Upcoming Events
The Youth Appreciation Scholarship Dinner on November 13th, 2025. Our upcoming 2026 events include the Cadillac FUNdraiser on May 14th. Each of these events are open to both members and the public. Please scroll down this page for a full calendar of the Club’s events.
Youth Appreciation Dinner
Our annual Youth Appreciation Scholarship Dinner will be held on Thursday, November 13, 2025 at the Town & Country Club. Sixteen St. Paul high school seniors will each receive a $3,000 scholarship in recognition of their success in overcoming significant obstacles in their young lives. Applications are being distributed to school guidance counselors and members will read and rank the applications by month end. This is an impactful evening you will not want to miss!
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact optimist.stpaul@gmail.com
Members celebrating Optimist Day!
SAVE THE DATE — Cadillac FUNdraiser
Our annual Cadillac FUNdraiser will be held on May 14th, 2026 at the Lost Spur Golf Club. This is our major fundraising event of the year with proceeds from the ticket sales, a fabulous silent auction, a bountiful wall of wine, spirited heads and tails game, a photo booth and more all going to fund the Club’s youth activities. Those youth activities take place throughout the year, including Youth Appreciation (scholarships from the Foundation and a dinner celebration with families); Community Dinners at Jeremiah Program’s St. Paul Campus, Oratorical and Essay Scholarship Contests, Face to Face/Safe Zone (at risk teenagers) and other youth activities. All money raised goes toward BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN YOUTH, COMMUNITY AND OURSELVES!
Watch for more information is coming soon. Mark May 8th on your calendar.
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact optimist.stpaul@gmail.com
The Photo Booth at the Cadillac FUNdraiser is always popular. Pictured here are Faith Clover and Sheri Tamte.
Other Events
In addition to these events, we meet the first and third Thursdays of the month at Joseph’s Grill and host a happy - social hour the second week of the month at various locations. For more information, see the calendar below.
St. Paul Optimist Club 2024-25 Event Calendar
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January 1, 2026 - No meal meeting
January 5, 2026 - Club Board Directors Orientation - 5:30pm University Club
January 8, 2026— Happy Hour - SOCIAL at 5:30 p.m. at Lunds & Byerlys, 2170 Ford Pkwy, St Paul - in “The Mezz”. Take the elevator to 2nd floor.
‘January 15, 2026 — Lunch Meeting at 11:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
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February 5, 2026 — OPTIMIST DAY – Wear your pin or logo wear!
February 5, 2026 — LUNCH MEETING at 11:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
February TBA — JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER at 4:30 p.m.
February 12, 2026 – HAPPY HOUR - SOCIAL at 5:00 p.m. Andiamo Italian Restorante, 80 Snelling Ave N, St Paul
February 13, 2026 - Student Essays due to Club Chairperson - optimist.stpaul@gmail.com
February 19, 2026 - LUNCH MEETING at 11:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
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March 5, 2026 – LUNCH MEETING at 11:45 at Joseph’s Grill
March 12, 2026 – HAPPY HOUR - SOCIAL at 5:00 p.m. at Tiffany’s Bar
March TBA — JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER at 4:30 p.m.
March 19, 2026 – LUNCH MEETING at 11:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
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April 2 2026 – LUNCH MEETING at 11:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
April 4, 2026 - Cadillac FUNdraiser early Bird Ticket Sales end
April 9, 2026 – HAPPY HOUR - SOCIAL at 5:00 p.m. at Urban Growler
April 18, 2026 – LUNCH MEETING at 11:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grille
April TBA — JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER at 4:30 p.m.
April 25, 2026 - Cadillac FUNdraiser ticket sales end!
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May 7, 2026 – BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
May 2 & 3, 2026 - DMM District Meeting - Watertown, SD
May 14, 2026 - CADILLAC FUNdraiser at 6 p.m. at Lost Spur Event Center
May 14, 2026 - Happy Hour - SOCIAL CANCELED
May TBA - JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER at 4:30 p.m.
May TBA , 2026 - DMM Communications Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Contest, 10 a.m. Metro Deaf School, St Paul, MN
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June 7, 2026 - GRAND OLD DAY PARADE 9-11am on Grand Avenue
June 4, 2026 - BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
June 11, 2026 – HAPPY HOUR - SOCIAL at 5:00 p.m. at St. Paul Brewing
June 18, 2026 – BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
NEW CANCELED! June 20, 2025 - JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER
June 29 - July 3, 2025 - OI CONVENTION at St Louis, MO
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July 2rd - NO BREAKFAST MEETING
July 4, 2026- Celebrate our Independence Day!
July 9, 2026– HAPPY HOUR - SOCIAL at 5:00 p.m. at Moscow on the Hill
July 16, 2026 — BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
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August 6, 2026 – BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
August 13, 2026 – HAPPY HOUR - SOCIAL at 5:00 p.m. at Patrick McGovern’s
August 14-16, 2025 - DMM District Annual meeting Mankato, MN
August 20, 2026 – BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
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September 4, 2025 — BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
September 11, 2025 – HAPPY - SOCIAL HOUR at 5:30 p.m. at Lunds & Byerlys, 2170 Ford Pkwy, St Paul - in “The Mezz”. Take the elevator to 2nd floor.
September TBA – JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER at 4:30 p.m.
New Date – Wednesday, September 24, 2025 – CLUB OFFICER INSTALLATION AND MEMBER APPRECIATION DINNER at 6:30 PM, at Mancini’s Char House - RSVP required
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October 2, 2025 — BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
October 9, 2025 – HAPPY - SOCIAL - HOUR at 5:00 p.m. at Pauly’s on Selby
October 16 2025 — BREAKFAST MEETING at 7:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
October TBA — JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER & Fall-O-Ween at 4:30 p.m
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December 4, 2025 - LUNCH MEETING at 11:45 a.m. at Joseph’s Grill
December TBA – JEREMIAH COMMUNITY DINNER 4:30pm
December TBA – HOLIDAY GATHERING at 5:30 p.m. See your club email for your invitation
Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Natalie Hudson (center) spoke at one of the Club's regular meetings.
The St. Paul Optimist's Club Friend of Youth Foundation has given out over $600,000 in scholarships to St. Paul students.
The St. Paul Optimist Club rings bells for the Salvation Army each holiday. Club members break up the day in 1-2 hour increments to cover a whole day.
The St. Paul Optimist's Club Friend of Youth Foundation has given out over $600,000 in scholarships to St. Paul students.
Jack Orme (l) was the winner of the St. Paul Club's 2023 essay contest. He is pictured above with his father Mike (r).
Jeri Gorman spurs the Club's donations to youth at risk in St. Paul. Teens who are homeless or do not have a stable home need hygiene supplies, socks, lip balm and so much more. The Club donates products and gift cards.
The St. Paul Optimist Club cooks and serves dinner monthly to the families on the St. Paul campus of the Jeremiah Program.
One of the 2023 presentations was on Broken Halo's Band Prison Tour of three prisons in the southern United States.
The Optimist Club of St. Paul celebrated Optimist Day on February 1st. Mayor Carter proclaimed it Optimist Day in St. Paul.
The Club makes treats for Jeremiah's Minneapolis/St. Paul Graduation Ceremony at the Wilder Center.
Club members donate food every year end to Neighborhood House!
The Silent Auction at the Cadillac FUNdraiser always has fun items to bid on! Many items are made by members, like the gorgeous birdhouse pictured here with Dave Eggenberger.
The Optimist Club of St. Paul joined forces with four other service clubs, putting together a Service Central Volunteer Crew at Sleep in Heavenly Peace. The crew built bunk beds for kids in Ramsey County who do not have a bed to sleep in.