2nd Quarter Conference was held February 10-11, 2012 in Independence, MO.  Members received training in leadership, new club building, motivation and positive mental attitudes within the club, plus much more! 
Summit Optimist Club was well represented at the conference participating in and hosting several of the training courses. 

Our Annual Summit Fundraiser was a huge success, the Summit Optimist Club raised over $5,000 for The Victim's Center.  We had bull riding, dancing, food, music and dancing! Everyone had a great time and it was all for a great cause!!

Saturday, September 17, 2011, several members of the Springfield Summit Optimist Club volunteered at the ADA STOP Diabetes 5K.  It was a cold rainy day but every time I saw a fellow Optimist member they had a smile on their face.  Members directed runners on what route to take along the course, assisted with taking pictures at the event, worked our membership booth, as well as many other tasks to help make the event a success.  Summit Optimist Club represented well while supporting a great cause!!!!

The Optimist Carnival on Saturday August 27, 2011 was a success!!!

Deann Kraichely from the Summit Optimist Club stated "I enjoyed watching the children and the happy looks on their faces!  I think that for the very first carnival it went better than I expected and we estimated that Optimist in our Zone reached out to 125 + children on Saturday.  We were expecting 75 so I think this was great!  As I was walking around and looking at everything I could not help but think if it was this great the first year just think how wonderful it would be if we could keep up the good work".

Sean Saunders from the Westside Optimist Club stated "I thought the carnival was a great project and should be an annual event for the clubs. It is a good recruiting tool and fits the mission of getting involved in the community and working with kids. Great job Deann and all those who organized the event! I think all the kids enjoyed it. I think we had around 50 kids come through our area and played SNAG and I saw a lot of smiles an excitment for the Bigs and littles which is great to see! Look forward to the next one!

The Summit Optimist Club along with all the clubs in our Zone will be holding the first annual Optimist Carnival benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks Saturday, August 27 at the Springfield Breakfast Building.  There's going to golf, a bounce house, sucker tree, basketball, volleyball and various other games for the kids to participate in, plus prizes for all the kids!  Optimists are also going to be providing hotdogs, chips, desserts and drinks for all the youth.  We are expecting around 150 between the kids and bigs (or family member/s) and are really excited about providing a day of family fun for all those involved.