Optimist International Scholarship Programs
CCDHH * Essay * Oratorical
Communications Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
2012-13 Topic: "Why My Voice is Important."...also acceptable is "Why My Opinions are Important."
From OI News: Update to 2012-13 CCDHH Theme -
After hearing from several members who work closely with the deaf and hard of hearing community, Optimist International will now
allow a new CCDHH topic as an acceptable revision to the current topic.
Both topics will be accepted for the 2012-2013 CCDHH Contest only. This will not affect the Oratorical Contest in any way.
The current topic is "Why My Voice is Important." Also acceptable is "Why My Opinions are Important."
Description:
Students who are certified to have a hearing loss of 40 decibels or more may compete in this contest designed
to help them develop the skills and confidence to present in sign or orally to an audience.
Dates:
Club Contest Completed by February 28, 2013
Regional/District Finals Contests: To be determined
Fee: $50.00 each
Details:
Contestants allowed thru 12th grade, hearing loss of 40+ decibels, audiogram completed within 24 months of contest.
All contests start at the club level, club winners advance to the District Finals.
Prizes:
One scholarship of $2,500 per District.
For more information on how to enter a CCDHH contest, please contact your local Optimist Club.
To learn how to run a contest for your club,
go to the
CCDHH Section of the Optimist International website.
Essay Contest
2012-13 Topic: "How Can I Help My Friends Realize Their Value"
Description:
This contest requires students under the age of 19 to compose a 400- to 500-word
essay around a central idea to develop their writing and critical thinking skills.
Dates:
Club Contest Completed by February 15, 2013
Winning Entry to District Chairperson by February 28, 2013
Fee: $25.00 each
Details:
The Essay Contest is open to students under the age of 19 years who have not yet graduated from high school or the equivalent.
All contests start at the club level, the winning essay of each club contest is entered in the District contest.
For more information, please contact your local Optimist Club.
Prizes:
One scholarship of $2,500 per District each year.
The three finalists in the Indiana South District are invited to attend the Third Quarter District Conference and read their essays to the delegates.
For more information on how to enter an Essay contest, please contact your local Optimist Club.
To learn how to run a contest for your club,
go to the
Essay Contest Section of the Optimist International website.
Oratorical Contest
2012-13 Topic: "Why My Voice is Important"
Description:
The Oratorical Contest is open to students under the age of 19 years who have not yet graduated from high school or the equivalent.
Students are required to prepare a 4- to 5-minute speech on a pre-assigned topic.
Dates:
Club Contest Completed by February 28, 2013
Regional Contest Completed by March 30, 2013
District Finals held on April 27, 2013 in Bloomington, Indiana
Fee: $50.00 each
Details:
All contests start at the club level, club winners move on to the Regional contests, the Regional winners advance to the District Finals. For more information, please contact your local Optimist Club.
Prizes: Every contestant receives a certificate of participation and achievement.
Club Contest Winner: Medallion
Regional Contest Winner: Plaque
District Contest: The Indiana South District conducts a Boys Contest and a Girls Contest.
The District Finals contests are held at the Third Quarter District Conference: three boys and three girls who have succeeded at the Club and Regional contest levels.
The boy and and the girl District winner each receives a plaque and a $2,500 scholarship.
For more information on how to enter an Oratorical contest, please contact your local Optimist Club.
To learn how to run a contest for your club,
go to the
Oratorical Contest Section of the Optimist International website.
Optimist International Sports Programs
Junior Golf Tournament * Tri-Star Sports
Indiana South District Junior Golf Tournament
For more information on entering the District Tournament, or for sponsorship opportunities, go to the
District Golf Tournament web page.
The Indiana South District Optimist Tournament will be held again this year at
Deer Creek Golf Club in Clayton, Indiana, on Friday, June 14, 2013 (All Boys & Girls Age Groups).
The District Tournament also serves as a qualifier for the
Optimist International Junior Golf Championships.
The Optimist International Tournament Dates at PGA National Resort & Spa
in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida are July 25 to August 4, 2013.
Tri-Star Sports Programs
The Tri-Star Programs are optional activities that Clubs can sponsor in any or all of the following sports:
basketball, baseball, soccer, football, in-line hockey, or ice hockey.
Each Tri-Star Sports program focuses on three skills competitions.
Clubs may find more information at the
Online Resource Library
on the Optimist International website.
Indiana South District Tri-Star Basketball
Contest Deadlines and Dates
Club Contest: completed by January 29, 2013
Regional Contests: NO Regional Contests this year
District Finals: February 10, 2013 at Memorial Gym, Huntingburg, IN
Time: 1:00 p.m. EST; warm-up starts at 12:30.
Fee: $50.00 each for Boys and Girls
Indiana South District Tri-Star Golf
A program of the Indiana South District!
Click on the
TriStar Golf link to get everything you need to hold a Tri-Star Golf Program.
Already know what you need? Then this is a great refresher...otherwise, this will lead you through the set up and execution of a very enjoyable activity.
It's great for the kids!
Childhood Cancer Campaign
"Providing the Care ... Finding the Cure"
June has been designated as Optimist Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Optimist International will be hosting an organization-wide
walk to promote childhood cancer awareness and raise much needed funds.
All Clubs are asked to sponsor a CCC Walk during June.
Find out about
Childhood Cancer Campaign Coin Banks
from Optimist International.
This is an easy and inexpensive way to get involved with this great program!
Learn how your Optimst Club can help support the
Childhood Cancer Campaign.
A
Matching Grants program is open to Optimist Clubs and Districts to complete and submit an application requesting assistance with
various CCC projects and fundraisers.
The application is reviewed by the CCC Advisory Panels and a determination is made.
Grants are awarded to Clubs and Districts that raise money or provide additional funds for the CCC-focused project.
Optimist International also has information on Childhood Cancer Campaign
projects and programs
that other clubs are doing.
Youth Safety
Bike riding, Skateboarding, In-line skating, Riding the school bus, Riding in automobiles, and Exploring the internet
The Optimist International Youth Safety community activity encompasses all of the activities originally included in the
Safety on Wheels program as well as new activities concerning Internet safety.
Your Club's Youth Safety project can be held at any time during the year.
Choose one of the ideas in the
Planning Guide,
get started with a
Poster Contest program,
or try out one of these
club activities!
Internet Safety Program
"Keep Safe - Keep Away - Keep Telling"
A special part of Optimist International Youth Safety
I Keep Safe my personal information...all of it!
I Keep Away from Internet strangers...no matter what they tell me.
I Keep Telling my parents or a trusted adult...about everything I see on the Internet.
Children's Internet Safety Education with Faux Paw, the Techno Cat
Optimist International has partnered with the
Internet Keep Safe Coalition to educate children about the potential dangers of the
internet and how to protect themselves while online.
The Optimist "Faux Paw" program is designed for children in first through fourth grades and teaches about the importance of Internet Safety
through an animated story. This program is also designed to be presented by Optimist Clubs to a group of any size.
Adult Internet Safety Education
This program is offered to adult groups of any size in order to educate them about the dangers on the internet that young people
can unknowingly fall into. There is information and suggestions on how to keep children safe while navigating the online world
and what adults can do to protect young people using the internet.
Materials for the
Internet Safety program are available through Optimist International.
Youth Appreciation Week
Optimists Recognize Youth!
The
Youth Appreciation Program offers Optimist Clubs the opportunity to make a community impact by holding one or more worthwhile, fun events that involve both adults and children. All kinds of different events can be part of a Youth Appreciation program.
You can find great ideas for your Club's Youth Appreciation Week in the Optimist International
Program Guide and
more projects in the
Online Resource Library.
Your Club's project can be held in November...or you can recognize youth any time during the year.
Respect For Law/Promotion of Non-Violence
Respect For Law Programs
Promotion of Non-Violence Programs
This motivational program can be a Fingerprinting Fair, a get-acquainted event between youth and local
law enforcement officials, or a "What peace means to me" poster contest for young kids.
Your club's project can be as complex as a family rally for non-violence...
or as simple and memorable as honoring your local law enforcement officers:
Invite them to your meetings,
Have a special program and/or dinner for them,
Honor them with Certificates of Appreciation or Plaques.
See the
Planning Guide on the Optimist International website for more information and program ideas.
Always remember to submit articles to local media of the events that are sponsored by your club.
Respect For Law Camp
Held by the Indiana State Police
Respect For Law Camp 2013
These leadership camps are co-sponsored by the Indiana District Optimists
Kids in the 5th and 6th grade are eligible for this special 2-day camp held at various sites and dates around the state.
(Co-Ed for Campers entering 5th & 6th grades). Programs include spectacular demonstrations by Emergency Response
Team members, Bomb Squads, Underwater Search and Rescue Teams and police dogs.
In 2012, Camps were held on various dates in June and July at
Vincennes University, University of Southern Indiana (Evansville), Hanover College,
Notre Dame University, Anderson University, and Trine University (Angola).
2013 Locations, Dates, and Cost to be Announced.
See the
Camp Brochure and the State Police
Youth Camp page for more information.
The Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY)
An Optimist International Endorsed Organization
HOBY Sponsorship
The Indiana South District supports the goals of the HOBY mission.
Founded in 1958, HOBY’s mission is to provide lifelong leadership development opportunities that empower individuals to achieve their highest potential.
HOBY programs are conducted annually throughout the United States, serving local and international high school students.
HOBY programs provide youth selected by their schools to participate in unique leadership training, service-learning and motivation-building experiences.
HOBY also provides adults with opportunities to make a significant impact on the lives of youth by volunteering.
"HOBY Ambassadors," HOBY's name for the participants in their programs, are high school students selected as representatives from their high schools
because they have demonstrated the potential to lead others.
Registration packets for the student participants, High School sophomores, are mailed to schools in September. The 2012 Indiana HOBY Seminar was held at Butler University, Indianapolis
from June 14 to June 17.
Your club can sponsor a student! Use the
printable form here.
For more information, please go to
the HOBY website
or contact the local
HOBY team. Additional contact information can be found on the
Optimist International
Endorsed Organizations Page
Fundraiser Ideas and Plans
From the Indiana South District and Optimist International
Fundraisers in the District
Find information about different kinds of
fundraisers.
Every one of them is actually being done by at least one club in the District.
Optimist International Fundraising Ideas
Big Bass Bonanza, Old Bagger's Day, Haunted Hall, Bowl For Kids Sake, Gourmet Popcorn, Motorcycle Poker Run - you name it, there might
well be a fundraiser involving it on the Optimist International
Club Fundraising Projects Page. You will also find contact info to get more details.
On the Optimist International
Ideas and Suggestions page, there are ideas for and a brief description of all kinds of projects, including Christmas Tree Pick-up, Coat Check,
Full Service Fill-up/Car Wash, Penny Drive, Funny Hat/Bad Tie/Casual Day, and even a Bake Sale.
A third link to "A List of Fundraising Ideas
from A to Z"
is on the same page as links to the previous two items.
