Traverse City Optimist Club

05/31/2026

The ducks haven’t seen it yet, but you have.

Here’s a sneak peek of the brand-new Traverse City Optimist Club Duck Race starting gate during today’s test run. We think it’s going to make race day even more fun.

And yes… the main event is set the 100th National Cherry Festival, just a few weeks away!

Stay tuned. The ducks are getting ready.

05/04/2026

Packed house today at the Traverse City Optimist Club.

We had Kevin Kline from Cherry Capital Airport join us with an update on one of Michigan’s busiest travel hubs. Always interesting to hear what’s ahead for the third largest airport in the state and what it means for our community.

Great turnout and great conversation all around.

If you’ve ever thought about checking us out, just stop by for lunch at Hotel Indigo Traverse City. No invite needed!

04/20/2026

Great energy in the room today!

We had Matt McDonough from Discovery Pier / Freshwater Research join us and share what they’ve got lined up this year. A lot of hands-on learning for kids… fish ID, knot tying, casting practice, and real Great Lakes education. Good stuff that actually sticks.

We also knocked out our grant committee meeting and distributed over $18,000 to youth-focused nonprofits around Traverse City. That’s an impact you can feel.

If you’ve been curious about what we do, come grab lunch with us sometime at Hotel Indigo Traverse City. Always room for one more at the table.

04/03/2026

Contact us to learn more! We meet the 1st and 3rd Mondays each month for lunch.

When you volunteer, your impact doesn’t stay small, it grows.
One hour becomes confidence in a child. One project becomes a stronger community. One act of service inspires another.
Through Optimist volunteering, you don’t just help today; you plant seeds that grow into leadership, opportunity, and hope for the future.
👉 Let your impact grow. Volunteer with Optimist International by visiting https://www.optimist.org/landingpage/

03/28/2026

This! ❤️👍🏻

✨ Choose Impact. Choose Optimism. To find out more visit https://www.optimist.org/landingpage/

03/17/2026

ALL NONPROFITS

03/15/2026

Our lunch meeting is cancelled on Monday, March 16, due to the winter storm. Our next meeting will be March 30th at noon at Hotel Indigo. Stay safe and warm! ❄️

03/02/2026

We had a fantastic presentation today from Koffi Kpachavi, Executive Director, and Miranda Fraley, Outreach & Giving Coordinator with the Grand Traverse Conservation District.

They shared powerful examples of local projects, hands-on education efforts, and the work being done to teach our youth how to care for Northern Michigan’s natural resources. It’s encouraging to see real action happening to protect what makes this region so special.

Thank you both for the work you do and for spending time with the Traverse City Optimist Club. Our future looks brighter when we invest in it. 🌲

02/16/2026

Big thank you to Jordyn Ross and Chris Ramey for joining us and sharing all the exciting things happening at Mt. Holiday this year. From new events to family fun on the slopes, there is a lot to look forward to.

We appreciate you taking the time to keep our club in the loop and energized about what is ahead. It is going to keep being a great season at Mt. Holiday!

02/13/2026

Our recent guest was Max Anderson, Chairman of the Kingsley Downtown Development Authority.

Max shared the past, present, and especially the future of Kingsley, Michigan, and there is a lot to be excited about! It’s always inspiring to hear how small Northern Michigan towns are planning smart growth and building strong communities.

Thanks for joining us for lunch at the Traverse City Optimist Club, Max!