The Optimist Club of Rolla

05/28/2026

Photos from yesterday evening's 2026 Respect for Law Banquet hosted by the Optimist Club of Rolla at the Rolla Lions Club Den

05/22/2026

Little cuties presenting the Rolla Optimist donation to the Rolla Public Library.

05/10/2026

04/30/2026

Congratulations to Tina Xu! Tina was honored at an Optimist Club of Rolla recognition ceremony on April 29th for her winning essay. This year's OI essay theme was "How My Acts of Service Help Me Understand What My Community Means to Me." Tina represented the local club in the East Missouri District essay contest. Tina is a seventh grader at Rolla Junior High School. She enjoys playing piano, reading and serving her community. Tina read her essay to club members.

Pictured Left to Right: Optimist Club of Rolla President Lister Florence, Tina Xu, Essay Chairperson Rob Barth.

This year's judges were science editors with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Science Publishing Network (SPN). Thank you to judges Stephanee Walker, Amy Ketterer and Lisa Delcour.

Tina was accompanied by her mother Bella and her sister Danielle.

Members enjoyed a trivia contest following the recognition ceremony at Colton's Steakhouse.

Congrats to all participants of this year's local essay contest.

04/28/2026

During tomorrow's meeting, April 29, we will be recognizing the author of the winning essay of the Optimist Club of Rolla local essay contest. Please consider attending Wednesday's club meeting and supporting this Optimist International program. We will follow up the recognition ceremony with another trivia contest. Bring your appetite, your spare change, your lucky trivia hat and your Optimism!

04/01/2026

We are gonna have an amazing meeting tonight. First off you will get a break from president Lister Florence 's Dad Jokes as Past president Eric Bohannan will run the meeting.

Also, we will have one of our oratorical winner at the meeting tonight with her parents. It's amazing the talent in our community.

Thank you optimist Jayla Medsker for chairing the oratorical committee.

5:45 pm, Wednesday, 4/1/26 @ Colton

03/19/2026

Our regular Rolla Optimist club meeting, 3/18/26 5:45 pm @ Coltons. Our guest speaker was Diane Hagni, Dream Center.

03/04/2026

A winning Optimist Club of Rolla local contest essay submission has been selected by our distinguished panel of three judges with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Science Publishing Network (SPN). The essay has been shared with the chairperson of the East Missouri District (EMO) essay contest. First, second and third place essays will be announced at an upcoming spring meeting program. Stay tuned!

02/23/2026

Saturday was Military Appreciation Day at the Missouri University of Science and Technology (MST) basketball games. Seated in the front row was none other than USAF veteran Optimist Don Olds! Great to see Don and to thank him once again for serving in our armed forces.