Formation
of a Full-Fledged Organization
In 1922, the Optimist Creed was adopted as the
official creed of the organization. Written by Christian
Larson, the creed was originally published under the title
"Promise Yourself" in 1912. In August 1922,
the first official emblem of Optimist International was
developed and adopted. The emblem consisted of a youngster
with a beaming countenance and the words "International
Optimist Club." Along with the smiling face appeared
another symbol. It had a sun in its center and the words
"Friendship, Sociability, Loyalty, Reciprocity"
around it as a border. From the beginning, Optimist Clubs
directed major efforts toward youth service.
In 1929, the organization grew
to 117 Optimist Clubs and 8,000 members.
The War Years
During the '40s, the World War II took force and
both United States and Canadian citizens recognized the need
for civilian support. The United States called upon its
citizens to salvage 17 million tons of scrap metal. To do
their part, Optimist Clubs quickly joined forces to start the
official Optimist Scrap Metal Drives.
Also during the war, millions
of dollars were raised in Optimist-sponsored war bond drives.
For all its war efforts,
Optimist International was awarded a special citation from the
War Production Board for its achievements in collecting
thousands of tons of sorely needed scrap metal and rubber.
Launching New
Programs
In 1924, the first organization-wide youth service
program was established with the chartering of Junior Optimist
Clubs. Its purpose was to instill the value of volunteering in
young boys.
In 1928, an organization-wide
Oratorical Contest was started for the Junior Optimist Clubs.
Through the years, its purpose has been to provide a valuable
self-improvement activity for the boys. Today, this remains
the oldest and most well-known programs of Optimist
International.
In April 1953, the first
international Bike Safety Week took place, with its purpose
being to inform youngsters of the safe operation of bikes and
inspire safety habits. This program continues today to be one
of the more prominent programs of the organization.
In San Antonio, TX, a young
clergyman called the attention of his Optimist Club to the
homeless and neglected boys sleeping under bridges and on the
streets. This led to the start of many boys homes throughout
the country. Some of the more famous optimist-sponsored boys
homes were the Optimist Home for Boys in Los Angeles and
Boysville in San Antonio, TX.
In 1955, the 1,000th Optimist
Club was chartered.
In 1957, Optimist International
celebrated the first observance of Youth Appreciation Week on
an international basis to recognize and commend children and
teenagers, who are too often given a bad rap.
In 1965, a new program was
undertaken in an effort to combat apathy toward crime and the
dispensation of justice. With the cooperation of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police,
Optimist International began Respect For Law Week. One of the
more visual aspects of this program is the Optimist
International Respect For Law Citation, which recognizes
citizens for outstanding service at a crime scene by aiding
police.
During the 1971 convention in
Minneapolis, the International Board approved the Tri-Star
Basketball Program for boys, known today as the Tri-Star
Sports Program. The first year of the Tri-Star competition saw
more than 300 clubs and 75,000 young participants.
In 1972, society began to
realize environmental issues were increasingly becoming a
concern. The need for clean air, pure water, uncluttered
streets, proper disposal of trash became the focus and the
result of a new Optimist program titled L-I-F-E— Living Is
For Everything.
In 1978, the International
Board of Directors voted to sponsor one the most prestigious
junior golf events in the world, now known as the Optimist
Junior World Golf Tournament. Played annually on five golf
courses in San Diego, California. Today, Optimist
International sponsors its own tournament, independent from
Junior World, known as the Optimist International Junior Golf
Championships (OIJGC). This top junior event airs on ESPN,
making Optimist International the only service organization to
have an internationally televised event.
In 1978, the Help Them Hear
program was rolled out, giving many clubs a chance to do
something for hearing-impaired youngsters and adults. The
program was designed so that clubs would implement programs to
heighten public awareness of the problems associated with
hearing impairment, to provide local testing facilities, and
to provide corrective and educational techniques for those
people with hearing impairments.
In 1983, a new and special
Optimist program for high school students was created – the
Essay Contest. With this program, students are asked to write
a 400-500 word essay on the subject of "Freedom."
After club and district competitions, winners advance to the
international contest. After 1988, scholarships were awarded
to the top three international winners
In 1993, Alpha Clubs created
for grades one through four, became an official part of Junior
Optimist Octagon International.
In 1996, Optimist International
receives corporate backing from Morton International for a new
safety awareness program—Always Buckle Children In the
Backseat (ABC). Optimists embrace the ABC program, making it
one of the most successful programs in history. Members
visited thousands of merchants, hospitals, car dealerships,
childcare agencies and any other types of businesses
frequented by parents and childcare givers. Optimists provided
educational pamphlets informing the proper way to restrain
children in cars that contain passenger-side airbags.
Rapid Growth
In 1968, Optimist International celebrated the
organization's Golden Anniversary convention in Louisville,
KY, the site of the very first convention in 1919. In
celebration of the organization's 50th anniversary.
Optimist International participated in the famous Tournament
of Roses parade on New Year's Day.
In 1989, membership tops the
100,000 mark.
In 1971, Optimist International
grew to almost 3,000 clubs and 105,000 members.
In 1988, the organization
recognized the rapid growth of Optimist Youth Clubs, which had
grown to 30,000 members in 1,000 Junior Optimist and Octagon
Clubs, and formed its own international organization –
Junior Optimist Octagon International
In 1972, the 3,000th Optimist
Club was founded.
A Time of Change
In 1972, Optimist
International's motto was changed to "Friend of
Youth," to reflect service to both girls and boys.
In 1987, concerns had grown
about possible legal challenges to men-only provisions in the
organization and the Optimist International Board of Directors
responded by voting to admit women to the membership.
Also in 1987, statistics
revealed that Optimist efforts reach five million young people
each year.
Looking Toward the
Future
In 1990, 20 Optimist Clubs were chartered in
Hungary, less than a year after its government permitted
service clubs.
On June 5, 1993, Optimist Clubs
all over the world gathered for the first annual Optimists In
Action Day and made a difference in their communities. Clubs
painted homes of the elderly and underprivileged, collected
canned goods, cleaned parks and streets, and many other
community service projects.
In 1994, Optimist International
kicked-off its 75th anniversary year at the 75th International
Convention in Louisville, KY, the site of the first and 50th
convention.
In 1997 ESPN covers the OIJGC,
making Optimist International the first service club
organization to ever have a worldwide event televised.
In 1998, Optimist
International’s float wins the "National Trophy"
in the Tournament of Roses Parade for best depicting the
overall theme of "Hav’n’ Fun."
In July 1999, Optimists
celebrated the 75th anniversary of Optimists Clubs in Canada.
The International Convention in Toronto provided a perfect
location to give tribute to the many Canadians that have
become and remain members of this organization.
