Bob Burkman’s Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Optimists are the kind of people who see a rainstorm and immediately start looking for a rainbow, though lately we’ve mostly just been seeing more rain and more is in the forecast.
Lord, the skies have opened so much these past days that some of us have begun checking the backyard for pairs of animals and measuring the driveway to see if it’s big enough for an ark.
Still, we thank You for the rain that nourishes the earth even if it’s currently testing the limits of our umbrellas, our sump pumps, and our sense of humor.
Bless this meeting, the fellowship we share and the good work our Optimist club does for our community. Help us keep our spirits high, our outlook bright and perhaps, an inflatable raft in the garage.
Amen.
Get to Know a Member – Karen Charnesky
President Sarah Umbreit interviewed Karen Charnesky for this week’s “Get to Know a Member.”
Karen shared that she is most looking forward to helping with the Americana event, noting that planning for the celebration is already getting underway. Her favorite app on her phone is Realtor.com. When asked what inspires her the most, Karen said she enjoys helping people put their financial future together.
Karen Charnesky joined CNO on May 2, 2023, and was sponsored by Suzanne Werts.
Announcements
Photography Contest
Roberta Taylor announced that the Centerville Noon Optimist Photography Contest deadline is approaching. All photos must be submitted by 6:00 PM on March 31, 2026. The contest is open to students currently in high school in the Centerville–Washington Township area. More information about the contest and submission details can be found here.
Wine, Beer and Bourbon Tasting Social
Sarah Umbreit announced that Diane and Patrick Arehart will host a Wine, Beer and Bourbon Tasting at their home on Saturday, March 21, 2026, starting at 5:30 PM. For details and to sign up, use the Member Calendar.
Tri-Star Basketball Recap
Craig Dring reported that the Tri-Star Basketball event was a big success. He thanked the 27 Centerville Noon Optimist members and six volunteers from the University of Dayton Optimist Club who helped make the event a great experience for the kids. More than 50 kids participated, earning trophies and enjoying a fun day of basketball activities.
Easter Egg Hunt Preparation and Volunteer Dates
Sarah Umbreit announced that 4,000 of the 8,000 Easter eggs still need to be stuffed for the annual Easter hunt. Volunteers are invited to help (no need to sign up) on March 28, 2026, at St. Leonard’s beginning at 9:00 a.m. Volunteer sign-up for the April 4 Easter egg hunt event day is available online by using the Member Calendar.
CNO 2.0
Sarah Umbreit announced the upcoming CNO 2.0 meeting on March 19 at Underground Chuck’s, a new restaurant near the Dayton Mall. The guest speaker will be Monnie Bush, Founder and CEO of the Victory Project, a mentoring and personal development program for disengaged young men.
Ohio District Optimist Leadership Opportunities
Jeff Umbreit announced that there are opportunities to serve at the Ohio District level of Optimist International. Chuck Hillman, the incoming District Governor, is building his leadership team and is looking for volunteers for several roles, including Treasurer, Lieutenant Governors, and Sergeant-at-Arms. Anyone interested can contact Jeff Umbreit for more information.
Photographer Scott Arentsen Shares Images of Places, People, and Animals
Steve Rau introduced photographer Scott Arentsen, a graduate of Miami University who spent 36 years with Dayton Power & Light, where he worked with Joann Rau. Scott developed an interest in photography during a high school class, and for graduation he received a 35mm camera that helped launch a lifelong hobby.
Scott thanked Steve for the invitation, joking that Steve was desperate for a speaker and he was desperate to show photos.
Scott grew up in Wisconsin where his father, a World War II veteran and graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, was an avid outdoorsman. The family fished often and spent time exploring wherever they lived. When they moved to Dallas, Texas, the change from a small northern town was a culture shock, but the family took advantage of their location, traveling through nearby states and visiting places like the Alamo. Later the family moved to Southern California, where Scott spent time at the beach, in the mountains, and visiting national parks such as the Grand Canyon and Grand Tetons. These experiences helped shape his love of travel and nature.
Scott organized his presentation around three themes: places, people, and animals.
Places
Scott shared photos from locations around the world as well as scenes closer to home. Some were taken locally, including a full moon rising over US 35 and winter scenes at Hills and Dales Park.
His travels have taken him to places such as Devil’s Tower in Wyoming, Yosemite National Park, and the Durango to Silverton railroad in southwest Colorado. He also shared colorful street scenes from Havana, Cuba, and landscapes from Iceland.
One memorable destination was Churchill, Manitoba, where polar bears gather each fall waiting for Hudson Bay to freeze so they can begin hunting seals. Scott also shared dramatic images from Antarctica, noting that reaching the continent requires about a day and a half sailing from the southern tip of South America. Other destinations included Baja Mexico, Egypt, India, Newfoundland, and Norway.
People
Scott also enjoys photographing people and everyday life around the world.
Closer to home he captured images at the Miamisburg bike race. Other photos were taken in places such as Corsica, the birthplace of Napoleon, and Havana, where guards stand watch near Fidel Castro’s tomb.
He also shared photos of wranglers riding horses in Wyoming, noting the strong bond between the riders and their animals. Rodeo scenes included action shots of children riding sheep in the event known as mutton busting.
Other images included everyday scenes from northern India near the Himalayas, pilgrims visiting the Golden Temple, and the elaborate nightly closing ceremony at the India–Pakistan border.
In Laos, Scott photographed Buddhist monks walking through town each morning collecting food offerings. He noted that many residents enjoy having their photos taken and make excellent subjects.
Animals
The third theme focused on wildlife.
Scott shared photos of animals from around the world including meerkats, tarantulas, giraffes, and colorful birds in Kenya. Visitors remain inside vehicles when photographing animals such as lions so the animals behave naturally. It is dangerous to leave your vehicle.
Other wildlife photos included elephants taking dust baths, cheetahs and Topi antelope on the plains of the Serengeti, and a cardinal photographed at Bill Yeck Park in Centerville.
Scott shared images of iguanas in the Galápagos Islands, a grizzly bear, and a coyote hunting in the snow. Penguins and a leopard seal from Antarctica were also featured. Visitors are not allowed to approach penguins, but if a penguin approaches you it is perfectly acceptable.
Additional wildlife photos included whales, a red-eyed tree frog, an orca, polar bears in Norway, colorful frogs in the Amazon Basin, and a three-toed sloth.
Scott and his wife also foster puppies for the Humane Society. The puppies stay with them for a few weeks before adoption and often become great photo subjects.
Questions and Future Travels
During questions, Scott said he would enjoy returning to Antarctica, though his wife Candace may not be eager to make the long journey again. Antarctica has no permanent settlements, and ships visiting the area are typically limited to about 200 passengers to reduce environmental impact and improve safety.
Scott also mentioned upcoming travel plans, including photographing wildlife in Namibia and Botswana and a future trip to Japan with a professional photographer he knows.
Photographs
The photographs shown today were amazing.
You can view the slide deck of the Scott’s Photographs here.
Thank You
Thank you, Scott Arentsen, for sharing your photography and the stories behind your fascinating travels around the world. Your images gave us a chance to experience remarkable places, cultures, and wildlife through the lens of your camera.
New Member Readings and Inductions
- Rex Caswell, First Reading, Sponsored by Greg Hoffbauer
- Jack Pan, Third Reading, Sponsored by Jayne Weikel
- Bob Thomas, Third Reading, Sponsored by Jean Pummill
Happy Bucks
No time for Happy Bucks this week.
Sergeants-at-Arms Fines – Tony Danial and Larry Lynde
- Sergeant-at-Arms Tony Danial began by asking all Miami University graduates to stand, followed by anyone with a child or grandchild who graduated from Miami. Everyone else in the room was fined a dollar. Tony noted that Miami Men’s Basketball finished the regular season a perfect 31 and “OH”.
- Sam Pfabe was fined for not filing his name badge correctly.
- Bob Myers was asked if he had been fined yet, which resulted in a dollar fine.
- New member Bob Thomas was fined for submitting his directory photo using a picture from his driver’s license.
- Kelly Stone was fined after attending the University of Dayton game at George Washington dressed as a flight attendant. The UD students sometimes dress in flight-attendant outfits at games, and Kelly joined in the fun to represent the Flyers.
- Kristin Passidomo was fined for misplacing her name badge.
- Karen Charnesky was fined for a bit of self-promotion during her “Get to Know a Member” interview.
Welcome Guests
| Guest | Guest Of |
| Bob Thomas | Jean Pummill |
| Candace Holthouse | Speaker’s Guest |
| Dave Diller | Steve Mays |
| Jack Pan | Jayne Weikel |
| Scott Arentsen | Speaker |
Club Membership Anniversaries
| Member | Joined | Years |
| Bob Glavin | March 12, 1993 | 33 |
| Steve Kohls | March 14, 2003 | 23 |
| Shane Wilken | March 14, 2003 | 23 |
| Cindy Lowndes | March 16, 2024 | 2 |
| David Seyer | March 16, 2024 | 2 |
| Don Stafford | March 16, 2024 | 2 |
| Julie Rado | March 18, 2021 | 5 |
| Joan Cordonnier | March 22, 2008 | 18 |
Birthdays
| Gareth Dickey | March 14 |
| Vida McDowell | March 15 |
| Bob Foster | March 16 |
| Jessie Kuhn | March 16 |
| David Brookman | March 18 |
| Bob Bowman | March 19 |
| Larry England | March 20 |
| Shane Wilken | March 20 |
| Dana Dring | March 20 |
| Geoff Darr | March 20 |
| Sara Hemmeter | March 21 |
| Andy Dickerson | March 21 |
| Kathy Linder | March 21 |
| Debby Moore | March 22 |
| Tony Danial | March 22 |
| Tom Novak | March 23 |
Thank You Notes Received this Week
CLICK HERE to see the Thank You Notes we received this week
Links to PowerPoint and Pictures
CLICK HERE to see the PowerPoint Slide Deck from this week’s meeting