2024-2025  OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

Janet  (Jan) D Oord Graves

Dear Alberta, Montana, Saskatchewan & Northern Wyoming (AMS&NW) Optimists,
I love being an Optimist!

​In fact, it’s why I joined! I wanted to be a part of this wonderful group who hold positivity, hope and optimism at the center of everything they do. I’d like all of us to shine a spotlight on why we are Optimists; hope, positivity, optimism. After all, isn’t this what many people are looking for.

​ Together, we are Optimist International. We all bear responsibility to work together to bring our organization into a healthy state.

​Together, let’s get this wonderfully complex organization of ours moving in the right direction and continue that upward trajectory together far into the future. As Babe Ruth said, “The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a dime.”

If we plan in silos and do not align our goals, we will have scattered and intermittent episodes of success.

I am asking that all clubs and districts align their goals with the Optimist International goals for 2024 – 2025.

There will be three focus areas:

Membership – retention and growth,
Communication – internal and external and
Financial health.
  • In the area of membership, our goal is for Optimist International to be at a net plus 5% on September 30, 2025. Strategies will focus on retention, through  member engagement and growth through our regional growth committees.
  • In the area of Marketing, I want people to think of Optimist International Clubs first when they hear the word Optimism. This goal would be measured through a 5% increase in opened external social media posts.  
  • Internally, we will continue to reach out to clubs to update their club rosters. We will also continue to refine our member publications. This goal will be measured by an increase of 5% in opened member communications.
  • We have stabilized our finances at the Optimist International level. We need to maintain positive financial stability through dues being paid on time and looking for additional resources and strategies to financially support our organization.                                                                                                                                                             I am honored to serve as your President for the 2024-25 Optimist year. Your District Governor Dwight Phillips and his team have plans in place for a successful 2024-25! I will stand together with the AMS&NW Optimists to “Bring out the Best!” I look forward to working together, all of us, to bring out the best in our youth our communities and ourselves.                                                                                                                                                                      
Yours In Optimism
Jan Oord Graves
​OI President 2024 - 2025
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2024 - 2025 - Optimist International President - Janet D. Oord Graves
HOME CLUB (s) 
       06170 - San Antonio, Texas

OPTIMIST ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • International Board of Directors
  • Certified International Trainer
  • Certified Club Builder
  • NCB Field Representative