District JOI Chair: Alice Kuzniak
Email: alicekuzniak@comcast.net Phone: 770-262-9368
Address: 5224 Stone Village Circle, NE, Kennesaw, GA 30152
JOI CLUB CONTACT INFORMATION:
There are 19 JOI Clubs in the GATEway District.
For GATEway JOI Schools, Advisors, and Optimist Club JOI Chairs: click here
HISTORY: JOI was officially formed in 1988. It is the umbrella organization which links the local JOI Clubs and Members to others throughout the world. Much like Optimist International, JOI is governed by an International Board of Directors, as well as District Officers.
PARTICIPATION: Students who are involved in JOI Clubs learn about and practice good citizenship, teamwork, and communication skills. Membership in JOI Clubs helps to develop friendships with others who share the same interests. JOI exposes members to optimism as a philosophy of life, provides members with an improved sense of kindness, increased awareness for those in need, and a better sense of coping with cultural diversity.
OPPORTUNITIES: From the Club level up, members have the opportunity to develop leadership and team-building skills while helping their schools and their communities. There are opportunities for personal growth and leadership positions at Club, District, and International levels which can be included in college applications. There are also opportunities to complete community service hours required by some schools for high school graduation. Each year there is an International Convention, which gives Members the opportunity to share in the decision-making process of the organization, meet young people with similar interests and goals, grow from training seminars……and have fun!
INTERACTION BETWEEN YOUTH AND ADULTS: Try to stick with youth communicating with youth and adults with adults unless there are groups. When Optimists want to communicate with the JOI club youth, they either need to copy the advisor or go to one of the JOI club meetings. When they transport kids, they need to do so in groups. If kids need to be taken home, they need to drop the last two off at the same place. Occasionally there are valid reasons that adults need to communicate with kids one-on-one. In that case, Optimists need
to secure written permission and contact information from parents or guardians before making the communication. Watch kidding, especially over the phone. It can sometimes be taken too literally.
BUILDING A JOI CLUB: The main components of a JOI Club are an advisor (teacher), members (students), and a support organization (Optimist members). Building a club can start with an interest expressed by any one of the components, but it usually starts with an Optimist club. Download the basic information about forming a JOI club (1,2). Read the information that you downloaded and tailor it to your club and the school where your Optimist club would like to form a JOI club. Download the rest of the forms as needed.
1. Adult Club Information for starting a JOI Club:
2. Starting a JOI Club:
3. What JOI Does:
4. JOI Advisor Guide:
5. JOI Membership Application:
6. JOI Membership Roster:
7. JOI Charter Application:
8. JOI Clubs Fee Structure:
9. JOI Installation:
10. JOI Officer Election Sheet:
11. JOI Suggested Bylaws
GATEway FAVORITE JOI PROJECTS:
SCHOOL /PROJECT
South Forsyth HS
Homecoming parade – posters
Positive quotes for friend posters – posters with tear-off tabs at bottom to hang around school
Harrison HS
Sep. – Make signs for the doors of new faculty and staff and hang them up on their doors. It’s a great first activity and helps to welcome the new school members.
Oct. – Make Halloween treat bags for the teachers. The students bring in candy and make the bags to put in the teacher mailboxes.
Nov. – Contribute to the local food drives or ones that the school is sponsoring.
Dec. – Breakfast with Santa sponsored by Kennesaw-Acworth Optimists. Help serve food and make crafts with kids.
Spring – Do a toiletries, socks, and diapers drive. Get donations then pick a place that could use the donations like a woman’s shelter.
Spring – Wrap sandwiches to assist the Kennesaw-Acworth Optimists at the Big Shanty Festival.
May – Make thank you cards for nurses and take them to a local hospital.
For a list of other projects to try: click here
Send a list of your favorite JOI club projects to
Alice Kuzniak at alicekuzniak@comcast.net. Please include school name.
GATEway DISTRICT JOI BOARD: JOI is a youth led organization. The purpose of the board is to promote interest in and coordinate the work of member clubs within the GATEway JOI District in line with the purposes of National JOI and the GATEway Optimist District. The board provides input to generally oversee and encourage JOI Club activities within the district. The officers of the GATEway JOI District are the Governor, Governor-Elect, the Lieutenant Governors, and the District Secretary / Treasurer.
1. JOI District Officer Trifold: click here
2. JOI District Officer Nomination Form:
3. JOI Convention Code of Conduct: click here
JOI SUMMIT
The JOI Summit, held in tandem with the Oratorical World Championships, is always a whirlwind of activities and inspiration. It brings together a diverse group of high school students for fun outings and leadership activities. District Board Members may get partial scholarships.
NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS:
JOI Scholarship Requirements for 2025:
Requirements for 2026 scholarships should be similar
