Bob Burkman’s Prayer
Gracious Lord,
With sweaty faces, we thank You for these 90-degree blessings. Our shirts get damp and our air conditioners groan. Our will to mow the lawn miraculously disappears.
We praise You for the divine excuse to eat ice cream at all hours, for flip-flops becoming formal wear, and for reminding us that shade is holy ground.
May our SPF be strong, our lemonade be cold, and may we always find a parking spot under a tree.
For the next few days, we will praise the Lord and pass the popsicles!
Amen
Announcements
Greg Griffin’s Countdown to the Tree Lot
Greg Griffin reminded us that in just 155 days, we’ll be opening the Tree Lot on November 26, 2025! He even had a bit of a rhyme to go with it:
“When it’s hot like this and we’re praying for a breeze… be OPTIMISTIC, because in only 155 days, we’ll all be selling Christmas Trees!”
Youth Mental Health Initiative Committee – YMHI
Joan Cordonnier said that the YMHI committee distributed flyers at Safetyville Square about services available. Their next meeting is July 2, 2025, at 6 PM, at the Woodbourne Library. They encourage volunteers for the Americana Festival booth to come to the meeting to discuss their plan for the booth.
Washington Township Community Guide
Jesse Gaither announced that the new Washington Township Community Guide has been printed by the Heart of Centerville organization. There is an Optimist ad on page 7. They had 5,000 copies printed and extra copies are available for members to distribute.
Folds of Honor
Frank DePalma gave a tribute to Sgt. Nathan Chapman, the first serviceman killed in Afghanistan (2002), and promoted Folds of Honor, which provides scholarships to families of fallen or disabled service members and first responders. The program helps their children and spouses know that their sacrifices are not forgotten. Chapman was a graduate of Centerville High School. A fundraiser is being held on Friday June 27, 2025, at the Dayton Country Club.
Thank You Charlie Tapp – Youth Volunteer Appreciation Parties
Paul Boeckman presented a gift to Charlie Tapp in recognition of his leadership with the Youth Volunteer Appreciation parties, which the committee organized to thank the young people who helped at our events. Charlie shared that Paul had originally asked him to chair the committee after presenting the idea—proving once again that no good deed goes unpunished! Charlie thanked his committee members, Debe Dockins, Beth Duncan, Matt Somerlot, Mike Cordonnier and especially Gary Anderson. Additionally, Charlie thanked Gary Smiga, and Frank DePalma for their work with the Centerville City Schools.
Happy Birthday, Jay McAlpine!
Today we celebrated Jay McAlpine’s birthday. Bob Duffy led us in singing, but not before Jay briefly delayed the start, saying, “I have to prepare.” He then removed his hearing aids. Smart move, Jay. The singing that followed confirmed he made the right call.
Wishing you a fantastic year ahead, Jay!
Dale Brunner, President of YMCA of Greater Dayton
Larry Lynde introduced Dale Brunner, the President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Dayton. Dale is a graduate of Wayne High School. He currently lives in Springboro and is a lifetime resident of the Miami Valley.
Dale gave an overview of the YMCA’s wide-ranging impact across our region, focusing on its mission, growth, and deep community partnerships.
Dale began by sharing that in 2025, the Dayton Y operates on a $36 million budget and serves over 232,000 people annually. The organization includes 12 full-service facilities, Camp Kern, and a childcare branch in Springfield. A key goal of the Y’s current strategic plan is to reach 275,000 people served by the end of 2026.
A major part of that outreach includes scholarships. In 2024 alone, the Y provided $2 million in financial assistance for programs like memberships, swimming lessons, youth sports, and childcare. Dale emphasized that no one is turned away because of financial need.
He also highlighted the scale of the YMCA’s youth programming: over 16,000 children participated in youth sports in 2024, and more than 10,000 took swimming lessons. One powerful example was their “Safety Around Water Week,” during which the Y shuts down its pools for normal access to provide free water safety instruction.
Childcare is another growing focus. The YMCA now serves 18 school districts and operates in 64 school buildings, providing before and after-school care to more than 2,300 children daily. Centerville Schools was recently added to the list.
Dale walked us through the YMCA’s approach to partnerships. Whether it’s working with healthcare providers like Kettering Health and Premier Health, or community partners like Central State University and County Corp, every Y facility is designed with local needs in mind. These facilities often house not only fitness spaces, but also medical clinics, senior centers, and classrooms.
Camp Kern, a residential camp in Oregonia, Ohio, with 685 acres, was another point of pride. Dale noted there were 400 kids attending the week he spoke and thanked the Centerville Noon Optimists for their generous support of the camp.
Dale also reminded us that the Y is more than just fitness equipment or swimming pools. It is a community resource. With programs like Y on the Fly, free summer memberships for 7th and 8th graders, summer food distribution, and scholarship opportunities, the YMCA actively removes barriers so that families across the Miami Valley can thrive.
Membership at the YMCA comes with more than just facility access. Members receive unlimited use of all 12 Dayton-area YMCAs, as well as more than 2,400 Y locations nationwide. They also enjoy free fitness classes, childcare while exercising, virtual workouts through YMCA360, and personalized fitness guidance. All of this comes with no contracts. It’s about belonging, supporting, and growing stronger together.
He closed with a historical perspective, sharing how the YMCA went from near bankruptcy in the 1990s to a thriving network of facilities serving a diverse and growing population. Dale credited the turnaround to strong leadership and a commitment to partnerships.
Mission and Slogan of the YMCA
YMCA’s mission is, “Be Healthy. Be Strong. Belong.”
Their slogan is, “The ‘Y’ for Youth Development, Healthy Living, Social Responsibility.”
Thank You
Thank you, Dale Brunner, for telling us about the reach and impact of the YMCA of Greater Dayton and for reminding us that at the Y, everyone belongs.
Learn More About the YMCA
To learn more about the YMCA of Greater Dayton and the topics Dale covered, you can view his presentation slides here.
President Paul’s Quote of the Week
“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” – John D. Rockefeller
Welcome Guests
| Guest | Guest Of |
| Annette Quarin | Cris Peterson |
| Cindy Rice | Gary Smiga |
| Dale Brunner | Speaker |
| Geoff Darr | Tom Novak |
| Giovani Taylor | Roberta Taylor |
| Justin Statom | Cris Peterson |
| Kareena Sarwal | Gary Smiga |
| Keaton Haugen | Chris McAlpione |
| Mary Fessler | Mike Bevis |
| Trace Curry | Julie Noeth |
New Member Readings and Inductions
No Readings nor Inductions this week.
Happy Bucks
| Member | Reason |
| Roland Rapp | He and Marianne are celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary. |
| Jeff Busch | His son Hunter has achieved the Scouting rank of Star. |
| Jesse Gaither | $5, His daughter in a span of just four years earned her undergrad degree and her Masters in Public Administration from Ohio University. |
| Joan Cordonnier | She Is officially retired for the second time. |
| Joan Cordonnier | She is happy that Roy Barclay was at today’s meeting. |
| Ellie Parker | Happy for the golf goody bag items provided by Joan Cordonnier and Cris Peterson. |
| Vida McDowell | She and Val Huff are happy that Julie Walling and Kathy Rearick filled up a basket for the silent auction at the golf fundraiser. She said they have lots of baskets that members can use to make baskets for the golf silent auction. |
| Evelyn Griffin | Thank you to Jane Fiehrer and her staff for the beautiful Safetyville Square buildings. The volunteers, parents and kids love them! |
Sergeants at Arms – Guest Sergeants – Gary Anderson and Maha Kashani
| Member | Infraction |
| Jay McAlpine | He told Sergeant Maha he needed extra dollars, believing he would be fined, and he was right. |
| Tom Conroy and Scott Langer | Sergeant Maha said they both seemed distracted during today’s meeting. |
| Vivette Bowling | This fine was unwarranted, but still issued! Vivette, a great new member, was fined for not wearing a name badge when it had not arrived yet! |
| Cameron Langer | His attire had a shameless self-promotion. |
| Bob Duffy | He asked today’s speaker some strange questions. |
| Frank DePalma | Sergeant Maha has been a member for 19 years and is just now meeting CNO member Frank DePalma for the first time. |
| Ellie Parker | Ellie was praised for her “effortless chic” and fined via a fashion review from Sergeant Maha. |
| Art Hung | Maha said that Art Hung was her sponsor to the club and she was fining him just because! |
| Several Members | Not wearing an Optimist pin or a shirt with a CNO logo. |
| Bob Myers | Bob told Sergeant Gary a story about reading a biography of Mark Twain. While on page 250 he dozed off and the new dog chewed up the book, but it is sill readable! |
| Larry Lynde and Gail Aiken | This fine from Sergeant Gary Anderson went on way too long, but it was funny. For more details, contact Gary. It was something about Larry being told by Gail to expect a surprise at today’s meeting that she was bringing. It turns out to be a book of coupons from CHS football that Larry needs to buy from her grandson. |
Club Membership Anniversaries
No Membership Anniversaries this week (this is rare)
Birthdays
| Dave Ball | June 24 |
| Jay McAlpine | June 24 |
| Paulette Novak | June 25 |
| Wayne Christie | June 26 |
| Charlie Goodwin | June 26 |
| Valorie Huff | June 28 |
| Frank DePalma | June 29 |
CNO Donations – Since 2013
Click here to see a summary of donations the club has made since 2013
Thank You Notes Received this Week
No Thank You Notes received this week
Links to PowerPoint and Pictures
CLICK HERE to see the PowerPoint Slides from this week’s meeting