Erin Dickerson’s Prayer
Isaiah 41:10 tells us, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”
Lord,
We know you are with us, yet we are afraid. We ask for your strength and comfort for those who were impacted by Hurricane Helene and that you provide healing and compassion through the presence of those sent to aid them.
For those in the path of Hurricane Milton, we ask you to bring peace to those who are anxious, guidance to those who are evacuating, and protection for those who must remain. May your presence be felt amidst the storm and may you protect your people from harm.
Amen.
New CNO President Losing the Bell and Gavel at a Record Setting Pace
For those keeping score, Paul Boeckman has lost the Bell and Gavel in each of his first two outings as President of the Optimist Club of Centerville – Noon. I believe he spoke three times before being president to fill in for Joan Cordonnier and he lost the Bell and Gavel at each of those as well.
When will it end? Can he go the distance?
Mark Twain Continues to Influence Our Meetings
Gary Anderson started using Mark Twain quotes a few months ago. Well, President Paul is continuing it.
Gary Anderson was just back from a vacation and he bought a Mark Twain t-shirt while he was gone. Paul noticed his t-shirt and asked Paul Stull to read it to the group who said, “I can’t.” The Mark Twain quote on the shirt is “Those who don’t read have no advantage over those who can’t.”
Announcements
Build-a-Bear – Childhood Health and Wellness
Debby Moore, the co-chair of the Childhood Health and Wellness committee, announced that the next Build-a-Bear will be held on November 12, 2024, for children with Cancer at Dayton Children’s Hospital.
Haunted Trail Volunteers Needed
Gail Aiken announced that the Haunted Trail will be held on October 15th and 16th. Special thanks to Larry Lynde and Larry England for all they do each year for the trail. They need lots of volunteers. They are in need of several more trail guides, especially on Wednesday the 16th, and for people to help set up and tear down. Sign up online using the Member Calendar. Debe Dockins will be the chair of the committee next year.
Christmas Tree Lot by the Numbers
Greg rattled off numbers about the tree lot and asked if we knew what they meant:
- 46 – the number of days until Tree Delivery Day (Saturday 11/23/2024)
- 52 – the number of days until Tree Lot Opening Day (Friday 11/29/2024)
- 10 – the number of Tree Lot Teams
- 900 – the number of Trees to sell this year
- 14 – The estimated number of days before we sell out
Helping Middle School Students One to One
Joan Cordonnier said that as part of the Optimist OWLS program and CNO’s YMHI, she is volunteering at Driscoll and Stingley. She is currently helping two students, one to get organized and the other needs a friend (she sits with him while he eats breakfast, they talk and maybe play games). For more information on how get involved, reach out to Joan or you can contact Heather Schnier, the AVP District Coordinator. Her contact and more information can be found online using this link. There are lots of options. Joan is filling the classroom volunteer position, and the teachers will have lots of ideas for how you can help their students.
Captain Sean Hays Reflects on 25 Years in the U.S. Navy
Chris McAlpine introduced Captain Sean Hays, Navy. Sean Hays, born and raised in Huber Heights, attended Carroll High School before heading to Miami University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in History in 1999. He chose Miami because they had NROTC. After graduating, he joined the Navy and immediately went to flight school in Pensacola.
Sean humorously started by saying that as a Navy Flyer, he couldn’t turn down the opportunity to speak, but Chris had only given him 20 minutes. He shared that during his 25 years in the Navy, he found purpose, leadership opportunities, and adventure. He has a 25-year distinguished military career, including deployments in Iraq and Somalia, and diplomatic roles in Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Djibouti. He holds a Master of Arts in Diplomacy and has completed extensive military education. Sean is married and has two teenage daughters.
He has served as a Naval Flight Officer, a foreign attaché, and is currently assigned to the Defense Security Cooperation University on Base.
During his talk, he provided insights into his military journey, sharing personal experiences and the broader impact of his work. Sean clarified the role of a Naval Flight Officer, not as a pilot but as a navigator—comparing himself to “Goose” from Top Gun. He trained on the EA6B Prowler and began his service in Japan. He and his wife, Krista, moved there just before the events of 9/11, which set the tone for the next two decades of his military career. His missions ranged from flying during the Iraq War to providing critical support to Army convoys, ensuring their safety from IEDs.
Sean reflected on a wide range of assignments, including flying in sandstorms and collaborating with NATO forces during the intervention in Libya. His role also extended to an exchange program with the Royal Air Force, where he flew in the backseat of Tornado fighter-bombers. Through these experiences, Sean developed both professionally and personally, earning a master’s degree and welcoming two daughters in Scotland.
Later, Sean transitioned to a role as a Foreign Area Officer. His assignments in Nigeria and Cameroon required navigating complex diplomatic relationships and representing the U.S. Navy in diverse settings. He fondly recalled how his daughters took a boat home from school in Lagos, showing how deeply embedded his family was in these international experiences.
In Djibouti, Sean worked at the junction between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, managing relationships with French and Chinese military forces. His work there was critical to maintaining the stability of a region vital to international trade and U.S. military operations.
Throughout his talk, Sean emphasized leadership, teamwork, and resilience. He spoke candidly about leading teams through high-stress operations, balancing professional life with family commitments. His wife, Krista, played a crucial role in supporting their household and Sean’s career—though he humorously mentioned how handing her a broom and mop before heading off to work was a bit of an “aggressive move.”
Sean expressed gratitude for the opportunities the Navy provided, from military operations to building long-term partnerships with foreign allies. He reflected on the importance of maintaining strong international connections, noting that many skills he developed in the Navy—such as diplomacy and leadership—are transferable to various settings.
Sean tied his experiences to the Optimist Club’s mission, emphasizing how both the Navy and the Club offer young people opportunities to develop leadership skills, find purpose, and face challenges that foster growth. He encouraged the Club to continue inspiring the next generation of leaders.
In closing, Sean noted how the aircraft he flew are now museum pieces, but the lessons he learned and the relationships he built remain with him. He expressed deep appreciation for the men and women he served with, many of whom have gone on to lead in new capacities.
Slides
You can view the slide deck of the presentation here. There are several great pictures he took throughout his career.
Thank You
Thank you, Sean Hayes, your reflections gave a powerful glimpse into a career defined by leadership, teamwork, and resilience—values that align closely with the mission of the Optimist Club.
Quote of the Week
“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” -Mark Twain
Welcome Guests
| Guest | Guest Of |
| Dave Hungler | Dave Kay |
| David Wiedmeyer | Mike Creech |
| Scott Mays | Steve Mays |
| Susan Vass | Julie Walling Noeth |
| Susie Clinton | Mike Bevis |
New Member Readings and Inductions
| Name | Sponsor | 1st 2nd 3rd Reading or Induction |
| Susan Vass | Julie Walling Noeth | 1st Reading |
| Tom Conroy | Denise Green | 1st Reading |
| David Wiedmeyer | Mike Creech | 1st Reading |
Happy Bucks
| Member | Reason |
| Dave Kay | Going to see his favorite team Detroit Lions with his son. He said there is nothing better than being at the ballpark with your son. |
| Debe Dockins | Debe has received 863 entries for the Dottie Yeck writing contest for grades 7-9. There is a $3000 prize. She is looking for more volunteers to judge 25 essays each. |
| Joan Cordonnier | Thanks to everyone that put temporary but long-lasting tattoos on kids at the Centerville Fall Fest. |
Sergeants at Arms
| Member | Infraction |
| Scott Langer | He was late to today’s meeting. |
| Gail Aiken | She won the 50/50 at the Centerville Football game. |
| Joan Cordonnier | She did not shine the bell up enough before giving to Paul Boeckman. |
| Don Stafford | He got injured during flag delivery which obviously means he skipped safety training. |
Club Membership Anniversaries
| Member | Joined | Years |
| Jesse Gaither | October 8, 2016 | 8 |
| Jim Mogan | October 8, 2016 | 8 |
| Deb Saunders | October 8, 2016 | 8 |
| Rachel Selby | October 8, 2016 | 8 |
| Lisa Maciejewski | October 9, 2022 | 2 |
| Jon Wesney | October 9, 2022 | 2 |
Birthdays
| Christy Gariety | October 9 |
| Paula Kalaman | October 9 |
| Lacy Owens | October 10 |
| Dav Bremer | October 11 |
| Steve Campbell | October 11 |
| Sue Jessee | October 14 |
| Donna Robinson | October 14 |
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 We Received This Week
Links to PowerPoint and Pictures
CLICK HERE to see the PowerPoint Slides from this week’s meeting