Listenberger to bring recognition to Niles

Published 10:16 pm Monday, October 3, 2005

By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Optimists are known for their positive outlook, and smiles were in evidence Saturday evening when Noon Optimist Club of Niles' own past president, Dr. Michel Listenberger, was installed as the president of Optimist International.
Dignitaries from the organization, including the current Michigan Gov. Don Brose and a few past governors, came to the dinner at the Bell building in downtown Niles to share the moment and celebrate the club's 35th anniversary.
When Listenberger travels around the world to attend club meetings, everyone stands up at his introduction. But in Niles, his fellow club members simply applauded when Listenberger was introduced. Listenberger is among only a few people in the organization to hold the club's honorary "distinguished" title.
Listenberger, an optometrist and longtime community volunteer in Niles, will serve in the position of Optimist International president until Oct. 1, 2006.
An optometrist and senior partner at Niles Vision Clinic, he joined the Optimists in the Niles community in 1972.
Listenberger served as his club's secretary/treasurer in 1976-77 and as president in 1985-86. For a number of years, he has acted as the adviser to a local Junior Optimist Octagon International club, the youth component of Optimist International. He continues to work in that capacity.
Saturday morning, Listenberger was in Cassopolis helping to begin a charter club with 33 members. He presented the new club president, Patty Dresser, with a banner with his theme for the year, "Optimists - Bringing Out the Best in Kids."
Bill Haslett called Listenberger and asked him to join the club. "That call changed my life," Listenberger said. "I wasn't a leader, but I became one." The Optimists not only bring out the best in kids, but also in each other, he said.
Listenberger moved up to the district level in 1986-87 as a lieutenant governor, followed by governor in 1988-89. Listenberger has served as chairman of district committees for membership, leadership development, candidate qualifications and meetings and convention.
Listenberger has extensive experience at the international level of Optimist International as well. He was an international vice president from 1992 through 1994. He served as chairman of the organization's leadership development committee from 1997 through 1999 and again from 2002 through 2004. He was also chairman of the youth clubs committee from 1995 through 1997 and 1999 through 2002. In addition, Listenberger has worked as a member of international committees for membership and resolutions.
Professionally, Listenberger received his bachelor's degree and doctorate in optometry from Indiana University and his certificate in executive management from the University of Notre Dame. Listenberger is the past international president of Voluntary Optometric Services to Humanity, a position that included managing 50 chapters that conduct 90 foreign Eye Care Missions annually and maintain several established clinics in other countries.
Also installed Saturday was Dave Van Strien as the Niles Optimist president, replacing John Willis.
The Niles club is well known for its extensive soccer program, for which Willis and Rudy Kappe are in a large part responsible.
As the international president of Optimist International in 2005-06, Listenberger will be the leader of one of the world's largest service club organizations.