The Governor or the sponsor District shall contact/notify the Executive Director of the intention to build an Optimist Club across District lines. The Executive Director shall give notice of such intent to the respective District.

The administration of the two involved Districts should coordinate efforts to welcome the new Club into Optimist International (OI) and provide for the successful integration of the new Club.

Forming a new Club across District boundaries:

• The Club and its membership will be placed in the District the new Club requests.
• District dues of the new Club shall be paid to the District in which the Club is officially assigned. The District will assign the new Club to one of its Zones and that Zone will receive the membership.
• The sponsoring Club’s District will receive credit for building the Club.
• All credits in the awards program relating to the organization of the new Club will be given to the Sponsor Club’s Zone and District.
• If two Clubs from two Districts coordinate building of the new Club, both Clubs’ Zones and Districts will receive credit.

Board Approved: (Mar 1979, Dec 1984, Mar 1989, Dec 1990, Dec 1992, Mar 1994, Dec 1998, Dec 2002, Dec 2003, Dec 2004, Oct 2005, Dec 2007, Dec 2009, Apr 2015, Mar 2016, Apr 2016, May 2025)

Governance Reviewed: (Apr 2025)