Our Focus is on Youth. Our theme is "Bringing out the Best in Kids"

Vision Statement

Optimist International will be recognized worldwide as an organization of people committed to optimism and self-development for the improvement of youth and community.
Mission Statement

Optimist International's mission is to foster an optimistic way of life, through a network of optimists, dedicated to the full development of their potential in order to provide ever-expanding service to youth, the community and the world.

Description:
Meeting the needs of young people in communities worldwide, Optimist Clubs have been "Bringing Out the Best in Kids" since 1919. Optimist Clubs conduct positive service projects aimed at providing a helping hand to youth. Club Members are best known in their communities for their upbeat attitudes. By believing in young people and empowering them to be the best they can, Optimist volunteers continually make this world a better place to live. There are 105,000 individual Members who belong to more than 3,200 autonomous
Clubs. Optimists conduct 65,000 service projects each year, serving six million young people. Optimists also spend $78 million on their communities annually.

History:
The Fargo Optimist Club was Chartered on June 30th, 1966.
The Fargo Optimist Club serves several thousand youth each year, averaging about 33 youth per member. Our largest Project of the year is the Christmas Gift Wrap at West Acres which we team up with the Golden K Kiwanis Club.

Another large project of ours that is widely recognized in the Fargo community is Safety Town. Where we partner with the Fargo Police Dept, the Fargo Fire Dept and Fargo Public Schools to educate approximately 400 kindergarten students on Safety issues each year.

Optimist International officially sponsors three International Programs: the Childhood Cancer Campaign (CCC), the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships (OIJGC) and the organization's scholarship contests. In addition, Optimist International also encourages involvement in several other community activities, such as:

Respect for Law
Tri-Star Sports
Youth Appreciation Week
Youth Safety

Optimists conduct 65,000 community service projects each year, spending $78 million in their communities. Six million kids are positively affected by Optimist programs.

Contact people:

Shannon Ehlers, Board Of Directors, (701) 282-2822 John Vastag, Vice President, (701) 237-0543, (email)

Address:

P.O. Box 124 Fargo, ND 58107

Web Site: http://fargooptimists.org/index.htm

Directions:

That is our mailing address. We meet every Monday at 12:00 noon for our meeting at the Doublewood Inn. 3333 13th Ave S Fargo, ND 58103   Nearest Bus Stop: 13th Ave many places and Cashwise, Job Service., 1 block minute walk