I’ve been elected President of my Optimist Club! Now what do I do?

1. I’ve been elected President of my Optimist Club!Now what do I do? President-elect Orientation Pacific Northwest District Convention August 15, 2008

2. Objectives • Identify the roles and responsibilities of Optimist Club President • Learn to delegate, motivate and communicate • Understand the connection between growth and service • Plan for a successful year

3. Being President is an Honor and a Responsibility • Congratulations! • Your fellow Optimist Club members believe in you. • Thank you. • In case they forgot to tell you…they appreciate you.

4. What are some of the roles of Club President? • Leader • Cheerleader • Friend/Confidante • Motivator • Figurehead • Spokesperson • Chief cook & bottle washer • CEO –Chief Executive Officer of your Club

5. Your Responsibilities • Serve as a member of your District’s Board of Directors and represent your club at each District and Zone Meeting • Leader and visionary of your Optimist Club • Find opportunities and inspire others to do more • Preside at meetings • Involve others through delegation • Manage the affairs of your Optimist Club • Be sure club reports are completed by the S/T • Budget conscious

6. District Board of Directors • Take a look at the Organization structure of Optimist International

7. What does this mean to you as Club President? • Optimist Clubs govern the actions of Optimist International • Optimist Clubs govern District activities • The Club President automatically has a seat on the District Board of Directors • You must be present to participate

8. You are invited to the table Don’t leave your seat empty You are a member of the District Board of Directors

9. Leading your team • Manage the affairs of the of your Optimist Club • Learn the rules under which your Optimist Club operates • Participate in preparing the budget • What does your budget look like? • Understand the financial obligations that your club has to Optimist International

10. Leading your team • Collaborate with your Club S/T to be sure that reports are completed and filed on time • IRS 990 • CRA –Club Roster Adjustments • Officer-elect report • President’s Pride Report – annual activities report • JOOI reports – if you sponsor a Junior Optimist or Octagon Club • Minutes • Financial Reports • Membership Reports

11. Leading your team • What other “affairs” might your club have? • Reporting to or collaborating with other clubs or agencies • Relationships with government or school officials • Helpful media contacts

12. Leading your team • Appoint chairpersons and committees • These individuals will lighten your load

13. Leading your team • Finding volunteers • Use the Member Interest Finder • Personally ask them to help • Tell them what the position entails: • Time • Resources provided or needed (money, manpower, participants, sponsors, etc.) • If there is a record of what’s been done before • If this is a start-up project, let them know the Board of Directors is behind it • Keep a record for others to follow • Periodically touch base with them to see how they are doing

14. Leading your team • Three steps to motivating volunteers • Satisfy their social needs • Individuals join clubs and organization so they can interact with others - to gain a sense of belonging • Provide an avenue for them to accomplish something • Individuals stay involved when they are needed – it boosts their self-esteem • Provide recognition and praise • Recognition and praise raises self-esteem to self actualization

15. Motivation Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

16. Leading your team • The secret to motivating volunteers • Understand their needs • Find a way to meet their needs • Recognize and praise their accomplishments • CAUTION: Be sure the praise fits the level of accomplishment and the personality of the recipient

17. Leading your team • Presiding at meetings • Come prepared • Have an agenda • Be hospitable – welcome members and guests • When you are conducting business • Be sure everyone has a chance to be heard • Minutes should be recorded whenever business is conducted • Follow procedure – Robert’s Rules of Order

18. And finally, a club president Should be a good sport

19. Communication • Why do we communicate? • Expression of needs or wants • To educate or inform • To indicate choices • Protest or reject the action of others • Social interaction

20. Communication • How do we communicate? • Verbal • Non-verbal • Written word • Visual images

21. Do personality types affect communication? • Different types of personalities • Leadership Styles and Profiles developed by David Morrison, Past Governor, Leadership Chair 07-08 • Identifies four Colors of Personalities Brown – Builder Green – Planner Blue – Relater Red - Adventurer

22. David contends that at any given time, each of us have a different amount of each trait • Our style is constantly changing and so is the style of our listener • The average listener must hear, see or be made aware of something 7 times before they will take action

23. Communicating in the 21st Century • Web Sites • Blogs • pnwdistrictoptimist.blogspot.com • Social Networking • Telephone • Answering machines and cell phones • Interpersonal Communications • Public speaking • Written word • Newsletters and bulletins • Email • Other typical media outlets • TV • Radio • Billboards

24. Now is the time to begin planning the year • Please take a few minutes with your Lieutenant Governor to look over the Annual Club Planning Conference • Find out what you need to know when you sit down with your Lt. Governor and your Board of Directors to complete the report

25. BREAK