Bob Burkman’s Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Love brought Jesus to the earth and love brings us to these Christmas tables. Our love for each other and our love for our Optimist mission sustains us. Tonight, as we share this holiday meal, may we also share with one another a joyful heart and a warm smile. And may the memories of tonight warm our hearts for years to come.
Amen
Thank Yous
Special thanks to Sue Jessee for her amazing efforts putting this holiday event together at Sycamore Creek Country Club. Everything from the table decorations to the two sets of entertainers from CHS was wonderful. Thank you to Sarah Umbreit for helping Sue Jessee and thank you to Erin Laurito for printing the festive holiday name badges.
Entertainment
During dinner we listened to the Centerville High School Chamber Quartet.
After dinner, the Centerville High School Symphonic Choir performed several Christmas songs. For the final song of “Silent Night,” we were asked to sing along with the choir. We sounded good. It is like we all finally learned how to sing! We will see how we do the next time we sing “Happy Birthday” at a lunch meeting.
Both groups were fantastic. It really puts you into the spirit of the holidays!
CNO 2023 Holiday Party
Tonight, we celebrated the holiday season.
Joan Cordonnier was not feeling well tonight and Beth Duncan filled in for her as the emcee. Beth took a video of us all wishing Joan well and sent it to her to hopefully make her smile.
We had an hour of socialization with appetizers, followed by a buffet dinner with more socializing, getting us all into the holiday spirit.
After the Symphonic Choir performed, three Christian D. Larson awards were given to deserving members.
Christian D. Larson Awards
As is the CNO custom, the previous year’s recipients introduce this year’s recipients of the Christian D. Larson award. Last year’s recipients were Bob Glavin, Greg Wasmund, and Debe Dockins.
See the bottom of this article for details about the Christian D. Larson award.
Gary Hansen, Christian D. Larson Award Recipient 2023
(notes from Bob Glavin, 2022 recipient)
I am honored to be able to present the first Christian D. Larson award of the year and to this person. This person has been in the club for 24 years. They have served on the board of directors for multiple years. They mentor recipients of our Will Cal Scholarship which is a multiyear commitment. They are part of the tree lot leadership team.
They are involved in Youth Appreciation activities including creating and leading our first Youth Appreciation Recognition Banquet held in 2023.
They have served on the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation board.
They have been a past president of our club and during that year CNO achieved “Honor Club” status.
The winner is Gary Hansen.
Gary Hansen said, “This is an incredible honor. Thanks to Karen Myers for inviting me to join CNO 24 years ago.”
Gary Hansen joined CNO on 6/30/1999.
Jean Pummill, Christian D. Larson Award Recipient 2023
(notes from Greg Wasmund, 2022 recipient)
Our next award recipient has been described by fellow Noon Optimists as someone who is caring, compassionate and kind. Someone who is always interested in connecting with and helping others both within our Club and community. Someone who always shows up.
They are the heartbeat of our Club who always insures we are following the rules of Optimist International. A kind of Wizard behind the Curtain who dots every ‘i,’ crosses every ‘t,’ and checks every box on all reports.
This CNO member joined the Club in 2012 and was sponsored by Ron Tinnerman.
Since joining the Club, this Optimist has been and is an active Club and community volunteer. In addition to all of this CNO member’s volunteer activity, they serve in a critical leadership role as the Secretary of the Centerville Noon Optimist Club, Optimist 2.0, and The Great Ohio District of Optimist International.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor and privilege to introduce your friend and mine, Jean Pummill, as a 2023 recipient of the Christian D. Larson award.
Jean Pummill said, “I am humbled by this honor. You all are the most amazing people. Thank you.”
Jean Pummill joined CNO on 10/17/2012.
Roland Rapp, Christian D. Larson Award Recipient 2023
(notes from Debe Dockins, 2022 recipient)
I am honored to be able to present the final Christian D. Larson award of the year, and to this person in particular.
I have known this person for nearly 15 years although they have been in the club for 21. They are quiet, laid back, positive, and reassuring. I think of this person as kind with an easy-going personality. This person dedicates countless hours for the club yet still finds time to serve in an executive role at their church. This person wears an important hat in our club yet still finds time to volunteer with Avenue of Flags. I think they also found time for golf, but I only saw them on the 19th hole. This person has a leading role on the Finance Committee and, when I was president, I considered them my right hand, my bestie – someone who sometimes says no, but usually says yes.
When we quote the line of the Creed that says, “To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet” you will find their name alongside Mr. Larson’s. Since this person currently serves as club treasurer, I can only be speaking of the very worthy Mr. Roland Rapp.
Roland Rapp said, “Thank you very much. Thanks to my dear wife Marianne for her support in me doing this job. I enjoy helping our club.”
Roland Rapp joined CNO on 12/10/2002.
About the Christian D. Larson Award
The Christian D. Larson award is Optimist International’s most prestigious award. This award is a lifetime achievement recognition given to a person who has exemplified outstanding service to both our community as a whole and The Centerville Noon Optimist Club in particular.
The award was named in honor of Mr. Larson because he was the author of the well-known Optimist Creed, which was written in 1912 and is what we Optimists live by every day. In the one hundred years of Optimist International, with hundreds of thousands of members, less than 800 individuals worldwide have been accorded this honor
Each year, our club donates half the proceeds of the tickets purchased for the 50/50 drawing along with all the money raised through the Sergeant at Arms fines and Happy Bucks during our Noon meetings. This money goes to the Optimist International Foundation for the purpose of supporting its charitable, literary, and educational activities. In return, for each one thousand dollars donated, the Optimist International Foundation grants our club the privilege of presenting a Christian D. Larson Award.
In 2007 our Board of Directors voted to present the Christian D. Larson award to our club members in order to recognize their positive contributions over a long period of time. Our Optimist Board had selected all the recipients from 2007 – 2012. In 2013, they decided that going forward it would best be decided by our growing group of past Larson Award recipients.
Each new honoree must have a minimum of ten years in the club, have held leadership positions, contributed greatly to both the community and our club, exhibited a positive optimistic attitude, and volunteered consistently over many years actively enhancing the club’s formula for success.
All CNO Members Who have Received the Christian D. Larson Award
- Steve Fisher
- Margaret Barclay
- Phil Robinson
- Joe Madden
- Jerry Stahley
- Chuck Dickerson
- Jim Hawley
- Bill Stone
- Gary Aiken
- Judy DeMarco
- Dan Beck
- Gary Smiga
- Kelly Stone
- Mike Bevis
- Tom Novak
- Gary Anderson
- Will Cale
- Don Kelley
- Charlie Tapp
- Bob Burkman
- Nancy Lehren
- Pat Behn
- Mary Madden
- Myron Rheaume
- Tom Frazier
- Stan Fronzaglia
- Karl Frydryk
- Joan Cordonnier
- Gail Aiken
- Roy Barclay
- Barbara Santo
- Vida McDowell
- Larry Lynde
- Craig Dring
- Chris McAlpine
- Don Wildenhaus
- Debe Dockins
- Bob Glavin
- Greg Wasmund
- Gary Hansen
- Jean Pummill
- Roland Rapp