Fellow Optimists:

As the year 2008 comes to an end, and the New Year 2009 is in sight, it is time for all of us to look back on what we want to hold close to our hearts from the past, and what we want to accomplish in the future.

I am not real big on New Year Resolutions, but I truly believe that if you can dream it, you can do it!  And my dream for the New Year is to grow, and improve the South Texas District of Optimist International.  I am asking each of you to join me in this dream.

The year 2008 proved to be a great year for our District.  We have grown a little, and we have discovered new ways to improve.  We are being educated, and applauded for all of the projects that we have participated in.  The 1000’s of lives that our District has touched speaks for itself in our determination to be the best that we can be.  Children across our District are grateful that we are there for them.  Parents are starting to recognize that giving back to our communities is the right thing to do.  And it is up to each of us as Optimist to continue giving back.

As Optimist, we feed the children.  We cloth them.  We mentor them.  We teach them the power of the written word through Essay Contests.  We teach them to defend their opinions with the spoken word through Oratorical Contests.  We encourage them to better their lives with education through Scholarship Programs.  And our giving’s go on and on.  But most of all, we show the children that someone holds them close to their heart and cares for them.

My dream for 2009 is that we join together to further grow our District by building new clubs and recruiting new members.  My goal as your Governor is to build 17 new clubs during my year in service.  We have built 1 and we have 1 on the way.  We need 15 more to reach this goal.

My New Year’s Dream is to accomplish my goal.  I have dreamt it, now we just need to Do It!  Please join me in my dream to grow the greatest District in Optimist International by building a new club or building membership in an existing club.  Let’s all reach out to provide hope to a child in need. 

I look forward to seeing each of you in Austin for a Sweetheart of a conference on February 13th thru 15th.


Fay Hopkins
Governor 2008-2009
South Texas District
Optimist International
 

Watch for upcoming news of the STxD Junior Golf Qualifiers.  One will be held in the Houston area and one in the San Antonio/Austin area.  Club donations to help sponsor a Junior Golfer for these Qualifiers would be appreciated.

STxD covers 99 counties in Texas!

More than 13,400,000 people live in STxD!

More than 3,700,000 children live in STxD (under 18 years of age)!

The next person you introduce to Optimism will make a difference to some of these children!

New pictures of the Giddings Club Organizational Meeting - click here...
Pictures from the First Quarter District Meeting in Fredericksburg. Click here...

Rules for the 2008-2009 Club Scrapbook contest have been posted. Click here...

Students under the age of sixteen as of 12/31/2008 are eligible to participate.

All Lt. Governors, Club Presidents and Club Oratorical Chairs please note the following completion dates:
Club Competition - 4/11/2009
Zone Competition - 4/25/2009
Regional Competition - 5/9/2009
District Finals Saturday 5/23/2009 in Houston

Any Questions - please call Bill Johnson @ 210-452-8862 or e-mail hijodejuan@sbcglobal.net

Good Luck!!
Bil Johnson ("San Antonio" Bill)
2008/2009 District Oratorical Chair

District Essay Chair Greg Lester has posted information regarding the 2008-2009 Essay Contest. Click Here

Well it’s that time again to be gearing up for the Second District Meeting. As promised, we will be having the University of Optimism in session with some timely and educational classes presented by some outstanding Professors.

Our training will take place on Saturday, February 14th from 10:00 A.M. until Noon. There will be four classes, each tailored to provide programs that will help make you and your Club an even greater success in 2008-09.

While we were at Convention in Houston this past August, several clubs were interested in learning more about the Gold Youth Foundation program. Many of our Clubs in the eastern half of the District were not familiar with the program and so Chris Gold will be happy to explain the benefits of this youth program.

We all are aware of just how much revenue is required to provide for various projects that our Clubs present each year. We are all looking for successful fund raisers and Sue Stuart will present an open forum and exchange of fund raising ideas.

Another key element of our Optimist mission is to develop future members of our organization. A great way to do this is by sponsoring a New Junior Optimist Club. Who better to give you help in doing so than Eddie Goll.

And last but not least a program dear to my heart, Personal Growth and Involvement (PGI). Hank Holladay will have his presentation in two parts. First for the benefit of those who want a better understanding of PGI he will do and overview and second he will present another module needed for further advancement with your Passport.

And so here is the schedule of these classes

10:00 - 10:35 Gold Youth Foundation
10:40 - 11:15 Fund Raising Ideas
11:20 – 12:00 Youth Clubs
10:00 – 12:00 Personal Growth and Involvement

We don’t have the names of the breakout rooms at this time but they should be easy to find. Happy Optimist New Year and see you in Austin.

Ed Finn
Leadership Development Director

In October I received a call from a single mom with 3 kids who could use some help. After contacting the mother, Crystal, Deborah Warner & I visited her to see how we could help & were told Tylor (7) wanted an Indiana Jones costume which they could not find. Deborah & I found one & delivered.

We then started shopping from a list given to us by Crystal to make this not just a good Christmas for this family. After buying the gifts Alvin & I hosted a dinner & gift wrapping party with Eileen & Robert Moore. Tylor got a race car, Indiana Jones Race Car. Loreli (22 months) got a microphone that records & plays music, a glow worm & a set with stroller, high chair, car seat, etc. Crystal got lotions, gown & slippers.

On Christmas afternoon eve Deborah & I delivered the gifts. The look on their faces did more for us than for them. Our best gift was when Crystal told us Loreli had received her last chemo treatment that week.

Click here to see the pictures.

Rita Marshal
District Childhood Cancer Chairperson

The 2008-09 Membership Vs New Club Building challenge is on. Past Governor and 2008-09 Membership chairman, Jerry Eschberger, was challenged to a dinner for four (to be paid for by the loser) by Past Governor and 2008-09 New Club Building chairman Ron Graves. Ron said he and Kitty will be happy to have Trilba and Jerry drive to San Antonio for a great dinner at Jerry's expense. Trilba immediatley welcomed the contest as a way to get a great steak meal at Ron's expense since Jerry is too cheap to take her out to dinner (she did say that didn't she?) Either way, looks like some good eating is going to take place.

The challenge is this: Ron's said that the total gross members (charter and those who join the new club during the year after charter) from new clubs during 2008-09 will total more than the gross new members who join existing clubs. Jerry seems over confident but he should remember that the NCB goal is 17 new clubs which comes out to 1 new club per zone or 425 new members at a minimum. Ron has advised the Lt Governor's that he is sending them a bill for the dinner's if he and Kitty have to pay! But Ron also says he is confident that is not going to happen. He knows the Lt Gov's and their Club President's are going to build those clubs this year.

We already have 1 new club and one that will organize on December 11th. New club members total 25 and new members from existing clubs total 23 ytd so Ron is already ahead! Monthly updates can be found on the district web site.