Choosing Optimism leads to happiness International President Mark Weinsoff at home in Goleta, California
M
ark Weinsoff was not always an optimist. The path to the Presidency of Optimist International took him through careers in radio broadcasting, banking, business ownership and technology management. While he encountered the Optimist Creed early on this path, he did not truly incorporate optimism into his life until 16 years after he joined the Northside Optimist Club of Santa Barbara. Mark grew up in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles. After graduating High School, he moved to Goleta to attend the University of California, Santa Barbara (USCB). He had a plan for a career in radio broadcasting, so he worked at the campus radio station doing music shows, news and public affairs broadcasts, and management roles as traffic manager, music director and program director. During this time, he gave a tour to a student contemplating transferring to UCSB from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. Connie Hammond worked at the radio station at Whitman, and she wanted to be sure that she could continue in radio at her new school. Mark must have been a good tour guide, because she transferred to UCSB and they were married in 1985. In his senior year at UCSB, Mark was offered the opportunity to be general manager of the campus radio station. He says the experience he gained managing a
2 • Optimist
