The Optimist Club of Rolla loves bringing our community together through various fun events throughout the year! Many of these are annual favorites that we've been running for years, but we’re always excited to add new ones. Take a look at our event calendar to see all the exciting happenings coming up—you never know what fun activity we’ll have next! Got a great idea to support our community or interested in hosting an event yourself? We’d love to hear from you! Visit our get involved page to find out how you can help us make a positive difference and have some fun along the way.
A lot of these events are just wonderful opportunities to support our youth programs through fundraising, and some are great community service activities where we can come together to make a difference! For more frequent updates follow us on Facebook!
Christmas Tree Sales
Every year, the Optimist Club of Rolla sets up a festive tree lot in the Kroger parking lot, and it’s always such a wonderful time! It’s one of the biggest fundraisers for our youth programs. Our very first Christmas tree lot was back in December 1964 at Ramsey’s Red Rocker furniture store’s parking lot. Typically, the tree lot opens right after Thanksgiving and stays open until mid-December. We’d love to have some extra hands—if you’re interested in volunteering to help out, just let us know! And if you’re looking to pick out a Christmas tree or wreath, swing by and say hello we’d be happy to see you!
If you’re interested in picking up a new skill, we also do wreath making. Just let us know you’ll have a blast learning this fun and useful craft! Hours can vary depending on our staff's schedule, so it's a good idea to check out our Facebook page for the latest updates!
Another major source of funds to support our youth and service projects is the annual Flapjack Day held in November. This was started in November 1982 with the one held at the Golden Corral. It was held at the Rolla Elks Lodge on Highway 63 South for several years and now is held at St. Patrick’s Parish Hall. Advance ticket sales are an important aspect of the success of this event so a prize is given to the top seller. In addition to all the flapjacks and sausage you can eat entertainment such as bluegrass music, cloggers and the Rolla’s Famous German Band was at the event.
Every May, the Optimist Club of Rolla, along with the Rolla Parks and Recreation Department, hosts a fantastic Kids Fishing Day! It’s a wonderful event filled with fun, laughter, and plenty of fishing excitement. Plus, the kids who win the fishing competitions get their very own fishing poles! It’s always a memorable day for our local youth, and we’d love to see you there!
The Optimist Club of Rolla is serving up the most satisfying splash in town all for a great cause! For the right donation, you can send a local celeb, teacher, or brave volunteer into the dunk tank to help raise funds for a local child in need at the Route 66 Summerfest in June every year!
Optimist Clubs participate in activities to inspire respect for law enforcement among young people and to educate them on the jobs these brave men and women perform. Events are also held to promote a sense of well-being in the community such as child ID events, poster or essay contests on alternatives to violence and various family-friendly activities.
Beginning in 1967 the Rolla Optimist Club has held an annual Respect for Law Banquet. The purpose of the banquet is to honor and recognize several agencies in Phelps County which are involved in some aspect of law enforcement. Members of organizations invited to attend include the Rolla Police Department, Missouri Highway Patrol, Phelps County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri S&T Police Department, Phelps County Prosecuting Attorney, Phelps County Clerk’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, Division of Probation and Parole, the Phelps Count Commissioners, all circuit court judges and the juvenile office. The event is well attended as there are typically well over 100 guests in attendance.
A keynote speaker is invited to the event to give an inspirational address in recognition of Respect for Law Week, which is sponsored by Optimist International in early May. The highlight of the Rolla club’s event is the presentation of the Bramlitt-Light Award presented to an individual (or a group) who has made an extraordinary contribution to the cause of justice in the community. The recipient receives a plaque and the recipient’s name is engraved on a plaque in the Rolla Public Library. The award is named in honor of two former Rolla police chiefs. In recent years a second award was established to recognize a female for outstanding achievement in law enforcement, the Sheffield-Kenley Award. The award is named in honor of Judge Mary Sheffield, a judge in the Missouri Court of Appeals, and Captain Lee Ann Kenley, commanding officer of Troop I of the Missouri Highway Patrol. Optimist and Judge John Wiggins has done an inspirational job in chairing the Respect for Law program for many years.
Join us for Annual Kids Safety Day! This fun and free community event is perfect for kids, parents, and caregivers alike. It’s a great opportunity to learn important safety tips, discover helpful resources, and celebrate our little ones while working together to keep everyone safe and healthy!
Optimist Club of Rolla does a lid collection and donates them to Rolla Middle School for the month of service. The school gives the lids to a company in Illinois that melts the lids down to make durable and comfortable eco-friendly benches. These benches get purchased and placed at local schools.
Optimists in Action is a program on an annual basis, although done every year, in which a community service is selected and completed. Examples of such projects are painting the playground equipment in Schuman Park and providing persons to help clean up after a Lock-in and Rolla High School.
In the fall year Optimist Club of Rolla hosts a 50/50 drawing! Tickets are 3/$1 you can buy as many as you want. Each week a name will be drawn to pick a card from a deck of cards if you get the Joker you win half the pot, if not it builds until someone picks the Joker. The other half of the 50/50 pot goes to the club to support our youth programs. Stop on by a weekly meeting and join in on the fun!
Other Events
The Russell House is a home for abused families and the Rolla Optimist has provided financial support and workers for various maintenance and repair projects.
We have provided wreaths at both local cemeteries on Memorial Day and the club president attends the ceremony at which veterans are honored.
There have been trash removal projects at local streams in connection with Earth Day.
At one time there was a Yule Decorating Contest co-sponsored by Colonial Lanes. Home owners and businesses were invited to enter the contest and prizes were awarded by a panel of judges.
Financial contributions have been to the Children’s Library at the Rolla Public Library and to the Rolla High School Football Field Turf project.
At various times over the years family situations have been brought to our attention where there is an emergency or a critical situation which needs to be addressed. The Board of Directors evaluates each case and determines the level of support we can provide.
Optimist International programs in which there has been some involvement are a Drug Abuse Program in the 1970’s and the ABC program (Always Buckle Up) which was aimed at the safety of children riding in automobiles.
The Club has also made contributions to the Optimist International Foundation and to the Children’s Cancer Fund.
This club served as the sponsor of the Rolla area effort in the Jerry Lewis MD Telethon held on Labor Day each year. We set up a phone bank for making local calls to solicit and use celebrity callers as well as Club members. There were several events held throughout the area to raise funds. There was the Rolla Fire Department “Fill a Boot” project and we sold food outside Walmart on Labor Day. We received recognition for our efforts from the MD Headquarters in Springfield. Optimist Paul Barker was the leader of the effort and was quite passionate about the Telethon. Our participation took place over a period of several years.
