Robin Fuller Pastor Lex Liberatore Today's speakers were Pastor Lex Liberatore & Robin Fuller from First Congregational Church.  They spoke primarily about what they are trying to do to combat loneliness and depression through some of their secular outreach programs.  Contrary to what many believe, loneliness and depression is more prevalent among teens and young adults than in senior citizens.  Part of this is due to the excessive screen time in the younger generations, so FCC wanted...

The Optimist Club's 2026 Oratorical Contest was held at the Platteville High School on Monday, March 16th. "The Moment I Realized I Belonged - My Definition of Community" was the topic for this year's contest. Contestants placing first and second will move on to the SWIS District Zone 5 competition, with an opportunity to advance to District. At District Level, they are elgible to win scholarships in the amount of $2,500, $1,500 or $1,000. The contestants are pictured below. Advancing to...

Speaker Michael Bottrell Michael Bottrell, a retired dentist, maintains a Master Personal Trainer certification.  Throughout the years, he has had on going knife, handgun and jiu-jitsu training. He has earned a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). Michael spoke to the Optimist Club about the world of violence, specifically about sexual assaults. One in four women report that they have experienced sexual violence. Most cases go unreported. While we like to think that these crimes don’t...