Platteville Optimist Club

Pictured above L-R: Terry Woolf, Dee Woolf and Optimist President Terri Ellis. Terry and Dee Woolf have been involved with scouting programs in Platteville for many years. Platteville is part of the Pioneer District of the Blackhawk Area Council which provides programming for several counties in southwestern Wisconsin and northwestern Illinois. Platteville has active Scout programs, including Troop 82 based at Platteville United Methodist Church and Troop 84 and Pack 89 (Cub

American Legion Auxiliary Member Dee Woolf accepts a $500 check from Optimist President Terri Ellis in support of the Badger State Girls program. Badger Girls State (ALABGS) 2026 will be held June 21-26, 2026, at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Between 500-600 girls from all over the state of Wisconsin participate. It is a government and leadership conference for high school junior girls, focusing on citizenship, running mock governments, and learning about American dem

Optimist President Terri Ellis presents a $500 check to American Legion Member Terry Woolf to support the Badger Boys State program. About 900 students attend the program which is held at UW-Eau Claire each June. During the program, high school students learn how our government system works by creating their own city, county, and state level governments. Participants leave feeling inspired to become active members of their local communities. Many develop lifelong friendships

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

Platteville Optimist Club President Terri Ellis, left, presents a check to Danielle Lynch, representing the Platteville Holiday Project. The organization assists families in our community who are in need of assistance during the holiday season. They organize the annual "Coats For Kids" drive and distribution where they collected 184 coats this year and distributed them to 58 families. They also manage the "Adopt-a-Family Program" where individuals and businesses can help i

Royal Palmer Doreen Hlavaty, Royal, President Terri Ellis Royal Palmer Royal Palmer, co-owner of the Driftless Market & Deli spoke to us about the challenges of being a small business owner in rural Wisconsin.  In late 2019, Royal left his job with Target Corporation in Minneapolis and moved to Platteville with his husband Tony.  Together with Royal’s sister Robin and her husband they purchased the Driftless Market in February of 2020. The timing of the purchase could no

L-R: Optimist Member Doreen Hlavaty; Monica Mueller, FASD Community Resident; Epiphany Garner, CNA; Angie Coffman, FASD Community Resident Epiphany Garner, CNA, spoke to our club about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), which are lifelong physical, developmental, behavioral and intellectual disabilities caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol and drugs. It can impact as many as 1 in 20 children in the U.S., more than twice the rate of autism, according to the CDC. The

L-R: Terri Ellis, Platteville Optimist Club President presents a check to Jaqueline Varholik, representing "Christmas For Kids" Jaqueline Varholik accepted a check from the Platteville Optimist Club for "Christmas For Kids". Jaquie reported that have exceeded their goal in 2025 by 50 kids and that they will be helping 400 children in Southwest Wisconsin this Christmas. They recently opened a "shop program" (similar to "Adopt-A-Family") and they have two locations now where

Marcia Russell from the Platteville Children's Choir accepts a $350 check from Terri Ellis, President of Platteville Optimist Club. Marcia reported that there are over 80 students in the choir this year. This is the highest number they've had since the pre-covid years.

Bruce Richardson Clark Anderson, Bruce Richardson and Optimist President Terri Ellis On Friday October 31st, our speaker was Bruce Richardson, a hunter safety instructor and pheasant guide for Wounded Warriors.  Bruce became a safety instructor “by accident”.  He was turkey hunting in 1991 when he was shot by a companion.  After repeatedly being asked to speak at various safety courses and subsequently encouraged to become an instructor, he did.  Bruce said hunter safe

Coach Gard and Joey Fuhremann Joey Fuhremann, Optimist President Terri Ellis, Coach Gard and Optimist Charlie Clark Today we enjoyed our annual visit with UW-Platteville Men's Basketball Coach Jeff Gard. Coach Gard was accompanied by Team Member and Senior Joey Fuhremann. Coach talked about how the team's trip to Greece in April of 2025 was a valuable because it gave returning players an opportunity to bond and grow as a team. Fuhremann was unable to play in Greece due to a

L-R; Optimist Member Clark Anderson; Renee Clark, Kieler Farms; Optimist President Terri Ellis Renee Clark is a third generation owner of Kieler Farms with eight other family members who all have a great passion for, and commitment to, Wisconsin's dairy industry. Renee is also a mom to three daughters, a marathon runner, and a cross country coach at Platteville High School. Her grandfather, Lawrence Kieler, bought their original 250 acre farm in 1947 where he milked 13 cows

L-R: Charlie Clark, Dave Cook, Vice-President Barb Stockhausen Dave Cook Today’s speaker was Dave Cook of Cook’s Woods Christmas Tree...

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...

Retired Fire Fighter and Optimist Member Paul Budden donned his fire helmet to update us on the construction progress at the new...

Some important segments of our annual banquet had to be delayed due to President Bob Hundhausen's illness. So let's play catch up: First...

At Sunday night's banquet, Terri Ellis presented Gary and Eileen Engelke with a wooden plaque engraved with "Every End is a New...

The President’s Citation was awarded to Paul Budden for all of his work in our community and efforts with supporting the Fire Station,...

“Through rain, sleet, or snow the books must go!” What better friend of youth than someone who puts a book in your hand! It is wonderful...

Optimist of the Year - Joy Schewe attends meetings regularly and helps with all social gatherings and is actively involved in our...