Events Calendar
  • Optimist International Essay Contest

    Event Date: 11/30/2025

    Topic for the 2025-2026 school year is: “How My Acts of Service Help Me Understand What My Community Means to Me”   If you are interested, you may obtain rules and application here - Essay Contest Application Deadline for essays to be turned into the Meridian Optimist Club is January 23, 2026. 

  • Optimist International Oratorical Contest

    Event Date: 11/30/2025

    The topic for the 2025-2026 school year is: “The Moment I Realized I Belonged — My Definition of Community” Click this link Contest Application for rules and applicaiton.

Purposes of Optimist International

To develop optimism as a philosophy of life utilizing the tenets of the Optimist Creed; to promote an active interest in good government and civic affairs; to inspire respect for the law; to promote patriotism and work for international accord and friendship among all people; to aide and encourage the development of youth, in the belief that the giving of one’s self in service to others will advance the well-being of humankind, community life and the world.

The Optimist Creed

Promise Yourself…

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your Optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
Christian D. Larson