Oratorical Contest Goes Virtual!

I have been working with our wonderful Oratorical Chair throughout this competition time of year. I know that so many of us feel that this time of the year is when we get to feel our service as Optimists makes a real difference. With the District Oratorical Contest, each year our Optimists gather to watch some of our area’s most outstanding youth display their courage, brilliance and skill for performing the spoken word. 

We are happy to report after some test runs that we’re confident we can bring this annual classic to our members near and far through Facebook Live! 

Just because a world pandemic has placed us in isolation doesn’t mean we can’t host and hold the same wonderful things we always have. We just need to come at it from a different direction. 

It is times like these that we need to be creative and we need to be louder and prouder than ever as the world needs Optimists  But Optimists need to hear from Optimists too. Let’s support each other as it feels so good. Just like the Eastern Ontario Optimists who held their 3rd Quarter Conference yesterday via Zoom. They did it so well, that at times I was brought to tears by the wonder of it all. We too can support our members and bring them the wonders of SWONT.  

So please pass onto our members that on May 30th at 2:00pm they can tune into our SWONT Optimist Clubs - Optimist International group on Facebook and watch the 9 speakers we have competing for the 3 scholarships. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SWONT.Optimists/?ref=share

Special thank you to Chairperson Carrol for taking this wonderful technological step to bring smiles to other Optimists. 

Yours in Optimism,

Tracy Huxley
2019-2020 Int’l Chief of Staff
2018-2019 Int’l Leadership Development Chair
2016-2017 SWONT District Governor

“By providing hope and positive vision Optimists 
bring out the best in youth, their communities 
and them selves”