Optimists Club
Optimists Club helps sustain our optimistic, solutions-focused storytelling, including:
Newsletters sharing stories of progress across New England
Podcast interviews with optimists from across the region
LIVE events highlighting local problem solvers
Social media content and collaborations with journalists, nonprofits, universities, and innovators
10% of club membership revenue is donated to support local journalism across New England, including groups like the Granite State News Collaborative.
Memberships are priced at $5 per month or $45 annually.
Members receive:
A monthly members-only newsletter featuring our favorite global stories of progress, delivered digitally with an opt-in mailed print version.
Discounted tickets to Granite Goodness live events and merchandise.
A spot on our public member page alongside 100+ optimists from across New England. Members may opt into being publicly recognized with a photo and quote and are randomly selected for features in the Optimists Club newsletter. Email us anytime to have your info removed.
Join us!
You can also gift a membership to someone else in your life who you think could use a little optimism.
THANK YOU ALL for being part of this community and for helping me believe that optimism isn’t naive. It’s pragmatic.
Hard, and worth it.
Granite and good.
-Andy
So who’s in this thing?
Meet the 105 (and counting!) people who make Granite Goodness possible.
A “🎙️” means they’ve been on the podcast!
Corinne Benfield, Executive Director @ Stay Work Play (Manchester, NH) 🎙️
“I joined the Optimists Club because Granite Goodness highlights so many of the reasons why NH is a great place for young people to build thriving lives.”
Tim Smith-Gerding, President @ Blackbird Collective (Concord, NH) 🎙️
“I joined because the world needs optimism more than ever. I believe that in my soul. And I always find Andy’s content timely and uplifting.”
Julianna Dodson, Executive Director @ Hannah Grimes Center + Radically Rural (Keene, NH) 🎙️
“One of my favorite authors, Shaun Chamberlin, describes Dark Optimism, as ‘...unashamedly positive about the kind of future we could be creating, and unashamedly realistic about how far we are from doing so today.’ That’s why honest optimism is so essential. Without highlighting the web of good efforts already happening; without the sincere belief that we have what it takes to do the kind of deep reckoning and renewal we need for a truly viable future, what hope do we have? Beyond the philosophy, the practice of storytelling, gathering, and making connections that otherwise wouldn’t be made is a gift that Granite Goodness is giving us.”
Zeina Eyceoz, Executive Director @ NH Businesses for Social Responsibility (Nashua, NH) 🎙️
“I joined the Optimists Club to counteract the "bad news fatigue" and isolation that often paralyzes changemakers. I want to see where progress is happening in their own backyard, transforming abstract hope into concrete examples of neighbors solving problems.”
Rob Dapice, Executive Director & CEO @ NH Housing Finance Authority (Bedford, NH)
“I joined because Andy does an amazing job sharing the stories of all the good things happening in NH! Thank you!”
Kim Varney Chandler, author of Covered Bridges of New Hampshire (Hancock, NH)
“I joined because Andy brings positivity and goodness to New Hampshire!”
Mike Skelton, CEO @ BIA of NH (Bedford, NH) 🎙️
“I joined optimists club because I think what makes New Hampshire special is the interconnectedness of our community leaders working together to solve the challenges facing our state.”
Mark Lefebvre, Author and Community Consultant (Hampton Falls, NH) 🎙️
“I’m an optimist because I continue to find kind people in my journey. I joined this club so that I could find more of the same.”
Nate Hastings, Vice President @ Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth (Dover, NH) 🎙️
“I’m joining because it’s important for us to learn about the good things that are happening!”
Jesse Lore, Founder & CEO @ Green Wave Electric Vehicles (North Hampton, NH)🎙️
“My kids make me optimistic. They’re smarter than me, they have better ideas, and they genuinely care about the future. Also, every time I drive an electric car, it makes me optimistic, not just because they help the planet, but because they’re simply better. When people experience something better, they share it. That’s how progress happens.”
Stephanie Cook, Co-owner @ Northeast Detailing (Manchester NH)
“I want all the Granite Goodness there is to offer!”
Sara Bee-Pichette (Manchester, NH)
“I joined because I want the world- and New Hampshire - to be a happy place! And because Andy DeMeo is the most genuine and entertaining person I know.”
Justin Munroe, Executive Director @ Grow Nashua (Nashua, NH)
“I joined because I am an optimist!”
Keith Sandbloom, inclusive banking advocate & cyclist (Milford, NH)
“I want everyone's glass to be half-full. The stories I hear coming from Granite Goodness share the same orientation.”
Jason Plant, CFO @ Sensorium Technological Laboratories (Sanbornton, NH)🎙️
“I joined the Optimists Club to get global solutions journalism from my favorite creator, Andy DeMeo!”
Tracey Pelton, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Affairs @ PROCON (Amherst, NH)
“I joined the optimists club because I am an eternal optimist and love hearing all of the good going on around New Hampshire and supporting people and businesses in our great state who are doing great work. In the world today, we need more stories of hope, optimism and progress.”
Jenna Bee Wolf, Director of Philanthropy @ Friends of Aine (Manchester, NH)
“I am a lifelong optimist. My curiosity, education, and career, have taken me all over the world, and now I’ve landed back in New Hampshire. I have always associated my home state with an overwhelming commitment to pragmatism; I found more fellow optimists in other places. But after moving back home, having kids, and working in New Hampshire nonprofits (which need to be very practical), I am so grateful to Andy for aggregating the optimism! Thanks to the Granite Goodness team and to everyone else who has made the commitment to support positivity alongside pragmatism :)”
Madison Vasquez (Stratham, NH)
“I joined the Optimists Club because I believe that what you focus on expands. It is a gift to be reminded of the progress and possibility that surrounds us. I look forward to staying engaged and informed in this community.”
Andrea Burns, realtor & volunteer (Sanbornton, NH)
I joined because a good friend gifted it to me, and I am so glad he did. I thrive on learning about and spreading good news in these days in which the plethora of good news is overshadowed by the bad news.
Alyssa Badolato (Hudson, NH)
“I joined the optimists club because I think that’s what the world needs more of right now. Unrequited positivity and a want to create more of it!”
Sarah Andrews, Founder & Consultant @ Andrews Coaching & Consulting (Manchester, NH)
“I joined because we need more positive news and views and I want to be in the company of other positive voices in our great state and beyond.”
Anna Wells, Program Coordinator @ Plan NH (Contoocook, NH)
"I support Granite Goodness because Andy is 100%+ the vibe we need right now. I desperately need the good stories and good energy - uplifting the goodness keeps me motivated to keep working for a better world."
Marisa Rafal, Founder @ NH Toy Library Network (Boston, MA) 🎙️
“I joined because I loved being on the Granite Goodness podcast : )”
Andrea Martin, Lead Organizer @ Give and Gather (Eliot, ME)
“I joined because in times like these it matters that we show up for each other.”
Mandy Sliver (Peterborough, NH)
“I joined the optimists club to support voices that lead with hope. In a world where negativity often feels louder and more powerful, the club affirms that optimism is not naïve or weak, but a deliberate choice our communities need more of.”
Mason Lord, Founder @ Tradesup (Kent, CT)
“I joined because I love stories and I have lots of stories while showing young children how to use tools with their hands. So many stories of joy and satisfaction.”
Anna Paddock (Tamworth, NH)
“I believe that the trajectory of the universe arcs towards justice. There's no denying that there are a lot of bad things in the world, and we should put energy into fixing those problems. However, we NEED to know what is going right in the world - what solutions humanity is creating - in order to have the desire and will to make the world a better place. Granite Goodness is my dose of hope, that reminds me that there are lots of people who care and are working hard to make this world a better place. Joining the Optimists Club is how I show my appreciation for these much needed stories of genuine progress.”
Dylan Wheeler (Boston, MA)
“I yearn for a world where everyone bets on humanity. A world where everyone seeks to contribute to society, level themselves up, be helpful, and spread love.”
Ryan Randall, Founder @ AgentMark (Dover, NH)
“I joined because I like the print newsletter!”
Mary Mcmanus (Brookline, MA)
“Having faced challenges since I was 5 years old with contracting paralytic polio and then enduring years of abuse at the hands of family members, I realized that the only way to get through challenges is with optimism; knowing that a better future is waiting for me and I just needed to figure out how to create it. After the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome in December of 2006, I joined my optimism with the power of gratitude to create a future very different than the one Western Medicine predicted for me. Optimism (and gratitude) are infectious and I want to help spread the power of optimism by joining with fellow optimists. I love that Granite Goodness highlights goodness in the New England area. I look forward to wonderful connections and helping to build the community of goodness and optimism that is needed now more than ever.”
Garth Gergerich (Norton, MA)
“I believe in supporting the things I want to exist in the world, and taking every opportunity to nudge us toward kindness and progress”
Vinicus Isola (Billerica, MA)
“I joined the Optimists Club because we need people telling stories about the good in the world.”
Jake Gehrung, Fullbright Scholar & PhD student @ University of Strathclyde (Peterborough, NH)
“I joined the Optimists Club because Granite Goodness is a light in my life.”
Matt Doubleday (Portsmouth, NH)
“I joined the optimists club because there are many things worth paying attention to in our world today but we tend to have an exclusive focus and borderline obsession with the negative. The does makes the poison. This does not make us more informed and it can leave us feeling hopeless. We need to leave space for the positive stories and people that are making our community and world better every day so that we know the fight against these negative happenings is not only possible but worth pursuing.”
Laura Cleminson, Founder, Pre-Dead Social Club (Portsmouth, NH)🎙️
“What makes me optimistic is that people keep showing up for my community. I haven’t done much advertising, and yet people find this work. They come back again and again, they share it with others, and they genuinely want to be part of it. That tells me something real—that people are searching for meaning, for connection, and for growth. The authenticity is what keeps it alive.”
Tess Waresmith, Founder @ Wealth with Tess (Worcester, MA)
“I joined because I like being in the company of optimists!”
Ian Grant, serial entrepreneur and Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer @ CoastX (Kittery, ME) 🎙️
“I’ve been an optimist for as long as I can remember. Even as a kid, I believed things would work out—that if I stayed smart, persistent, and a little lucky, I could find a way through any challenge. It’s not something you can fake. It’s just how I see the world, and it’s what allows me to see opportunities where others see obstacles.”
Jayson Seaman, Professor @ University of NH (Durham, NH)
“I support any initiative that helps make NH a place where young people want and are able to stay and build lives for themselves.”
Carly Salvagno (Westford, MA)
“I joined because I love optimism!”
Nikki Shults, Executive Director @ Building Community in New Hampshire (Center Barnstead, NH)
“Working in nonprofits, I certainly see and feel the bad news. But even more than that, everyday I work alongside the incredible people who resist the hateful narratives and do good for our neighbors. Those are the people and stories that we need to amplify - there is so much to be optimistic about if you look for it.”
Alex (Pirate) Sterling, CEO @ Turtle Island Community Capital (East Greenwich, RI)
“We have to show people what’s possible so they can be inspired to help solve problems! Hope is a contagious phenomenon”
Lisa Drake, Board of Directors Chair @ NH Businesses for Social Responsibility (Manchester, NH)
"I joined because I like being in the company of fellow optimists!”
Shelby Miuzzo, Director of Nonprofit & Agency Partnerships @ Granite Edvance (Newmarket, NH)
“As a perennial optimist, I believe optimism is not about ignoring the darkness, but rather about making the choice to let the light in- Granite Goodness does just that.”
Chad Moore (Hampton, NH)
“I’ve joined the optimists club as optimism is additive and infectious. The more exposure to optimism one has, the easier it is to be optimistic!”
Dovev Levine, Assistant Dean for Graduate Student Affairs & Assistant Vice Provost for Outreach & Engagement @ University of NH (Portsmouth, NH)🎙️
“What makes me optimistic is the people. The deeper I get into this work, the more I meet people who genuinely want to do the right thing. When you bring those people together and make it easy for them to engage, that’s where real progress happens.”
Talia Wujtewicz, grant consultant (West Springfield, MA)
“I joined the Optimists Club because I believe there’s so much worth celebrating that gets buried under an endless tide of bad news and outrage. To me, optimism is a conscious choice, and this felt like the perfect community to make that choice alongside.”
Krysta Gingue, volunteer (Dover, NH)
“I joined the optimists club to support meaningful collaborative work in the granite state that Andy is championing. Our community is stronger when those that are doing important work can be connected with other professionals, advocates, and do-gooders that share their values and can work together towards shared goals.”
Anna Yates, Head of EHS & Sustainability @ Albany International (Portsmouth, NH) 🎙️
“Some of the challenges we face, like climate change, are terrifying—I’ve seen the changes firsthand in places I grew up. It makes it real. But alongside that, I see an incredible amount of potential. I see innovation, commitment, and people stepping up. That’s what makes me optimistic—not because the challenges aren’t serious, but because the response to them is already underway.”
Zack Angelini, Program Advisor @ University of NH International Changemaker Grant (Newmarket, NH) 🎙️
“I joined the optimist club because I believe we need to put more attention and energy towards the positive things we want to see more of in the world!”
Sue Kaplan, Founder & Senior Consultant @ Sustainable Futures Consulting (Andover, NH) 🎙️
“I’m optimistic because human beings want to help. Even in difficult or divisive times, when something truly matters, people show up. They step forward, they support each other, and they do kind and meaningful things. That instinct—to be helpers—is still very much alive, and that’s what gives me hope.”
Fiona Wilson, Chief Sustainability Officer @ University of NH (Durham, NH) 🎙️
“Optimism starts with believing you can make a difference, you might. If you believe you can’t, you definitely won’t. What gives people hope—and what helps combat despair—is a sense of agency. Being part of something, working alongside others, and believing there are real solutions. Because without that belief, nothing moves forward.”
Megan Murray (Bedford, NH)
“I joined because we could all use a little more optimism and positivity in our day. It naturally influences how you show up for others, handle challenges, and support the community around you.”
Adriana Torres, Creator @ The Process Reinvention LLC (Milford, NH)
“We can be focused on the problems, or focused on the solutions. Being an optimist doesn’t mean practicing toxic positivity; it means acknowledging the challenges, recognizing the complexity of the issues we face, and also having a positive outlook on the future driven by Hope and Intentional Action. It comes down to choice. I choose to believe in the universal humanity of people, and in the power of connectivity and collaborative efforts toward a common goal. Being an optimist carries an advantage: We attract other people who want to dream the impossible and make it happen. Be Well & Joyfully Optimistic! 😊”
Jack Potvin, Founder @ Business Automation & Project Happy (Portsmouth, NH)
“There is nothing more important than our communities seeing an optimistic future is ahead - Andy & GG deliver in a big way.”
Alix Martin, Archaeologist @ Strawbery Banke Museum (Dover, NH) 🎙️
“My optimism is influenced by my work as a historical archaeologist: I believe people are essentially good, and are striving for good in their communities. Granite Goodness helps remind us of this historic trend!”
Doug Teschner, Author of Beyond the Politics of Contempt (West Lebanon, NH)
“In a climate of widespread contempt and even hatred for people who disagree politically, we can each make important contributions to better our lives, our relationships, and our country. While many fear for our nation’s future, there are practical steps we can each take to build hope for a better America.”
Dija Haq, Student, (Durham, NH)
“I joined the optimists club because I think it’s fun to hear stories that make you smile. Plus, it’s such a great conversation starter!”
Matt Marzola, Producer, Audio Engineer, & Composer (Londonderry, NH)
“In my experience through collaboration and teaching, optimism is the single most powerful way to achieve progress, motivation, and efficiency. Granite Goodness encompasses this and creates a culture around positivity.”
Alex Freid, Director of Atlas Zero Waste @ PLAN (Dover, NH) 🎙️
“This is my favorite quote and I think it speaks well to the vision of this collective: ‘To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction. And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.’ — Howard Zinn”
Jeremy Gerber, Membership Manager @ Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (Essex, VT)
“I joined the optimists club because my entire world view was completely reshaped after listening to a podcast with Andy and his counterpart in Vermont, Lynda Ulrich from The Goodness Exchange. I now move about my life and work with a much stronger sense of hope and appreciation.”
Ande Lyons, Founder @ New England Podcasters Group (Andover, MA)
“I joined the Granite Goodness Optimists Club because I believe in the power of conversations that uplift, connect, and remind us of the good in each other. In person connection, collaboration and celebration is needed now, more than ever, to bring more goodness to the world.”
Caroline Tremblay, Owner & Content Director @ Owl & Pen LLC & The Monadnocker (Richmond, NH) 🎙️
“I joined the Optimist Club because I have such deep respect for this work. The stories we tell affect not only our outlook, but our pride in place and the way we act, speak, and feel about our communities. Want to live in a great community? Shout out what’s already working and do more of that.”
Dr. Alissa (Perth, Scotland)
“I have been an early follower of GG as optimism is a force of good we need more of in this world. I love learning the good things people are planning and accomplishing in this little nook of the world. I went to UNH, fell in love with the state, and always thinking about coming back.”
Dylan Beckerman, Founder/CEO/President @ Granite State Imports (Hopkinton, NH)
“I’m an optimist because I believe humanity is wired for curiosity, ingenuity, and relentless problem-solving—and the evidence keeps piling up that we’re getting better at it, even when headlines scream otherwise. What I like about Granite Goodness is that it embodies exactly that spirit in a grounded, no-fluff way.”
Sarah Wrightsman, Community Engagement & Education Manager @ NH Housing + Co-founder @ Creative Guts (Newmarket, NH)🎙️
“Optimism keeps me hopeful that the work we’re all doing is moving us toward a better, brighter future!”
Sawyer Rogers, PhD Student @ University of Massachusetts Amherst (Kensington, NH)
“I joined the optimist club to highlight the great and needed stories happening around New England!”
Zoë Mitchell, NHPR (Concord, NH)
“I joined the Optimists Club because I believe in the power of good news, community connections, and Andy’s ability to make magic happen!”
Andrea Folsom, Executive Director @ NH Recycles (Hopkinton, NH)
“I joined the optimist club because I believe deeply in the power of hope, stories, and that one will always find whatever they are looking for, so I’d prefer to look for the good!”
Corinne Robinson, Graphic Designer (Manchester, NH)
“I joined the Optimists Club because I prefer to look at the bright side!”
Makoto Yabusaki (Boston, MA)
“Andy does cool stuff sometimes.”
Alexis Dwyer, Community Engaged Education Manager @ University of NH Sustainability Institute (Manchester, NH)
“I joined because sustainability is funner when you’re optimistic!
Nadja Fromm, Founder @ Fromm Consulting (Portsmouth, NH) 🎙️
“Andy built something with Granite Goodness that feels incredibly important right now.
Our brains are naturally wired to scan for what’s wrong. That’s part of how we survived as a species. But in today’s world, where negativity is constant and headlines are designed to pull our attention toward fear, problems, and outrage, that wiring can easily become overwhelming.
Granite Goodness cuts through that.
Not with forced positivity or by pretending the hard stuff doesn’t exist, but by offering perspective. It reminds you that alongside everything that feels heavy, there is still real progress, real good, and real people doing meaningful work.
The Optimists Club and the newsletter have become a kind of reset for me, but also something I actively use in everyday life. As someone who is constantly meeting new people, it gives me thoughtful, unexpected conversation starters that shift interactions in a more positive, human direction.
Andy is not just creating content. He is creating a needed counterbalance, and helping people reconnect with a fuller, more hopeful view of the world... That matters more than ever.”
Rae Lambert, Cofounder @ DNNR (Portsmouth, NH)
“Andy has a rare knack for bringing people together and telling stories that matter. He’s become a real leader of optimism, not the fluffy kind, but the kind rooted in progress, action, and belief in what’s possible. He is deeply empathetic, genuinely pro-growth, and focused on getting things done.
Through Granite Goodness, Andy is becoming a kind of heartbeat for New England, helping show the wider world what this region is capable of. New England has always been full of hardworking, high-integrity people, but we have not always been great at telling our own story. I’m grateful that’s starting to change, thanks to Granite Goodness.”
Ryan Lambert, Cofounder @ DNNR (Portsmouth, NH)
“What Rae said.”
Alen Dumonjić (Keene, NH)
“Gotta support the locals, especially great causes!”
Kate Homet, Environmental Planner / Sustainability Coordinator @ City of Portsmouth (Portsmouth, NH)
"I joined because Andy doesn’t leave me alone. I like his podcast though.”
Gabe Chelius, Small Business Energy Circuit Rider @ Clean Energy NH (Hartland, VT)
“I am optimistic because I see so much potential in the world. I know it can be a great place and I want to help make that happen.”
Cassidy Crawford, Program Manager @ Resilient Buildings Group (Concord, NH)
“I joined because it matters to look on the bright side!”
Jan Ziegler, CEO @ Freitag Marketing (Keene, NH)
“What I like about Granite Goodness is that it cuts through the noise and focuses on real progress. It’s not overly idealistic—it just highlights people and ideas that are actually doing something useful or moving things forward. That kind of perspective makes it easier to stay optimistic without feeling like you’re ignoring reality."
Dan Freund, Real Estate Advisor + Developer (Portsmouth, NH)
"With the world moving toward increasingly automated and impersonal systems, real people still need human connection. I'm here to do my part. Be a blessing when you can."
Hope Puzzo, Tourism Manager @ Greater Portsmouth Chamber Collaborative (Portsmouth, NH)
“I am optimistic for the future because of people like Andy and so many others showing up and doing the hard work to make the Granite State a better (and more positive) place for all.”
Erica Waters (Portsmouth, NH)
“Growing up adopted comes with its own set of challenges, ones that taught me pretty early that your mindset is everything. Optimism has always been my way through, and the Optimist Club community just gets that.”
Jackie Harris, Sustainability Impact Analyst @ Unitil (Durham, NH)
“I joined because the optimism and community gives me hope and reminds me why I do what I do!”
Mikayla Humiston, CSA Manager @ Heron Pond Farm (Kingston, NH)
“I joined because I love to see things grow— plants, people, positive things. Optimism is the fuel for good growth!
Jessica Crowley, Founder @ Amalgamation Coaching (Portsmouth, NH)
“In a world that often feels overwhelmingly dark and broken, Granite Goodness shines radiant beams of truth and hope. They remind us that progress happens through the persistence of good humans, and that each of us has the power to bring our own spark of change to the world.”
Zoe Dawson, Digital Media Coordinator @ NH Audubon Society (Concord, NH)
“I’m honored to be a part of the Granite Goodness Optimists Club. I care deeply about New Hampshire and New England, and it’s heartwarming to see the impressive local stories coming from the work of great people and organizations. (Plus, we could all use more good news today! Thank you, Granite Goodness.)”
Colleen Spear, Founder @ Spearpoint Strategies (Portsmouth, NH)
“If we don’t think things can be good, why bother trying? Optimism is the only option for moving beyond our problems today.”
Zara Cheney, EV Analyst @ National Grid (Somerville, MA)
“I joined because I believe in the power of positive thinking!”
Aimee Terravechia, Executive Director @ 603 Equality + Founder & Editor @ NH Culture Review (Laconia, NH)
“I wanted to join the optimist club because hope is a powerful tool for social change.”
Paige Levesque, Engineer (Merrimack, NH)
“I am optimistic because of the fantastic sense of community that I’ve seen and experienced across so many facets of New Hampshire, as there is so much that can be accomplished through connection and the goodness of people. What I love most about Granite Goodness is the platform that it provides for these accomplishments to shine. Andy’s hard work to bring positive stories from a wide range of industries to the forefront gives people the chance to see and appreciate the good that is happening all around us, most of which we may not otherwise be exposed to.”
Jules Good, State Advocacy Manager @ Autistic Self Advocacy Network🎙️
“Now more than ever, younger people are thinking intersectionally and recognizing that our fates are tied, that liberation will only be achieved collectively. Seeing that actualize gives me so much hope that we are on the right track and will solve the problems we need to solve together."
Steve Ivanoski, Founder & CEO @ Dr. Beewell (Portsmouth, NH)🎙️
“Anyone who knows me would tell you I’m a pretty positive person who is generally frustrated with how pessimistic and negative things in our lives can be. It’s everywhere. However, when someone is authentically positive, not just pretending a broken system is working, but actually using their skill set to make an impact, it moves me.
That’s what Andy does with Granite Goodness. By providing real stories happening in our region, he gives me the hope that we are on the right path. That’s why I joined the Optimist Club!
Giddy up.”
Faina Bukher, Founder @ Twinbell Launch Partners (Barrington, NH)🎙️
“My optimism is rooted in the knowledge that people have unlimited potential and that's especially true for youth. Seeing them grow and pay it forward through passion and care across New Hampshire gives me all the hope I need.”
Cecilia Ulibarri, Executive Director @ Positive Street Art (Nashua, NH)
“I joined to be part of a community that uplifts positive, solutions-focused stories while connecting with others who believe in building a stronger, more hopeful New Hampshire.”
Lisa Keslar, Director @ University of NH Entrepreneurship Center
“How can you not support an Optimist Club?
We’re surrounded by negative, fear-driven, anger-filled messaging every day. What we don’t hear enough about is the good, even though it’s happening all around us.
I truly believe goodness creates more goodness. Kindness leads to more kindness. Action sparks more action.
Supporting and celebrating this kind of work is one way we push back against that negativity and bring more light into our communities.
And honestly, that’s something we could all use a lot more of.”
Jennifer Moore (JAM), Founder @ Project Upcycle & Portswap (Portsmouth, NH)🎙️
“Every year I meet a crop of eight emerging designers, not always young, but full of possibility. Six years in, that's an army of people we've helped grow. And they keep coming back. That's what gives me hope."
Kerry Artman, Executive Director @ Carter Community Building Association (Hanover, NH)
“I’m not short on big energy and shining a light on people being great to other people. Or animals. Or the planet. But really it’s the human-to-human kindness that we need more of!!”
Linda Lee, former Chief Marketing Officer @ Stonyfield Organic & the Campbell’s Company (Manchester, NH)
“I’m thankful that a kind friend gifted me a membership. As a NH newbie, I had shared with her my desire to learn about what makes this special place tick and where I can get involved. In watching the Live show, the theme of problem solving, optimism, and working together to unlock a state full of potential really resonated with me.”
Adrian D’Orlando, Project Scientist @ Tomforde Environmental Services (Dover, NH)
“I mostly like Granite Goodness because the host has a handsome voice, but it also introduces me to many local people and groups I wouldn’t have otherwise discovered, it inspires me to get involved!”
Jo Porter (Nottingham, NH) 🎙️
The people of NH care about each other, which makes me optimistic. I think connecting folks and promoting community is what will harness that caring into good!
Kaarin Milne, Producer @ TEDx Portsmouth (Portsmouth, NH)🎙️
“Optimism is a way of showing up in the world. I joined because I'm an optimist-- and thanks to Andy, we finally have a club! I find that the most meaningful and productive outcomes arise while working with others who believe grand ideas can be brought into being and use their unique talents to do good in the world.”
Frankie Ritter, TEDx Portsmouth 2025 Speaker (Dover, NH)
“I joined because Andy is my friend, but I do actually like the good news.”
Amy DeMeo-Mcfarland, Mom @ Andy’s family (York, ME)
“I joined the Optimists Club because I believe that what Andy is doing is so, so important for all of us to listen to, absorb and learn from - Andy has a joyful and brilliant spirit -GO ANDY!!!!”
Rooster, Dog @ Andy’s house (Tamworth, NH)
“Woof”
Arnold, Dog @ Andy’s house (Tamworth, NH)
*Sniff*