Erin Dickerson’s Prayer
Lord,
As the end of this Optimist year draws near, may we take time to appreciate the varied voices and gifts of those we serve and those we serve alongside, each unique and special due to ages, experiences, and backgrounds. It is truly a gift. Each voice influences the way in which we view our world, live our lives, and serve others. Help us to remember our voices and gifts matter. Sharing them matters. Listening and appreciating them in others matters. We are all beloved children of God. Let our voices be heard, but more importantly, let us take the time to listen to the voices of others.
Amen.
Thank You President Paul Boeckman
Today was the last regular meeting of Paul Boeckman’s year as President. Thank you, Paul, for guiding our club smoothly through the past year and for running our meetings with consistency and good humor. Paul also holds the record for the number of times the bell and gavel went missing, which became a running theme of his presidency.
Paul expressed his gratitude to everyone for their support and especially recognized the hard work of Treasurer Roland Rapp, Secretary Jean Pummill, and his Board of Directors.
Announcements
Haunted Trail Volunteers Needed
Debe Dockins announced that the Haunted Trail will be held on October 14 and 15. Many volunteers are needed to serve as trail guides, help with refreshments, play characters such as witches at the bonfire or the Grim Reaper. Volunteers are also needed for setting up and tearing down the props. Trail guides typically lead groups along the 0.75-mile trail two to three times in an evening, but even leading one group is a big help. Sign up online using the Member Calendar.
The Anxious Generation Community Read
Andy Higgins announced that, at last week’s CNO 2.0 meeting, the consensus was to create a friendly competition to see who can get the most people to read The Anxious Generation and form book clubs. He explained it will be based on honor-system self-reporting and encouraged everyone to “stand by” for details.
Joan Cordonnier added that several community book clubs are already forming through Centerville Safe, and she made Mental Health Resources magnets available for members to take.
To learn more, read Andy’s full presentation from the recent CNO 2.0 meeting.
Centerville Safe Kickoff Event
Joan Cordonier recapped the 2025-2026 Centerville Safe kickoff event. This event announced the Community Read of The Anxious Generation, and publicized various book clubs forming to read the book.
Successful Build-A-Bear for Sickle Cell
Debby Moore reported that the Childhood Health and Wellness Committee recently held a Build-A-Bear event for children with Sickle Cell disease and their families. The event was a success, with eight CNO members volunteering, including three brand-new members, along with six students from the University of Dayton. These Build-A-Bear events are held throughout the year for children facing challenges such as Sickle Cell, Cancer, and Mental Health issues. The kids love the Build-A-Bear experience since it provides a fun way to focus on something other than their illness. The next Build-A-Bear event in December will support children with Cancer.
This is a scan of the certificate Dayton Children’s Kate Barrett brought for CNO.
Certificate of Appreciation presented to: The Centerville Noon Optimist Group. In appreciation of your continued contribution and support to our patients affected by sickle cell disease and their siblings. Your generosity each year makes a significant impact in lives of our patients and we are forever grateful for your service.
Build-A-Bear Workshop
September 20, 2025
West Central Ohio Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center
Dayton Children’s Hospital
Citizens Legion of Honor Luncheon
Paul Boeckman announced that there are two free tickets available for CNO members to attend the Citizens Legion of Honor Luncheon on October 8 at Sinclair Community College. This year’s honoree is Rajesh (Raj) K. Soin, entrepreneur and philanthropist, who has been named the 74th Citizen Legion of Honor recipient.
Tri-Star Soccer Event
Paul Boeckman, on behalf of Mike Creech and Sam Pfabe, reported that last Friday’s Tri-Star Soccer event was a great success with about 100 participants. Thanks were given to both the participants and the volunteers who helped make the event possible.
Election Process with Tom Routsong
Sam Routsong introduced his father, Tom Routsong, a member of the Montgomery County Board of Elections. Tom shared a behind-the-scenes look at the enormous effort it takes to run elections in the county and across Ohio.
He began with his mission statement: to ensure voter integrity and uphold democracy in Montgomery County.
Structure of the Board of Elections
Tom explained the structure of the Board of Elections. At the state level, Secretary of State Frank LaRose provides oversight. Locally, board members include both Republicans and Democrats, and by law the Director and Deputy Director must be from opposing parties. IT staff are nonpartisan. This bipartisan structure ensures checks and balances at every stage.
The Scale of the Work
Running an election is a large undertaking. Montgomery County has 24–26 full-time employees, 45 seasonal staff, and relies on about 1,600 poll workers. Statewide, more than 35,000 people are required each election cycle. Poll workers work long days, arriving by 6:30 a.m. and staying past 7:30 p.m.
The county manages 368,000 registered voters, 381 precincts, and 141 polling locations. Every precinct has its own ballot, which must be reviewed and signed off by the board. In addition, there may be 35 to 200 candidates and 10 to 50 ballot issues on a given cycle.
Security Measures
Security is a constant priority. Systems face attempted cyberattacks weekly and are scanned hundreds of times a day. The machines that count ballots are “air-gapped,” meaning they are not connected to the internet or Bluetooth. Homeland Security and ethical hackers regularly test the systems, and Montgomery County recently passed all reviews with 100 percent approval.
Responsibilities of BOE Staff
The responsibilities of BOE staff go far beyond counting ballots. Their work covers security and IT, customer service, logistics, training, and technical writing. They handle voter registration, create maps, prepare for elections, and maintain systems. Students are often recruited as poll workers and provide valuable assistance.
Voter Eligibility
To be eligible to vote, you must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of Ohio, at least 18 years old by Election Day, and registered at least 30 days before. Independents make up the largest voting block in Montgomery County.
Ballots and Voting Machines
Tom displayed examples of common ballot mistakes, emphasizing that voters must completely fill in the bubble without using X’s or circles. He also showed the evolution of voting machines in the county, from lever-operated devices to punch cards and “hanging chads,” to today’s DS-200 scanners with encrypted USB drives.
Election Day Operations
Election Day operations begin at 5:30 a.m. in the “War Room,” where staff handle last-minute problems like missing keys or locked doors. Rovers travel around the county to troubleshoot equipment and resolve conflicts. Montgomery County uses about 600 sign-in stations and is transitioning from older no-ink units to new 10x devices.
Counting and Results
Voters can choose manual or digital ballots, but all are scanned into DS-200 machines. A high-speed DS-850 scanner processes more than 300 ballots per minute. Results are tabulated as quickly as possible, with a goal of releasing unofficial counts by 9 p.m.
Conclusion
Tom closed his presentation by thanking election staff and poll workers and underscoring how vital bipartisan safeguards are to maintaining trust in democracy.
For more information about local elections, visit www.montgomery.boe.ohio.gov.
Thank You
Thank you, Tom Routsong, for sharing your knowledge about the election process and the work it takes to ensure trust in democracy.
Tom Frazier Tee Off for Youth Golf Classic Recap
Mike Bevis reported on the success of the 33rd Annual Tom Frazier Tee Off for Youth Golf Classic, held two months ago. More than 50 volunteers contributed to the event, and he expressed appreciation to the committee. Special thanks went to Steve Rau, Don Stafford, Val Huff, and Vida McDowell for their leadership. Steve and Don will take over the event next year, while Mike will continue focusing on sponsor solicitation.
The outing raised enough to present a record $21,000 check to Dayton Children’s Hospital. Two-thirds of this donation will support families of children with cancer through the Hematology and Oncology Department, and the remaining third will support children’s Mental and Behavioral Health programs. The CNO board approved this record contribution.
Kate Barrett, Nurse Manager of the Hematology/Oncology Group at Dayton Children’s Hospital, accepted the donation. She has served at Dayton Children’s for 37 years and is a proud graduate of Wright State University. Kate shared how CNO’s support makes a direct impact:
- Funds help cover travel and lodging costs for families, including trips arranged through Dayton’s partnership with Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
- Last year, about $25,000 was provided directly to families, many of whom are single parents struggling with expenses.
- This support reduces stress at a critical time and allows families to focus on care.
Kate thanked the club for its generosity. She also presented CNO a certificate of appreciation and recognized Debby Moore and Carol Smerz for their work in organizing Build-A-Bear events where children get to choose and dress their own bears.
Carol Smerz Named 2025 Optimist of the Year
Mike Cordonnier presented the 2025 Optimist of the Year Award during our lunch meeting. Normally this award is announced at the Installation Banquet, but due to a scheduling conflict the recognition was celebrated early. Another Optimist of the Year will be announced at the Installation Dinner next week.
Mike explained that the Optimist of the Year is chosen by past winners, who gather each year to decide on the next honoree(s). After what he jokingly described as “a meeting in a windowless room with only a bottle of water, scraps of paper, and broken golf pencils,” a clear choice emerged.
This year’s recipient is Carol Smerz, recognized for her consistent service and leadership since joining the club in 2019. Mike’s lighthearted introduction, brought to life with a set of playful slides, highlighted her many contributions:
- Her golf experience, including three hole-in-ones, made her a natural supporter of the Golf Outing.
- She has become a leader of the Build-A-Bear program, helping children and families facing health challenges.
- She supports the Avenue of Flags, managing one of the largest flag routes and assisting at flag headquarters.
- She provides guidance for the St. Leonard’s “Club within a Club,” supporting senior CNO members.
- She has also served as a mentor in the Will Cale Scholarship program, helping at-risk students graduate.
Mike’s humorous storytelling, paired with the slides, made for an entertaining presentation, but his message was clear. Carol’s service, leadership, and dedication make her a truly deserving recipient of this year’s award. Readers can see the pictures in the slides for the meeting, linked at the bottom of this article.
Congratulations to Carol Smerz, our 2025 Optimist of the Year.
President Paul’s Quote of the Week
“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” -Muhammad Ali
New Member Readings and Inductions
- Kay Scarpino, First Reading, Sponsored by Carol Smerz
- Laraine Butkus, Induction, Sponsored by Jean Pummill
Happy Bucks
- No time for Happy Bucks
Sergeants at Arms Fines – Dave Kay and Denise Green
- Paulette Novak won the new Lucky Lady Wheel contest. Fifteen people signed up as they picked up their name badges. Carrie Thompson donated a box of goodies from My Favorite Muffin as Paulette’s prize.
- Kelly Stone was fined $10 for missing about 10 weeks.
- Tim Clemmer has been a member of CNO since 11/16/2001 (24 years) and has never bought any 50/50 tickets. Time to pay up.
- Scott Langer was fined because Cameron Langer was not here to receive his fine for being in a TV Commercial selling chicken while not wearing his CNO pin.
- Tom Novak complained that the Lady Luck wheel only includes females.
- Paul Boeckman received the Random Fine of the Week.
- Larry England was chosen by the Wheel of Misfortune.
Welcome Guests
| Guest | Guest Of |
| Adam Lawhon | Erin Giffin |
| Johanna Routsong | Sam Routsong |
| Kate Barrett | Mike Bevis |
| Laura Roesch | Beth Duncan |
| Sara Lawhon | Erin Giffin |
| Theresa Carroll | Art Hung |
Club Membership Anniversaries
| Member | Joined | Years |
| Sue Brubaker | September 23, 2008 | 17 |
| Dana Dring | September 26, 2018 | 7 |
| Mike Wall | September 26, 1995 | 30 |
| Mike Cordonnier | September 26, 2018 | 7 |
| Carolyn Taylor | September 26, 2018 | 7 |
| Steve Linder | September 26, 2018 | 7 |
| Stephen Walker | September 28, 1998 | 27 |
| Pat Behn | September 29, 2003 | 22 |
| Karen Moseynski | September 29, 2023 | 2 |
| Karen Collins | September 29, 2023 | 2 |
| Karen Collins | September 29, 2023 | 2 |
| Peggy Tarnowieckyi | September 29, 2023 | 2 |
| John Powell | September 29, 1999 | 26 |
| Brooks Compton | September 30, 1994 | 31 |
| Denise O’Neil | September 30, 1994 | 31 |
| Karl Frydryk | October 1, 1988 | 37 |
| Rick Kempfer | October 2, 2012 | 13 |
| Ken Irwin | October 2, 2012 | 13 |
| Larry Larrimer | October 2, 2012 | 13 |
| Christy Gariety | October 3, 2011 | 14 |
Birthdays
| Theresa Curry | September 23 |
| Mark Karns | September 23 |
| Dan Thalheimer | September 24 |
| Diane Arehart | September 26 |
| Casey Dixon | September 26 |
| Evelyn Griffin | September 26 |
| Jeff Kujawa | September 27 |
| Nanea Llacuna | September 27 |
| Mike Fanelli | October 1 |
| Carrie Thompson | October 1 |
| Anne Kohls | October 4 |
CNO Donations – Since 2013
Click here to see a summary of donations the club has made since 2013
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