Do you ever find that you are volunteering because you have to? Volunteering should not be a monotonous activity that you have to do to build a resumé. Yes, of course this is a legitimate concern for any college student who is planning on living in the fast pace and competitive world that we will soon enter, but a lot of the time we, as students, have lost sight of what volunteering really is. That is why a group of girls decided to bring a new club to the UW-La Crosse that promotes altruism and optimism, while providing a fun-oriented environment.
Andrea Vivian and Rachel Novotny began the Optimist Club. Both are current co-presidents of the club. They got the idea from the Optimist Club International. This club's mission is "Bringing out the Best in Kids." The girls have been working with this nationally acclaimed organization in order to create a club that is affiliated with Optimist Club International, but is geared more towards college students.
"We wanted to start a club for students so that they could have volunteer opportunities more specifically geared towards helping their peers and youth in the community," said Vivian.
Joining this club would mean that not only would you have access to volunteer opportunities, but you would also be registered with a nationally known club. This it is both good for the heart and the resumé.
The club is currently trying to get on its feet as a well-known campus club, so it needs student support and enthusiasm. Vivian and Novotny have already gone through the process of getting the club recognized by UW-L and have found a faculty advisor, Jason Bertrand. The club had its first meeting on Wednesday, April 27, which was primarily attended by those who had heard about it through word-of-mouth. The meeting was lively and excitable.
Possible upcoming volunteer opportunities include: Teaching a cooking class, helping with a move-in, providing free back massages and helping clean people's rooms in the residence halls. The club is always open to ideas of different volunteer opportunities and is also willing to help members with taking a certain volunteer opportunity in their own direction.
Meetings are planned to be held about once a month and will almost always have free food. The joining fee is predicted to be about $10 for the whole year. This yearly fee paired with fundraising within the club will pay member dues for both the UW-L Optimist Club and Optimist Club International.
"Anyone and everyone is welcome. You can't pass-up sweet treats and a friendly, optimistic environment," says Vivian. Support this new club on campus by attending meetings, showing your support, and bringing new ideas to the table.
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