My Third Space: Roseville Area Optimist Club
Readers Write | Stories of Community
The following story was written by Roseville resident Mike Gregory, in response to a call for submissions for readers to share their stories of how they are finding community in Roseville.
As a Roseville Area Optimists Club (RAOC) member, I want to share with you one of my third places. The RAOC has a luncheon at the Doubletree Hotel on Cleveland Avenue on the second Friday of each month with outstanding speakers. For example, in February, we had the renowned magician and motivational speaker, “The Amazing Hondo,” and in March, we had Jack Stahlmann with his presentation on “Unlocking Real World Impact.” These speakers are always, educational, motivational, and fun.
Jenny Loeck, Roseville Area Schools Superintendent, typically ensures that three high school students attend this luncheon so they can experience this too. Following these sessions, one of our members gives a Leadership Lessons Learned presentation, typically at the Roseville Library for an hour to an hour and a half. We have a lot of very talented people to learn from. An upcoming session, for example, is “Ethics: Lead by Example” by a local club member who speaks nationally on this topic and has authored a dozen books.
The club offers three different book clubs to enhance our skills from 7:30 AM to 9 PM on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings at the Roseville Professional Building. You may not know that “All leaders are readers, but not all readers are leaders.”
We have a local initiative here in Roseville is called the “Character Development Initiative, An Inclusive Caring Community.” We are working to do just that by raising money through the Roseville Area Optimists Foundation and expanding our endowment. As examples of what we are doing currently, we are giving scholarships and initiated a reading program this fall with a partnership with St. Michael’s Lutheran Church just down the street from Brimhall Elementary School to help students enhance their skills to grade level, helping with 21 first through third graders. We also sponsored the Career Café at the Middle School, mentoring and offering mock interviews to Roseville Area High School students, and so much more.
This is an organization where you can come and learn, be as active as you want, and continually enhance your skills while making a difference in our community. Essentially, we offer an opportunity to bring our best and make a positive difference.
This is one of my third places here in Roseville. I invite you to check it out.
Mike Gregory is a Qualified Mediator with the Minnesota Supreme Court, focusing on mediation and conflict resolution services with his firm Michael Gregory Consulting, LLC, located in Roseville. He enjoys walking with his wife daily, volunteering, playing with grandchildren, and the culture here in Roseville. Mike and his wife raised their two children in Roseville. Their children went through the Roseville school system at Brimhall, RAMS, and RAHS. Mike and his wife have lived in Roseville since 1991. His favorite place in Roseville is Central Park with Bennet Lake, and the wonderful playgrounds.
Learn more about the Roseville Area Optimist Club
Check out the website here.
The next luncheon will be held on May 9 at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel in Roseville. You do not need to be a member of the Optimist Club in order to attend. Registrations are due by 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 1. Learn more about the speaker and how to register here.
Submit a Story
Do you have a story about how you’re finding community in Roseville? Where’s your third space? How do you connect with your friends and neighbors in Roseville? Read more about this call for submissions below. Send your stories to therosevillereader [at] gmail [dot] com.
Your Stories of Community
Roseville is full of stories and full of the people living them. I want to hear yours.