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Optimism is strong in New Ulm!

To the editor:

In recognition of Optimist Day, the first Thursday in February, the New Ulm Optimist Club would like to remind our community that optimism is alive and well in New Ulm! The current pandemic has brought so many challenges to all areas of our lives. It has changed how our Optimist Club offers opportunities, how we fund youth projects, and even how we interact with each other. But these changes can be channeled into opportunities that positively impact the youth in our community – our main focus.

The first sentence in the Optimist Creed says that we will, “Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.” Despite closures, restrictions, and even revenue loss, the New Ulm Optimist Club continues to fund various youth centered efforts, such as scholarship for seniors at all three high schools, oratorical and essay contests, winter clothing drives, and STEM initiatives at the local schools. We were able to support community projects such as Adopt a Family, Jaycee’s Christmas basket drive, and the New Ulm Food Shelf to name just a few. Optimists recognize that young people are the hope of tomorrow. That is why the main focus of support is for projects that directly benefit the youth of our community.

Another sentence in the Optimist Creed says that we will, “Promise yourself to think only of the best, to work only for the best, and expect only the best.” The youth of our community really are the best. We always focus on supporting projects and activities that directly benefit youth – the best of our community. We work to raise money to fund efforts that make a positive impact on our youth. We are blessed to be a part of a community that generously supports those efforts – through the participation in gaming at Smiley’s tavern, a small business that has allowed the Optimist Club to give more than we ever dreamed to our local youth. The citizens of New Ulm have been tremendously supportive of our fund raising efforts – especially purchasing cheese curds at summer events! Supporting our youth is truly a community effort in New Ulm!

The Optimist Creed goes on to say that we will promise to be enthusiastic and wear a cheerful countenance. Challenging times like a pandemic can be trying, but if we focus on the best (our youth) and work together to bring out the best in our youth, everyone benefits. Positivity is contagious and uplifting. Focusing on youth takes many people working together to provide the best opportunities. We partner with local agencies, organizations, and businesses to support our youth. One of our small businesses that is key to our ability to sponsor so many youth programs and activities is Smiley’s Tavern. When you support small businesses, that support trickles down a long pathway connecting many partnerships and positively impacting youth as well as our entire community. The New Ulm Optimist Club is always looking for new members. Come join us and help sponsor projects that positively impact the youth of our community! Together we can help create opportunities that show our youth how much we value them. Come check out what the Optimist Club does for the youth of New Ulm. Regular meetings are at the New Ulm Country Club on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every months. Meetings begin at 6:30pm.

Jenny Janssen

New Ulm

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