Hello, my fellow Optimists! I am Sandy Cyphers, a “thirty-one years” optimist from the North Carolina East Optimist District and have been asked to run as a candidate for the upcoming election for the Board of Directors of the Optimist International Foundation. I am a member of the Winter Park Optimist Club, the Wilmington Optimist Club and the Childhood Cancer Optimist Club in South Carolina along with being a Friend of Optimist to the Cape Fear Optimist Club.

I am humble and honored to have been asked to run for this important position within Optimist International. For over 31 years, I have been afforded the opportunity to grow as a leader through my affiliation with the optimist organization. With my involvement I was recognized as a Distinguished Club President, Distinguished Governor for the N.C. East District and very honored to be recognized as the #1 Optimist International Vice President. During my tenure I have served as chairman in every position within my district, the exception of the Junior Golf. I have also had the honor of serving on the Optimist International Board of Directors, numerous Optimist International Committees such as Credentials, Convention, Governance, J.O.I. (Chairman twice) and committee member. I have been selected to do training in respective areas within our organization. I was recognized as a Builder of Excellence and have recruited over 55 new members. Through my years of serving and the knowledge I have acquired with our organization I will work to assist in the Board’s process of good decision-making.

I retired with a 27-year career as Assistant Collector of Revenue for New Hanover County in Wilmington, NC is located. My responsibilities were the supervision of 15 individuals within the collection department, responsible for collection of taxes for all towns within New Hanover County. Working with the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Department, Wilmington Police Department and the Kure, Carolina and Wrightsville Beach Police Departments. Preparing budgets, goal setting with employees, strategic planning, making monthly reports to the Tax Administrator, the City and Town Councils, County Commissioners and the media. I had to maintain a strong leadership role, professionalism, and a sense of humor.

I have been committed to the Optimist International Foundation since I began my Optimist membership in 1993 and have been acknowledged as a William H. Harrison Society member, Christian D. Larson, President’s Club. I have served as the District Foundation Representative where I was recognized as a Distinguished “DFR”.

For several years it has been my honor to serve on and as the chairman of the Optimist International Women’s Philanthropy Council. Along with those serving on this council we continue to make a difference within the Optimist International Foundation.

The Foundation is very important to our Optimist Organization, and I believe in its mission. It is the Lifeline, to all our Essay, Oratorical and World Oratorical Contests.

It is my belief that each Optimist Member should support the foundation as a member through at least the “Dime-a- Day level. I am a true believer in our foundation and what it does to make a difference in the lives of children through scholarships and thru the many grants that are presented each year to clubs for projects that “MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE AND CHILDREN IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES.”

If I am honored to be elected as a member of the Optimist International Foundation Board of Directors, I feel I would be an asset in that I would work diligently, share my knowledge having been in the position of finances, budgeting, appropriations, accounting and working with people harmoniously to share how important the foundation is to our organization and how important it is to continue making a difference in the lies of our young people. That donating does make a difference in their and other optimist member’s respective communities.

Thanking your for your consideration and vote for the Optimist International Foundation Board of Directors.

Respectfully Submitted,

Sandy Cyphers