OUR HISTORY:
Optimist International was founded in June 1919 at a convention in Louisville, Kentucky by representatives from eleven civic clubs from across the country that were using the name Optimist.

In April 1937, a group of business men from Knoxville, Tennessee sponsored the Optimist Club of Atlanta. This was the first Optimist Club in Georgia. During the summer of 1939, the Optimist Club of Atlanta sponsored clubs in Macon and Augusta. All three of these clubs are still active today.

Since its inception, the Georgia District has been a leader in Optimist International.  Mark Shriver of Woodstock served as President of Optimist International during the 2009-10 year.  Many Optimists from Georgia have served as an International Vice President.

Georgia is one of the largest districts in all of Optimist International with 73 clubs and 1,750 members. Many of current training methods that Optimist International uses come directly from the Georgia District.