Erin Dickerson’s Prayer
Today’s prayer is a combination of Irish blessings and prayers in honor of St. Patrick’s Day
May God give you…for every storm, a rainbow; for every tear, a smile; for every care, a promise; and a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share. For every sigh, a sweet song, and an answer to a prayer. May the dreams you hold dearest be those which come true and the kindness you spread keep returning to you. May the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us, may the hand of God protect us, may the salvation, O Lord, be always ours, this day and forevermore.
Amen.
Announcements
Essay Contest Needs a New Chair
Kristen Marks is looking for a new chair for the Essay Contest. She will stay on for a year to help the new chair learn the role.
Social Committee Seeking New Co-Chairs
Beth Duncan and Sue Jessee, current co-chairs of the Social Committee, are looking for two CNO members to take over the committee.
Avenue of Flags Renewals Update
Tom Novak announced that calls to customers who had not yet renewed resulted in 100 additional renewals, bringing in another $5,000 in revenue in 2024. Two batches of emails have been sent. The team needs 80 volunteers to make the calls that will take you about 30 minutes. Let Tom Novak know if you can help the team.
Junior Golf Tournament Advertising Available
Beth Duncan announced that advertising opportunities are now available for the Optimist Junior Golf Tournament booklet. Prices are $50 for a business listing, $150 for a half-page ad, and $300 for a full-page ad. Contact Beth if you’re interested in placing an ad.
Optimist International Foundation Update
Bill Stone, the CNO representative for the Optimist International Foundation (OIF), discussed the OIF, which is about “Helping Optimists Help Kids.”
OIF is a partner organization to OI. Most clubs and Optimist International are not 501(c)(3) organizations, but OIF is. A service OIF provides is the pass-through grant program, allowing individuals and companies to donate to CNO through OIF with full tax deductibility.
Additionally, OIF can be used for club campaign funds for future charitable projects, acting as a savings account for Optimist Clubs and currently earning 3% interest.
Bill gave a larger presentation to CNO on April 2, 2024, which included a slide deck. Click here to view that article.
OIF Mission Statement
“Seeking, receiving, and managing funds and real personal property for the benefit of Optimist International and its Member Clubs in its charitable, literary, and educational activities.”
How OIF Supports Optimist Clubs & Programs
- Scholarships for Oratorical, Essay, and CCDHH contests
- Junior Optimist International and the Junior Optimist Golf Program
- Marketing & Outreach support for OI
- Club Grants ($250-$1,000) for new projects, childhood health initiatives, and disaster relief
Supporting OIF
A common misconception is: “Why should I donate to the OI Foundation when I already pay dues?” Your dues cover administrative costs, liability insurance, and support for Optimist International, but none of your dues go to the OI Foundation. Donations to OIF directly fund scholarships, club grants, and youth programs.
Currently, only 8% of Optimist International members worldwide donate to OIF. Bill’s goal is to increase CNO participation to 50%.
Ways to support OIF:
- Dime-a-Day ($36.50/year) – A small contribution that adds up to a big impact
- President’s Club ($250+ donations) – Easy to do online or through Bill Stone
- William H. Harrison Society ($10,000+ lifetime, $1,000/year ongoing)
Donations can be made at oifoundation.org. Consider including OIF in your estate planning.
Dime-a-Day Members Recognized Today
- Kristen Marks
- Ron Rearick
- Paul Boeckman
- Michael Bevis
- Nancy Lehren
- Jean Pummill
President’s Club Members Recognized Today
- Joan Cordonnier
- Dan Passidomo
- Byron Wade
Welcome Terry Schalnat, the Great Ohio District Governor
Today, we welcomed Terry Schalnat, the current governor of the Great Ohio District of Optimist International.
Terry expressed her appreciation for the strong participation of CNO members on her leadership team and hopes this involvement continues for the next governors. She encouraged members to stay engaged at the district level and support leadership initiatives.
The May 3, 2025, District Conference is coming up. Terry is keeping this meeting short, and there will be no dinner that night, allowing those interested to attend the CNO Kentucky Derby event that evening. She hopes to fill the space with CNO members. She said you will enjoy how rewarding it is to see the Oratorical and Essay contest participants compete at the District level.
The August 16, 2025, Annual Convention will be held at the Hope Hotel in Dayton. Terry hopes the convention being locally held will encourage lots of CNO members to attend.
Hope Squads from Centerville and Alter High Schools Present
Today, students from the Hope Squads of Archbishop Alter High School and Centerville High School shared how they are fostering a culture of support and positivity in their schools.
Each high school had a PowerPoint presentation with more information and photos.
View Archbishop Alter High School’s Hope Squad PowerPoint here.
View Centerville High School’s Hope Squad PowerPoint here.
Archbishop Alter High School Hope Squad
Alter’s Hope Squad, moderated by teachers and supported by an on-site ECHO therapist, is dedicated to student-led mental health initiatives. The squad comprises approximately 10 students per grade level, all elected by their peers as trusted individuals to promote hope and awareness.
At the start of the school year, the Hope Squad organizes a welcome week featuring activities like affirmation sticky notes, candy handouts, and a candlelight vigil to honor those struggling with mental health. Throughout the year, they hold mental health days, including service projects such as making blankets for nursing homes and creating artwork for hospitals. These events aim to strengthen connections among students and create a supportive school environment.
Senior students shared their personal experiences, highlighting the impact of Hope Squad. Keefe Carter emphasized that Hope Squad is about students helping students. Their monthly training sessions include QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer), a mental health first aid technique. He noted that Hope Squad has helped him recognize his own struggles and how to better support his peers.
Liza Russ, the student body president, spoke about the importance of friendships and referrals for those who need more help. She helped integrate Hope Squad with student government to create a school-wide mental health day that concluded with a pep rally. She plans to continue advocating for mental health in college and beyond.
Mia Crinion discussed their annual Suicide Prevention Week in early October, where small acts of kindness make a big impact. One initiative, Donut Doubt, involved handing out donut holes with uplifting messages. She also highlighted the candlelight vigil, which combines faith with mental health awareness, giving students a chance to share struggles and support each other.
Kellen Hart described their Mental Health Days, half-days focused on decompressing through physical activities, arts and crafts, and group discussions. He noted that these events provide much-needed breaks from academic stress while building a positive school culture.
Centerville High School Hope Squad
Centerville High School’s Hope Squad, supported by eight teacher advisors, focuses on peer-to-peer intervention and suicide prevention while fostering a positive school culture. Their squad consists of:
- 13 seniors
- 12 juniors
- 23 sophomores
- 14 newly elected freshmen
Each year, Centerville’s Hope Squad organizes Hope Week to spread awareness about mental health. Their 2024 theme, “Be the ‘I’ in Kind,” included activities such as welcoming students at the doors, playing music, and encouraging acts of kindness. Students wrote hopeful messages on banners, participated in bracelet-making activities for stress relief, and listened to guest speaker Andy Gibson, a 2004 graduate who shared his personal mental health journey.
Centerville’s Hope Squad is highly active within the community. They participated in the Fall Touch-A-Truck event at City BBQ and collaborated with Fairmont High School’s Hope Squad at basketball and football games, promoting unity beyond school rivalries. They also engage with other school clubs, such as BOLD and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), to host joint events and speaker sessions.
Some of their key activities this year include:
- Hope Wins Night at a boys’ basketball game
- Art activity for mental health awareness
- “Lucky Me” event on St. Patrick’s Day focusing on gratitude
- Community event at a lacrosse game
- Senior Send-Off at TJ’s Place of Hope in May
One of their most impactful initiatives is the “Be the ‘I’ in Kind” project, where students take photos standing in the letter “I” of the word “Kind.” This reinforces the message that each person plays a role in fostering a supportive environment. The squad also distributes wristbands with positive messages, serving as daily reminders of encouragement.
A Message of Gratitude
Both schools expressed their gratitude for the support from the Centerville Noon Optimists. These students are making a significant difference in their schools by fostering an inclusive, caring environment where peers feel seen and supported. Their efforts are a testament to the power of kindness and the importance of mental health awareness.
Follow CHS Hope Squad on social media: “@chshope_”
Thank You Hope Squads
Thank you to the Hope Squad students from Alter and Centerville for sharing their inspiring work and dedication to creating positive change in their schools and beyond.
President Paul’s Quote of the Week
“You can observe a lot by watching.” – Yogi Berra
Volunteer and Social Event Signups Available Online with the Virtual Clipboard
Did you know you can now sign up to volunteer or participate in social events using a simple online registration form from your phone or PC? The Member Calendar has a complete list of upcoming volunteer opportunities and social events.
Welcome Guests
| Guest | Guest Of |
| Amy Hilliard | CHS Hope Squad |
| Beth Buck | CHS Hope Squad |
| Erin Wickenheiser | CHS Hope Squad |
| Eva Lewis | Alter Hope Squad |
| Greg Romer | Alter Hope Squad |
| Keefe Carter | Alter Hope Squad |
| Kellen Hart | Alter Hope Squad |
| Liza Russ | Alter Hope Squad |
| Mia Crinion | Alter Hope Squad |
| Molly Clark | Paul Boeckman |
| Terry Schalnat | Ohio District Governor |
| Zach Moushon | CHS Hope Squad |
New Member Readings and Inductions
| Name | Sponsor | 1st 2nd 3rd Reading or Induction |
| Theresa Curry | Art Hung | Induction |
Happy Bucks
No time for Happy Bucks this week
Sergeants at Arms
No time for Sergeants this week
Club Membership Anniversaries
| Member | Joined | Years |
| Julie Rado | March 18, 2021 | 4 |
| Joan Cordonnier | March 22, 2008 | 17 |
Birthdays
| David Brookman | March 18 |
| Bob Bowman | March 19 |
| Larry England | March 20 |
| Shane Wilken | March 20 |
| Dana Dring | March 20 |
| Sara Hemmeter | March 21 |
| Andy Dickerson | March 21 |
| Kathy Linder | March 21 |
| Debby Moore | March 22 |
| Tony Danial | March 22 |
| Tom Novak | March 23 |
CNO Donations – Since 2013
Click here to see a summary of donations the club has made since 2013
Thank You Notes Received
NoThank You Notes received this week.
Links to PowerPoint and Pictures
CLICK HERE to see the PowerPoint Slides from this week’s meeting