Club Officers
President - Janelle Rucker
Janelle was born and raised in Lafayette and Green County. She is the Business Banking Development Officer for Woodford State Bank. Janelle is the President of the Monroe Morning Optimist Club, Monroe Chamber Ambassador, member of the Woman's Club of Monroe, board member for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Green County, Monticello Chamber Board Member, and Green County Leaders 2023 Alumni. She resides in Orfordville with her husband and their two boys. In her spare time she loves to travel, spend time with family and friends and their fur babies, garden and landscape.
Vice President - Donna Cairy
Donna Cairy has been a member of the Monroe Morning Optimist Club since 2002. She served on the Optimist Board from 2004-2009. She was club president in 2008 . She is currently serving on the Optimist board as vice president and is looking forward to serving the club and community again as president next year. Donna is married to a fellow optimist (Jeremy) who is very involved in the cheese curd fundraiser and is also a past president of the club. Their older son is on the board of the Great Plains Young Adults Optimist Club.
Secretary - Jessica Brennan
Jessica has been a member of the Optimist Club since 2018. She has also served as JOI Chair and President. Jessica has earned a degree in Child, Youth & Families studies and is employed with Green County Human Services.
Treasurer - Denny Goldenman
Member since 1993. Denny to Monroe in 1974 and worked at Colony Brands for 36 years, then part time at Monroe Golf Club for 11 years. He is an active member and elder of Hope Evangelical Free Church, active in Gideons International, and on the board of directors of the Green County Pregnancy Center. He and his wife Marge have a blended family of 8 children, 20 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
Past President - Denise Bonjour
I moved to Monroe in 1982. I have 5 grown children. I worked as a pharmacist for Osco and Walmart Pharmacies. I retired from Walmart in 2019. I now work as a float pharmacist for Hometown pharmacy.
Directors
Sherri Hendrickson -
Sherri has been a proud member of the Monroe community for more than forty years. She retired in 2021 from the Monroe School District after a 36-year career in education, most recently as a high school business instructor. Throughout her life, Sherri has remained deeply involved in the community, volunteering with numerous service organizations while raising her family in Monroe. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, substitute teaching, volunteering, and spending time with her family—especially her two grandsons, Archie and Owen.
Richard Maliszewski -
Rick is a caring and dependable member of the community since 1975 who values connection, kindness, and mutual support. He believes strong communities are built through respect, involvement, and looking out for one another, and he enjoys staying connected with family, friends, and neighbors. As a member of the Monroe Morning Optimist these values can be met.
Sean Meirose -
Sean moved to Monroe in 2024 and joined the Monroe Morning Optimists in 2025. He works as a Program Manager for UWHealth. Sean lives in Monroe with his wife Gina and their three cats.
Cindy McKeown -
I have lived in Monroe for 30 years this June. I almost feel like a native! I brought my young daughter here to be closer to family and raise her with small town values. I joined the Monroe Morning Optimists in 2012, immediately joined the board and became the President of the Club 2017-2018. The club is a collection of great humans. I would encourage anyone that is civic minded to join the club and help support our youth and community.
Brian Woelfel
Brian has been an Optimist member since 2022. Over the years he has been a member of various clubs and has volunteered for many causes in this community. Currently he works part time at the Monroe Clinic/Hospital after retiring from Colony Brands in 2019.
Donna Douglas
