Photo Gallery
67 Birthday Boxes wrapped and delivered to the Whitewater Food Pantry!
2017 Easter Egg Hunt!
Thank you, Christina Schwab and Jeremy Lade, for speaking about the UW-W wheelchair basketball program at our February 28th evening meeting!
Trivia Night Items Delivered to Food Pantry!
Congratulations to Jimmy Duval for receiving the Youth of the Month Plaque!
Jim McLernon, a UW-W faculty member, presented a generous $100 check to the Community Optimist Club for an upcoming sports fundraiser. We accepted this gift with much gratitude!
Spirit Award goes to Mardi Comm!
Best Costume Award goes to Murder, Mayhem, & Retribution!
Congrats to our 2nd place trivia team, Janesville Wednesday Morning Optimists/St.Mary School!
Congratulations to our 1st place trivia team, Executive Disorder!!
Thank you to our main Trivia Night 2017 sponsor, Thrivent!
Trivia Night 2016!
It is with great sadness for the UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club to learn about the unexpected passing of longtime Optimist member Don Zahn on Friday, November 20. As Kim Adams stated, “Don will be greatly missed by all, and club meetings will not be the same without him.”
The Community Optimist Club enjoyed reminiscing about Don.
– Don was the 5th president of our club. On October 3, 1995, as he was getting ready to ring the Optimist bell for the first time (to start the meeting), most members had left the room to go to the nearest TV to learn about the verdict from the O.J. Simpson trial.
– Don was known for organizing the Optimist highway clean up work sessions for years. He also created a tradition of auctioning off some of the items found along the roadside to raise money for the Optimist International Foundation. Kim Adams recalls winning a pair of fussy dice that one could hang from their car mirror.
– For MANY years, Don and Lou organized the Optimist volunteers for the Jefferson County Fair. Back in the 1990’s through the early 2000’s, Don was willing to go into the Optimist Dunk Tank to help raise money for the club (every fall during the Student Organization Fair). He always went in wearing one of his business suits, and he was known to do well at heckling the crowd in order to raise more money.
– Don and Lou were often seen at Optimist events together, including ticket taking for UW-W football games, helping with concessions at various events over the years, Breakfast with Santa, March Madness Shootout, participating in Relay for Life, serving gyros at the 4th of July celebration, and countless others. He was a lifetime member of the UW-Whitewater Optimist Club, serving many positions, including President.
– In 2012, both Don and Lou were awarded the distinction of being “Optimists of the Year.”
The work Don did for the community will never be forgotten. Thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.
Therese Kennedy Presents Don and Lou with Optimist of the Year Plaque, 2012
Don Running Auction at Installation Banquet, Sept. 2010
Don in Dunk Tank, 2000
Don, Lou, Hans Hahn and Carla Cheek, Relay for Life, 2000
In loving memory of former Optimist President from 1999-2000, UW-Whitewater/Community Optimist Club remembers Mary Beth Mackin…
Linda Kinson, David Ostrowski, and Mary Beth Mackin, Optimist President from 1999-2000 (pictured left to right)
Mary Beth at Relay for Life 2000
Judi Trampf, Dennis Kaminksi, Faye Schouten, and Mary Beth Mackin at Breakfast with Santa 1999 (pictured left to right)
Enjoy these photos from recent club events!
Some of the 50 BWS Volunteers Pictured Here
UW-Whitewater Student Optimist Club
Vice President Lanora Heim and Family
WHS Octagon Club
Youth Appreciation Luncheon 2015
Youth Appreciation Luncheon 2015
Youth Appreciation Luncheon 2015
The kids enjoyed free bowling at Hawk Bowl on Wednesday, November 4th!
Dave Halbach and Kim Adams at Fall 2015 Installation Banquet!
Executive Board at Fall 2015 Installation Banquet!
Interns pose with supervisors Dave Halbach, Jeanine Fassl, and Kim Adams at the Installation Banquet
UW-Community Optimist Club Summer/Fall 2015 Interns Callie, Lauren, and Allison
YOM Holly and Josh alongside family and friends at YOM lunch-in.
WHS students Youth of the Month Holly and Josh.
Fall 2015 Club Interns Callie and Allison speaking to club members about their tasks.
Dick and Maggie Winz with 2015-16 Club President Dave Halbach after speaking about the Bay St. Louis recovery from Hurricane Katrina.
Dick and Maggie Winz presented updates about Bay St. Louis hurricane recovery to the club members on August 26 at Jessica’s.
Look what I caught!!
UW-W Fishing Club members helped out at the 2014 Fishing Derby June 1.
Club members cleaning along Highway 59.
Optimist Club presentation of $5,000 check to Whitewater Park and Rec Department towards new playground equipment at Optimist Park. March 11, 2014
“Parents’ Night Out” team, 2014
Kim and Angie with Art Piece at Trivia Night, 2014
Dr. Hassimi Traore buying raffle tickets from Optimist Club member James Lanouette at Trivia Night 2014.
Ambulance destined for the African nation of Burkina Faso in front of the UC at Trivia Night, 2014.
YOM Feb 2014 honorees from Whitewater Middle School Brittny and Talon with family members and Middle School teacher.
February 2014 YOM Talon from Whitewater Middle School with Optimist Club member Therese Kennedy.
February 2014 YOM Brtittny from Whitewater Middle School with Optimist Club member Therese Kennedy.
Rick Fassl explaining about the Gyro Stand at the NOW Style Show, February 2014.
Sue Hiscox explaining about the Toys for Children program at the NOW Style Show, February 2014.
Brenda O’Beirne explaining about the Mitten Trees at the NOW Style Show, February 2014.
Jeanine Fassl explaining the Easter Egg Hunt at New Optimist Wanted (NOW) Style Show. February 2014.
Whitewater High School Youth of the Month, January 2014.
Whitewater High School Youth of the Month, January 2014.
Whitewater High School Youth of the Month, January 2014.
2013 Mitten Tree Donations
Whitewater Middle School Youth of the Month, December 2013
Whitewater Middle School Youth of the Month, December 2013
- Whitewater Middle School Youth of the Month, December 2013
Whitewater Middle School Youth of the Month, December 2013
Pictures from “Breakfast With Santa 2013!”
Linda an Angie greeting the participants to Breakfast With Santa.