BROOKINGS – The Optimist Club of Brookings was chartered June 13, 1972, with Sioux Falls Morning Optimist Club as the sponsoring club. The club chartered with 37 all-male members. Jack Yonkovich was the charter president, and Glen Anderegg was the charter secretary treasurer. The motto of Optimist International at that time was “Friend of the Boy.” The motto has changed to the “Friend of Youth.”

The club grew in membership to 119. On June 6, 2022, the membership is 108. The Brookings Optimist Club sponsored active Optimist clubs in Watertown, Aberdeen and Volga. The Watertown-Lake Area, Augustana College, Minnesota West and Redwood Falls, Minnesota, sponsored clubs are no longer active. The club also sponsored an Octagon Club in 1991 and 2005 at Brookings High School.

The first club fundraiser was in 1972 at the first Brookings Summer Arts Festival. It was the only food booth at the festival. The food stand netted $700 for the very meager treasury. This was the “grandfather” of the present-day Optimist concession stand at the Brookings High School. The high school concessions stand and the Avenue of Flags, which was organized in 2002 in response to the Sept. 11 tragedy, are the two major fundraisers for the club. The first coordinator of the Avenue of Flags project was Les Howard, affectionally referred to as “the flagman.” The club sells raffle tickets once a year, the funds raised are used to support the high school senior scholarships awarded.

The notable community outreach activities organized by the club are the annual Trout Extravaganza, Kite Festival, Respect for Law, Bike Rodeo and Little Libraries. In collaboration with Optimist International, there are educational scholarships for the essay and oratorical contests in conjunction with the Communication Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. With over 40 programs, projects, events and activities supported by the club, members have exceeded their mission of bringing the best out in youth, in ourselves and in our community.

In 1983, Optimist International moved to an all-inclusive membership. Candy Nelson served as the first female president of the local club. The Optimist Club of Brookings has had zone, district, regional and international recognition and involvement. Sherwood Hatch in 2003 was awarded the Dakotas, Manitoba Minnesota (DMM) District Optimist of the Year. The club members have held numerous district, regional and international officer positions, committee assignments and received awards. In the early 2000s, charter members David Martin, Gary Sheeley and Glen Anderegg served as district secretary/treasurers. Martin and Sheeley served as district governors. Gloria Kloster and Glen Anderegg served as DMM governor and DMM secretary/treasurer respectively. The Gloria and Glen team of 2004-2005 attained distinguished and outstanding governor status. 

Kloster extended her service to the regional and international level as the international membership chair for 2006-2007 and 2007-2009. She was elected as the international vice president for the Great Plains Region in 2010-2011. In 2019-2020, Sally Damm Norby served as the governor of the DMM District, during the beginning of worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. In a matter of weeks, the traditional in-person meetings, events, activities, programs, fundraising and business as usual were transformed into virtual experiences with technology being the lifeline for more than two years, changing the status quo forever. 

For over 40 years, the Tuesday weekly meetings, with an informational program, were held at 7:03 a.m., because 7 a.m. was just too early. As the norms of society changed, so did the members of Optimist Club. 

Today the club gathers for a luncheon at 12:03 p.m. every Tuesday at the Pizza Ranch on Sixth Street. Those who recognize the power of networking with other optimistic people refer to the club as “The best club in town.” All are welcome to enroll in the mission of fellowship and service with optimism.