Platteville Optimist Club

Duane reacts to drawing the Joker. President Terri Ellis and Duane Borgen For the second time in 2026, we have a Joker Draw Winner. Fire Chief Ryan Simmons selected the winning ticket giving Duane Borgen a chance to draw the Joker.....And he did! Optimist President Terri Ellis presented Duane with a $319 check for winning the Joker Draw. Congratulations Duane!

Our last Joker Draw winner was in February...until today! Duane Borgen drew the joker at our July 17th meeting and became our second winner in 2026. Congratulations Duane!

Nicole Peterson Maggie Kleisath, Nicole Peterson, Terri Ellis Nicole Peterson Nicole Peterson visited our meeting to tell us about her Girl Scout Gold Award project. This is the highest honor available in Girl Scouts and requires the scout to identify a root-cause community issue and dedicate at least 80 hours to creating a sustainable, measurable solution. Nicole’s project was building raised garden beds at Family Advocates, allowing Family Advocates to gr

Platteville's newly built Family Aquatic Center's Ribbon Cutting was held on June 25th. Our Optimist Club participated by handing out hot dogs. Thank you to all our volunteers! The weather cooperated providing us with a beautiful summer evening for the grand opening. Check out the pictures below.

L-R: Mary Weigel with Optimist Club Vice President Barb Stockhausen We inducted Mary Weigel into the Platteville Optimist Club on June 26th. Mary recently retired but has no problem keeping busy in the community and with her friends and family. We are excited she chose to join our group. Welcome Mary!

Our Platteville Optimist Club assisted with the Grant County Deputy Sheriff's Outing by donating two gift baskets for the silent auction, as well as soliciting local businesses for donations, raffle items, gift basket items, or hole sponsorships. Libby, Terri, Joy, Linda, and Kevin Optimists Libby Sides, Terri Ellis, Joy Schewe, Linda Foht, and Kevin Bernhardt worked hard preparing for the event and helping at the golf outing held at Platteville Golf and Country Club on Satur

New member Brenda Crossfield with Optimist President Terri Ellis The Platteville Optimist Club inducted Brenda Crossfield as the newest club member on June 19th. Brenda is Pastor at First English Lutheran Church, where our club holds various events during the year. Brenda, thank you for your collaboration and welcome to the Platteville Optimist Club!

New members pictured are Karin Peacock, Werner DeBrondt, Linda Richardson, Noah Tashner, Dale Young, Doris Young, along with Optimist Club President Terri Ellis. The 2026 New Members Welcome (NOW) Event was held on Saturday, June 6th at First English Lutheran Church. Eight new members joined, six of whom were inducted by Optimist Club President Terri Ellis at our Friday morning meeting. Welcome Karin, Werner, Linda, Noah, Dale and Doris!

The Platteville Optimist Club welcomed children ages 6-13 to the annual Tri-Star Basketball Skills Contest at the Platteville High School on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Participants were scored on their dribbling, passing and shooting skills. Top finishers in each age and gender group have the opportunity to participate in the Southern Wisconsin (SWIS) District Contest on Saturday, April 25th in Sun Prairie. Congratulations to all of the participants and thank you to the Optimi

L-R: Optimist President Terri Ellis with First Grade Teachers Michelle Sasse, Christian Guida, Kura O'Driscoll, Kortnie Christen, Lauren Ganzer, and Sassy's Vacation Author Sue Kies First Grade Teachers from Westview Elementary accepted a $600 donation from the Platteville Optimists. The donation will be used to purchase Sassy's Vacation books for the first graders at Westview Elementary. The author of Sassy's Vacation is Sue Kies, who was also present at the check presenta

L-R: Optimist President Terri Ellis and Jim Nelson, CESA 3 Jim Nelson accepted a $500 donation on behalf of CESA 3 from the Platteville Optimists to support their 32st Annual Champion Games to be held May 8, 2026. Champion Games is a unique opportunity for students to compete in various track and field events, wheelchair races, and other fun activities such as a bouncy house, bungy jump, and a dunk tank. The event is hosted at the Boscobel High School Track and City of Bosc

L-R: Optimist President Terri Ellis with new member, Michael Walsh Michael Walsh was initiated and welcomed to the Platteville Optimist Club on March 6, 2026. Michael is originally from Cassville. After graduation, he spent 20 years serving in the Army and National Guard before returning to Southwest Wisconsin. He is currently the Executive Director of the Platteville Main Street Program and loves the work he does for the Platteville community. Welcome Michael, we're gla

Our first Joker Draw winner of 2026 is Wayne Wodarz! Wayne draw netted himself $285 just in time for Valentine's Day. Congratulations Wayne!

Platteville Optimist Club members sport their Optimist attire in celebration of Optimist Day, February 5, 2026 Optimism isn't just a feeling - it's a way of life. On Optimist Day, we celebrate the power of positive thinking and the small actions that can make a big difference. Join us in celebrating Optimist Day as we promote our year-round efforts in bringing out the best in youth, our communities, and ourselves.

Thank you to Country Kitchen and staff who graciously serve us breakfast each Friday morning. We appreciate your friendly smiles and all that you do. Pictured on the left, Vice President Barb Stockhausen presents our server, Taylor with a Christmas card from our Club members. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Sheila Ruchti was inducted as a new member of the Platteville Optimist Club on December 5, 2025. Pictured above Optimist President Terri Ellis conducts the induction ceremony and welcomes Sheila to our Club as Sheila's sponsor Bob Hundhausen looks on. Sheila has already experienced working a cheese curd shift at the invitation of current members. Welcome Sheila!

Christmas for Kids-Southwest Wisconsin is bringing joy to children this holiday season. As Jaqueline Varholik explained to our Optimist Club when she spoke to us in July, they believe every child deserves Christmas. They are working hard to help struggling families make that happen. Shown above, Optimist members, Mark Essex and his wife Karen and Kim Woodworth and his wife Barb volunteered at a recent Wrap Party. Another Wrap Party will be held at Peace Lutheran Church on S

For the third time in 2025, the Joker was drawn in the famous weekly "Joker Draw" at our Optimist meeting. Mark is shown here sporting...

Our annual banquet was held on Sunday, September 21, 2025 at the Lutheran Church of Peace. President Bob Hundhausen was feeling under the...

Today we took our meeting on the road for a tour of the Huff Family Innovation Center in Sesquicentennial Hall on the UW-P campus. Mason...