Welcome to the New Jersey Lower New York District 27 of Optimist International.

This website is intended to serve over 1400 individual members in 19 adult clubs and 13 youth (school, special purpose, etc.) clubs in the District with information necessary to conduct the administrative operations of the district and to provide members with a portal to gain access to District and Optimist International information.

Our Membership roster and e-mail lists are to be used for the purpose of contacting other members on Optimist Club business only and are not to be used for personal use, or to promote business, political, or religious causes

Milestones of Optimist International

1911 - A new type of civic and service organization, calling itself the “Optimist Club,” forms in Buffalo, N.Y.

1919 - The first International Convention takes place in Louisville, Ky., with 11 clubs and 1,298 members in attendance.

1922 - Members adopt the Optimist Creed and the purposes that guide the organization today (service to youth, community and Optimism).

1923 - The future course of the organization is set by selecting the motto “Friend of the Delinquent Boy.”

1924 - Optimists revise their motto and become known as “Friend of the Boy.”
The first Canadian Club charters in Toronto. Junior Optimist Clubs become an official part of the program.

1928 - First International Oratorical Contest is conducted.

1929 - Organization grows to 117 Optimist Clubs and 8,000 members.

1936 - The Life Membership Plan is introduced at the Fort Worth Convention.

1938 - Kearny Optimist Club Chartered

1940 - The organization continues to grow with 234 clubs and 12,000 members.

1949 - Passaic Optimist Club Chartered

1951 - Clifton Optimist Club Chartered

1953 - First International Bike Safety Week is held.

1954 - Campaign against narcotics peddlers results in Congress passing the 1956 Narcotics Law. Union Optimist Club Chartered

1957 - Youth Appreciation Week first observed on an international basis.

1958 - Wildwood-Wildwoods Optimist Club Chartered

1959 - Freehold Evening Optimist Club Chartered

1960 - A full-fledged campaign against pornography reaching school-age children begins.

1963 - Octagon Clubs for high-school students become an official part of the youth program.

1964 - To help reduce the number of high school dropouts, the Stay in School program launches.

1965- In cooperation with the FBI and RCMP, Optimists initiate Respect for Law program. Watchung Optimist Club Chartered

1969 - 50 th Anniversary celebration. Board of Directors creates the Optimist International Foundation. Bergenfield Optimist Club Chartered. Scotch Plains-Fanwood Optimist Club Chartered

1970 - The information Program on drugs abuse is presented. West Hudson-South Bergen Optimist Club Chartered

1971 - Organization's growth continues and reaches 3,000 clubs and 106,000 members. Presentation of the Tri-Star Sports Program promoting good physical fitness.

1972 - L.I.F.E.--Living Is For Everything program kicks off at the convention in Montreal, focusing on environmental issues. Kinnelon-Butler Optimist Club Chartered

1973 - Optimists adopt “Friend of Youth” as their new motto. Township of Lower Optimist Club Chartered

1974 - Belleville Optimist Club Chartered.

1978 - Optimist Junior Golf program forms.

1983 - First official International Essay Contest is sponsored.

1984 - “Just Say No” program used to educate youth on the dangers of substance abuse.

1985 - Optimist International Foundation Fund reaches $2 million.

1986 - Organization grows to 3,800 clubs and 160,000 members. Freehold Sunrise Optimist Club Chartered

1987 - Women invited to join Optimist International

1988 - Junior Optimist Octagon International (JOOI) forms as the official Youth organization. Freehold Noontime Optimist Club Chartered

1989 - Westfield Optimist Club Chartered

1990 - More than 20 Optimist Clubs charter in Hungary. Howell Optimist Club Chartered. North Plainfield Optimist Club Chartered

1992 - Optimists In Action Day pilot program unites 232 clubs and hundreds of volunteers in a massive single-day of community service. New “Get Real!” program fights steroids use.

1993 - Optimist International’s 75th Anniversary year kicks off at the Louisville, Ky., convention, location of the first convention in 1919. First organization-wide Optimists In Action Day. Alpha Clubs, created for grades one through four, become an official part of JOOI.

1995 - Junior golf tournament moves to Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami, Fla., and is renamed the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships. First ever Optimist Non Violence Day takes place on May 6.

1996 - OIJGC finds a new home at the PGA National Resort & Spa. Morton International funds safety awareness program—Always Buckle Children In the Back Seat.

1997 - ESPN covers the OIJGC, making Optimist International the first service club organization to ever have a worldwide event televised.

1998 - Optimist float wins the “National Trophy” in the Tournament of Roses Parade.

1999 - Optimism celebrates 75 years in Canada.

2000 - Optimist Childhood Cancer Program adopted as International Program to assist children with cancer and their families.

2001 - Jackson Optimist Club Chartered

2005 - Brick Optimist Club Chartered

2006 - Shore Optimist Club Chartered