Erin Dickerson’s Prayer
Lord,
As we are nearing the end of the Christian season of Advent, may we all take time to reflect on Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.
- May we never lose hope that we have the power to make the world a better place, one small act at a time.
- May we find peace within our hearts each day knowing we did our very best.
- May we find joy, not only in big moments and grand gestures, but also in the everyday little ones.
- May we feel Your love surround us and share that same love with all those we meet.
May we live this, not only during the season of Advent, but in every season of our lives.
Amen.
Thank you Greg Wasmund for Running Today’s Meeting
CNO President-Elect Greg Wasmund was an excellent and funny emcee for today. He will be an excellent leader for us starting October 1, 2026. His plan for the bell and gavel is based on Disney’s “Let it go.” You are hearing it in your head right now aren’t you? He lost the bell and gavel.
Special Guest – Baby Leila Giffin
CNO member Erin Giffin brought a very special guest to this week’s meeting, her daughter, Leila Giffin, who is 57 days old. Leila was fast asleep when she was introduced and slept peacefully through the meeting. Both Erin and Leila were dressed in festive holiday outfits. Congratulations to Erin and David on their growing family!
Get to Know a Member – Evelyn Griffin
President-Elect Greg Wasmund interviewed Evelyn Griffin for this week’s “Get to Know a Member.”
- If you could time travel, where and when would you go? A: Scotland in the late 19th century
- What is your favorite meal of the day and what would it be? A: Dinner, a filet at the Chop House
- Are you superstitious? A: No, not at all – I trust my instincts
Evelyn Griffin joined CNO on October 21, 2015, and was sponsored by Greg Griffin.
CNO Meeting Schedule Notices
- The meeting on January 6, 2026, will be held at St. Leonard in the Station House. The buffet will begin at 11:35 AM, and the meeting will start at noon.
- There will be no lunch meetings on December 23, 2025, or December 30, 2025.
Announcements
Christian D. Larson Awards
Greg Wasmund announced the recipients of the Christian D. Larson Award, which were presented at last week’s Holiday Dinner. Congratulations were extended to Evelyn Griffin, Val Huff, and Sue Brubaker for receiving this honor. Read full details in last week’s article.
USO Party Build-a-Bear
Debby Moore reported that the Build-a-Bear activity at the USO party at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base was a great success and thanked everyone who helped make it happen.
CNO 2.0 Meeting January 15, 2026
Greg Wasmund announced that the next CNO 2.0 meeting will be held on January 15, 2026, at Chappy’s. It will be a Club Day.
Andy Higgins – The Amazing Generation
Andy Higgins shared information about The Amazing Generation, a companion book geared toward tweens. He noted it would make a good Christmas gift and focuses directly on kids rather than parents. The discussion included how changes related to social media and cell phone use have led to law changes in 46 states.
Tree Lot Update and Thanks to Volunteers
Greg Griffin shared an update on the Centerville Noon Optimist Christmas Tree Lot, noting that in his ten years with the club he has never experienced weather like this year. Wednesday, December 17, 2025, will be the final day the lot is open, with teardown scheduled for Saturday. He thanked the many members who volunteered, despite the cold and snow, and said tree quantities will be adjusted in future years based on this season’s experience. Greg also shared a comment from a customer who said their family is now in its third generation of buying Christmas trees from the CNO Tree Lot.
Happy Birthday Bill Stone
We celebrated Bill Stone’s birthday this week, with Bob Duffy leading the group in our intentionally bad birthday singing. It may not have sounded like a Christmas carol, but it was delivered in the best birthday spirit.
Bill joked that the singing sounds even worse when you are standing up front listening to it. For his birthday wish, Bill encouraged members to consider making a donation to the Optimist International Foundation.
Bill Stone joined CNO on December 22, 2007, and was sponsored by Kelly Stone. Bill has been a member of Optimist International even longer as he was a member of another club before moving to Ohio.
John Condit Presents “Alone on the Mound”
A Film About Eric Show
Scott Langer introduced John Condit, telling the club they were about to hear a compelling story centered on Eric Show and Pete Rose. Langer shared that Condit was born and raised in Cincinnati and moved to the area in 1983 to attend the University of Dayton. Condit began his television career at Channel 2 (WDTN) in 1985 before moving to Channel 7 (WHIO), where he spent several years in sports broadcasting. Since 1997, he has worked in sales with Cox Media Group.
Langer also noted that Condit and his wife Chris have five grown children and eight grandchildren, with one more on the way. He added that Condit is both honored and saddened to be the last person to conduct an in-studio interview with Pete Rose.
A Personal Story Behind the Film
Condit shared personal background to explain why this project stayed with him for decades. He said he is the second youngest of eleven children and grew up with seven older sisters. He also has four daughters of his own, along with his wife, joking that Neil Diamond’s Turn On Your Heartlight could have been written about his life.
Condit then spoke about his sister Carolyn, who retired after a 40-year coaching career at Miami University. She retired as the winningest coach in Miami University history and the winningest coach across all sports in the Mid-American Conference. Condit said producing a tribute video for her retirement, which included messages from figures such as Lou Holtz, Johnny Bench, Ben Roethlisberger, and Pete Rose, reminded him that he might finally be able to complete a story he had carried with him for many years.
A Connection Formed at Seventeen
Condit explained that his connection to Eric Show began when he was 17 years old. His older brother Jim, a member of the John Birch Society, told him that Padres pitcher Eric Show would be speaking locally. As a teenager who wanted to be a sportscaster, Condit attended and formed a relationship with Show.
Condit said Show was about ten years older and had two sisters but never a brother, which may have contributed to the bond they formed. Over time, Show trusted Condit, a relationship that later placed him close to one of baseball’s most historic moments.
Eric Show the Pitcher
The film presents Eric Show as an exceptionally talented pitcher. Former teammates, coaches, and broadcasters describe how Show used his background in physics to manipulate finger pressure and spin, creating movement on the ball that few pitchers could replicate. Several said they had never seen a baseball move the way Show’s did.
Despite becoming the winningest pitcher in San Diego Padres history with 100 wins, Show was often viewed as different in the clubhouse. He was highly intelligent, analytical, and more interested in philosophy and ideas than fitting a typical baseball mold. Those traits shaped how he was perceived by teammates and the media.
Pressure, Politics, and Public Perception
The documentary also addresses the controversy surrounding Show’s membership in the John Birch Society. Interviews explain that while several Padres pitchers held conservative views, Show became the focal point of criticism. Condit said the film provides context rather than judgment and shows how assumptions made at the time influenced public perception.
More broadly, the film explores themes of pressure, mental health, loyalty, and legacy. Condit noted that Show struggled under the weight of expectations and misunderstanding, elements that became central to how his story unfolded after baseball.
The Road to 4,192
A central portion of the film focuses on the days leading up to September 11, 1985. Pete Rose refused to delay history by waiting for a home series, insisting on playing wherever the opportunity arose. After tying Ty Cobb’s record in Chicago, the Reds returned to Cincinnati knowing the next hit would make history.
Condit recalled helping Show leave the stadium after Rose went hitless the night before. The two sat at a restaurant and talked, and Show made it clear he did not want to be remembered as the pitcher who gave up the record-breaking hit.
Alone on the Mound
When Rose recorded his 4,192nd hit, the stadium erupted into a celebration that lasted nearly nine minutes. As cameras flashed and attention remained fixed on Rose, Eric Show was left alone on the mound. Eventually, he sat down on the pitching rubber, creating one of the most debated images in baseball history.
The film includes reflections from broadcasters, teammates, and others who were there that night. Several admitted they were so focused on the historic moment that they failed to notice Show. Others said they wished someone had gone out to bring him into the dugout. What some perceived as disrespect is presented instead as the reaction of a pitcher left isolated during an unprecedented pause in the game.
How the Night Was Remembered
The film notes how unusual the moment was throughout the stadium. Even the press box broke tradition, with writers standing and applauding, something several interviewees said they had never seen before and have not seen since.
Condit said the film encourages viewers to reconsider how history remembers iconic moments and to think about those who experience them from the margins.
Beyond the Record
The full documentary explores additional aspects of Show’s life, including debate over whether he intentionally hit Andre Dawson, his struggles with addiction, and the toll those struggles took on his family. Eric Show died in 1994 at the age of 37 while in a drug rehabilitation center, a fact Condit noted many fans are unaware of.
The film includes interviews with Show’s widow, Cara Mia, and his sisters, Leslie and Cindy, who reunited during the making of the film after not speaking for more than a decade. Condit also highlighted Show’s musical talent, noting that he was an accomplished guitarist, another side of his life many fans never knew.
Reception and What Comes Next
The full film runs approximately 75 minutes. Condit shared four segments totaling about 18 minutes with the club. He said the documentary has received strong praise, including positive feedback from Bob Costas and former WHIO sportscaster Mark Allan.
Efforts are underway to place the film on a major platform such as ESPN, Netflix, or Peacock. Condit noted the difficulty of reaching decision-makers and the significant cost of licensing Major League Baseball footage.
Closing
Condit thanked the Centerville Noon Optimist Club for the opportunity to share the story and praised the club for its work in the community.
Readers interested in learning more about the documentary can visit https://aloneonthemound.com.
Thank You
Thank you, John Condit, for sharing Alone on the Mound and the story behind one of baseball’s most memorable moments.
New Member Readings and Inductions
There were no readings or inductions this week.
Happy Bucks
- Christy Gariety was happy to have all three of her children and all three grandchildren home for Christmas. She said they “flew in, drove in, crawled in, whatever,” and it was wonderful having everyone together for the holidays.
- Tom Conroy gave $6 Happy Bucks for the birth of his sixth grandchild.
- Fred Polizzi was happy to learn that his son and daughter-in-law are expecting their first child.
- Scott Langer recalled a tree lot story from years past, when his two sons trapped Gary Smiga in the porta-potty until Gary agreed to declare a snow day. At the time, Gary Smiga was the superintendent of Centerville City Schools. The plan did not work.
- Erin Laurito was happy that her daughter still thinks it is special that they share the same birthday on December 17 each year.
- Joan Cordonnier and Kelly Stone completed their annual “Shop Until You Drop” tradition for the 36th year.
- Mike Creech celebrated Indiana University’s win over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship.
- Karl Frydryk looked ahead confidently to Ohio State defeating Indiana on the road to the College Football Championship in early 2026.
- Arline Daniel celebrated the Buffalo Bills’ comeback win over the New England Patriots, led by “Superman” Josh Allen.
- Stan Fronzaglia celebrated his granddaughter’s graduation from The Ohio State University.
- Ellie Parker closed out Happy Bucks by thanking members for the kindness and support she continues to receive.
Sergeants-at-Arms Fines – Bob Myers and Mike Creech
There was no time for fines this week.
Welcome Guests
| Guest | Guest Of |
| Ashton Baldridge | Andy Higgins |
| Chase McKenzie | Mike Bevis |
| John Condit | Speaker |
| Karen Jackson | Teresa Nichols |
| Kevin McDonald | Mike Bevis |
| Zack Ransom | Cameron Langer |
Club Membership Anniversaries
| Member | Joined | Years |
| Bill Stone | December 22, 2007 | 18 |
| Scott Langer | December 30, 1997 | 28 |
| Paul Stull | January 1, 1970 | 55 |
| Bob Duffy | January 1, 1988 | 37 |
| John Carroll | January 3, 2012 | 13 |
| John Speers | January 7, 2008 | 17 |
Birthdays
| Bill Stone | December 16 |
| Erin Laurito | December 17 |
| Judy Tellis | December 17 |
| John Curran | December 18 |
| Liz Fultz | December 18 |
| Cindy Gaboury | December 19 |
| Peggy Tarnowieckyi | December 20 |
| Paul Boeckman | December 22 |
| Debe Dockins | December 22 |
| Sam Routsong | December 22 |
| Steve Mock | December 25 |
| Dave Kay | December 27 |
| Christine Balsan | December 28 |
| Kelly Stone | December 29 |
| Jane Herman | January 5 |
| Ted Humphrey | January 7 |
| Laura Caschera | January 8 |
| Don Massie | January 10 |
| Jesse Gaither | January 11 |
| Bill Williams | January 11 |
Thank You Notes Received this Week
CLICK HERE to see the Thank You Notes received this week
Links to PowerPoint and Pictures
CLICK HERE to see the PowerPoint Slide Deck from this week’s meeting