Monroe WI Noon Optimists

06/10/2026

What was ten years in the making, and has turned out to be a wonderful 501(c) (3) and has changed many lives? Home Of Our Own! Home of Our Own was presented to our noon group by Mary Anne Oemichen, a mother of a disabled daughter that lives there. Prairie House Apartments, a 40 unit apartment building on the edge of New Glarus is a dream come true for many parents of disabled young people as well as non disabled tenants. Parents that have adult children have always had a concern as to what would happen when the parents are no longer able to care for them. Currently ten out of 40 in this building have disabilities.
Hard work, much effort, and pairing with a Dane County non profit brought this fantastic building to life 5 years ago. The Dane County organization agreed to spend 9 million if the local community could raise $1,000,000.
Among the many amenities are therapy dogs, on premise salon, teams that provide 24/7 coverage for the ill or disabled, bingo nights, indoor walking loop, art works and musical events which all contribute to the tenants well being. Lots of love has gone into this project, and a second unit of 50 units will be built starting in the fall. This too will house 55+ adults with or without disabilities.

Their motto “Alone we can do little, together we can do much.”

Sometimes it just takes a mothers love to get things accomplished.💕

Pictured below, on the left, Mary Anne Oemichen.

In the back row, Kris Hartwig, Optimist President, Marsha Wilhelms, board member, Karen Boll, Secretary, Amanda Ge**er, incoming board member,
Front row Diane Phillips, Treasurer, Maren Nelson and Laurie Knoke, board members.

06/10/2026

On June 1, 2026, the Monroe Noon Optimists treated all of the elementary schools, including St Victors, to red, white and blue popsicles. This was in observance of the 250th Anniversary of the nation. Amanda Ge**er headed up the project, with help from Jean Sinkule, Marsha Wilhelms, Kris Hartwig, Marlene Bergemann and Mike Markham. Great celebration to end the school year.

Just as the school year winds down, we will soon begin our school supply drive! Stay tuned for more details!

06/08/2026

05/26/2026

Today at our Noon Optimist meeting, we had the pleasure of meeting Karin Monzon Krimmer, Executive Director of the Literacy Council of Green County.
The Literacy Council (501 (c) (3) non profit, was founded in 1997 and has been self funded with donations and grants since 2014. Karin, a Guatemalan native, arrived in the US in 2002 and came to Monroe in 2006. She has been with the Literacy Council since 2020.

The mission statement of the Green County Literacy Council is, “ Empowering adult learners with the English language, one word at a time.”

They are located on the second floor of the Monroe Public Library, and at the present time have 28 tutors and 72 adult learners. Those enrolled to learn English are natives of over 10 countries. At the present time, there are 11 or more on the waiting list.
Volunteers are always needed, if you have questions, call 608-293-3161 (text messages are encouraged.)

Pictured below are Karin Monzon Krimmer, Executive Director of Literacy Council of Green County, and Kris Hartwig, President of Monroe WI Noon Optimists.

05/26/2026

One of our guests today at the Monroe Noon Optimist meeting was Erin Hanke, Monroe High School Band Director.
Erin has been our band director at MHS for four years, and she has been advocating for uniforms since last Cheese Days.
The music department is fundraising at this time in order to pay for the new bibs and jackets. Enrollment at MHS is approximately 50 band students at this time.
The Monroe WI Noon Optimist club is happy to donate $1500
towards these striking new uniforms!

Pictured below on left are Marsha Wilhelms, Optimist Board Member, Denise Plattenberg, Optimist member, Erin Hanke, MHS Band Director, and Kris Hartwig, Optimist President.
Picture on right is Erin, and Kris.

05/21/2026

Our Monroe WI Noon Optimists Club lost a very dedicated and dear member this year in early March. Her fight to live was ferocious just like her dedication to our club. Ann Wells, lost her battle in early March. She was one of our board members and was more than willing to help on any of our committees. She was an advocate for our Santa reception, loved the School Bus supply drive, enjoyed the end of year school treat day, and told me she joined our club because of our annual breakfast, where she noticed there was a lot of Optimism.

Ann loved animals of any kind, but her cats were her “babies”.
We felt her devotion for animals was a great reason to donate to the Green County Humane society in her memory.

Yesterday our club made that donation, and we know she is smiling down on that choice because of her passion for her kitties. Rest in peace Ann, we miss you, your friendship, your quirky personality, and all of your work with our club.

Shown below are Green County Humane Society Receptionist Lauren, Diane Phillips, Optimist Treasurer, Karen Boll, Optimist Secretary, ad Green County Humane Society Operations manager.

05/13/2026

At the Monroe WI Tuesday Noon Optimists meeting, Rebecca Anderson, manager of the REStore of Habitat for Humanity spoke.
She stated that 1 in 3 people have no homes. Habitats mission is to provide and build safe and affordable homes. They help to build not only homes, but a community with hope. This year the 20th home is being built in Green County. Applicants for the home apply, and the qualified person(s) is chosen. That family must work on the home 200 hours as well as be able to obtain and afford a loan. Habitat helps the qualified family every step of the way with getting the loan, and budgeting to pay for the home. Work on the home is done primarily by volunteers, and money that is earned in the ReStore, donations, and Grants pay the cost. This year they have paired with the Launch program at Monroe High School as well. There are REStore stores in many towns, as well as Monroe, and they are manned by 95% volunteers.
Stop by the REStore Monroe (Habitat Resale Store)located at 1061 4th Avenue W to shop, donate or volunteer. You will be amazed at the beautiful items such as furniture, appliances, mattresses, tools, building materials, light fixtures and many other items that people have donated. These items are very reasonably priced. It is a win-win situation. Your donated items bring in money which allows people to have safe and affordable homes.

Their hours are Tuesday-Friday 11-4 and Saturday 10-4. You can reach them by phone at 608-328-2128.

Pictured below, Rebecca Anderson, representative of the REStore in Monroe and Kris Hartwig, president of Monroe WI Noon Optimist Club.

05/06/2026

The Monroe WI Noon Optimists have been busy fulfilling their Mission to help the youth of our community. May 1st was School Principal Appreciation day. Our member, Teri Ellefson, designed gift bags and filled them with treats for all of our local public schools and St. Victors principals. We certainly do appreciate all that our principals do for our students. Hoping they take the time to relax with donuts and coffee.

Our club also collects money at weekly meetings in what we call our Smile Box. Our president, along with suggestions from members, chooses a non profit to donate that money to. Our previous quarter was presented today to Dana Kundert. She is a representative of Backpack Buddies for our Monroe schools. Backpack Buddies serves students with a need for food on weekends.

Pictured below are the gift bags for principals that were delivered. The bottom right picture is our treasurer, Diane Phillips, presenting our donation to Dana Kundert, Backpack Buddies Representative.

04/30/2026

When the Tuesday Monroe WI Noon Optimists met this week, we enjoyed our speaker, Brittany Stites, General Manager of Chocolate Temptations. During recent remodeling and enlarging, and under new management, they added a candy wall (with wrapped commercial candy- ie Nerds, etc) along with specialty coffees that can be brewed at home.

They have 10 employees, and the new owner is Josh Ellingson and his wife. Their chocolatier, Adrian, makes the truffles and other candies. She has been there for four years. Several of the new truffles will be one with a Cinco du Mayo flair and another with Orange mimosa flavor.
Chocolate bars with words Happy Birthday, Thank You, or Congrats molded into are a new creation. These are great for Graduation, birthday, and Mothers Day gifts.
Other offerings are scones, muffins, specialty and regular coffees, refreshers, with and without caffeine, cold brews and lemonades.
Chocolate Temptations has ice cream in several flavors and serves shakes and specialty sundaes.

One their newest offerings is bottles that can be sealed and taken as carry outs. Any of their drinks can be put in these bottles, and are called See you Later containers.

They are located at 1004- 17th Avenue on Monroe’s historic square. They will be open Mother’s Day, and will give mothers a flower while supplies last.

Their hours are Monday-Saturday 7-5 Sunday 9-3

Why not stop by for coffee and a muffin before work, and take a “See You Later” with you for break?

Pictured below Brianna Stites, general manager, and Kris Hartwig Monroe WI Noon Optimist President.

04/27/2026

Tonight the Monroe Noon Optimist sponsored the April Loaves and Fishes community meal. A few members from the Optimist along with Boy Scout troop #115 volunteered to work at the meal. The delicious meal was catered by Rena Koning from Maple Lane Event Ctr. Next month's meal is Sunday May 24th. All are welcome.