Governor’s Message

Hello, Illinois District Optimists!

I hope this finds you well and that you are enjoying this Fall time of year. My name is Mark Cappel and I am your 2024-25 Illinois District Governor. When I decided to accept this position last June, my first thought centered around what theme I would share with you during the 2024-2025 Optimist Year.

After careful consideration, I decided to concentrate on the following:

“Strong Members Build Strong Clubs and Strong Clubs Build A Strong District”

Throughout the year I will focus on Member Reflection, Club Reflection and District Reflection.
1st Quarter – October Conference focused on Member Reflection
2nd Quarter – January Conference will focus on Club Reflection (This conference will be in person, not zoom)
3rd Quarter – April Conference will focus on District Reflection

By focusing on these 3 topics throughout the year, I hope to achieve the following goals for the year:

• Retain current members and Recruit new members
• Retain current clubs
• Increase attendance at all conferences
• Make each conference meaningful for members and clubs

Here is how you can help me achieve these goals:

• For goal number 1 – continue your membership in your club as a strong member. Assist in bringing in new strong members.
• For goal number 2 – as a strong club member, do what you can to make your club thrive. Participate in your club’s activities. Suggest new activities for your club.
• For goal number 3 – as a club officer or club member, try to attend at least one conference throughout the year. Your presence, support and input will be greatly appreciated.
• For goal number 4 – share your thoughts and ideas on topics for presentations at conferences or volunteer to make a presentation yourself on a topic that you think others may enjoy and learn from.

Thank you for all that you do as an Optimist! Together, we can continue to build stronger members, stronger clubs and a stronger District. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns or suggestions.