Committee Chairs


Many committees work to aid and encourage the development of our Optimist Club members in order for Optimist’s to better aid and encourage the development of the youth of Tennessee.

ARAS - Achievements and Awards
Louis Cartwright  Club: Optimist Club of West Knoxville  Email: lcartwright@cartwrighttech.com
The A&A committee’s job is to monitor club achievements and maintain records for District and International awards eligibility.

Bulletin Editors
Buzz  Buswell  (Donna)  Club: Optimist Club of Knoxville  Email: buzztof@comcast.net
Donna Buswell (Buzz)  Club: Angel Tree Optimist Club  Email: djbuzz@comcast.net
Responsible for publishing the Tennessee District Newsletter.

Candidate Qualifications
Chair:
Bobby Bledsoe  Club: Optimist Club of   Email: pb3991@aol.com

(OI Article XV, Section 3)
Section 3C
The district candidate qualifications committee, prior to April 1, shall seek and receive the names and qualifications of prospective candidates from the clubs with the zone for each office of lieutenant governor, and shall publish such names prior to the date of election. In the event a candidate cannot be obtained from within the zone, the committee shall consider candidates outside the zone. The committee shall nominate qualified candidates for the office of lieutenant governor for each zone in the district at the third quarter district meeting. The committee may consider prospective candidates on its own motion.
Section 3D
The district candidate qualifications committee prior to 1 July shall seek and receive the names and qualifications of prospective candidates for the office of governor-elect and shall publish such names prior to the date of election. The committee shall nominate qualified candidates for that office at the district convention. The committee may consider prospective candidates on its own motion.

CCDHH Contest (Communication Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing)
Chair: Clarence Hampton  Club: Optimist Club of   Email: champton170@bellsouth.net

Childhood Cancer
Chair:
Diane Frank  Club: Optimist Club of Athens  Email: frankd@k12tn.net

Club Services
Chair: Ronda Luebke  Club: Optimist Club of West Knoxville  Email: luebke@comcastn.net

Childhood Cancer
Chair:  Van Turner Jr.  Club: Optimist Club of  Email: turnervand@mcsk12.net

Conference and Convention
Chair:
Jim Wilkinson  Club: Optimist Club of  Email: jimbowilky@centurytel.net

OI Article XVI, Section 3B)

The Convention Committee shall plan and supervise all arrangements, programs, budgets, entertainment, promotion, financing and fees for the annual convention on behalf of and subject to the approval of the district board of directors. Reports: The committee shall submit a report on its progress and planning at the quarterly board meeting preceding the convention and cause to be published, at least 30 days prior to the dates of the convention, the complete, official convention program. The committee shall also make recommendations to the convention on the selection of the time and place of future conventions.

CPA Books
Chair: Pat Sartin  Club: Optimist Club of   Email: sartinboc111@hotmail.com
This committee administers the OI Community Projects Awards program. The CPA program seeks to:
Provide recognition to clubs for outstanding projects, which fulfill the objectives of Optimist International.
Encourage significant community-serving activities, which enhance the image of the club and Optimist International.
Stimulate membership involvement in meaningful club activities, thereby providing maximum opportunity for individual participation and enhancing the desirability of membership.
Aid Optimist International in acquiring information on outstanding club projects for the guidance of other clubs seeking similar community-serving opportunities.

Credentials
Chairperson: Clay E. Boyd, Jr.  Club: Optimist Club of Piney Flats  Email: clayboydins@comcast.net

Essay Contest
Chairperson: Ish Greene  Club: Optimist Club of   Email: ish2greenemoney.com

Finance
 Chair: Bill Stewart  Club:  Email: bdstewart2@embarqmail.com
Ora Eads Jr.  Club: Optimist Club of   Email:  orawjr@bellsouth.net
Farrell Roe  Club:   Email: roerockingr@aol.com

(OI Article XVI, Section 3A)

Budget
The Finance committee, in concert with the incoming governor, shall prepare the proposed annual budget to be submitted to the district board of directors for adoption subject to the approval of the district board of directors. The committee shall submit deposits and make recommendations thereon to the district board of directors.”

Reports
The Finance Committee shall also arrange for quarterly, annual, and such other financial reports as may be required by the district board of directors from time to time, and arrange for an annual review as of 30 September by a certified public accountant as soon as possible after the close of the administrative year, but not later than 30 November.”

Transfer
The committee shall arrange for and supervise the orderly, efficient transfer, before or at the first meeting of the district board of directors, of all district records and funds from each administration to its success as of the close of the administrative year.

Fun & Fellowship
Chair: Susan Harbin Club: Optimist Club of West Knoxville Email: susanharbin@comcast.net

International Development
Chair:

J.O.O.I. Clubs
Chair:  Suzan Jordan  Club: Karns Hardin Valley Optimist Club  Email:                                                                                                                           

Junior Golf
Chair: Paul Harbin  Club: Optimist Club of West Knoxville  Email: optimistpaul@comcast.net

Leadership Development
Chair: Buzz Buswell  Club: Optimist Club of Knoxville  Email: buzztof@comcast.net

(OI Article XVI, Section 4)
A Leadership Development Committee will be responsible for promotion and planning of training at district conferences. This committee will be responsible for distribution and use of training modules and for the implementation of Optimist International directed training programs. The Leadership Development Committee will provide liaison between district administration and clubs for training and will select the best faculty available for district training events. This committee will provide necessary continuity in training between the Optimist International Board, the district administration and the clubs.

Membership
Chair:
   Club: Optimist Club of   Email:  

Working in conjunction with the governor and Lt. governors the membership chair is responsible for the development and promotion of all district programs related to membership. One of the chair’s major tasks is to encourage clubs to participate in International and district membership programs and to develop programs of their own.

New Club Building
Chair:
Essie Johnson  Club: Optimist Club of Knoxville  Email: ejohnson417@comcast.net
All Past Governors and Past Lt. Governors are members of this committee

Optimist International Ambassador
Paul Harbin  Club: Optimist Club of Knoxville Email: optimistpaul@comcast.net

Optimist International Foundation
Carol Buss  Club:  Boyds Creek Optimist Club  Email: smokymtns98@bellsouth.net

Oratorical
Chair: Marian Morrison  Club: Curve Optimist Club  Email:  marianmorrison4@comcast.net 

Parliamentarian
Dwayne Curle  Club: Optimist Club of   Email:  

Personal Growth and Involvement (PGI)
Chair: Rhonda Luebke  Club: Optimist Club of West Knoxville  Email: luebke@comcast.net

Policy and Procedure
Chair: Bob Buss  Club: Northview-Kodak Optimist Club Email: smokymtns98@bellsouth.net

Public Relations Committee
Chair: Sam Greenlee   Club: Optimist Club  Email: sgreenlee@bankofbartlett.com

(OI Article XVI, Section 3E)
The Publicity Committee shall be responsible for overall promotion and publicity efforts of the district, including promotion of all programs and activities which occur at the district level, promotion of club and district level contests, and overall, promotional responsibility of the organization to both the clubs in the district and the general public. The committee shall also be responsible for assisting the clubs in the district with their local publicity efforts.

The Bulletin Editor, Directory Editor, and webmaster are all members of this committee.

Registrar
David Harter  Club: Optimist Club of Knoxville  Email: david.harter@fastsigns.com

Scrapbook
Chair: Laurence Morgan  Club: Optimist Club of  

Sergeant At Arms
John Johnson   Club: Optimist Club of   Email: johnjohnson@chartertn.net
Robert Halbrook 
Club: Optimist Club of  Email: rhskinhead@aol.com

Supplies
Chair: Clarence Franklin  Club: Optimist Club of  Email: nygel97@comast.net

Web Page
Beth Bledsoe  Club: Optimist Club of West Knoxville Email: bbledsoe@chartertn.net 

Zone Realignment
Bob Underwood  Club: Optimist Club of      Email: mccc@tricon.net
Wilma Sueing  Club:Curve Optimist Club  Email: sueingww@comcast.net
Willie Banks 
Club: Optimist Club of Knoxville East  Email: williebanks06@comcast.net