Optimist Indiana South District
Conferences, Convention and Events
| 2025-2026Indiana South District OI 40th annual Convention Timed Agenda | |
| Radisson Hotel Louisville: North | |
| August 28 – 29, 2026 | |
Indiana South Optimists Officers and Members
Incentive Program
Dear Indiana South Optimist Club Officers and Members:
You’re Invited! Join us at our upcoming district events and qualify for exciting incentives: mileage reimbursement, door prizes, and big drawings like a night’s stay at the annual convention in August 2026 or free registration at our next Jasper Conference! The more you engage, the more chances you have. Thank you for your service—let us reward your leadership!
Eligibility
Open to all currently serving Club Presidents, Secretaries, Treasurers, and Members who are in good standing within Indiana South District.
Incentives & Rewards
Mileage Reimbursement
Description: Officers attending in-person at conference and the convention are eligible for mileage reimbursement.
- Rate: $0.25 per mile round trip, up to $50 per meeting/conference.
- How to Claim: Submit mileage log at the end of the conference to Kent Reyling, District Treasurer.
Door Prizes
Description: All officers and members are entered into special drawings for door prizes at each conference.
- Examples: Optimist merchandise, gift cards, books, logo apparel, etc.
- Draw: Multiple prizes drawn at each event and must be present to win.
- Must be present at the end of each conference to win.
Meal Package ($23 Savings Includes Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner on Saturday) $60
Full Hot Breakfast Buffet (Chef’s Choice) $23
Lunch Buffet (Italian Theme Baked Chicken Alfredo, Eggplant Parmesan for the Vegetarians, Vegetable Medley + Steamed Broccoli + Zucchini & Squash, Dessert and Drink $25
Dinner Buffet: Grilled Chicken, Brisket, Baked Potato, Green Beans, Glazed Carrots, Roll, Dessert and Drinks $35
Registration Fee (ONLY SELECT IF NOT EATING ANY MEALS ON SATURDAY) $5
Governor South District Monica Wallace
Jim Tribble
Radisson Hotel North
Liz_Christman Optimist Internatioal Vice President
Wendy Dant Chesser
Indiana House Representatives
State Representative Wendy Dant Chesser serves House District 71 in the Indiana House Representatives. She
was sworn into office on June 4, 2024. Rep. Dant Chesser serves on the following House committees: Commerce,
Small Business, and Economic Development; Financial Institutions; Insurance; and Roads and Transportation.
After her first Legislative Session in 2025, the Indiana Chamber recognized Wendy as a “Champion Freshman
Legislator” for her votes on legislation promoting business growth in Indiana.
Wendy graduated with a degree in business management from Indiana University Southeast. In 2010, she
received her credentials as a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) from the International Economic
Development Council. In both 2022 and 2023, the Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ) named Wendy one of the
“Indiana 250,” recognizing her as one of the most influential business leaders in the state.
Wendy has worked extensively to bring high-paying jobs and business development to Southern Indiana in her
previous and current positions. She is currently employed by the River Ridge Commerce Center, one of the
nation’s premier business and industrial parks. This follows her decade of service as President and CEO of One
Southern Indiana which oversaw a 1,000+ member Chamber of Commerce. She supervised business attraction
and talent development programs to bring economic growth to Clark, Floyd and Scott Counties. Wendy is now
part of the team charged with redeveloping the River Ridge Commerce Center, a former military ammunitions
facility emerging as the premier business park in the Midwest. Wendy spent her early career serving with the
Indiana Department of Commerce and the Indiana Rural Development Council.
Wendy is a past and present member of several organizations. She currently serves as Legislative Committee
Chair and Past Chair for the Indiana Economic Development Association. In Southern Indiana, she has served on
the Boards for the Kentucky Derby Festival, Southern Indiana Works, the Louisville Zoo Foundation, Ivy Tech-
Sellersburg Regional Campus Board and the YMCA of Greater Louisville.
Wendy is a Jeffersonville native and currently lives in the city with her daughter, Joslyn, and partner, Eric.
Optimist Indiana South District
40th Annual Convention
Ripples of Change
Message from Governor
Dear Members of the Indiana South District,
As we enter the last quarter of our year together, I want to take a moment to thank each
of you for your unwavering commitment to service and to making a lasting impact in
your communities. Your dedication has carried us far, and together, we have
accomplished remarkable things. Now is the time to finish the year strong!
Our work is far from over. The needs within our communities remain, and there are
always new opportunities to serve, to uplift, and to inspire. Let’s build upon the
momentum we’ve created and continue to reach out, share the spirit of optimism, and
invite others to join our mission. Each new member strengthens our clubs and
multiplies our capacity to do good.
Our youth hold the future in their hands. As Optimists, it is our privilege and
responsibility to help them see a world filled with possibility and hope. If you sponsor a
Junior Optimist International (JOI) club, encourage graduating seniors to stay engaged
and start their own clubs or join your ranks, so they can continue to make a difference
with their peers and nurture their spirit of optimism into adulthood.
Let’s use these final months to grow even stronger, to continue making ripples of
change—one member, one act of kindness, one hopeful young person at a time. Every
club and every member matters. Your efforts inspire hope and optimism for generations
to come.
Thank you for your passion, your service, and your dedication. Together, let’s ensure
the Indiana South District finishes this year with strength, unity, and a renewed
commitment to our mission.
With Optimism and Gratitude,
Monica Wallace
Governor, Indiana South District
Message from Governor Elect Jim Tribble
My fellow Indiana South District Optimists, I want to take a few moments to share a
bit more about me, my family, my time as an Optimist and my vision for 2026-2027 as
the Indiana South Governor.
I have been married to Judy Tribble since 8/6/77 (see I remember!!). We have four
grown, successful children and 10 grandchildren ranging in age from 1-18. I went to
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology majoring in Chemical Engineering. I retired in
2018.
I joined the Brazil Breakfast Optimist Club in 2001, but moved to Richmond, Va in 2005
causing me to join the Richmond West Central Optimist Club. I returned to Indiana in
2013 to a disbanded Brazil Club, so I stayed a member in Richmond. In 2018, I
transferred to TH Noon Optimist and am still a member there. In 2022, with the help of
Ron Fuhrman, Mike Novak, Kent Reyling and many others from Noon and the district,
we started the Clay County Optimist Club of which I am currently President. In Clay
County, I work on Clothe A Child, our Pancake Breakfast, Junior Golf, and I give out
questionable prizes at our meetings.
“Achieving The Mission” has been the theme in my head for several months since
becoming Governor Elect. My ‘vision’ of the Mission has several aspects. First, is that
we focus on a firm 25 person membership base in each club. I will help now and next
year to achieve this goal. This enables the second aspect of the mission: service to the
children of our communities. Each club defines and executes the tactics needed to
implement the “service” Mission. The ability to vary our projects to meet local needs is a
great strength but each should strive to fulfill the Mission.
Finally, the Mission is to grow more connected to each other and to our communities
as Optimists by building trust. We unfortunately live in an often cynical, disbelieving
world. Trust in local Optimist Clubs comes by publicly declaring our mission both in
terms of what we intend to accomplish and why. It grows when we signal our behavior
to others by what we do for others in our community. Finally, that Trust is rooted when
out communities see us “Achieving the Mission” of a better life for our children across
Indiana South.
I pray each of you is ready to join with me in “Achieving the Mission” of Optimism for
Indiana South and your local community. I am here to help you in any way that I can.
Jim Tribble
Governor Elect 2025-26