October 17, 2009

Foreign exchange students start new Optimist Club



Northcentral Technical College in Wausau, Wisconsin is home to a new Optimist Club this year.  The Breaking Boundaries Optimist Club is made up of foreign exchange students who plan to take the Optimist Club mission with them when they return to their native countries.

Among the members is Luis Navarro from El Salvador.  He hopes to start a food pantry and help the homeless through his church.  Melvin Rivas  hopes to share a positive message against drug abuse when he returns to Honduras.  But while they are in the United States, the group will conduct educational events at libraries and community gatherings to talk about their cultures and explain their customs. 

According to Romey Wagner, a member of the Noon Optimist Club of Wausau, he encouraged the students to come together as a college Optimist Club with the hope that they would start service groups when they return home.  They will follow each other online when they return home to keep up their momentum.  They will also be fund raising while in the US so that they have resources to begin their efforts in their native lands. 

But what happens to the club when they return home?  Part of their mission will be to recruit and inspire new exchange students into thier club so that it remains a cultural aspect of the college. 

Photo courtesy of the Breaking Boundaries Optimist Club.

Categories

alabama alberta anguilla arizona arkansas arts B.W.I. barbados british columbia california canada day cayman islands ccdhh celebrations change charitable Christmas Trees childhood cancer campaign childhood literacy childhood wellness campaign children citizenship college colorado communication community building community development community service do the right thing donation doodle 4 google drug abuse easter education enchantment engagement essay contest experience optimism Facebook faith fellowship festival fishing fitness florida food drive football friend of youth friendship fundraiser fundraising generation gap georgia good government grand cayman gratitude Halloween happiness hawaii health and welfare healthy club checklist holiday hope idaho illinois indiana inspiration internet safety iowa iron eyes jamaica jay leno join an optimist club jooi joy junior golf kansas keep america beautiful kentucky leadership louisiana maine manitoba marketing maryland membership mentor michigan minnesota mississippi missouri Montana motivation music sunday n carolina n dakota nebraska new jersey new mexico new optimist club new york ohio oklahoma ontario opportunity optimism optimist club optimist clubs optimist creed optimist international optimist international convention optimist international foundation optimistic story of the day oratorical contest oregon outreach partnerships patriotism pennsylvania playground pnw district promotion public relations quebec quotes recognition recycling respect respect for law s carolina scholarship school supplies schools service clubs share optimism social media south carolina South Dakota st. maarten stories success talent show teachers Ted tennessee testimonials texas traditions twitter virginia volunteers w. virginina washington website wisconsin young adult youth appreciation youth safety youth sports