Hello Fellow Optimists,

I am Matt Crowley, Governor of Midwestern Ontario District Optimist International. As we head into our 2026/2027 Optimist year, I would like to thank Governor Bill G Adams

for his leadership and guidance in the 25/26 year. It takes teamwork to keep our district running and together our organization remains strong.

My involvement with Optimism began when Shakespeare Optimist Club built the Ellice Optimist Club, in 1978. My dad, Don, was a charter member and I was involved with

many club events. I joined about 30 years ago and was welcomed into the club by many of these charter members. My wife, Kelli, joined when we became a co-ed club about

six years later. Our elder son Cornelius is now involved and is our club secretary. Being involved in the community is a big part of our family and how we were raised.

With this background, we all know the high value we put on community. We remember when we were supported by our community and why it is important to give back to

others in our community. Service clubs provide those programs and structure within our neighbourhoods, villages and towns. Many of us had witnessed the blossoming of

Optimist Clubs and phenomenal growth of service club membership around 25 years ago. Our district peaked with more than 5,000 members in almost 100 clubs. Things

have certainly changed. But the kids are still out there. The families and schools and communities are still out here. Our clubs are needed now as much as they ever have

been. The pressures on our young families are high.

Supporting our youth is one way we support these families. Being able to help fund sports or art programs, help snack and nutrition programs at schools and daycares are

ways we can help our communities. Working together with schools, local government, churches, and other community groups are ways to strengthen our efforts. Invite

neighbours, friends or family members to help at an event. Give them an opportunity see firsthand the work done by your club. Invite them to become a member. You’d be

surprised at how many people do not know that we are always welcoming new members.

We have a well-respected organization and a good reputation. This has been earned by the members who came before us. It is up to us to maintain this image. We can have

fun, as we should, and we can do this with good natured joking combined with some club rivalry. As I stated earlier, we have room to grow, it’s been done before and we

have no shortage of need. Our youth are the next generation of adults. Our words and deeds are being watched and followed.

My theme is the 3 R’s. Respect, Responsibility, and Results

I have assembled an excellent team, and they are here to help any member or club. Invite your Lt. Governor to your club. They are there to answer questions and receive

feedback from members. We need to support each other, within our clubs and clubs

within our zone and district.

We have a responsibility to our Canadian Children’s Optimist Foundation. By purchasing a “dime – a – day” pin for $40 you get a tax receipt, and as well as you are

helping to fund our Canadian Foundation that sustains our scholarship programs for oratorical, essay, and hard of hearing. By supporting our own Foundation, it helps the

Foundation committee access sponsorship money, it’s a numbers tool. As well Clubs are asked to support our Foundation, and the HOBY development weekend, held each

May.

We are all going to enjoy the fruits of our labour, when we see these young folks achieve success in school and in life. It is a circle of life - we can be proud of the

achievements of our youth from our community.

Our first International Optimist Convention experience was in Nashville. Country music artist Lee Greenwood performed for our convention group. He was a past recipient of

the Oratorical scholarship for Optimist International. Now that is a ringing endorsement.

Please be a Proud Optimist and live by the Optimist Creed,

Optimist Matt Crowley

Governor Midwestern Ontario District

Optimist International