Even longtime programs were seeing increases in Optimist and youth participation as the 2000s began. The Optimist International Junior Golf Championships continued to grow, with districts hosting more and more boys and girls in their qualifying tournaments. Participants in the OIJGC at PGA National neared the 700 mark in 2002, making it the largest tournament ever held. Golfers from across the U.S., Canada and 23 other countries and territories participated in the competition while learning more about each other’s cultures.
Youth clubs, in existence since the early 1920s, also showed a promising upsurge in popularity with young people. Positive growth in the numbers of members and clubs marked the beginning years of the new century. | 
These young skiers attended "Optimist Snow School" sponsored by a Canadian Optimist Club. |
The organization wasn’t afraid to try new programs either, even if the results were less than satisfactory. The initial Optimist International Junior Bowling Championships were held in St. Louis at the end of 2001 in an attempt to offer yet another outlet for service to young people. With initial district participation not meeting the needed expectations, the program was canceled after one year with the organization continuing to study and formulate new youth-serving programs.
Expansion of Optimism to new countries increased after the turn of the century. New Optimist Clubs were formed in England, France, Mexico and Greece. A new classification of club, the Associate Club, was instituted allowing people in countries where the language and/or economics wouldn’t permit Optimist International to fully service them a chance to provide much-needed community and youth service under the Optimist banner. Associate Clubs were rapidly formed in Burundi, Ghana, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Russia, Tanzania, Uganda and Ukraine.
As the new century dawned, it became apparent that communications were going to be more important than ever before, and delivered in new ways. With the advancements of the Internet and e-mail, the Board of Directors mandated that the organization be “paperless” by May of 2003. Most of the handbooks, brochures, newsletters, training manuals and other publications developed for use by club members were made available for downloading directly off the Optimist website, thereby saving the organization tens of thousands of dollars annually in printing and postage expense, and giving members instant access to a multitude of information.
In 2002, all clubs, lieutenant governors, governors, international committee members, the international board of directors and some district chairs were given access to their own Optimist e-mail boxes. Communications from Optimist International leadership and staff to the clubs and districts was now immediate and timely.
The electronic revolution also impacted Optimists’ outreach to young people as the Internet Safety program was unveiled in December 2008, with the focus of providing Clubs with resources to educate both young people and their parents about potential dangers on the internet and offering information about safe practices while online.
In 2005, the organization named its tenth Executive Director with the hiring of Benny Ellerbe, who was formerly the Secretary-General of Jaycees International (JCI).
As the world continued to change in the exciting times of the new millennium, Optimist International changed with it, providing new and exciting ways for Optimists to continue their work of “Bringing Out the Best in Kids.”