Donation Requests Approved at the May 2025 Board Meeting
Greg Fay announced that $10,880 in grants were approved during the May 12, 2025, CNO Board meeting.
- $2580 to Watts Middle School PTO for outdoor picnic tables.
- $5700 to South Community YPH Day Treatment Program to feed children breakfast and lunch for 40 days during the summer break.
- $2400 to Hannah’s Treasure Chest that will be used to purchase nearly a quarter of a million diapers.
- $200.00 for an Eagle Scout Bench Project at Watts Middle School.
CNO 2.0 Venue and Details
The venue for tonight’s CNO 2.0 meeting was Chappy’s Social House at 880 Washington Village Drive. Thank you to the team at Chappy’s for hosting us.
Volunteer Opportunities
Looking to get involved? You can always find upcoming volunteer opportunities and social events by checking the Member Calendar on our website.
Fishing Derby – June 7, 2025
Get ready for the annual Fishing Derby on June 7! There are plenty of volunteer roles available — and most don’t require handling fish. It’s a great way to support a fun event for local youth. Please sign up using the Member Calendar.
Castle Fishing Day – June 9, 2025
Castle Fishing Day is coming up on June 9! There are plenty of ways to volunteer — and most don’t involve touching any fish. It’s a fun and rewarding day for everyone involved. Please sign up using the Member Calendar.
Summer Reading Club Kickoff – Saturday, May 31, 2025 (1–4 PM)
Join us at the library’s Summer Reading Club Kickoff at Sinclair College in Centerville! Enjoy exciting performances by the Cincinnati Circus Company, plus fun activities for kids and opportunities to learn more about the library.
CNO will provide activities between performances. This event is a great chance to share what the Centerville Noon Optimist Club is all about. Please sign up using the Member Calendar.
Youth Recognition Night – June 12, 2025, at 7 PM
Join us as we celebrate the outstanding youth in our community! Winners of scholarships, awards and contests from the past year will be honored during Youth Recognition Night with a dessert/appetizer reception.
CNO members are encouraged to attend this inspiring event. Please sign up through the Member Calendar.
Avenue of Flags
Help bring patriotism to our community! The Avenue of Flags program is always in need of volunteers. Whether you’re delivering or picking up flags, we can use your help. You do not have to deliver for every flag holiday. Help as often as you are able.
If you’re new, don’t worry — you’ll be teamed up with an experienced volunteer. Have a truck, SUV, or van? Even better — those vehicles make the job easier. But if not, no problem — we’ll make sure you’re paired with someone who does.
Interested? Please sign up through the Member Calendar.
Help Needed for Tom Frazier Tee Off for Youth Golf Classic – July 14, 2025
- The golf committee needs sponsors and golfers for our annual golf fundraiser.
- Contact Vida McDowell if you have any donations for the gift baskets in the silent auction.
- The volunteer coordinator for the golf outing is Steve Rau. He needs people for a lot of different tasks and for varying amounts of time. For more details and to sign up, use the Member Calendar.
Americana Booth
The chair of the American booth needs volunteers. At Americana this year, there will be two CNO booths side by side — one for the Youth Mental Health Initiative and one for the main club. She needs fifteen volunteers to share information at Americana about CNO and to sign up people for Avenue of Flags. Please sign up using the Member Calendar.
Memorial Day Trivia Contest
Greg Fay created and ran a special Memorial Day Trivia Contest during today’s meeting. The contest covered a wide range of questions about U.S. military history, national symbols, and traditions connected to Memorial Day. From the meaning of Latin mottos to the number of notes in “Taps,” members and guests were tested on both well-known and surprising facts.
It was a fun and educational way to honor the meaning behind the holiday.
Facts About Memorial Day
- Memorial Day was first observed in 1868 to honor Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. More than 620,000 American lives were lost in the Civil War — the most of any U.S. conflict.
- It was originally called Decoration Day.
- In 1971, Memorial Day became an official federal holiday, observed on the last Monday in May.
- The red poppy is a traditional symbol of remembrance.
- The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery is the site where a wreath is traditionally placed on Memorial Day.
- The Lincoln Memorial was dedicated on Memorial Day in 1922.
- The largest Memorial Day parade in the U.S. is held in Washington, D.C.
- The National Moment of Remembrance was established by Congress in 2000 and signed into law by President Bill Clinton. At 3:00 PM local time on Memorial Day, Americans are encouraged to pause for the National Moment of Remembrance.
- Memorial Day weekend is often considered the unofficial beginning of summer in the United States.
Additional Facts from the Trivia Contest
- The Purple Heart is awarded to U.S. service members wounded or killed in action.
- Arlington National Cemetery was originally the estate of Confederate General Robert E. Lee and became a military cemetery during the Civil War.
- The United Service Organizations (USO) has supported troops and their families since 1941.
- The Coast Guard motto Semper Paratus means “Always Ready.”
- The Indianapolis 500 is a major sporting event traditionally held over Memorial Day weekend.
- The bugle call Taps, associated with military funerals and “lights out,” is made up of 24 notes.
- The official songs of the U.S. military branches include:
- Army – “The Army Goes Rolling Along”
- Navy – “Anchors Aweigh”
- Marine Corps – “The Marines’ Hymn” (“From the Halls of Montezuma”)
- Air Force – “The U.S. Air Force” (“Off we go into the wild blue yonder”)
- Coast Guard – “Semper Paratus” (“Always Ready”)
- Space Force – “Semper Supra” (“Always Above” – the song was just unveiled in 2022)
Thank You Greg Fay
Greg does a great job organizing these trivia contests and today was no exception. Thank you, Greg Fay!
About CNO 2.0
CNO 2.0 is a club within a club of the Centerville Noon Optimist Club. CNO (and CNO 2.0) is a world class service organization. Being a member of either club allows their members all the same opportunities to participate in fundraising and club activities. CNO 2.0 was created in 2017 and is very much a part of the Centerville Noon Optimist Club started in 1968. CNO has given away over $2 million during its history. CNO is a group of like-minded members that are passionate about helping youth and having fun in the process.
Annual Fundraisers
- Avenue of Flags
- Christmas Tree Lot
- Golf Outing
Major Activities for the Youth in our Community
- Build-a-Bear at Children’s Hospital or for other child-related organizations
- Fishing Derby in June
- Kid’s Day in the Park in August
- Egg Hunt
- Safety on Wheels Bike Rodeo
- Haunted Trail