In a conference call with the VP's today, President Danny asked us to ask you, the Governors, Governor -Elects and Lt Gov's, for a "GUT WRENCHING - BRUTALLY HONEST" membership numbers report back to him by Monday, August 22. Governor's, please consolidate your districts comments and numbers to me for my consolidated report to him.
Optimist International is approximately 4,500 members down from October 1, 2010. Only once in the last 20 plus years has a Leadership ended the year in the positive (that was during President Listenberger's year - and it was about 2,000 positive or thereabouts). Danny is asking the Rodgers Team to work toward being positive and it will take everyone's effort the next 44 days.
President Danny would like to know:
1. How many new clubs you "really" believe your district will charter and approximately how many new members they will produce by 9/30
2. How many FOO's your district will actually enroll by 9/30
3. How many regular members will your district enroll by 9/30
4. How many total new members you believe your district will enroll by 9/30 combining all methods of adding new members
Please take a close look at your district, analyze your situation from now until 9/30 and give me the data so I can inform Danny next week.
Danny's message in my verbiage is the following:
Even if you feel you cannot reach Distinguished, work to reach ahead of where you started 10/1/10. END POSITIVE! If Plan 1 did not work, go to a Plan 2 for 44 more days. Once again review the T-Shot for your district and contact each and every club to encourage them to be HONOR, as this will be one of the best years to become HONOR. He asks that each club strive to add 20 FOO's so that he can come to their club to have a meal with the club. Greenfield, Iowa with 2,000 citizens proved that it can be done. At the very least, ask each club to add a new member, FOO or a regular member. IF every club added two new members, FOO or regular new member, we would add 5,600 by 9/30 and with normal deletes we would end positive.
HONOR Club status is doable for almost all clubs who really want to reach the goal. It is getting close on growing a new club but it can be done, it is still time to have one more NOW meeting for regular and FOO members, it is possible for your clubs,zones and districts to end positive.
President Danny has done many new things this year to grow Optimist International. We are 44 days away from the goal line. You are part of his team and out of respect for his efforts and for your own efforts, why not give it your all and end 2010-11 POSITIVE. Be part of a #1 Team.
I have not mentioned at all the Southwest Team and our standings in many categories. This email is about President Danny's requests. If we work toward his personal request and goals for 44 more days then the Southwest Region and your district personal goals will be met.
YOU HAVE 44 DAYS TO BE PART OF 3 #1 TEAMS - OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL - THE SOUTHWEST REGION - YOUR OWN DISTRICT!
END POSITIVE - END STRONG - START STRONG FOR 2011-12.
Thank you for all you have done this year to be part of the best region in Optimist International. As of noon today we are 62 members from being #1 in total new membership adds in all of OI and I know that with your efforts and pride in yourself and districts we will end #1 on 9/30 and will have the most HONOR clubs and the most new clubs in all of Optimist International
YIO,
Ron Graves
VP, Southwest Region
PS NLT Monday evening, 8/22 is when I need your totals. Thanks.
