MONROE — This year marks the 100 year anniversary of the Optimist International organization. Local Monroe Optimist Clubs joined other clubs in the Southern Wisconsin District no. 9 with special service projects on Jan. 8 to celebrate the 100th day of the 100th year of Optimist International.
SWIS District Optimist Clubs were challenged on this day to perform a special service project to highlight their ongoing contributions to their communities.
The Monroe Morning Optimist Club partnered with the Monroe Noon Optimist Club to set a goal of volunteering 100 hours of community service on Jan. 8 to commemorate this day. Members of the two clubs, including the Monroe Middle School Junior Optimists, exceeded expectations by volunteering a total of 175 hours of service on this day. Thirty-five different volunteers gave support to 12 different local organizations.
Morning Optimist volunteer projects included: Driving Monroe High School Costa Rican Exchange students on a tour of Monroe; Painting Club 48, the all-purpose room at Pleasant View Nursing Home; calling Bingo for the Green County Aging and Disability Resource Center; walking dogs and cleaning kennels at the Green County Humane Society; and sorting donations at the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store.
Noon Optimist volunteer projects included: Donating 100 healthy snacks to the Monroe Youth Center; working with the Monroe Middle School Junior Optimist club to tie blankets to donate to Monroe Clinic Hospice.
Other volunteer projects included hours that Optimist members offer on a regular basis, including: Tutoring an English language learner for the Literacy Council of Green County; clerical and chaplain services at Monroe Clinic; delivering Meals on Wheels; preparing an annual mailing for Turner Hall; work for the Monroe Women’s Club Christmas Stocking Project; socializing with residents at Pleasant View Nursing Home and reading to children at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School.
Locally, the Monroe Optimist Clubs include the Monroe Morning Optimists and the Monroe Noon Optimists. They sponsor scholarship contests, youth programs, the Monroe Middle School and High School Junior Optimist Clubs and other service projects.
The Monroe Morning Optimists offer financial support to programs for children. Since October, they have donated to programs for the Green County Family YMCA, Monroe Clinic and Hospital Foundation Reach Out and Read Program, School District of Monroe All Access Arts, German Exchange, Costa Rican Exchange, Fine Arts Festival, the Monroe Christmas Stocking Project, Shakespeare on the Edge, Monroe Arts Center, Green County Human Services Gifts that Foster Hope and St. Victor School’s Brunch with Santa.
The Noon Optimist Club sponsors a school supply drive to provide school supplies for Monroe children who otherwise may not have the items needed for the school year and also plan and hold the Santa reception following Monroe’s Lighted Christmas Parade. The Noon Club is the only nonecumenical group providing volunteer support to Family Promise of Green County. Additionally this year, the club participated in Trunk-or-Treat and has donated to Jacob’s Swag and the Monroe Woman’s Club Christmas Stocking Project.
Monroe’s two separate Optimist Clubs each function as full organizations under the Optimist International umbrella. This year, the Monroe Morning Optimist Club is celebrating its own anniversary of 50 years in Monroe. The Morning Optimists meet every week on Thursday mornings from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. at the Swiss Alps Restaurant with evening events on the fifth Thursday of given months. They feature speakers from the area at their meetings and partner with the MHS Junior Optimist Club. Known for their popular cheese curd stand at Cheese Days and during the Green County Fair, they donate money to projects for youth in the area.
The Noon Optimists meet at the Swiss Alps Restaurant at noon every first, third and fourth Tuesday with a 6 p.m. meeting on the second Tuesdays at the Wisconsin Bank and Trust. Meetings also feature speakers from area events and organizations. They sponsor special fifth Tuesday events and partner with the Monroe Middle School Junior Optimist Club. The Noon Optimists fundraise and support youth projects in Monroe as well.
All Optimist Club meetings are open to the public. For more information, visit monroeoptimistclubs.com or find them on Facebook at Monroe Morning Optimists and Monroe Noon Optimists.
The 100th day of the 100th year of Optimist International has highlighted the service that members of these organizations offer to the Monroe community.
Volunteer efforts continue beyond this day with ongoing service projects and monetary support for youth projects. To continue this initiative, the public can sign up for volunteer opportunities in Monroe or register an organization at Volunteer Green County, a United Way initiative at volunteergreencounty.org.
