UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club

Brienne Diebolt-Brown (Left) and Lacey  Reichwald  (Right), members of the  Executive Board of the Whitewater Grocery Company gave a presentation about goals for a new Grocery in Whitewater

It was a beautiful Tuesday for Optimists who attended the Noon meeting on September 5, 2017.  Not only were three potential new members in attendance, but every seat in the room was filled.  Guest speakers Lacey Reichwald and Brienne Diebolt-Brown, members of the Executive Board of the Whitewater Grocery Company, gave a brief presentation about prospects for a new grocery in Whitewater.  Their plan is to fill gaps in the grocery needs of the community and not directly compete with Walmart.  For further details, or to become one of many owners of the Whitewater Grocery Company, visit www.whitewatergrocery.co.

For more information about the UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club, contact co-president, Kim Adams, at adamsk@uww.edu or (608) 201-2151.

Janay Newman is our Spring 2018 Optimist Club Intern! She is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is a senior with a Public Relations major, and Marketing minor. Janay indicates that she is an optimist–“My reason is in the name: ‘Optimist’ Club.  I am so happy that I have been given the opportunity to help others in the Whitewater community and to simply do good for those around me.”  She says “One thing that I love about Whitewater is that everyone seems to be associated through at least one mutual connection, leading to a high sense of community.  Being from a larger town, I think that I really missed out on that feeling while growing up, but being in Whitewater gives me a chance to catch up.” Janay’s goals for the year are to “utilize my skills learned from classes and other job opportunities, and channel them into my position with the Optimist Club to do my personal best.”

To give so much time to improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others is the statement from the Optimist Creed that best describes her.  Janay says, “I find that many people spend a lot of their days comparing or competing, while they forget to simply be their best selves, including myself.  I think that this statement is a great reminder to be kind to others, while always working on self-improvement.” Welcome Janay!

Katie Gaulrapp is one of our other Fall 2017 Optimist Club interns! She is from Monroe, Wisconsin, and is a Corporate and Health Communications major, with a Family, Health, and Disabilities Studies minor.  Katie is optimistic because “My health has challenged me in every aspect of my life; when it kicks me to the ground, I pick myself up and work harder.” Katie said she “loves Whitewater because of its strong community.”  Katie’s goals for the year are to “serve others and familiarize myself with the other Optimist Club members.”

The Optimist Creed quote to Promise yourself to look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true epitomizes Katie’s outlook. Katie said, “I find that this statement explains my attitude towards life, and I encourage others to see it this way as well.” Welcome Katie!