It’s my privilege and honor to serve as your District Governor for the 2023-2024 Optimist year. I can assure you Optimist International for the past year has spent countless hours and dollars in training and preparing me for this role.
My theme as Governor is “Engagement, Retention and Trust Building.”
International President Bob McFadyen (2022-23) at our recent convention in Arlington, VA told us Optimists will lose over 2,500 members worldwide in 2023. There isn’t enough time to cover all of the reasons for this.
I want to introduce all of you to the CARE program Optimist International has produced in hopes of reenergizing and revitalizing all of its clubs worldwise and, more inportantly, the ones in our Illinois District. At our first quarter Conference in October, a representative from Optimists International presented the program. You’ll be hearing more about this from me and from Optimist International so you can take it to your respective clubs and institute it.
One of my main goals during my term is that a minimum of 50% of the clubs in our District have introduced their members to this great CARE program.
I will also be seeking a 5% increase in both retention and the addition of new members to our District.
As I travel across our fine State of Illinois, in hopes of visiting your club, my message will be short and simple. It’s time to rebuild and make our District one of the finest in the world. Please help me achieve this and obtain my goals.
In Optimism,
John Good, Illinois Optimist Governor