About the Optimist Club of Waterloo, Illinois
Empowering the Youth of Monroe County, Illinois
Chartered on May 13, 1954, the Optimist Club of Waterloo, Illinois, is a nonprofit organization focused on supporting the youth of Monroe County.
The first officers were President Bob Voris; Vice Presidents Nolan Walker and Bob Glessner; Secretary John Mauzy; Treasurer Melvin Rippelmeyer; Sgt. at Arms Harold Hirstein; and directors Fridolin Bersche, Roy May, Herman Eitmann, and Jack Toal.
The members of Waterloo Optimist Club dedicate time and resources to events and acts of service, making both monetary and time and labor investments into our community.
All money earned at events is redeployed back to the community through different charitable giving, partnerships, donations, and investments in local youth-centered activities and development.
Our Core Values
As members of Optimist International, our core values represent the way we believe in the transformative power of hope, positive thinking, and action.
Our commitment to bringing out the best in youth communities and ourselves is guided by four core values that represent our foundational beliefs. We utilize these to inspire and drive our mission.
OPTIMISM
Optimism is at the heart of everything we do. We foster a shared sense of hope and resilience. We encourage positive action within ourselves and our communities and persist through difficulties with the belief we can create meaningful change. Ensuring that we and those we serve can reach our fullest potential.
RESPECT
Through respecƞul interactions we value the unique contributions and inherent worth of every individual. We honor all people with dignity, compassion, and care by embracing diversity and fostering a culture of inclusion.
INTEGRITY
We uphold the highest standards of honesty, ethics, and transparency in everything we do. We are accountable for our actions and follow through on our commitments. We conduct ourselves in all actions by doing what is right, even when it is difficult. We set a positive example and inspire others to follow.
GLOBAL COMMUNITY
We embrace diversity, interconnectedness, and shared humanity across all cultures, beliefs, and borders. Our commitment to the global community encourages us to think beyond local solutions and consider the broader impact of our actions. By nurturing a spirit of cooperation and empathy, we work towards a better world together.
Optimist International is dedicated to improving lives, together with respect, integrity, a sense of global community, and unwavering optimism, we can build a future filled with hope and positive vision for all.