Personal Growth and Involvement Program PASSPORT Personal Growth and Involvement Program
PGI Personal Growth & Involvement Program PGI is your passport to personal development, increased member involvement and Club growth. Participation in PGI offers Members the opportunity for personal growth while working at their own pace. It will also provide fresh ideas for Club meetings. Benefits of the Personal Growth & Involvement Allows Club Members to be recognized and appreciated for personal and professional accomplishments. Gives Members an opportunity to participate in long-term Club involvement while learning more about Optimism. Gives each Member the personal responsibility for his/her involvement in the Club s activities. Offers personal growth opportunities to each Member. Provides Members with Club meeting, membership recruitment and retention ideas. The PGI Program offers every Optimist Club Member the opportunity to grow personally and learn more about Optimism while advancing through ten levels of involvement, personal growth and achievement. PGI introduces you to Optimist International s Skills Development Modules on Public Speaking, Effective Time Management, Creative Problem Solving, Choosing Optimism as a Philosophy of Life, Orientation to Optimism for New Members, The Meeting Will Come to Order! A Parliamentary Procedure Manual, Team Building, Leadership Styles & Profiles and Mentoring How to Build & Nurture a Relationship! Presence/ Activities/Programs Growth/New Members Knowledge of the Organization Personal Growth/Self Development Elements of PGI
How PGI Works When a Member enrolls in the PGI Program they receive a Passport from their District PGI Chair or their Club and enters his/her name, Club name and Club number on the front. As a member completes a step, either the Club President or Secretary-Treasurer (for Levels 1-7), or the District Governor or Lieutenant Governor (for Levels 8-10) initials beside the step completed on the passport. When an entire level is completed, the proper Club or District representative (as noted on the PGI Recognition Form) should fill out, sign and date the Recognition Form. The Club then forwards a copy of the PGI Recognition Form to the District Director of Personal Growth, or directly to the Optimist International headquarters, for processing. Optimist International will forward the appropriate pin backings (and certificate for Level 7) to the District Director of Personal Growth (unless otherwise noted) to be presented to the Member(s) at the next District conference/convention. 10 Levels of Involvement and Recognition Level I Bronze Level II Green Level III Burgundy Level IV Blue Level Level V Black Level Level VI Purple Level VII Gold (and certificate of completion) Level VIII Orange IX Yellow X Lapel Pin
Why did Optimist International Develop PGI? 1. To create the standard of a good Optimist Member 2. To offer every Member an opportunity to receive personal benefits when joining an Optimist Club. 3. To make sure every Optimist Club offers every Member the challenges he/she needs to become a better leader. 4. To give the proper recognition to every Member of the Club, based on clear challenges. 5. To promote a better understanding of Optimist International at every level of the organization. 6. To help everyone promote the Optimist philosophy throughout the world. 7. To help the Club President receive all the support he/she needs to accomplish a successful year.
Personal Growth and Involvement Forms Enclosed in this packet are the following forms to help you through the PGI Program, or to help you implement it in your District (if you re a PGI Chair): PGI Passport Pages: These are larger versions of the pages contained in the PGI Passports. Members may use these pages, or the actual Passports, to track their progress through the program. Passports may be obtained by contacting the Optimist International headquarters, or your District PGI Chair. Club PGI Tracking Form: This form can be used by Members to track their own progress through PGI, or by District PGI Chairs to track other Members progress. This is especially useful for PGI Chairs, because for each Level, they can track whether or not they ve sent in the Recognition Form, received the pin backings, and presented the pin backings to the Member. PGI Recognition Form: This is the official form that OI Headquarters uses to process and send out the PGI pin backings. Once it is properly filled out and signed by the appropriate officials, either send it directly to the Optimist International headquarters, or send it to your District PGI Chair, who will then forward it to Optimist International. Once received, OI will verify it is correct; update our records; and send the form, along with proper pin backings, back to the Disctrict PGI Director. Please allow up to 3 weeks for OI to process and send out PGI materials. Please note: If the same person has achieved multiple levels on the same form (i.e. John Doe has achieved Levels 4, 3, and 5), OI will only send the pin backing for the highest level achieved. All of these forms are available in paper or electronic form by contacting the Optimist International Office. Please contact Jackie Moore at (314) 371-6000 x263 or moorej@optimist.org. You may also photocopy the forms from this packet.
LEVEL I BRONZE PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Participate in a community service activity MARKETING: Learn how to write a communique/press Release CONTINUOUS Give a short presentation on How Optimism Can Make a Better World or Optimism as a Way of Life Learn the 5 purposes of an Optimist Club COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Introduce a new Member or a guest at a Club meeting/activity. CERTIFICATION: Secretary-Treasurer or Club PGI chair in the Member s Record LEVEL II GREEN PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Serve as a project committee member MARKETING: Prepare a Communique/Press Release for a specific event CONTINUOUS Make a short presentation at a Club meeting about why a prospective member should join your club Know Optimist International, District, Zone and Club structures COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Write a brief description of a favorite Club project and submit it for either the Club newsletter or the Club Website/Facebook Page CERTIFICATION: Secretary-Treasurer or Club PGI chair in the Member s Record LEVEL III BURGUNDY PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Serve as a Chair for a community service or fundraising project and write a report about the project to give to the next Chair MARKETING: Learn to use Promotional tools (Newsletter, Outlook Mail, Gmail, Constant Contact ) to market your event CONTINUOUS Complete an Optimist Skills Module of your choice and schedule a presentation of the skill at an Optimist Club or other meeting. Make a presentation to your Club on the history of Optimist International. (Should use Of Dream s and Deeds website/book as a resource) COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Contact a Club Member that has been missing from Club meetings and events and offer to bring them to the next activity. Check with the Club President first. CERTIFICATION: Secretary-Treasurer or Club PGI chair in the Member s Record LEVEL IV BLUE PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Serve as a Club Foundation Representative or a Club Chair of a Standing Committee MARKETING: Market an event using the Promotional tools CONTINUOUS Make the presentation on the Continuous Improvement Optimist Skill Module Know the Officers of OI, District and Club (OI President, OI Vice President, District Governor, Lt. Governor & Club President) COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Attend a Zone meeting or visit another Club s meeting and share what is happening with your Club CERTIFICATION: Secretary-Treasurer or Club PGI chair in the Member s Record
LEVEL V BLACK PROJECT MANAGEMENT: MARKETING: CONTINUOUS COMMUNICATION SKILLS: CERTIFICATION: Create a Project Plan including a budget for a new community project and present it to the Club Board of Directors Learn to use a form of Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn ). Complete a Second Optimist Skills Module Recite (by memory) the Optimist Creed Make a presentation at another Club s meeting, a Zone meeting or other community organization regarding a Club Service project that your club does. Secretary-Treasurer or Club PGI Chair in the Member s Record LEVEL VI PURPLE PROJECT MANAGEMENT: MARKETING: CONTINUOUS Create a Project Plan including a budget for a new fundraising project and present it to the Club Board of Directors Market an event using Social Media Educate a new member(s) on the purposes and benefits of an Optimist Club and Optimist International to children, community and ourselves Make a presentation on a program promoted by your Club, District or Optimist International COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Attend as a Club Representative at a District meeting. CERTIFICATION: Secretary-Treasurer, Club PGI Chair, District Governor or District Secretary as appropriate in the Member s Record LEVEL VII GOLD PROJECT MANAGEMENT: MARKETING: CONTINUOUS COMMUNICATION SKILLS: CERTIFICATION: Participate in the organization of a membership recruitment activity Learn how to create a short video Serve on the Club Board of Directors, Club officer or Club officer-elect Make a presentation at a Club or Zone meeting about the District meeting/convention you attended Submit a minimum of 250 written words about an upcoming Club event to either the District website or District Bulletin Secretary-Treasurer, Club PGI, Lt. Governor, District Secretary or District Webmaster as appropriate in the Member s Record LEVEL VIII ORANGE PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Serve as Chair of a membership recruitment activity MARKETING: Be part of the team that creates a short video of an event and publish it on social media CONTINUOUS Complete a third Optimist Skills Module Make a presentation at a Membership Recruitment, Zone, or District Meeting about Optimist International COMMUNICATION SKILLS: CERTIFICATION: Develop a presentation about a Club Project and present it at a meeting Secretary-Treasurer, Club PGI, Lt. Governor, District Secretary or District Meetings/Convention Chair or District LD chair as appropriate in the Member s Record
LEVEL IX YELLOW PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Serve as a District committee member MARKETING: Learn how to develop a Marketing Strategy and Plan CONTINUOUS Complete a fourth Optimist Skills Module Make a Club or Zone presentation on behalf of a District Committee COMMUNICATION SKILLS CERTIFICATION: Provide training regarding District Leadership, District project or an Optimist Skills Module to a group outside of your Club Secretary-Treasurer, Club PGI Chair, Lt. Governor, District PGI Chair, District Secretary, District LD Chair or District Governor as appropriate in the Member s Record LEVEL X RECOGNITION AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION THE YEAR OF OR THE YEAR IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING WHEN LEVEL X WAS EARNED PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Chair a District Committee MARKETING: Create a Marketing Strategy and Plan for Club or District Project or Program CONTINUOUS Attend a Regional Leadership Development Conference or three training seminars/workshops at District Meetings, or three workshops at the International Convention Conduct the Skills Development Module, Orientation to Optimism for New Members, at a Club, Zone, or District meeting COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Be part of the team that builds a new Club. Must attend 1 informational meeting and the organizational meeting CERTIFICATION: Secretary-Treasurer, Lt. Governor, District PGI Chair, District Secretary, District NCB Chair, District Club Fitness Advisor or District Governor as appropriate in the Member s Record ADVANCED LEVELS OF PGI ALL REQUIREMENTS MUST BE COMPLETED IN PAST 12 MONTHS AND LEVELS MUST BE WORKED ON CONSECUTIVELY BRONZE CERTIFICATE PROJECT MANAGEMENT: MARKETING: CONTINUOUS COMMUNICATION SKILLS: CERTIFICATION: Serve on a District Growth Committee (Membership, NCB, LD & Club Fitness) Promote strategy chosen by Committee above Assess your year on District Growth committee and report recommendations for continuous improvement in District growth Recruit 3 new members in a single Optimist Year Present this Growth committee strategy to District Executive Committee or Board of Directors All activities in this level must be registered/certified by the District Secretary or District Governor as appropriate in the Member s Record SILVER CERTIFICATE PROJECT MANAGEMENT: MARKETING: CONTINUOUS Create and lead a team to build a New Club Create a marketing strategy to recruit a group of members for the new club Work with District Club Fitness advisor to develop a plan to administer the New Club Follow-up program within 90 days of Club being built Become a Builder of Excellence COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Informing and Instructing the community about the structure and importance of a New Club using diverse communication tools. Must use 2 different methods of
CERTIFICATION: communication. (Social media, Informational meetings etc.) All activities in this level must be registered/certified by the Governor, District Secretary, or District Governor as appropriate in the Member s Record GOLD CERTIFICATE PROJECT MANAGEMENT: MARKETING: CONTINUOUS Serve as the District PGI Chair, District Club Fitness Advisor Chair, or on Leadership Development Committee Help create and submit an entry for the Reel Optimism video contest Initiate the Follow-up plan for the new Club and send a progress report to the District Club Fitness Advisor Mentor another Member to achieve PGI level X COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Develop and present a workshop on PGI at a District meeting CERTIFICATION: Secretary-Treasurer, Lt. Governor, District PGI Chair, District Secretary, District NCB Chair, District Club Fitness Advisor or District Governor as appropriate in the Member s Record
Club PGI Tracking Form Club Number: Member Name: Member Number: LEVEL I Date Completed Level I LEVEL VI Date Completed Level VI LEVEL II Date Completed Level II LEVEL VII Date Completed Level VII LEVEL III Date Completed Level III LEVEL VIII Date Completed Level VIII LEVEL IV Date Completed Level IV LEVEL IX Date Completed Level IX LEVEL V Date Completed Level V LEVEL X Date Completed Level X Date presented lapel pin International Convention
PGI Recognition Form Name of Club: _ Club Number: Name of Member Member # Level Date Certified by: President s signature (Levels I VII) OR Secretary-Treasurer s signature (Levels I VII) President s signature (Levels VIII X) OR Lieutenant Governor s signature (Levels VIII X) THIS FORM MUST BE SENT BY THE ABOVE CERTIFYING OFFICIAL TO THE DISTRICT DIRECTOR OF PERSONAL GROWTH
If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or need any PGI materials, please contact: Jackie Moore Optimist International 4494 Lindell Boulevard Saint Louis, MO 63108 (314) 371-6000 x263 moorej@optimist.org