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Welcome to the Clarkston Area Optimist Club

Programs and Events Section


 

Photography Contest - 2025   

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Photo Contest Logo

 

The 2025 Photography Contest is now open. For more information, deadline and where to send your entries, click on the Information and Rules and the Contest Entry Form below:

Information and Rules:

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Contest Entry Form:

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Grant Program

Our Spring 2025 Grant Program Application is now available. Click on the pdf document below to view or download the form. Instructions are included in the Application. Deadline for applications is March 21st, 2025.

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Flags for Kids Program - 2025

Informational Flyer: 

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Subscription Form:

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Essay Contest

Oratorical Contest

College Scholarships

Outstanding Student Citizen Program


2026 Optimist WinterFest 

2026 date TBD: Depot Park skating rink, 12:00noon to 3:00pm. Skating, hot chocolate, DJ music, smores with campfire and kids games. All families are invited and it's FREE!

Here are pictures from our 2025 WinterFest Event:

 


Club President's Page

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2024-2025 President Rick Karlewski

Club President’s Page

 Welcome to the Clarkston Area Optimist Club website!

In my daily travels, I’m often asked, who the Optimists are and what does the Optimist Club do? To answer the first part of that question, the Optimists are:

 • The Clarkston area chapter of an 80,000-member International Service Organization that was founded in 1911

 • Individuals that volunteer a portion of their time, talent and energy to serve youth and others for the betterment of the Clarkston Community

 • A membership consisting of a wide range of backgrounds from non-profit organizations to independent small businesses, to former executives of large companies, all with a focus on making the Clarkston area a great place to live and raise a family

 • The largest Optimist Club in the state of Michigan, now in our 39th year Regarding what the Optimists do, within the greater Clarkston community, these are the events that are 100% supported by the Optimists:

 • Junior Optimist Clubs for K-12 Students

 • Annual WinterFest (a day of FREE Family Fun with a winter activity theme)

 • Essay Contest • Oratorical Contest • Photography Contest (NEW in 2025)

 • Outstanding Student Recognition

 • Scholarships for College and Trade Schools • Annual OptiFest (a day of Free Family Fun based on summer activities)

 • OptiSocks Program (provides free socks for underprivileged kids)

 Additionally, the Optimists sponsor the following events in the Clarkston area:

 • Numerous School Programs through Financial Grants

 • Renaissance High School Field Day

 • Independence Township Parks, Recreation & Seniors teams

 • Clarkston Independence Day Parade

 • SCAMP Field Day

 • Tons of Trucks

 • Friendly Forest

 • CIDL Trunk or Treat

 • Clarkston Holiday Lights Christmas Parade

 • Depot Park Ice Rink

 Finally, we provide these events and this support primarily through three main fundraising events:

 • Flags for Kids – Have you seen American flags throughout your subdivision or lining up and down Main Street and wondered where they came from? For $60, you can have a flag placed on your property, commercial or residential, for 6 national holidays (Memorial Day, Flag Day, July 4, Labor Day, September 11 and Veterans Day). The flags will be placed a few days prior to the holiday and removed a few days later. Please refer to the Flags for Kids Program section above to participate in this program

 • Concerts in the Park – we sell pizza and refreshments to concert attendees at one of the series of concerts held on Friday evenings in the summer at Depot Park in downtown Clarkston. Stop by, purchase some pizza and refreshments and find out more about the Clarkston Area Optimist Club

 • Taste of Clarkston Oktoberfest (also known as Op-toberfest!) Come by and have an adult beverage (beer or wine) to go with the delicious food you have purchased from one or more of the many restaurants in the Clarkston area. Feel free to drop in, have a beverage and get to know more about who the Optimists are and what they do. I encourage you to explore all of the pages here and learn about all of the activities we provide and support within the greater Clarkston area, then consider joining us at one of our “Upcoming Gatherings” (shown immediately below) that has a speaker and/or topic that captures your interest and see if you would like to part of the Clarkston Area Optimist Club! Thank you for visiting our website!

Rick Karlewski, 39th Club President

248-891-4333

 

 

Upcoming Gatherings

Membership Gatherings are held on Wednesdays mornings at the Clarkston United Methodist Church, 7:30am. Guests are welcome to attend.  Complimentary coffee, donuts and bagels are available for your wake-up pleasure.

Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025 - 7:30am - Russ Milano, will speak about "Community Impact Weekend"

Wednesday, April 9th, 2025 - 7:30am - Student Recognition Program-Part 1, presented by Past-President/member Kathy Novak

Wednesday, April 16th, 2025 - 7:30am - Student Recognition Program-Part 2, presented by Past-President/member Kathy Novak

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025 - 7:30am - Oratorical Contest Winners

Wednesday, April 30th, 2025 - 7:30am - Jonathon Smith, the Village of Clarkston General Manager, will give us a Village update

Thursday, May 1st, 2025 - annual evening Depot Theatre Benefit Play at the Depot Theatre, "The Red Velvet Cake War", a comedy, $25/ticket. See Kathy Middleton

Wednesday, May 7th, 2025 - 7:30am - Jan Scisowicz, will speak to us about "Clarkston Area Youth Assistance"

Wednesday, May 14th, 2025 - 7:30am - John DeMarco, will speak to us about the "Ally Challenge Golf Tournament"

Wednesday, May 21st, 2025 - 7:30am - member and Club Treasurer Curt Carson

Wednesday, May 28th, 2025 - 7:30am - Senior High School Scholarship Program, presented by member Anne Evans 

Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 - 7:30am - Business Meeting, lead by President Rick

Wednesday, June 11th, 2025 - 7:30am - 

Wednesday, June 18th, 2025 - 7:30am - 

Wednesday, June 25th, 2025 - 7:30am - 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clarkston Optimist Media

Optimist Club YouTube Channel

Click here, to view and watch Clarkston Optimist activities and programs happening right here in Clarkston.


Service for the Community

Click here, to view our Independence Televison spotlight video on the Clarkston Optimist Club.


Podcasts by Alan Partington

Turn up your speakers, click on the links below to listen to the latest in Alan Partington's creative Podcast Series, featuring local community members.
"Clarkston Family Farm"