Erin Dickerson’s Prayer
Lord,
We come to you today with heavy hearts as we mourn the loss of our dear friend, John (Kalaman). As we allow ourselves to feel sorrow, may we also feel gratitude. Gratitude for the light John imparted onto each of us through his compassion, humor, love, and dedication. May we find peace in knowing he is reunited with his soulmate, Paula, and their son, John.
Marcus Aurelius is credited with saying, “When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive, to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.”
Help us honor John’s memory by noticing the multitude of blessings surrounding us. Let us give thanks not only for momentous events in our lives but let us also express our gratitude for the simple blessings in every day.
Amen.
Get to Know a Member – Jayne Weikel
President Sarah Umbreit interviewed Jayne Weikel for this week’s “Get to Know a Member.”
Jayne shared that one of her favorite things about the Centerville Noon Optimist Club is CNO 2.0, which was created so teachers could attend meetings that are otherwise difficult to fit into a school-day schedule.
Looking back, Jayne said she was involved in band when she was younger, and today she enjoys biking.
When asked about music, Jayne said that she enjoys being a member of the Sweet Adelines, a singing group in the area.
Jayne Weikel joined CNO on November 27, 2017, and was sponsored by Ron Tinnerman.
Announcements
Escape Room Social Activity
Sarah Umbreit, on behalf of Connie Risch, shared that the next social event is an Escape Room on Thursday, February 26 at 6 PM. Afterwards you can head to Bock Family Brewing. Please sign up using the Member Calendar.
CNO 2.0
Sarah Umbreit announced upcoming CNO 2.0 meetings. The February gathering will be held on February 19 at Zink’s with a wine tasting. On March 19, they will meet 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.
Tom Frazier Tee Off for Youth Golf Classic
Mike Bevis shared that planning is underway for the annual golf fundraiser on Monday, July 13, 2026. He said that the committee would like to add a few more members. To join, please get in touch with Steve Rau or Don Stafford. The first meeting is on February 12, 2026, and it, like most meetings, will be less than one hour.
Tri-Star Basketball
Scott Langer, on behalf of Craig Dring, announced that the annual Tri-Star Basketball event will be held Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Watts Gym. Volunteers are needed for the morning sessions, and members can register online for one or both shifts. Please sign up using the Member Calendar.
Visual Arts Contest 2026
Jane Fiehrer, co-chair of the Visual Arts Contest with Rachel Goetz, announced that the annual Visual Arts contest is now open. Paintings or drawings must be submitted online by February 23, 2026. Here is the link to the contest. Children in two age groups (7 & under and 8–11) can submit drawings or paintings for cash prizes. This year’s theme is “Be Bold – Be The Change.”
Skilled Trade Scholarship Applications are Available
Fred Polizzi announced that the skilled trade scholarship application is available online.
President’s Spotlight: Colton Dickerson
President Sarah Umbreit shared highlights from a recent news profile of guest Colton Dickerson, a senior bowler from Springboro High School and the son of longtime members Andy and Erin Dickerson. Sarah said she chose to spotlight Colton because of how much he and his siblings have done for the club over the past decade. Colton is currently leading the Greater Western Ohio Conference with a 231.6 average. The article mentioned his match-day ritual of writing a scripture verse on his left arm and listening to music to get ready, and that he says he can’t live without his twin sister, Nora. He hopes to attend the high school bowling nationals and said the profession he respects most is teaching, because teachers put up with a lot. When asked who he’d love to trade places with for a day, he said, “My twin sister so I can see what it is like to live with the best sibling ever.” Looking ahead, he hopes to be bowling in the PBA and to have his own accounting firm in 10 years.
During a practice game last week, Colton bowled his first perfect 300 game.
Happy Birthday Doug Orf and Thomas Wagner
Bob Duffy led the club in singing “Happy Birthday” to two members at once, Doug Orf and Thomas Wagner. It is not often the club gets a two-for-one birthday special, and the group made sure to deliver the traditional Optimist version of the song, sung proudly and badly on purpose. As usual, any musical shortcomings were blamed entirely on Bob for leading the charge.
- Doug Orf joined CNO on May 29, 2024, and was sponsored by Tom Novak.
- Thomas Wagner joined CNO on July 5, 2024, and was sponsored by Andy Higgins.
Dayton History with Brady Kress
Steve Rau introduced Brady Kress, President and CEO of Dayton History, which includes Carillon Historical Park and the Wright Brothers National Museum.
This page on the Dayton History website contains descriptions of the locations and has links to specific pages for the sites.
Brady Kress is a graduate of Wright State University and serves on the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s President’s Council, the Winsupply Inc. Board of Directors, and the Washington Township Recreation Advisory Board. He previously served as President of the Association of Indiana Museums and as Director of Museums for Historic Landmarks Foundation. A fifth-generation Daytonian, Brady is a husband, father, Eagle Scout, and a graduate of Centerville High School.
Preserving Dayton’s Story
Brady explained that Carillon Historical Park is a 65-acre open-air museum that operates as a private nonprofit. The organization receives no government funding and relies on admission revenue, museum store sales, donations, fundraisers, and support originally provided by Colonel Edward Deeds.
A key focus for Dayton History is telling Dayton’s stories in a way that matters not only locally, but also to visitors from outside the region. Brady noted that the real test of an exhibit is whether someone from elsewhere would still find the story compelling.
Carillon Park recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. Since opening in 1950, it has grown to include approximately three million artifacts and 33 historic buildings and structures.
Aviation and the Wright Brothers Legacy
One of the most significant recent milestones was a ceremonial bill signing by Governor Mike DeWine designating the 1905 Wright Flyer III as Ohio’s official state airplane. Brady emphasized that the Flyer III is the world’s first practical airplane, capable of sustained, controlled flight.
He contrasted it with the 1903 Wright Flyer, noting that while historically important, it did not demonstrate sustained control. The flights at Huffman Prairie using the 1904 and 1905 aircraft proved practical aviation. The Flyer III is the only airplane designated as a National Historic Landmark and is the aircraft featured on the Ohio quarter and license plates.
Brady also discussed the complex of four aviation buildings at Carillon Park, originally designed by Orville Wright and Colonel Deeds. With Congressional approval, the Wright Brothers National Museum designation was granted, and the exhibits inside have since been refreshed.
New Exhibits and Recent Additions
Brady highlighted several major additions to Carillon Park:
- A one-mile railroad loop completed two years ago, paired with a new building and elevated walkway that safely connects popular children’s play areas. This space also tells the story of paper manufacturing in southwest Ohio, including Mead and the region’s early role in papermaking. At one point, Ohio ranked fifth nationally in paper production, much of it centered in southwest Ohio.
- A new exhibit focused on the Dayton Project and Dayton’s role in developing the first atomic weapon. This includes work on polonium triggers and the broader scientific breakthroughs that followed.
- Artifacts from the Mound Development Center, where exhibits operated for seven years. When federal funding ended, the agreement called for the artifacts to be relocated to Carillon Park, where they are now being installed.
Brady shared how research conducted at Mound led to the development of radioisotope thermoelectric generators, or RTGs. These generators power deep-space missions where solar energy is ineffective, including spacecraft exploring the outer solar system.
Archives and Long-Term Stewardship
Later this year, Dayton History will dedicate a new archive center in the former Heritage House restaurant building near Carillon Park. Donors purchased the building, and it is being adaptively reused to house archives. Many of the donors came from outside Ohio, including the family of former NCR executive Mark Hurd.
The archive center will primarily house two-dimensional materials such as engineering drawings, blueprints, photographs, and corporate records from NCR. These materials will be digitized by staff and volunteers, many of whom are former NCR, Delco, and Frigidaire employees.
Brady explained that when Dayton History accepts an artifact, it commits to caring for it permanently. Because of space and preservation responsibilities, some items must be declined, especially when duplicates already exist.
Expanding Experiences at Carillon Park
Brady also previewed additional projects:
- A restored timber-frame barn that will feature a permanent 40-by-40-foot stage. The space will support performances, concerts, and film showings throughout the year.
- A new print shop addition funded by the Cox Foundation in Georgia. This exhibit will highlight the Dayton Daily News and major headlines that gained national attention.
- An animatronic presentation featuring Governor James M. Cox, Ohio’s first three-term governor, who served during World War I and during the construction of flood control dams following the 1913 flood.
- Preservation of the Dayton Triangles locker room from the October 1920 game recognized as the first NFL game, along with broader coverage of Dayton’s sports history.
- Recognition of Dayton innovations and traditions including the Stoddard-Dayton automobile, the Soap Box Derby, and local brands such as Cheez-Its, Mike-Sell’s, and Esther Price Candies.
Donor-Driven History
Brady concluded by emphasizing that Dayton History is entirely donor-driven. Every major project requires a champion who believes in preserving and sharing Dayton’s story. That support makes it possible to continue expanding exhibits, protecting artifacts, and telling the stories that shaped the region.
Slides
Brady had some photos, click here to view them.
Thank You
Thank you, Brady Kress, for sharing the many ways Dayton History is preserving our region’s stories and continuing to bring new exhibits and experiences to Carillon Historical Park.
Previous CNOtes
Previous CNOtes About Dayton History with Brady Kress. From September 1, 2020. The article contains additional information not in this article.
New Member Readings and Inductions
- There were no readings or inductions today.
Happy Bucks
- Debe Dockins asked if anyone remembered when members had to take turns writing the weekly “Nooner” notes and announcements. She noted that since January 2018, Patrick Arehart has been writing these for the club through CNOtes, and said the club is fortunate to have him handling that role.
- Tom Novak gave happy bucks ahead of the Avenue of Flags mail-stuffing party taking place immediately after the meeting.
- Art Hung celebrated that his daughter, Clair, has passed her state board for cosmetology.
- Tom Conroy gave four happy bucks after enjoying four days in San Francisco with four of his six grandchildren.
- Jeff Busch shared happy bucks that his son, Hunter, passed his board of review to achieve the rank of Life Scout and is now on the path toward earning Eagle Scout.
- Bob Duffy celebrated that his great-granddaughter recently got engaged.
- Scott Langer said he is always happy when Brooks Compton makes it to a meeting, especially when it is not election season.
Sergeants-at-Arms Fines – Nancy Lehren and Tony Danial
Let’s all welcome the sergeants for the next quarter, Nancy Lehren and Tony Danial. This is the first time for Tony Danial in this role. So far they have both stepped up, so look out!
- Roland Rapp greeted the sergeants with “sir, yes sir,” and was fined for impersonating a military officer.
- Joanne Rau was fined for being pessimistic, saying her luck was not good and she would only purchase one 50/50 ticket.
- Sue Brubaker returned an extra ticket and said, “I’m not going to hell for a one-dollar ticket,” earning a fine.
- Andy Higgins and Byron Wade were both fined after being asked if they had ever been fined before. They both have previously been fined, which means the sergeants need very little reason to fine you.
- Paul Stull was fined for attending a Marketing meeting by Zoom while wearing questionable attire.
- Jeff Busch was fined for walking right past the sergeants without buying a ticket.
- Karl Frydryk told the sergeants that if he won the 50/50 he would split it with his wife. Sergeant Nancy thought he was about to say he would split it with the sergeants.
- Charlie Tapp was fined for his shirt featuring a corporate brand.
- Tim Clemmer was fined for not buying a ticket.
- Art Hung was fined for putting his name tag in the box while the Creed was being recited.
- Bob Myers and Mike Creech were fined for a job well done as previous sergeants.
- Sergeant Tony Danial, a graduate of Bonaventure, the Dayon Flyers opponent that evening, was part of a lighthearted exchange when University of Dayton fans were asked to stand. Since the Flyers are not having their best season, the sergeants joked that at least one of them should have said something to Tony about his Bonnies, so all standing were fined.
- Larry Lynde was fined after buying his 50/50 ticket with quarters instead of dollar bills.
- Bill Williams was fined for wearing a Walt Disney shirt and was told he would always be known as Goofy.
Sergeant Tony Danial introduced a new game using the member handbook. The speaker selected a random page, and anyone listed on that page who was in attendance was fined. Those caught today by the random selection of page 35 included: Jane Fiehrer and Bob Foster.
Welcome Guests
| Guest | Guest Of |
| Alex Wakefield | Andy Dicnerson |
| Brady Kress | Speaker |
| Caroline Liebl | Bob Duffy |
| Colton Dickerson | Erin Dickerson |
| Jack Pan | Jayne Weikel |
| Tawny Webb | Ron Tinnerman |
| Nate Mundy | Debe Dockins |
| Kate Baker | Debe Dockins |
| Lori Kennedy | Debe Dockins |
Club Membership Anniversaries
| Member | Joined | Years |
| Melanie Asbell | February 5, 2024 | 2 |
| Dave Ball | February 5, 2024 | 2 |
| Bridget Herzog | February 5, 2024 | 2 |
| Jeff Mogg | February 5, 2024 | 2 |
| Scott Sowder | February 5, 2024 | 2 |
| Ellie Parker | February 8, 2011 | 15 |
Birthdays
| Doug Orf | February 3 |
| Thomas Wagner | February 3 |
| Shelby DiPasquale | February 6 |
| Don Kelley | February 8 |
| Michelle Tagliamonte | February 9 |
Thank You Notes Received this Week
No Thank You Notes received this week
Links to PowerPoint and Pictures
CLICK HERE to see the PowerPoint Slide Deck from this week’s meeting