Hello Optimist friends – I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving.  I finally have some news on next conference, it will be February 23-26 at Jacksonville Double Tree and the rate is $129.00 per night and we need to try to fill 25 rooms. I called on my executive board and asked for a increase of registration fee from $25.00 to $35.00 and majority passed it. The reason we had to do this is the hotels no longer are able to give us meeting space for free as in the past so we are having to cover some of those charges. Perry & I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Governor Debbie Albritton