Inspire respect for the law among your local young people! This motivational program can be a community rally against local violence, a get-acquainted event between youth and local law enforcement officials, or a “what peace means to me” poster contest for young kids.

In July 1965, a discussion between Past Optimist International President Carl Bowen and former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover resulted in the birth of the Respect for Law program. This is the fourth most popular program with more than 1,500 Clubs participating each year. Over a quarter of a million law enforcement officers honored by thousands of Optimist Clubs around the world over 50 years.

More detailed information about this program is available in the Respect for Law Planning Guide.

Support merchandise for this program can be ordered through Optimist Supply for US and Caribbean Clubs and from OptiPromo for Canadian Clubs. Contact information for both supply companies can be found here. For additional information, please contact Optimist International Programs Department by e-mail at programs@optimist.org, or call (800) 500-8130.

Publicize Respect for Law
Optimist International has begun developing a series of news releases that Clubs can use in connection with their participation in international programs. Below is a sample news release that Clubs can use for their Respect for Law activities. Please note that the .doc version enables Clubs to type their information into fields*, while the .pdf files are for viewing only.

Respect for Law (.doc)

Respect for Law (.pdf)

Certificates

Certificate for Citizens

Certificate for Officer

*If your Optimist Club wishes to use its own letterhead, you can remove the Optimist International logo in the document by opening up the Word document, going to "View," then "Toolbars" and selecting "Forms." When the "Forms" toolbar appears, click on the padlock, then click on the Optimist logo and delete it. For those using Microsoft Office 2007, click on the Microsoft Office button in the upper left corner, go to "Word options" and then select the box next to "Show the Developer tab in the Ribbon" and click "OK." Above the document, click the "Developer" tab and then click on the "Protect Document" drop-down menu. Click on "Restrict Formatting and Editing." At the bottom of the new window to the right, click the "Stop Protection" button.