Erin Dickerson’s Prayer
Maya Angelou wisely stated, “If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.”
Lord,
We continually compare ourselves to others, sometimes feeling threatened by the gifts, wisdom, or possessions of others. Each and every one of us are uniquely created in Your image. We are blessed with varying gifts, talents, and skills. Rather than trying to be just like everyone else, may we each celebrate our uniqueness and discover how amazing we truly are.
Amen.
Announcements
Sexual Abuse Prevention Training
Greg Hoffbauer reminded members that board members and committee chairs must complete Sexual Abuse Prevention Training as part of their roles. The training is open to all members. It takes about 75 minutes and includes a quiz at the end. If you’re interested in taking the training, contact Greg.
Mind Hope Support Group
Stan Fronzaglia announced that the Mind Hope Support Group, led by Lori Horstman, offers a free support group for caregivers of those with dementia. The sessions provide tips for coping and an opportunity to connect with others in similar situations. The next session is on January 28, 2025, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. There’s no charge and no signup needed.
Childhood Health and Wellness Committee
Carol Smerz, co-chair of the Childhood Health and Wellness Committee, encouraged members to join in their efforts. The committee hosts monthly meetings, typically held at Woodbourne Library, and organizes various events for pediatric oncology patients at Dayton Children’s Hospital.
Will Cale Scholarship Program
Joan Cordonnier provided an update on the Will Cale Scholarship Program. The committee has received nine new applications for the next school year. The program supports students who have overcome significant life challenges. These students are referred by school counselors and need extra guidance. Mentors are needed, and ideally, two mentors are assigned to each student. Contact Joan if you are interested in becoming a mentor.
CNO 2.0 Meeting
Greg Fay announced that the next CNO 2.0 meeting will be on Thursday, January 16, 2025, at Loose Ends Brewing Company. The meeting starts at 5:30 PM and runs until 6:30 or 7:00 PM. The CNO 2.0 meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month, except December. All members are welcome to attend.
Youth Mental Health Breakfast
Andy Higgins discussed an upcoming youth mental health breakfast at Stingley Elementary School. The event will focus on brainstorming ideas to better reach out to parents. They will also screen the Screenagers Elementary Edition documentary. A flyer with more details is included in the meeting’s PowerPoint presentation – link below.
Tree Lot Countdown
Greg Griffin reminded everyone that the tree lot will open in 317 days. His countdown sign is already up in his office, keeping members aware of the time remaining until the next holiday season tree sales. I think Mr. Griffin is considering becoming a comedian.
Board of Directors Meeting
The CNO Board of Directors met on January 13, 2025. A big thank you to Cindy Gaboury for providing space for this month’s board meetings at Audio Etc.
Avenue of Flags Update
Present at the meeting were Tom Novak, Mike Brubaker and Bob Burkman who discussed the upcoming Avenue of Flags season. The club places nearly 4,000 flags each year, with Sinclair College in Centerville graciously providing storage space. If you know of any partner organizations or individuals in need of service hours, contact Tom Novak, who can assign them a flag route. Team members are looking to step down. Let Tom Novak know if you want to step into administrative roles for the Avenue of Flags.
33rd Annual Tom Frazier Tee Off for Youth Golf Classic
Mike Bevis shared details about the 33rd Annual Tom Frazier Tee Off for Youth Golf Classic, which will take place later this year. The Golf Outing Committee is always looking for more members to help plan the event, and they will need lots of help on the day of the outing to make it successful.
Policies and Procedures
The Policies and Procedures were reviewed at the meeting. Vice Presidents Mike Creech and Denise O’Neil have been hard at work updating the document. Each year, the current Vice Presidents are responsible for reviewing and updating these guidelines.
Long Range Planning Committee
Karl Frydryk provided an update on the purpose of the Long-Range Planning Committee. The committee looks for opportunities in the community to serve as recipients of CNO’s funds. They then bring recommendations to the Board of Directors, who discuss and vote on the proposed grants.
Donation Requests
Several donation requests were discussed at the meeting. The Board approved three grants:
- $5,000 to the Centerville Education Foundation
- $1,500 to Centerville High School Theater to assist them with the Haunted Trail fundraisers
- $5,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities for bedspreads and water proof pillow covers.
Happy Birthday Bob Duffy
Although Bob Duffy’s birthday isn’t officially until January 15, 2025, we made an exception and sang Happy Birthday to him a day early. Bob has led us in singing Happy Birthday so many times over the years that it was only fitting we celebrate him in return.
Today’s musical director was Larry Lynde, but that didn’t stop Bob from waving his arms to help lead us in our unique rendition of the song. Despite having two conductors guiding us, our version of Happy Birthday was still terrible—but it was sung with love!
We wish Bob Duffy a wonderful birthday and a great year ahead!
The Glory of the Heist – Another Bell and Gavel Caper
Fellow Optimists, it’s happened again! Just when we thought President Paul Boeckman might finally break his streak of misplacing the bell and gavel, in swoops Scott Langer to prove us wrong.
Here’s how it went down: Paul had just announced our member anniversaries and stepped away from the podium to introduce guests. Positioned in the chair closest to the podium—like a sprinter on the starting blocks—Scott made his move and snagged the bell and gavel in record time.
What drives Scott to execute these meticulously planned heists? Is it the thrill of the chase, or the lure of legendary bragging rights? We’re not entirely sure, but rumor has it Scott has quite a backstory on his ‘glory days.’ If you’re curious, just ask him—he will be more than happy to regale you with tales of his triumphant trophies.
For now, Paul is once again left shaking his head, promising that “next time will be different.” But if history is any guide, we’re in for more adventures in bell and gavel thefts!
FilmDayton: Cultivating the Local Film Industry
Chris McAlpine introduced Lisa Grigsby by sharing some interesting facts about her background. Lisa is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, where she received a football scholarship. She was also a co-owner of Joker’s Comedy Club and helped open comedy clubs across the country. What started as a one-year volunteer project with FilmDayton, has now turned into more than a decade of dedicated service to the Dayton film community.
Lisa spoke to us about the work of FilmDayton, a nonprofit organization advancing the art, craft, and business of film in the Miami Valley. Her presentation highlighted FilmDayton’s ongoing efforts to attract filmmakers to the region and to create opportunities for local talent.
If you want to read about Lisa’s previous presentation to our club, you can click here to view the article from August 30, 2022.
The Economic Impact of Filmmaking in Dayton
Since 2009, the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit has played a pivotal role in bringing film productions to Ohio. Filmmakers receive a 30% rebate on eligible in-state expenses, which has put Ohio in the top 10 states for film incentives. The rebate increased to $50 million in 2023.
Lisa highlighted how films can significantly impact the local economy. For instance, Robert Redford’s “The Old Man and the Gun” filmed in downtown Dayton in 2018, spent over $400,000 in just three days.
What Does a Film Commission Do?
As a certified film commission since 2016, FilmDayton’s responsibilities include:
- Marketing the Dayton region to filmmakers
- Identifying suitable locations
- Connecting productions with local crews, equipment, and services
- Assisting with permits and safety requirements
FilmDayton has built a database of over 200 local crew members and regularly hosts workshops to prepare talent for industry jobs.
Recent Productions and Local Talent
Several productions have recently filmed in the Dayton area, including:
- “Nutcrackers” – Premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and will stream on Hulu in March 2025
- “Wise Guys” – A film starring Robert De Niro, filmed in 2023 and set to release in March 2025
- Bing Davis Documentary – Produced by local filmmakers and aired on PBS in October 2024
Lisa also spoke about local talent making waves in the industry, including Hannah Beachler, a Wright State graduate who won an Academy Award for her work on “Black Panther.”
How to Support FilmDayton
Lisa encouraged community members to support FilmDayton by:
- Registering their homes, cars, or unique properties in the location database
- Becoming members or sponsors
- Volunteering to assist with productions
FilmDayton is also seeking warehouse space for a prop storage facility to serve the Dayton and Cincinnati areas.
Slides
If you’d like to view Lisa Grigsby’s slide deck from her presentation, click here.
Thank You
Thank You, Lisa Grigsby, for educating us about FilmDayton’s ongoing efforts to make our region a go-to destination for filmmakers.
President Paul’s Quote of the Week
“Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.” – Vince Lombardi
Welcome Guests
| Guest | Guest Of |
| Gina Soldano-Herrle | Mike Bevis |
| Lisa Grigsby | Speaker |
| Zach Hinkle | Greg Fay |
New Member Readings and Inductions
| Name | Sponsor | 1st 2nd 3rd Reading or Induction |
| Erin Giffin | Ken Peacock | 2nd Reading |
| Brandon Ward | Donna Huss | 2nd Reading |
Happy Bucks
No time for Happy Bucks this week.
Sergeants at Arms
No time for Sergeants this week.
Club Membership Anniversaries
| Member | Joined | Years |
| Susan Thomsen | January 14, 1997 | 28 |
| Emily Duke | January 16, 2019 | 6 |
| Mike Creech | January 17, 2022 | 3 |
| Ray Daley | January 17, 2022 | 3 |
| Cindy Gaboury | January 17, 2022 | 3 |
| Bob Myers | January 17, 2022 | 3 |
| Dick Lee | January 18, 2017 | 8 |
| Pam Miller | January 18, 2017 | 8 |
| Lynne Reilly | January 18, 2017 | 8 |
| Deb Ulrich | January 18, 2017 | 8 |
| Morgan Schiffhauer | January 18, 2019 | 6 |
| Gary DeMarco | January 20, 2016 | 9 |
| Casey Dixon | January 20, 2021 | 4 |
Birthdays
| Bob Duffy | January 15 |
| Lisa Maciejewski | January 17 |
| Barbara Santo | January 17 |
| Myron Rheaume | January 20 |
CNO Donations – Since 2013
Click here to see a summary of donations the club has made since 2013
Thank You Notes Received
CLICK HERE to see the Thank You Notes received this week
Links to PowerPoint and Pictures
CLICK HERE to see the PowerPoint Slides from this week’s meeting