a few years rest to lead the team that will run the 2012 District Convention. Susan joined in 1997 with the Wildrose Optimist Club, and is now serving with the Red Deer-Waskasoo club. She served as an Honour Club President (1998-99) and her club bestowed an life membership to her in 1999. In 2005, she helped build an Optimist club in Lacombe, Alberta.
Why did you become an Optimist? "I like what Optimist does for kids and I wanted to meet new people."
Susan served as Lieutenant Governor for Zone 3 in 2000-01. In addition, Susan has served as the Activities & CPA Chair (2001-02) and twice as PGI Chair (2004-05 and 2005-06).
What is the primary reason you continue to serve as an Optimist? "I really like my club and it work for me right now. "
District meetings are not just about business ... they offer excellent training workshops and opportunities for members to network with fellow Optimists at a wide variety of fellowship activities. Organized as 'bring the family' events, each District meeting offers a 'Companions Programs' for non-member spouses and a 'Kids Program' for the youngsters.
What do you hope to accomplish as the District Convention Chair this year? "To make sure the Convention goes very smooth and have lots of fun doing it."
Find out more about the District Convention
District Foundation Rep: Doug Kirby (Billings)
2008-09 Past Governor Doug is returning to the District Team this year as our new District Foundation Rep. Doug is a long serving member with the Billings Breakfst Optimist Club and has served as Club President and Zone 4 Lieutenant Governor. Doug has served as Membership and New Club Building Chairs before his year as Governor, and just completed his term as Candidate Qualifications Chair.
Many of the OI programs offered by clubs are financially sponsored by the Optimist International Foundation (OIF) and the Canadian Children Optimist Foundation (CCOF). The role of the DFR is to coordinate fund raising efforts for the foundations and on behalf of the foundations recognize those Optimist members who have made significant contributions over the past year. Doug invites members to participate in the Foundation Workshops at the quarterly District Conferences.
Find out more about the District Foundation Rep
District Supplies (Canada): Martin Bailey (Club Name)
Martin Bailey is joining the District Team this year to assist Loran Salsbury to provide District Supplies at the District Conferences and Convention.
As part of the District Services Team, our role is to promote the sale of Optimist supplies to members and clubs.
The District Supplies team runs the supplies tables at the District quarterly meetings which provides members the opportunity to see the kind of supplies that are available, and to purchase supplies that are needed to run youth programs and scholarship contests.
We work closely with the staff from the Corall Group, the official supplier of Optimist supplies to operate a supplies table at each of the quarterly District meetings.
Find out more about the District Supplies
District Supplies (US): Loran Salsbury (Magic City)
Loran is a long serving Optimist with the Magic City Optimist Club and an avid photographer.
Loran assisted Brian Wallace with running the Optimist Supplies tables during 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons.
Loran is returning for a third term to lead the Optimist Supplies team at the District meetings in the US this year.
As part of the District Services Team, our role is to promote the sale of Optimist supplies to members and clubs. We work closely with the staff from the Corall Group, the official supplier of Optimist supplies to operate a supplies table at each of the quarterly District meetings.
Find out more about the District Supplies
District Web Services: Gordon Welling (St. Albert Breakfast)
Gordon has been an Optimist since 1996 and has served as a Club President (Honor) and Club Secretary-Treasurer. Gord is returning this year as Web Services Chair to continue the work he started in 2009-10 for Past Governor Darryl Sim. He hopes to extend web services to better support Zones and Clubs, and invites fellow members to attend his workshops at the District quarterly meetings throughout the coming year.
Why did you become an Optimist? "I was new in St. Albert so I joined to meet people and have fun. "
The mission of District Web Services is to provide a dynamic, accurate and complete online presence for AMS&NW District 13, and to extend web services to Zones and Clubs. I invite you to participate to the Web Services workshops that will be held at the quarterly District Conferences.
What is the primary reason you continue to serve as an Optimist? "I believe that our kids are our future and we can shape our future by influencing how we raise and educate our kids. "
Find out more about the District Web Services