Hello, my fellow Michigan Optimists,
Welcome to the final chapter of the Governor’s 3 Under 3 series, where throughout the year I’ve shared three key topics in under three minutes. Today, as I conclude this series and my term as Governor, I want to speak from the heart.
Gratitude and Service
First, thank you—for everything you do. Not just for your clubs, but for your communities, for our youth, and for the future we are building together.
It has been the honor of my life to serve as your Governor. This year has reminded me that leadership isn’t about age, titles, or tradition—it’s about service. And serving all of you—the most resilient, heart-forward people I’ve ever known—has been an extraordinary privilege.
As the youngest Governor in our district’s history, I don’t see that as a personal achievement, but as proof of what’s possible when we stop asking who used to lead, and start asking who should lead next. We honor the trailblazers of our past not by standing in their footsteps, but by building new roads with the same bold, optimistic spirit.
Facing Change with Optimism
We also must be honest: for over twenty years, we’ve talked about change, and yet our membership has continued to decline—not because we’ve failed, but because the world has changed and we haven’t changed fast enough with it.
This is not a moment for despair. This is a moment for decisive optimism.
We don’t have to follow the same meeting formats from 1982. We don’t need permission from the past. You—in your clubs, in your communities —can try something new.
- Hold a pizza night at the park.
- Let a local teen run your social media.
- Launch a club that does a service project every Saturday.
Let’s redefine what it means to be an Optimist in your corner of Michigan. Let’s not protect the structure at the cost of the mission. Let’s not be so loyal to what was that we lose sight of what could be.
A Call to Lead Boldly
So I challenge you:
Be fearless. Be open. Be disruptive.
Ask for new ideas. Invite someone who’s never stepped foot in an Optimist room before. Break the mold. Because if we want different results, we must take different actions—at every level, from our local clubs to the international stage.
And I believe we will.
I’ve already seen sparks of it. Some new things have worked. Some haven’t. But that’s how we learn. That’s how we grow. That’s how we build the future we keep saying we believe in.
To our past Governors—thank you for your wisdom.
To our next leaders—lead boldly.
And to every member in the Mighty Michigan District—thank you for your trust, your partnership, and your hope.
Though I may be handing over the gavel, I will always be part of this movement—because I believe in what we do, and even more, I believe in who we are becoming.
So, let’s press on—together—to greater achievements in the future.
And always remember: Together, we can bring out the best in our youth, our communities, and most importantly, ourselves.
Stay Optimistic,
Sean Mueller
2024-2025 Michigan District Governor
