March 18, 2015 at 1:15 p.m.
Optimist Club offers various projects for youth
Optimist Club offers various projects for youth
By Kayla Thomason-
The club was formed in June 2012 and ever since, it has been bringing joy to children of all ages.
"We are a group designed to do projects for kids in the communities that surround us," said Dave Mannikko, past president of the Rhinelander Area Optimist Club.
Right now, the club is actively preparing for its annual Easter Egg Hunt, which will be held April 4 at Pioneer Park.
Last Sunday members of the club, their friends and significant others helped stuff sweets and six prizes into 5,000 brightly colored plastic eggs.
Valerie Osterman, president of the Optimist Club, said the club is a great way to give back to the community.
"I love (being in the Optimist Club)," Osterman said. "It's an opportunity for us to get out in the community and provide opportunities for kids that don't otherwise have those opportunities. It's been a lot of fun getting to know people in the community being in the group."
Every year in late October, early November the club offers a free open skate for area families.
"We do a free open skate for the community kids to come dress up and skate around, (and) have a chance to win some prizes," Mannikko said.
The club has also had a hand in helping with the Run to Remember - which raises money for the Kory Dahlvig scholarship. It also has a booth set up at the Farmer's Market for a small fundraiser and they offer scholarships for high school students. Last year it was an essay contest through Optimist International.
"(What I love about the Optimist Club is the) community involvement, seeing the smiles on the kids' faces on those kinds of projects and stuff, it's very rewarding to see how excited they are for things like that," Mannikko added.
There are currently 10 active members in Optimist Club. An increase in membership would offer more things to the community.
"We are always taking new members," Osterman said. "New members bring new ideas."
Anyone interested in joining can message the club on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhinelanderAreaOptimistClub. Meetings are held Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. at Boyd Financial.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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