Program for:
Our History: 1919 - 1989
1919 (OI)
Louisville KY Organization Meeting (Buffalo, New York -1911
Special Note: Optimist International information shared by MC
1920 (OI)
First Edition published of Optimist Magazine October, 1920
1921 (DOC)
Organized - Friday the 13th day of May, 1921. Dr. Hartloff and thirteen men met at the
Vendome Hotel and organized the Evansville Optimist club.
1922 (OI
August, 1922 first official emblem approved -- a moon-faced cheery chap and the
four-word motto: a sun in its center and the words "Friendship, Sociability, Loyalty, Reciprocity" around
its border
1923 (OI & DOC)
"Friend of Youth" today -- was originally adopted as "Friend of the Delinquent Boy",
then "Friend of the Boy" and our involvement with Youth on a regular basis began. The original slogan
was proposed by our club's member, Dr. Charles Hartloff.
1924 (Ol)
First Canadian Club chartered February 26,1924
1924 (OI)
First Junior Optimist dub chartered, today includes ALPHA and OCTAGON CLUBS
1925 (DOC)
Camping Program either Optimists, Boy Scouts, YMCA Kids and Camp Big Oak (8/28/32}
1928 (OI)
First Annual Oratorical Contest conducted
1930 (DOC)
May 30 - Our First Annual Memorial Day Grave Visitation began.
1932 (DOC)
Optimist Help Salvation Army with Kettle Duty in the Downtown
1936 (OI)
Life Membership in Optimist International started.
1946 (DOC)
Assisted in the Campaign that today is known as the Santa Clothes Club,
Founding organizers: Meyer Siegel, Dick Anderson, Eddie Edwards, Don Menke, Sam Medlicott.
According to a December 1955 Evansville Press mentioned the Santa Clothes Club as a YMCA-WEOA
project of former years; and now a combined WEOA-WEHT-YMCA promotion, see Santa Clothes Club
Committee
1947 (DOC)
June 1,1947 Articles of Incorporation filed in county recorder's office
1953 (DOC)
March 18,1953 chartered the Evansville West Side Club
1954 (DOC)
April 1954 chartered the Posey County Club
1955 (DOC)
March 1955 chartered the Evansville Breakfast Club
1956 (DOC)
April 7,1956 chartered the Evansville East Side Club
1957 (DOC)
March 21 1957 chartered the Twilight Club
1957 (OI)
First Annual Youth Appreciation Event
1957 (OI)
Since the late 1950's Bicycle Safety Week has remained a popular program, Today,
it's known as Safety on Wheels and included; rollerblades, skateboards, and school buses
1958 (OI)
Student Aid and Counseling Service, Inc. Downtown Optimist Scholarship Offered
1959 (DOC)
June 1959 chartered the Petersburg Breakfast Club
1965 (OI)
First Annual Respect for Law in July 1965
1966 (OI)
Project RSVP -- Register, Study, Vote, Participate
1971 (DOC)
May 3,1971 chartered the Santa Claus Optimist Club
1971 (OI)
Optimist International Foundation began and the First Tri-Star Basketball Program
began as well.
1977 (OI)
Adopted current Optimist International logo with the letters O and I in a free standing
form, replacing the "Rising Sun" emblem used for many decades, replacing an inverted diamond with a
similar design, which replaced the moon faced cheery man.
1978 (OI)
Help Them Hear includes Communications Contest
1978 (OI)
First Annual Optimist Junior World Golf Tournament
1979 (DOC)
First Printing of " Bish Says; For The Last Time" forward by Bob Flynn
1983 (OI)
First Annual Essay Contest
1983 (DOC)
April 6, 1983 Foundation By-Laws adopted with a beginning balance of
approximately $4200.00
1983 (DOC)
First printing of "Increase Your Shelf Life through Good Health Habits" written by several
club members.
1984 (OI)
Endorsed Just Say No and CHICKEN (Cool, Honest, Intelligent, Clear-headed,
Keen, Energetic and Not interested in drugs) with a Chicken mascot named "Mr. Resister" grown today
to include: Get Real, D.A.R.E. and other substance abuse prevention programs.
1989 (DOC)
Scholars on Nine sponsor of a local high school quiz show team
1989 (DOC)
Mt. Vernon Optimist Club formed
1989 (DOC)
First Annual Gordon "Bish" Thompson Memorial Award
OI = Optimist International
DOC = Evansville Downtown Optimist Club
2nd and 4th Wednesdays - 11:45 am
