PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM - PDP

Please note:  the PDP will be receiving a rewrite by the Optimist International Leadership Development Committee during the 2024-2025 year as they have been charged with this task.  Because of this, the current PDP was taken offline on September 10, 2024.

Upon its completion it will be relaunched on the Optimist Institute, and a webinar will be held to explain the differences between the old and the new programs.

If you have any questions on the new program, feel free to email [email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions
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1.How is the PDP different from the Personal Growth and Involvement (PGI) program? • The PDP program is meant to provide members a way to develop professionally. Members will have the opportunity to build skills that will help them professionally and enhance their Club, District and Optimist International. Our organization wants to bring in younger professionals. The PDP is a tool to help them do that.

2. Can you move from an earned level of PGI to that level in the PDP program? • No, to begin the PDP program you must begin at Level 1.

3. If you completed Level 10 of the PGI program can you move to the advanced levels of the PDP program? • No, You must complete levels 1 - 10 of the PDP program before continuing on to the advanced levels.

4. Will participants earn pin backs like they do in the PGI program? • Certificates will be awarded for Levels 1 - 10 and pins will be awarded for the three advanced levels.

5. Will both PGI and PDP programs continue into the future? • At this time the PGI program will continue along with the PDP program.

6. Can Levels be worked on simultaneously in the PDP program? • Just like in the PGI program criteria for PDP Levels 1 - 10 can be worked on simultaneously. When working on the three Advanced Levels, each level must be worked on independently, with a one year completion requirement.

7. Can any of the PDP criteria be met from prior Optimist activity? • Prior officer experience (such as Club President, District Governor) can count to meet criteria for the PDP program. Other criteria must be met from the date the Optimist begins the program.

8. Can any of the criteria be met as a team? • Yes, some criteria can be met as a team, for example: Optimist can choose to produce a video as a team.

9. How will members keep track of their PDP progress? • A tri-fold brochure will be available for members to manually track their progress for Levels 1 - 0 and the Advanced levels of the PDP program. An on-line, fillable form will also be available at Optimist International.
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2025 - 2026 PDP Eleanor Matice
More Links
> Optimist International (OI)
> OI Foundation
>​oCCO Foundation