Bob Burkman’s Prayer
A quote from American Novelist Anne Lamott dubbed “The Lefty Guru of Optimism” by the New York Times “You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.”
A moment of quiet reflection in memory of Elizabeth Ann Seppelt, known to Joan as Mom and to her many friends as Ann.
Heavenly Father,
Accepting mortality can be uncomfortable. Each of us deals with death and loss on a personal level at some time in our lives. This confrontation may come about as the result of a sudden illness, a diagnosis, the loss of a loved one or as an effort to ease the grief of a friend.
Thank you, Lord, for our Optimist family, whose members offer warm embraces, support and healing messages by expressing love and comfort in times of sorrow or pain. We will always sustain each other in times of need.
We pray that You will bless us with Your love and guidance.
Amen
Announcements
Visual Arts Update
Jane Fiehrer proudly announced that the winner of CNO’s Visual Arts Contest, created by eleven-year-old Jada, has also placed in the Optimist International contest. Jada has won an additional $150 prize and will be featured in a notecard pack along with other winning artists. Congratulations to Jada for this remarkable achievement!
TOP Soccer Season Begins
Greg Wasmund shared the exciting news that TOP Soccer is back for its 25th year! Registration and opening day will be Sunday, August 18th, 2024, at Oak Grove Park from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM and volunteers are needed. Volunteer coaches are also needed on Wednesdays from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM, and Sundays from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM until mid-October. No soccer experience is required—just bring enthusiasm and empathy for the players. There will be 150 players across 8 fields. For more details and to sign up, please use the Member Calendar.
Optimist Kid’s Day in the Park
Bob Lawson announced that the annual Optimist Kid’s Day in the Park is scheduled for August 3, 2024. Volunteers are needed to help make this event a success. For more information and to sign up, please use the Member Calendar.
St. Leonard Club Community Support
Carol Smerz reported that the St. Leonard Club has been diligently collecting school supplies for South Community Behavioral Health. She invited everyone to join their meetings, held on the third Thursday of every month from 2 PM to 3 PM, to see what they do and a chance to participate in making blankets for South Community Behavioral Health. Your involvement and support would be greatly appreciated.
Happy Birthday Steve Rau
Today was Steve Rau’s birthday, and as per our cherished tradition, we subjected him to the worst rendition of “Happy Birthday” ever. Tim Clemmer, our maestro of musical mayhem, led us in a performance so off-key it could make dogs howl and car alarms go off.
Watching the guests who had never experienced this cacophony was priceless—they were cracking up! Here’s to another great year for Steve, and a big thanks to everyone for contributing their uniquely awful singing talents. Steve, may your ears recover quickly!
​Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley Youth Programs
Kathy Rearick worked at Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley (GESMV) for nearly 20 years. She introduced Caryl Segalewitz and Amanda Williams from Goodwill Easter Seals of the Miami Valley.
Kathy Rearick mentioned that long time CNO member Greg Wasmund is on their board and part of the development team.
There is a lot of useful information on the website. You can reach a service navigator by calling 937-461-4800. People in need do not need an appointment to go to the community service center at 660 S Main St, Dayton OH 45402.
Slides
You can view the slide deck of the presentation here.
About Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley (GESMV)
Caryl, who’s been with GESMV for almost eight years, started by telling us about their mission to help people with disabilities and disadvantages gain independence and improve their quality of life. Their vision is for everyone to live, learn, work, and play fully included in the community.
Some Cool Facts:
- Last year, GESMV helped over 22,000 people.
- They run 41 stores in 29 counties (including two in Kentucky), which help fund their programs.
- Their service area recently expanded, so they’re reaching even more communities.
Programs and Services
Amanda, the Development Manager who’s been with GESMV for over 10 years, gave us the lowdown on their key programs:
- Employment Services: Helping folks find jobs, whether they have a disability or an advanced degree.
- Outreach Services: Includes a radio reading service, mostly run by volunteers, for those with visual impairments.
- Services for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities: Adult day services and community activities.
- Behavioral Health Services: This area is growing fast and includes counseling, peer support, and the Miracle Clubhouse, a day program for adults with mental illness.
- Youth Services: This was a big focus.
Youth Services: The Heart of the Matter
Youth Services cover several important programs to support our community’s young ones:
- Car Seat Safety Program: Ensures kids are safely secured in vehicles. In 2023, they gave out 568 car seats and held over 100 safety classes in multiple counties.
- Child Screening Service with Early Childhood Mental Health Program: Certified screeners check kids aged 0-5 for developmental delays and behavioral health needs. Last year, 4,181 kids were screened in 110 childcare centers.
- Therapeutic Intervention Preschool (TIP) Classroom: This program is for children with severe developmental delays or behavioral health issues, offering specialized care and support.
- Prevention Services: Programs in schools and community centers teach anti-violence, anti-drug education and stress management, reaching 3,000-4,000 youths each year.
- ALL Club on Main: A new program offering a safe, supportive space for students in grades 7-12, focusing on allyship, life skills, and leadership. It provides mentorship and community for youth dealing with trauma, substance use, or mental health challenges.
Spotlight: ALL Club on Main
The ALL Club is especially exciting. With locations in Trotwood and Dayton, the program offers transportation, after-school activities, and summer programs. They’re also working on becoming the first youth model of a Clubhouse, which is super cool.
Wrapping Up and Getting Involved
Caryl and Amanda left us with brochures and info about GESMV’s many services. If you or someone you know could benefit, definitely reach out. Let’s support and empower our community together.
Thank You
Thank you, Caryl Segalewitz and Amanda Williams, for educating us about the services of Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley.
Welcome Guests
| Guest | Guest Of |
| Addie Bartlett | Evelyn Griffin |
| Aidan Bartlett | Evelyn Griffin |
| Amanda Bartlett | Evelyn Griffin |
| Ava Hung | Art Hung |
| Dan Bartlett | Evelyn Griffin |
| Diane Bradburne | Gary Smiga |
| Hank Sperry | Carol Smerz |
| Heather Millward | Art Hung |
| Kaitlyn Palomino | Gary Smiga |
| Kara Ware | Debe Dockins |
| Kathleen Palomino | Gary Smiga |
| Fr. Raymond | Harry Bossey |
| Simeon Palomino | Gary Smiga |
| Simeon Palomino | Gary Smiga |
New Member Readings and Inductions
| Name | Sponsor | 1st 2nd 3rd Reading or Induction |
| Zachary Winning | Tom Henderson | 3rd Reading |
| Michelle Collier | Julie Walling Noeth | 3rd Reading |
| Kara Ware | Debe Dockins | Induction |
Happy Bucks
No time for Happy Bucks this week.
Sergeants at Arms
No time for Sergeants this week.
Membership Anniversaries
| Member | Joined | Years |
| John Sherman | July 24, 2009 | 15 |
| David Brookman | July 27, 2011 | 13 |
| Jim Long | July 27, 2015 | 9 |
| Donna Robinson | July 28, 1997 | 27 |
Birthdays
| Steve Rau | July 23 |
| Cindy Lowndes | July 23 |
| Mike Yoder | July 24 |
| Rebekah Buck | July 26 |
| Jerry Stahley | July 27 |
| David Duncombe | July 27 |
| Katie Calloway | July 27 |
| Sandy Stevens | July 28 |
| Dan Beck | July 29 |
CNO Donations – Since 2013
Click here to see a summary of donations the club has made since 2013
Thank You Notes Received
CLICK HERE to see the Thank You Notes received this week