15 Member Pilot Club Program Extended

This year a new "Pilot Club" type was introduced in the "New Club Building" program. For the first time sponsor clubs can build a new club with a minimum of 15 new members. To qualify for Distinguished Club recognition, a sponsor club would have to build two Pilot clubs in the same Optimist year. This gave us the flexibility to extend the reach of Optimism to smaller communities who could not support building a 25 member club.

The "Pilot Club" program was approved for a one year period to end September 30, 2009. This program was so successful, that a motion was adopted at the 2009 Optimist International Convention to extend the "Pilot Club" program to September 30, 2012."

The Optimist International office reported that of all the "Pilot Clubs" that were approved, most chartered with 25 members. Approval is required to sponsor the building of a "Pilot Club" in a community.  In order to qualify for this program, the proposed Club must be approved by the New Community Growth Department at the International Headquarters. Please note, in order for a Pilot Club to be eligible for one (1) New Club credit, two (2) Pilot Clubs must be chartered by September 30, 2010. If the Pilot Club obtains a total of 25 Members by September 30, 2010, 1 New Club credit will be awarded.

FAQ for 15-Member Pilot Club Program