The Junior Optimist Octagon International (JOOI) Clubs in Georgia is inspiration in the truest sense of the word. Their members are enhancing almost every aspect of their communities and their enthusiasm is contagious. So many projects have been accomplished and so many more on their way.
With over 400 members, JOOI Club members are all across Georgia and are constantly working to promote positive change.

KAYLA MICHELLE LANNING, Governor
I am excited to be Governor for the 2011-2012 year. I attended the International Convention in Baltimore, Md. and I hope to use some of the ideas I learned to make our club amazing. I want to be able to make our club shine, spread joy with JOOI all over Ga., and make our club reach higher.

First, I want more members to join JOOI. We should show our communities and schools what JOOI is about so they will want to join our club. I want more attendance at JOOI district meetings. They are more than just meetings, you learn a lot and get to meet people from all over Georgia! Second, I believe that if we become closer as friends that more will be accomplished. I want everyone in JOOI to know that they have someone there for them -- willing to help them out when they need it.

MALORY KENNNEDY, Northeast Lieutenant Governor
In November our district goal is for individual JOOI Clubs to do a project pertaining to Internet Safety. In Feb., individual Clubs should try to participate in "Help Animals Month" by working with local Humane  Societies, vets, and adoption centers. Younger groups should take food and towels to their local Animal Shelter. Feb. 4th is the "Souper Bowl for Caring" (gather canned goods; distribute locally; report results) Please register your club online at www.souperbowlofcaring.org. Be sure to put “JOOI” in your name.

District Cancer Crusade month is Mar. Have a project associated with cancer. Get Outdoors month is  April, which means that Individual Clubs should attend events in state and national parks in the area. I know that this all can seem very overwhelming, but please do your best to participate in as many service projects and events as possible, even if it is not in the designated month. Spread the JOOI!

Last, I want to do more community service projects. If we do more service projects, it will show everyone the good we can do and get the word out about JOOI. If we all put our ideas together, it will make the best better. I hope you all enjoy the club this year.

AMANDA LANGLEY, Atlanta Metro Co-Lieutenant Governor
As Co-Lieutenant Governor for the Metro Atlanta Zone, I would like to help bring our club closer together through having good communication skills. Therefore, we can share ideas to make our club grow and be the best that it can truly be.

First, I would like to see our club reach out to others around Georgia to help make our club better known. If we work together and have great communication skills with each other, we can accomplish this goal successfully. We need to encourage each other to do our very best to get more students and citizens in Georgia active by having the actions of this club be a positive message of community service.
Second, I would like to see our club complete more service activities than we achieved last year. This will challenge us to always give 110% towards this club so it can live up to its full potential.

Some ideas of service activates could be volunteering at a animal shelter and donating to them, helping children whose families have been abused with domestic violence (giving basic necessities for them to live with or even play with the kids by having an ice cream social), or buying presents for underprivileged children, collecting food items to give to social service organizations, and helping out at nursing homes. Any volunteer work is better than none. If we all work together, we can check off many service activities that can change lives and also help our club grow.

We did an awesome job last year with reaching out to people and learning beneficial information at convention meetings to bring back to our local clubs and share with others. It would be even more amazing if we could double our service and activeness this year.

I am looking forward to seeing our club grow and all of us coming together, changing lives, and encouraging each other to make an effective and positive impact in the JOOI club this year.

ALISHA CORNETT, Northwest Co-Lieutenant Governor
As a member of the District Board and an Octagon Club, I’m very sad that this will be my last year. Being a senior in high school, I plan to strive to achieve many of the goals I set for myself and the club.

For one, I hope to accomplish bringing more JOOI to our community by volunteering more around town and participating in more service projects. Secondly, I’d like to seek and bring in more members. Strengthening our chances of making the state a better place. Also I would like to get more kids to think on the optimistic side of things.

I hope this will be an amazing year for me and for you, one that we will never forget. Together we can have many wonderful adventures with the members of JOOI this year.

JONATHAN CORONA, Northwest Co-Lieutenant Governor
It is evident that only schools in Northern Georgia participate in JOOI in the Georgia District. As a Co-Lt. Governor of the Northwest Georgia Zone, I would like to assist in expanding our organization to more schools south of Atlanta. Even though the process may take more than one year, JOOI in Georgia will be able to accomplish more than ever before and will prosper even more in the future. Members of our organization have been very dedicated in the past and I expect no less than before. So for the time being, we should have no issue with carrying out our duties as JOOI Members this 2011-2012 school year.

In the past, clubs from different schools have discussed projects they organized. This year I hope to provide all of our clubs with a variety of activities they can implement at their school. This will allow everyone to be more consistent throughout the year. With the ambitious members in JOOI in Georgia, I’m positive we can have the most successful year so far.

KEINA CREWFORD, Middle / South Lieutenant Governor
Lately, Americans have been struggling day to day just to get by. The bad economy, rising gas prices, and unemployment levels make it difficult for people to get the necessities they need. As Lieutenant. Governor for JOOI this year, I hope to lessen the impact of this economic crisis for as many individuals in my community as possible. Working with my fellow Board members, I will be able to think up innovative ways to reach out to those in need, such as hosting clothes drives, giving to homeless shelters, or putting together public community projects. Through our combined efforts, we can hopefully spread aid throughout all of Georgia. Whether it is helping people, animals, or our environment,
I can’t wait to make a positive impact in the world.

ALISON HIX, Secretary
My goals as secretary for the Georgia JOOI District are: I want to make sure communication between the clubs throughout the state improves. I also want to make sure the clubs are up-to-date with what is going on with the International JOOI organization. It is my goal that all clubs increase awareness of what the Optimist Club stands for and what impact we have on community service projects. I would like to see club members in all of the clubs interact more with each other on a daily basis, not just on club matters, but also in establishing deep and long lasting friendships.

It is my hope that JOOI club members will reach out to other students who are not in the JOOI Club and show them the positive personal outlook on their everyday life. They could also show them how joining the JOOI Club can help you strive to become a more positive and better person as well as having a positive impact on your life.

ANSLEY THOMAS, District Project Manager
I hope to accomplish many things this year. The first thing I hope to do is establish a sense of communication and partnership among the JOOI community. The clubs will work together to complete tasks and help others. The projects I am most looking forward to this year include: collecting dog and cat food for animal shelters, canned food for the food bank, and art supplies for local elementary schools. Along with these material items, I hope to partake is community service by working with nursing homes and afterschool care programs for children. I want this year to be full of fun and service.