No Meeting Next Tuesday (Memorial Day)
There will be no CNO meeting on Tuesday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day. Please do not come to Yankee Trace expecting lunch; enjoy the day with your family. The club meets again on Tuesday, June 2.
Bob Burkman’s Prayer
Heavenly Father,
As Memorial Day approaches, we pause with grateful hearts to remember the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice so that liberty might live on in our nation. May we never take for granted the freedoms secured by their courage, devotion, and love of country.
Grant comfort to the families who still carry the weight of their loss, wisdom to those who lead, and gratitude to those of us blessed to live in freedom. Help us honor their memory not only with words, but by living with kindness, service, and respect for one another.
Amen.
Get to Know Dave Kay
President Sarah Umbreit interviewed Dave Kay for this week’s “Get to Know a Member.”
- What he most looks forward to with CNO this summer: the Independence Day parade.
- Favorite Ohio season: summer, because it is warm.
- A teacher who made an impact: Mrs. Shook, his fourth-grade teacher, who set him up for success.
Dave joined CNO on May 8, 1992, sponsored by Gary Aiken.
Happy Birthday, Amy Barker and Mike Brubaker
We celebrate two CNO birthdays today, and we sang to both of them. Amy Barker attended lunch and came up front. Mike Brubaker is still recovering from surgery and could not be at Yankee Trace, so Sarah did the next best thing and called him. Mike picked up, the phone went on the microphone, and Bob Duffy led the club in singing Happy Birthday twice, once for Mike and once for Amy. A twofer.
It was hilarious to witness firsthand. I was sitting right next to the SADD students’ table, and watched the six of them laugh and look around the room as the club broke into song.
Announcements
Ohio District Conference and Oratorical Contest
Sarah Umbreit reported back from Saturday’s Third Quarter Ohio District Conference, which included the Ohio District Oratorical Contest. Varun, a seventh-grader from Incarnation whom many CNO members have followed through earlier rounds, took first place against a field of high school students from Alter and Strongsville, and will advance to the Optimist International World Championship. Sarah also recognized Debe Dockins, who has run the District Oratorical Contest for the past 10 years and is stepping down from that role after this year. Please take a moment to thank Debe for her long and excellent service to the program.
Dime-A-Day Pins
Dime-A-Day pins recognizing donations to the Optimist International Foundation were presented this quarter to Carrie Thompson, Tia Papp, Matt Goecke, Andy Higgins, and Jeff Umbreit. Dime-A-Day is the easiest way to give back to the OI Foundation at $36.50 a year, with proceeds supporting youth scholarships and programs.
Safety on Wheels Bike Rodeo
Sarah Umbreit, on behalf of Steve Mays, thanked Steve and all the volunteers for Sunday’s Safety on Wheels Bike Rodeo at Forest Field. Steve re-imagined this year’s event, drawing strong volunteer turnout and lots of kids on bikes, scooters, and very small e-bikes. It was a hot, but perfect day.
Americana Festival Booths
Karen Charnesky reported that the 10:00 AM to Noon and Noon to 2:00 PM shifts at the Americana booths are full. Volunteers are still needed for the 8:00 to 10:00 AM shift (one more person) and the 2:00 to 4:00 PM shift. Karen will have t-shirts to distribute at a meeting within the next two weeks.
Please sign up using the Member Calendar.
Tom Frazier Tee Off for Youth Golf Classic
Mike Bevis, on behalf of Don Stafford, announced that we are less than 60 days from the 34th annual Tom Frazier Tee Off for Youth Golf Classic on Monday, July 13, 2026, at Sycamore Creek Country Club. All foursomes are sold out (the last one went to Rotary this morning). Restaurant donation letters were on the tables today; members are asked to take one along the next time they are out to dinner and ask the manager about a gift card or similar donation. No hard sell required.
Youth Recognition Night
Mike Creech, co-chair with Diane Arehart, announced that Youth Recognition Night will be held in this room on Tuesday, June 9, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. The evening celebrates the students who have received CNO scholarships or awards, or won club-sponsored contests. Volunteers are needed; the job is to greet families, eat ice cream, and visit with the kids.
Please sign up using the Member Calendar.
Avenue of Flags Memorial Day Display
Tom Novak reminded members that the Avenue of Flags Memorial Day display will go up on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. Setup begins at noon (not 9:00 AM) and the facility on Clyo Road will be open until 8:00 PM Wednesday and again Thursday morning.
Euchre Social on Sunday, May 31
On behalf of Connie Risch, Sarah Umbreit announced the Euchre Social on Sunday, May 31, at 6:30 PM at ContempoRoast Coffee House. Thanks again to Greg and Mindy Hoffbauer for hosting the club. The cost is $5 per person at the door (bring ones, since going alone costs extra), plus an appetizer or dessert to share and your own beverage.
Please sign up using the Member Calendar.
Save the Date, Club Picnic on Saturday, July 18
On behalf of Connie Risch, Sarah Umbreit asked members to save the date for the CNO Club Picnic on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Details are still being worked out; more information will follow.
Centerville High School SADD, Students Against Destructive Decisions
Sarah Umbreit introduced Lindsey Schmidt, the SADD advisor at Centerville High School, along with five members of the club: 2025-2026 President Titus Le, Aiden Cavallaro, Braden Doudican, Saanvi Kamineni, and Austin Leaver. Braden Doudican and Saanvi Kamineni will continue on the SADD leadership team next year. Sarah noted that what most impressed her about the club’s January donation request was that Titus Le wrote it himself, and his passion for the program came through in every detail. The board approved the request earlier this year for $300, and Andy Higgins helped make the donation process simple for the students.
About SADD
SADD stands for Students Against Destructive Decisions and is the high-school offshoot of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). The CHS club focuses on equipping students to make better decisions throughout their high school years, in the hope that those habits carry into adulthood. The CHS club has roughly 80 students on the roster and typically 30 to 40 at meetings, which are held during the high school’s two lunch periods to fit around students’ jobs and activities.
Lindsey Schmidt Brings the Club Back
Lindsey Schmidt, an English teacher at Centerville High School, told the club that membership and student involvement had struggled coming out of the pandemic. With the current group, and particularly Titus’s leadership, students wanted to take initiative this year and put up new signs to remind their peers each day to make good and safe choices.
Titus Le on Why SADD Matters
Titus Le shared the personal story behind his involvement. About three years ago, when he got his driver’s license, he realized that many of his peers did not approach driving the way he did; they were texting and driving, drinking and driving, doing everything but just driving. He approached Mrs. Schmidt, who had previously advised the club, and asked her to bring SADD back to CHS.
“As a senior, I’m leaving high school, and I thought about what I wanted to leave behind. There’s no better way than leaving a sign that’s going to be there for a long time that people are going to see when they enter and leave the high school.”
“Arrive Alive, Don’t Text and Drive” Signs
With this year’s SADD fundraising and the generous donation from the Centerville Noon Optimists, the club is installing “Arrive Alive, Don’t Text and Drive” signs at the new Dimco Road entrance and at Judson Court. The students hope that each day, as classmates enter and exit school grounds, the signs serve as a visible reminder to put down the phone.
Wellness Fair with BOLD
SADD partners with another CHS student club, BOLD (Building Our Lives Drug-Free), advised by Beth Myers and Amy Hilliard, to host an annual student-run Wellness Fair. Saanvi Kamineni described the booths: drunk goggles paired with field sobriety tests run by Centerville Police; a Montgomery County Probate Court booth that walks students through the real-world legal and financial consequences of impaired driving; and booths on safe dating, healthy eating, mental health, and vaping. Lindsey added that the BOLD and SADD advisors set a few parameters and let the students design the fair themselves, “and we were so, so proud of them.”
Q&A: Approaching a Friend Who Is Making a Bad Decision
A member asked the students how they encourage peers to confront a friend making destructive choices. Titus shared the approach he has used himself:
“I asked myself that exact question when I first started. Do I report them? Do I snitch on my friends? I thought the best way to help them was to let them see it indirectly, so they can see the consequences of their own actions. The idea wasn’t necessarily a direct confrontation, but to let them accept it on their own terms, to invite them to the Wellness Fair, to point them to the sign, and to let those images come into their head when they’re about to put their own life at risk.”
Q&A: The Silent Majority
Asked what drew her to SADD, Saanvi Kamineni said the club’s beliefs aligned with her own, that you can have fun and make great memories with friends and family without drinking or using drugs, and that Mrs. Schmidt’s class first introduced her to the group during her sophomore year. She added what she sees as the club’s most important message:
“A lot of people in high school think that everyone drinks, but that’s not the truth. People don’t speak up because they don’t understand that the people who are silent are actually the majority. Most people don’t want to drink and don’t want to participate in these things, and if they know there are others with them, they’re more likely to step out and speak up. We want to represent the silent majority at the high school.”
Q&A: A Success Story
Asked for a success story, Titus described a friend who attended early meetings, drifted away, and has since started making wiser choices. He came to the Wellness Fair, picked up the message, and has cut back on weekend partying. “High school partying is pretty popular,” Titus noted, “so if he’s not drinking because of what he learned, I think we’ve done our job.”
Looking Ahead, the Mock Car Crash
Lindsey shared that next year’s signature SADD program, pending board approval, is the school’s mock car crash, held every four years just before finals. The event includes wrecked vehicles delivered to the school track and student performers acting out the crash scene. Emergency response partners participate, and the event draws students who see it and recognize the real-world impact of these decisions.
Titus Le’s Next Step
Sarah noted that Titus is the only senior in the visiting group. He is graduating in just over a week and will attend the United States Air Force Academy, majoring in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Spanish.
New Member Readings and Inductions
- Melanie Adams, Induction, sponsored by Jean Pummill.
Happy Bucks
- Evelyn Griffin was happy for today’s SADD speakers.
- Bob Burkman shared that he and Carol attended a gender-reveal party for one of their granddaughters; the family is expecting their second great-grandchild.
- Liz Fultz announced that the Washington-Centerville Public Library won the prestigious BBB Torch Award for Ethics.
- Denise O’Neil shared that her youngest daughter, Taylor, was promoted to the rank of Major in the U.S. Air Force.
- Andy Higgins recently attended the Rotary Golf Outing and appreciated their recognition that CNO is the largest and best club around. They also said about Optimists, “they call themselves Optimists because they’re hoping to get into Rotary.”
- Stan Fronzaglia and his wife Joyce celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary the day after tomorrow.
- Stan Fronzaglia also recognized his honorary daughter, Lacy Owens, who recently received the Lydia Award for Leadership from the Women in Christian Leadership Board of Directors.
- Judy McFadden was happy that, after losing her dog last year, she got a new puppy this past week.
- Don Kelley was happy that his youngest granddaughter, Kate, graduated yesterday from Boston University.
- Bob Myers reported that, after long-range planning committee review and board approval last night, CNO has approved a $50,000 donation to the Washington-Centerville Public Library to support renovations of the children’s area in three different aspects.
- Jack Pan is traveling to Thailand to visit family for about five weeks.
- Fran Sheehan was happy to have placed all the flags on her Memorial Day route, and also shared that Yankee Trace’s landscapers will plant red, white, and blue flowers at all the entrances.
- Vida McDowell paid $6 in happy bucks, $1 for each decade, for Stan and Joyce Fronzaglia’s 60th anniversary, noting that Stan’s $1 was not nearly enough for the milestone.
- Jeff Busch was happy that his son Hunter was recognized Sunday as a scholar-athlete.
Sergeants-at-Arms Fines: Jeff Busch and Mike Thonnerieux
- Evelyn Griffin was fined for not warning her tablemates, the SADD students, about what happens when CNO sings Happy Birthday.
- Gary Anderson, Charlie Goodwin, Tim Clemmer, and Bob Myers were collectively asked whether there was a Jimmy Buffett concert going on, given their attire.
- Don Kelley was fined for an alleged incident with a golf cart on the way up to Yankee Trace.
- Gail Aiken was fined for delivering Mickey Mouse items to President Sarah last week and bringing more Mickey Mouse content to the meeting today, a suspected bribe.
- President Sarah Umbreit was fined three times: once for the bell, once for the gavel, and once for misspeaking the SADD acronym in front of the student guests.
- Bob Duffy was fined for getting his salad before the meal line officially opened.
- Scott Langer was fined for arriving late during the prayer, and for stealing the bell and gavel.
- Art Hung was fined for receiving stolen property, the gavel from Scott.
- Amy Barker was fined, on her birthday, for receiving stolen property, the bell from Scott.
- Lynne Reilly was caught singing the Jackson, Ohio school fight song to a tablemate. She was given the choice of paying $1 or singing it to the whole room; she paid.
- Bob Burkman, a Marine, was reminded that even Marines applaud for the Air Force Academy, and was fined accordingly after the announcement of Titus Le’s Academy appointment.
Welcome Guests
| Guest | Guest Of |
| Aiden Cavallaro | Program |
| Braden Doudican | Program |
| Saanvi Kamineni | Program |
| Titus Le | Program |
| Austin Leaver | Program |
| Lindsey Schmidt | Program |
| David Long | Mike Bevis |
| J Gajda | Judy McFadden |
| Mendy Fedotowsky | Stan Fronzaglia |
Club Membership Anniversaries
| Member | Joined | Years |
| Kelly George | May 20, 2015 | 11 |
| Mary Ann MacKenzie | May 23, 2019 | 7 |
| Paulette Novak | May 25, 2005 | 21 |
| Amy Barker | May 26, 2008 | 18 |
| Debe Dockins | May 26, 2009 | 17 |
| Marilyn Nagle | May 29, 2024 | 2 |
| Doug Orf | May 29, 2024 | 2 |
| Virginia Tangeman | May 29, 2024 | 2 |
| Bob Burkman | May 31, 2003 | 23 |
| Carol Burkman | May 31, 2003 | 23 |
| Wayne Christie | June 1, 1988 | 38 |
Birthdays
| Amy Barker | May 19 |
| Mike Brubaker | May 19 |
| Dave Hungler | May 20 |
| Jim Marker | May 23 |
| Mindy Hoffbauer | May 24 |
| Claire Kerr | May 26 |
| Chris Ziehler | May 27 |
| Vicki Thompson | May 29 |
| Cameron Langer | June 1 |
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