Iowa District JOI Welcomes you!

JOI District Chair – Gerri Barnett

Phone: (319) 470-0417

Email Gerri

Iowa JOI on Facebook

Junior Optimist International Website

Junior Optimist International Board 2024-2025

WHAT IS JOI (pronounced “joy”)

JOI stands for Junior Optimist International and is a service-learning organization that connects all of the Optimist JOI Clubs throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and France.

Much like Optimist International, JOI is governed by an International Board of Directors as well as by District officers. Each year, Optimist JOI Club members attend District and International Conventions to elect their peers to fill these important offices. Administrative support for JOI comes from the JOI Clubs Department at Optimist International.

JOI’s MISSION

Junior Optimist International is an all-inclusive youth organization that embraces the positive values of optimism, respect for self and others, and independence of mind through the unlimited opportunities of community service and sponsorship by Optimist International.

THE BEGINNING OF JOI

Junior Optimist International was created to enable kids to do community service. JOI reached the international level in 1989. Since that time, JOI has grown to 17,600 members in 690 Clubs throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and France. And guess what? The numbers are rising all the time thanks in part to visionary educators who recognize the desire so many kids have to help other kids in their community.

JOI INTO THE FUTURE

JOI’s vision is to become a prominent youth service organization in the world.

WHY SHOULD STUDENTS JOIN?

Students can learn about teamwork, communication, self-esteem, money management and citizenship in non-traditional, fun ways.

— When kids help other kids, everyone wins.

— JOI looks great on college applications.

— It can fulfill high school graduation requirements for community service.

— JOI is fun.

“JOI is the best school of life and everybody can be a part of it! We choose optimism as a way of life, and it is a choice that can only bring positive things in your life and to those around you.”

– a former JOI International President

JUST WHAT DO JOI CLUBS DO?

The beauty of JOI Clubs is that Members of each individual Club can decide the projects they want to do. But JOI is always ready with suggestions for those who need some ideas to get started.

Here are just a few:

SERVICE PROJECTS

Clean up school grounds
Make food baskets for the underprivileged
Toys for Tots
Conduct a recycling project
Plant trees
Sponsor a book drive
Start a pen pal program
Collect supplies for a local animal shelter

FUNDRAISERS

Have a car wash
Organize a bake sale
Have an ice cream social
Baby sit
Penny Wars between grades/homerooms
Sell school spirit items

OVERSEEING THE LOCAL JOI CLUB

Each JOI Club has an adult who is involved in the day-to-day operations of the Club. This adviser attends all meetings and projects the Club does and oversees all aspects of the Club. The Club Adviser does not have to be an Optimist member and in many cases is a faculty member of the school where the JOI Club exists. Strong, helpful advisers are essential to the success of a JOI Club.

For more information click here: OI JOI Information

Iowa District JOI Convention 2026

When: March 28, 2026

Where: West Dest Moines Public Library, 4000 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50265

Cost: $45 – includes lunch, snacks, swag, and Iowa JOI t-shirt!

ALL FEES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN March 7th to guarantee a t-shirt

ITEMS TO BRING: Club banner, casual clothes, comfy shoes, speech (if running for office)
Costume for Contest—Come as a Disney or Marvel Character!

There should be 1 chaperone per 6 JOI members. NO REFUNDS! You may substitute, if needed.

If you want to arrive on Friday, we have a block of rooms for March 27 at Country Inn &
Suites, 1350 N.W. 118th Street, Clive, Iowa 50325. Rooms are Double queens for sharing.
Call 515-223-9254. Ask for “Iowa JOI Jr. Optimists” room block. $134 plus tax.
CUTOFF for this rate is March 13.

Online Registration: Fill out Downloadable Registration Form and Email Gerri

Downloadable Registration Form

AGENDA