The First International Office Operation is Created
After assuring that there would be sufficient funds to run the fledgling organization, the governing board chose Dr. Harry G. Hill of Indianapolis as the first secretary, a position that would later evolve into today’s executive director position. Since the heaviest share of the burden in new club building, public relations and coordination of efforts by the individual clubs fell upon the shoulders of the secretary, it seemed logical to name Indianapolis as the headquarters city for the young organization. Dr. Hill would return to that city and for the next three years administer the affairs of the organization out of one drawer of his desk, first at his home and then at his office in the Indiana College of Music and Fine Arts.
Other Firsts
In addition to debating dues, there were two other main points of contention at the meeting on June 19 and 20. One was how the United States would be divided into districts, which led to the second, which was the method of operation in those districts regarding the organizing of new clubs. Even then Optimists were coveting prime new club building locations. But once again harmony prevailed, differences were settled, compromises were reached and the first district governors (who also sat on the international governing board) were appointed.
Even in 1919, the Optimists saw the need for some form of regular communication among all members.
One delegate rose to request the governing board publish a monthly bulletin. Within the next year, the first issue of The Optimist magazine would be distributed; a magazine that has been published continuously ever since.
Before adjourning, a unanimous vote was cast electing Bill Harrison as the first International President.
The first international convention drew to a close on the evening of June 20 when the 97 men, women and one young boy boarded private automobiles and drove to a public park for dinner. Before dining they assembled on a grassy knoll; the men removed their straw hats, the women straightened their summer dresses, six banners proclaiming “Optimists Club” were unfurled and a photographer from the Royal Photo Company in Louisville snapped their picture. Little did those 97 people realize that their image, caught for an instant on that sultry June evening, would be viewed with interest and pride for many decades by hundreds of thousands of men and women who owe a debt of gratitude to those visionary Optimists. |