Calso News Page

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    2008 California South District
      ESSAY & ORATORICAL WINNERS
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                   ESSAY WINNER

        TEAGAN TAYLOR
                 Mar Vista High School
Sponsored by the Optimist Club of Imperial Beach, CA

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               ORATORICAL WINNERS

          ANDREA GOMEZ
                 Academy of Our Lady of Peace
    Sponsored by the Allied Gardens Optimist Club

ALEXANDER CARATTIE
Valley Center Middle School
Sponsored by the Valley Center Optimist Club

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Having just returned from the 2^nd Quarterly meeting at the El Camino County Club, I am once again
energized to do something for this fine organization I joined 8 years ago. Like all of you, I do go
through periods of ‘burn out’, and decide that I am going to back off. Then I have the opportunity to
listen to Past OI President Ronnie Dunn, our Gov. Bill, and other great dedicated Optimist in our
District speak about what they are doing for this organization, and I get fired up again. For those of
you who missed this opportunity, you need to plan for the upcoming Quarterly and for the Annual
Convention in Borrego. You, as an ‘Optimistic Leader’, know better than anyone that you work under
volunteer conditions. You must then consider what it takes to be a leader in a volunteer organization.
You gain power to lead by enlisting support from your members by challenging , inspiring , enabling,
modeling, and encouraging. Some of the strengths you can gain to accomplish these virtues is to attend
District Quarterly and Annual Conventions. To go even further, think about attending the OI 90^th
Annual Convention in Grapevine, Texas this Summer. You have been selected as a leader, now it is
up to you to be the best leader in all of Optimism.

Charlie Pease Past president of Carlsbad Club, Zone 2 Lt. Gov.
Past & Present Sam Junk 3 times President Del Mar/Solana Beach, Past Lt. Gov Zone 2

Past Gov. Bert LeMieux and Sam

This picture shows an award being given for money donated by the Del Mar/Solana Beach Club
to the OI Foundation. This is a key part of our organization, for it is what maintains our International
organization and allows them to sponsor the programs that we all are a part. The Del Mar/Solana
Beach Club has now given over $10,000 to the foundation. Many others have given individually and
through their Club generously to this Foundation. The reward for a service Club is not in receiving,
it is giving. Does your Club have a Foundation representative? Do your members participate in giving
a “Dime-A-Day” to the Foundation? That is only $36.50 a year! If you want more information on
the Foundation, ask your Treasure to give Past Gov. Eddie Murphy a call at (619) 588-2225,
or email at pueblo-xo@yahoo.com. Eddie is our District OI Foundation Director.

“People value being appreciated for their contributions.

Recognition does not have to be elaborate, just genuine.”

Participation! Involvement! Ideas! Important words to reflect upon when considering inviting
a prospect to become a member of your club. Too often it’s easier to just bring on a warm body
to fill membership needs. This is especially true as we get close to the year end and we’re trying
to become an honor, or even distinguished, club. But, believe me, that’s a mistake that will haunt
you later.

Just as we should be serious and thoughtful in choosing our leaders, so should we do the same
towards new members. That’s not to say, we should be reluctant to invite people to join us but
we should also make sure they understand what we are looking for. And what is that?

To begin with, we want members who will be active participants in the Club’s efforts in the community.
New members should be both interested and willing to commit at least a portion of each week, or at
least each month, to some effort of the Club’s agenda. This doesn’t mean just attending meetings,
social gatherings or writing a donation check to the Club. No, we are talking about new members
helping with the planning, gathering donations, appearing at the event, etc.

We need to ensure that these new members are involved from day one. In fact, the sponsor of each
new member has an obligation to make sure that happens; have a project in mind for that newbie.

Often times, new members will come in with their own ideas and projects in mind. That is, of course,
exactly what we want. However, be careful that their pet project doesn’t include a hidden agenda.
Maybe they just want to use the membership of the club to push forward his project, then they
disappear at its completion. The new member’s project should be something in line with the Club’s
goals and, maybe, a project that can be improved upon and repeated annually.

Occasionally, prospects may be looking to add a service organization to their resume so as to reflect
such involvement in the community. They will pay their dues, but do little else. They won’t come
to meetings (inconvenient time), not participate in projects (too busy) and not bring in anyone else.
The whole purpose of their joining is just to improve their employment opportunities. AND sometimes,
Club members themselves bring in such members for their own personal agenda. In either case, this
does not serve the purposes of our organization.

New members are the life blood of our organization but unless they are involved, and are interested
in doing some good in the community, they aren’t much use to your Club or OI in general.
Choose them carefully!
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If you have a picture of a major function which your Club is conducting, email it to this editor with an
explanation of the project, and it will appear on the front page of this newsletter. This is the way we can
share our ideas with all of the Clubs in the District.

Last month we presented a problem solving question to all of you about a Club that needs help.
This Club is the newly formed Scripps-Mesa Club. Unfortunately, no one responded to the problem.
But now is your chance to redeem yourself. This Club is having a speaker on March 4^th and would
like to have support from other Clubs to make this a positive event. So, make your plans to attend
a dinner meeting for the Scripps-Mesa Optimist Club on March 4^th.
Time is 6:30 pm at El Torito Restaurant, 8223 Mira Mesa Blvd, San Diego.
Any questions: Call Terry Shaffer at (619) 638-1130.

They search for opportunities to change the status quo. They look for innovative ways to improve
their Club. They experiment and take risk. And since risk taking and involves mistakes and failure,
leaders accept the inevitable disappointments as learning opportunities.

Without credibility you cannot lead. Credibility comes from your preparation, honesty and integrity.
Always be prepared. Never run a meeting without an agenda. A meeting without an agenda is a
meeting that has no leader.

Optimist Creed

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own,

To forget the mistakes of the past and pres on to the greater achievements of the future,

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile,

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others,
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Have you checked the CALSO website at www.calso.org to see if you and your
Optimist Club are currently listed properly? 7,000+ other Optimists and friends have!

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Reprint from Volume 1, Letter 3

CHOOSING YOUR LEADERS CAREFULLY

By Charlie Pease

What is leadership? Peter Drucker, a well-known teacher and author of management techniques, says that it is the ability to “get the job done through delegating tasks to others”, but we all know that there is much more to that concept. You need to discuss each project with your chosen delegates so that they both understand the assigned task and are capable of completing it. You must also have periodic checkpoints along the way that confirms the project is on target and on time for completion. Finally, you must ensure that the job is completed to everyone’s satisfaction. This requires attention to detail, good follow up and open communications with your project team.

However, it is never wise to elect or appoint someone to such a position of responsibility just because they’re the only ones who will accept same. ( Indeed, we hope that there will be ample candidates vying for the positions (i.e. President, Governor, etc) when election time rolls around ). Now, to accomplish project goals effectively and efficiently you must select your leaders carefully. But how can we determine potential quality leaders for the various positions within our CALSO district?

First off, we must make the positions of responsibility worth while. The Governorship, President of clubs, Lt. Governorships, etc need to be viewed by the District’s membership as necessary and purposeful. Therefore, we need to publicize not just the duties and responsibilities but also expectations of the membership toward these positions. By making these executive positions important and valuable, we will attract more capable leaders.

Secondly, there needs to be greater effort by the District nominating committee, and the individual Clubs, to choose appropriate candidates for nomination. Don’t make the often fatal mistake of choosing your leaders out of desperation; take the time to seek out the best leaders available. Start by looking for that person(s) who has past experience in management outside Optimism. Consider the potential candidate (s) who has done good things for the Club, who has managed projects already and who has accepted appointed or elected positions before. Look for someone who is respected and listened to by the membership and who, in turn, can listen as well.

Interview your candidates! All the paperwork and past performance cannot take the place of sitting down and talking with your choice's for the position. Get to know that person, talk with him or her about their goals and ideas and what plans they might have for an executive position. In turn, let your candidate clearly know what you, as a Club or District, expect from them.

Remember, leaders are only as good as the support they receive from their electorate. Leadership starts from the bottom up, NOT the top down.

Governor: Bill Meyers
bmeyers@cox.net

Secretary: Julie Mondragon
j.tillinghast@cox.net

Treasure: Don Cousino
Decuz280@cox.net

Editor: Sam Junk
sgjunk@san.rr.com

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Our FIRST NEW CALSO member for 2007-08.

On October 06, 2007 Optimist Club of Carlsbad "The Achievers" inducted another new
member. The club has fifty-eight members and is moving forward nicely.
Linda Schock found out about the club from a news release in the North County Times,
Community News section. Linda stated at her induction: "I was looking for an organization
that is involved in local community projects that benefit youth". Linda recently moved to
San Diego County from Northern California where she was involved in other organizations,
such as Special Olympics, Little league, Concerts, Fund raising projects, Church Work and
assisting Police and Fire Departments in educating youth. Linda has already helped with the
Optimist clubs yearly golf tournament. Linda already is an "Achiever".
The Optimist Club of Carlsbad is proud to have Linda as our newest member.

            Congratulations to the Desert Volunteer's
                                         of
                          OCOTILLO California
On your ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY as an Optimist Club

                                 BOARD of DIRECTORS
       (L to R) Jim Jones, Eleanor Jones, Betty Cloud, Robert Scott,
                 Vice Chair Brenda Samson, Chair Kathleen Thayer,
               Secretary Bruce Coon and CALSO Governor Eddie Murphy

                  27 Members strong

                               Sponsoring Optimist Clubs
           SUNRISE OPTIMIST CLUB of IMPERIAL VALLEY
                     SUNRISE OPTIMIST CLUB of SAN DIEGO
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