PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Member Name:___________________________ Club/Mbr #:_________________Date:_____________
LEVEL I - BRONZE
_________ PROJECT MANAGMENT: Participate in a community service activity
_________ MARKETING: Learn how to write a communique/Press Release
_________ CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT:
Give a short presentation on “How Optimism Can Make a Better World” or
“Optimism as a Way of Life”
_________ ORGANIZATIONAL
KNOWLEDGE &
CULTURE:
Learn the 5 purposes of an Optimist Club
_________ COMMUNICATION
SKILLS:
Introduce of a new Member or a guest at a Club meeting/activity.
_________ CERTIFICATION: All activities in this level must be registered/certified by the Club President,
Club Secretary-Treasurer or Club PGI/PDP 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
IMPROVEMENT:
Make a short presentation at a Club meeting about why a prospective member
should join your club
_________ ORGANIZATIONAL
KNOWLEDGE &
CULTURE:
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: All activities in this level must be registered/certified by the Club President,
Club Secretary-Treasurer or the Club PGI/PDP 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
IMPROVEMENT:
Complete an Optimist Skills Module of your choice and schedule a
presentation of the Skill at an Optimist Club or other meeting.
_________ ORGANIZATIONAL
KNOWLEDGE &
CULTURE:
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: All activities in this level must be registered/certified by the Club President,
Club Secretary-Treasurer or the Club PGI/PDP Chair in the Member’s Record
Member Name:___________________________ Club/Mbr #:_________________Date:_____________
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
IMPROVEMENT:
Make the presentation on the “Continuous Improvement” Optimist Skill
Module
_________ ORGANIZATIONAL
KNOWLEDGE &
CULTURE:
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: All activities in this level must be registered/certified by the Club President,
Club Secretary-Treasurer or the Club PGI/PDP Chair in the Member’s Record
LE
VEL V - BLACK
_________ PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Create a Project Plan including a budget for a new community project and
present it to the Club Board of Directors
_________ MARKETING: Learn to use a form of Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
LinkedIn…).
_________ CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT:
Complete a Second Optimist Skills Module
_________ ORGANIZATIONAL
KNOWLEDGE & CULURE:
Recite (by memory) the Optimist Creed
_________ COMMUNICATION
SKILLS:
Make a presentation at another Club’s meeting, a Zone meeting or other
community organization regarding a Club Service project that your club does.
_________ CERTIFICATION: All activities in this level must be registered/certified by the Club President,
Club Secretary-Treasurer or Club PGI/PDP Chair in the Member’s Record
LE
VEL VI - PURPLE
_________ PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Create a Project Plan including a budget for a new fundraising project and
present it to the Club Board of Directors
_________ MARKETING: Market an event using Social Media
_________ CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT:
Educate a new member(s) on the purposes and benefits of an Optimist Club and
Optimist International to children, community and ourselves
_________ ORGANIZATIONAL
KNOWLEDGE &
CULTURE:
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: All activities in this level must be registered/certified by the Club President,
Club Secretary-Treasurer, Club PGI/PDP Chair, District Governor or District
Secretary as appropriate in the Member’s Record
Member Name:___________________________ Club/Mbr #:_________________Date:_____________
LEVEL VII - GOLD
_________ PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Participate in the organization of a membership recruitment activity
_________ MARKETING: Learn how to create a short video
_________ CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT:
Serve on the Club Board of Directors, Club officer or Club officer-elect
_________ ORGANIZATIONAL
KNOWLEDGE &
CULTURE:
Make a presentation at a Club or Zone meeting about the District
meeting/Convention you attended
_________ COMMUNICATION
SKILLS:
Submit a minimum of 250 written words about an upcoming Club event to
either the District website or District Bulletin
_________ CERTIFICATION: All activities in this level must be registered/certified by the Club President,
Club Secretary-Treasurer, Club PGI/PDP, 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
IMPROVEMENT:
Complete a third Optimist Skills Module
_________ ORGANIZATIONAL
KNOWLEDGE &
CULTURE:
Make a presentation at a Membership Recruitment Activity, Zone, or District
Meeting about Optimist International
_________ COMMUNICATION
SKILLS:
Develop a presentation about a Club Project and present it at a meeting
_________ CERTIFICATION: All activities in this level must be registered/certified by the Club President,
Club Secretary-Treasurer, Club PGI/PDP, 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
IMPROVEMENT:
Complete a fourth Optimist Skills Module
_________ ORGANIZATIONAL
KNOWLEDGE &
CULTURE:
Make a Club or Zone presentation on behalf of a District Committee
_________ COMMUNICATION
SKILLS:
Provide training regarding District Leadership, District project or an Optimist
Skills Module to a group outside of your Club.
_________ CERTIFICATION: All activities in this level must be registered/certified by the Club President,
Club Secretary-Treasurer, Club PGI/PDP Chair, Lt. Governor, District PGI
Chair, District Secretary, District LD Chair or District Governor as appropriate
in the Member’s Record
Member Name:___________________________ Club/Mbr #:_________________Date:_____________
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
IMPROVEMENT:
Attend a Regional Leadership Development Conference or three training
seminars/workshops at District Meetings, or three workshops at the
International Convention
_________ ORGANIZATIONAL
KNOWLEDGE &
CULTURE:
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: All activities in this level must be registered/certified by the Club President,
Club Secretary-Treasurer, Lt. Governor, District PGI/PDP Chair, District
Secretary, District NCB Chair, District Club Fitness Advisor or District
Governor as appropriate in the Member’s Record.
ADVANCED LEVELS OF PDP-ALL REQUIREMENTS MUST BE COMPLETED IN
PAST 12 MONTHS AND LEVELS MUST BE WORKED ON CONSECUTIVELY
BRONZE PIN
_________ PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Serve on a Distract Growth Committee (Membership, NCB, LD & Club
Fitness)
_________ MARKETING: Promote strategy chosen by Committee above
_________ CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT:
Assess your year on District Growth committee and report recommendations
for continuous improvement in District growth.
_________ ORGANIZATIONAL
KNOWLEDGE &
CULTURE:
Recruit 3 new members in a single Optimist Year.
_________ COMMUNICATION
SKILLS:
Present this Growth committee strategy to District Executive Committee or
Board of Directors.
_________ CERTIFICATION: All activities in this level must be registered/certified by the, District Secretary,
or District Governor as appropriate in the Member’s Record.
SILVER PIN
_________ PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Create and lead a team to build a New Club
_________ MARKETING: Create a marketing strategy to recruit a group of members for the new club
_________ CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT:
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.
_________ ORGANIZATIONAL
KNOWLEDGE &
CULTURE:
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 communication. (Social media, Informational meetings etc.)
_________ CERTIFICATION: All activities in this level must be registered/certified by the. Governor, District
Secretary, or District Governor as appropriate in the Member’s Record.
Member Name:___________________________ Club/Mbr #:_________________Date:_____________
GOLD PIN
_________ PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Serve as the District PGI/PDP Chair, District Club Fitness Advisor Chair, or on
Leadership Development Committee.
_________ MARKETING: Help create and submit an entry for the “Reel Optimism” video contest.
_________ CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT:
Initiate the Follow-up plan for the new Club and send a progress report to the
District Club Fitness Advisor.
_________ ORGANIZATIONAL
KNOWLEDGE &
CULTURE:
Mentor another Member to achieve PGI level X
_________ COMMUNICATION
SKILLS:
Develop and present a workshop on PDP at a District meeting.
_________ CERTIFICATION: All activities in this level must be registered/certified by the Club President,
Club Secretary-Treasurer, Lt. Governor, District PGI/PDP Chair, District
Secretary, District NCB Chair, District Club Fitness Advisor or District
Governor as appropriate in the Member’s Record.
SUGGESTED READING LIST
“The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” by Steven R. Covey
“Good To Great” by Jim Collins
“Who Moved My Cheese” by Spencer Johnson, M. D.
“Start with Why” by Simon Sinek
“Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson et. AI.
“Tribes” by Seth Godin
“Learned Optimism” by Martin Seligman
“Authentic Happiness” by Martin Seligman
“Flourish” by Martin Seligman
“The Happiness Advantage” by Shawn Achor
“Broadcasting Happiness” by Michelle Gielan
“The How of Happiness” by Sonja Lyumbornisky
For questions or further information please contact:
Jackie Moore
Awards/Membership Manager
Optimist International
4494 Lindell Boulevard
Saint Louis, MO 63108
800-500-8130
Jackie.moore@optimist.org