AL-LA-MS DISTRICT OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL

3rd QTR DISTRICT MEETING

Room Reservations are due by APRIL 5, 2013

The Optimist Clubs and Members of Zone 9 welcome you to Southaven, MS and the Holiday Inn Hotel. They and the Leadership of our District have planned a weekend of fun, fellowship and training for the whole family. They want you to be part of the festivities. Governor David Mills encourages all members of the District to come to this meeting

Plan now to attend this District Meeting. Read the current Special Edition of Action News describing other special and official events which are planned.

The Holiday Inn is located at 240 Marathon Way. The phone number for reservations is 662-349-0444. The room rate is $94.00 plus tax. Room reservations must be made by April 5, 2013

If you have a problem and need help, call Harold on 256-565-0122 and he will help you locate the Hotel.

Governor's Corner . . .

It is time for the third quarter meeting and I wonder where the time has gone. Then I think back over all the things that have happened this Optimist year and see we have been very busy with training, new club development, and working with different programs. The Essay Contest winner will be announced soon and the Oratorical contest is in progress. I will attend the Regional Oratorical Contest for South Alabama on April 6th and I am looking forward to the District Contest in Southaven, Mississippi.

Welcome and congratulations to the Evans, LA, Optimist Club that was chartered on March 15th. Zone 10 has stepped up and built our first club in the District. I look forward to working with the new Club and hope you will get to meet them in Southaven, Mississippi.

At the last District Meeting, I had the pleasure of presenting a certificate for 10 new members to Vera Hendrix (Talladega). Since then, I have also had the honor of presenting a certificate for 10 new members to Past Governor Helen Howard (Auburn/Opelika and Tuskegee), and a three new member pin to Ted Long (Dothan Wiregrass). On March 11th, I presented a certificate for 25 new members to Tolanda Beal (Birmingham West End). Congratulations Tolanda! I have other pins I will be giving out at the upcoming District Meeting.

New members are the lifeblood of all clubs. At our training this month, we will discuss the benefits of adding new members, as well as how we should assign them to projects, get them more involved, and help to prevent the losses due to lack of interest. With all of the effort that goes into recruiting new members, wouldn't it be a shame to lose them because we fail to get them involved in meaningful activities, which is the reason they joined in the first place? This is something we need to address. Bring your ideas to the training and help find a way to get these new members involved.

April is Internet Safety month. Come prepared to learn about Cyber Bullying. We need to reach into the schools and communities to stop the bullying. Let's get this into the parent teacher organizations, so they can address this form of bullying at home.

See you in Southaven, MS, on April 19-21, 2013!

David Mills

2nd Quarter Conference in Madison, Alabama

The Zone 2 Optimist clubs put on an excellent District Conference. We all enjoyed the friendly hospitality room and delightful door prizes. This conference was the one where we recognize the exceptional performance of clubs and individuals in the District.

Under the outstanding leadership of Governor Helen Howard, the AL-LA-MS District was a Distinguished District for the 2011-2012 year.

Vice President Rose Kohler from Georgia visited our conference to present Governor Helen her Distinguished Governor's ring. In addition Governor Helen received a Distinguished Club President watch for her leadership as President of the Tuskegee, AL club.

It is her passion for our children to succeed that drives Helen to give 100% and then some.