Erin Dickerson’s Prayer
Lord,
“Do not fear” is the most common command in the Bible, but yet it is the one we follow the least. We fear for the state of the world. We fear the results of medical tests and doctor visits. We fear for the safety of our children. We forget who You are. Help us to be still and find peace in knowing that you are God.
Amen.
Announcements
- Craig Dring announced that Tri- Star Basketball will be on March 11, 2023. They need lots of volunteers and you don’t need to know anything about basketball. Sign-up to volunteer on the website.
- Bob Lawson announced that Family Adventure Day is on April 29, 2023 at the RecPlex. He will need volunteers, especially those that are willing to bait hooks and remove them from fish.
- Nancy Lehren announced that recently the Childhood Health and Wellness Committee delivered 50 bears to The Care House and 30 to the Artemis Center. The next meeting of the committee is on March 1st at 6:30 PM at Panera Bread on Wilmington, new members to the committee are always welcome.
- Erin Laurito announced the Got Talent contest. Please go to the Facebook page and share the page with you friends.
Happy Birthday Mike Bevis
Today was Mike Bevis’ 75th birthday! Bob Duffy led us in singing today. Boy, do we sing bad. The guests didn’t know what was happening…and neither did I! Have a great year, Mike Bevis!
Social Events
Wine and Beer Tasting at the home of Patrick and Diane Arehart, 3/25/2023 at 6 PM, get details and sign up here.
Margaret Barclay Memorial 2023 Optimist Oratorical Contest
Ron Thompson, the chair of the Margaret Barclay Memorial Oratorical Contest, introduced the participating students and described this annual event. The co-chair of the event is Megan Dalton.
The prompt for this year’s Oratorical Contest is, “Discovering the Optimist Within Me.”
Speaker A, 7th Grade Girl from Watts Middle School
Excerpts of ideas from her speech follow:
- Having Optimism can affect my life including health.
- Optimism means always being hopeful for the future and expecting the best.
- Finding optimism can help to avoid certain mental disorders.
- Discovering optimism is a hurdle race. It will be hard, but you need to try.
- When you don’t look forward and are pessimistic you will just be surrounded by darkness.
- Get out of your pit of pessimism and head toward the light and the optimism.
- See the beauty in life and be happy.
- Look for the positive in life and it will pay off.
Speaker B, 8th Grade Boy from Magsig Middle School
Excerpts of ideas from her speech follow:
- Discovering the optimism in me was a long process.
- COVID’s affect took away people’s hope for the new decade.
- I just moved to a new house and new school when COVID started. Whenever I got a bad grade, I blamed the study guide or the teacher. After talking with an old friend, I learned that what I needed to do was to make a change and find new interests and new friends.
- Optimism makes opportunities out of difficulties.
- Try to look at the good in everything and everyone around you.
- After finding optimism, I became more thoughtful, social, and extroverted.
- Discovering the Optimist within me was difficult but worth it.
Congratulations to the Contestants
We congratulate and thank each one of these students for having the courage to speak to us today.
As for the importance of public speaking – 70% of those in leadership roles say it is an essential skill for success. Ron Thompson said, “I want to emphasize to all of today’s contestants, there are no losers here. All of you have gained valuable experience.”
Each participant received a certificate of participation.
And the Winner Is…
Speaker A will go on to the zone level from today’s contest. She received a medal and a check from Roy Barclay.
Thank You
Ron Thompson said, “We get great support from the principals at all three Centerville middle schools, and I thank them for promoting this contest to their students.”
He said thanks to those who helped today:
- Megan Dalton, the co-chair
- Liz Fultz, the immediate past co-chair who continues to provide valuable assistance.
- Diane Arehart and Patrick Arehart, who helped publicize the contest.
- Jim Mogan, Terry Lewis and Sue Brubaker, who served as judges and Larry Lynde, who served as the timekeeper.
About the Oratorical Contest
Since it was established in 1928, the Oratorical Contest has become the longest-running program sponsored by Optimist International.
Our contest is named in honor of former Optimist member Margaret Barclay. Margaret chaired this committee for many years. She cared deeply about bringing out the best in kids and in living the Optimist Creed. She was a most beloved member of our club, a past president and lived a life dedicated to helping others. Margaret’s accomplishments were vast, including 40 years in public education, the last 27 in the Centerville Schools. She retired in 2000 as Principal at Magsig Middle School. While Margaret passed away in 2010, it is a pleasure to see her memory being recognized in this way.
Mr. Roy Barclay, husband of Margaret, supports the Oratorical contest by making an annual donation. Thank you, Roy, for your ongoing contributions and support of this contest.
Details about the contest for participants.
You can view the flyer here.
About Optimist International
The rest of the article is from Ron Thompson
The speakers today are sharing their perspectives on “Discovering the Optimism Within Me.” As an organization, we have defined the Purposes of Optimism to be:
- To develop Optimism as a philosophy of life utilizing the tenets of the Optimist Creed
- To promote an active interest in good government and civic affairs
- To inspire respect for Law
- To promote patriotism and work for international accord and friendship among all people
- To aid and encourage the development of youth in the belief that the giving of oneself in service to others will advance the well-being of humankind, community life and the world.
Club members have the responsibility to not only fulfill these Purposes of Optimism, but also be active and involved. Attendance at meetings, participation in committees, projects, and fellowship activities, and providing leadership all contributes to the success of our club. There are plenty of opportunities to be as involved as you wish, and everyone’s contribution makes the club more meaningful and assures continued growth.
Centerville Noon Optimists believe that “As a friend of youth, our mission is to provide positive programs and activities to benefit youth in the local and surrounding communities to help them grow and prosper as future leaders.”
In 1911, local Optimist clubs began as a grass roots effort. As industrialization and urbanization brought many new problems to society, citizens began forming voluntary organizations to address the needs of their communities. In some areas, groups took the name “optimist club” to express their desire for a positive outlook in the face of all these problems. The first official Optimist Club was formed in Buffalo, New York.
The impetus for a nationwide Optimist movement began when the Optimist Club of Indianapolis was formed in May 1916. Envisioning a nationwide organization, founders of the Indianapolis club moved ahead in the summer of 1916 to start Optimist Clubs in many other major cities.
These clubs quickly grew to more than 100 members each. As a result, a national conference of the American clubs took place in 1917 in Indianapolis.
In 1919, times were good. World War I had been fought and won, and spirits were high in America. It was an ideal time for the birth of Optimism. The association of clubs that is known today as Optimist International was formed on June 19, 1919, with representatives of 11 clubs. During this convention, William Henry Harrison, a descendent of the ninth president of the United States bearing the same name, was also elected the first International President of Optimist International.
In 1923, the Optimist’s motto was Friend of the Delinquent Boy. In 1924, it progressed to Friend of the Boy, and in 1972, the motto Friend of Youth was adopted.
In 1922, the Optimist Creed, which is recited at the end of every meeting, was adopted as the official creed of the organization. Written by Christian Larson, the creed was originally published under the title “Promise Yourself” in 1912. The wife of Los Angeles Optimist James V. Westervelt saw the item in a newspaper and clipped it for her husband. After publishing it in his club’s bulletin, Westervelt and other Los Angeles Optimists encouraged other California clubs to use the creed. Optimists in California found the Optimist spirit well-expressed in the 10-line statement and pushed to have it adopted organization-wide. Soon after, the creed’s popularity grew.
Also, in this year the first official emblem of Optimist International was developed and adopted. The emblem consisted of a child with a smiling face, the words “International Optimist Club,” and a sun in its center with the words “Friendship, Sociability, Loyalty, Reciprocity” around it as a border.
Welcome Guests
| Guest | Guest Of |
| Caroline Liebl | Bob Duffy |
| Greg Hoffbauer | Debe Dockins |
| Lisa Barhorst | Mike Bevis |
| Melissa Deeter | Mike Bevis |
| Mindy Hoffbauer | Debe Dockins |
| Sam Routsong | Scott Langer |
New Member Readings and Inductions
| Name | Sponsor | 1st 2nd 3rd Reading or Induction |
| Melissa Deeter | Mike Bevis | 1st Reading |
| Fran Sheehan | Mike Bevis | 3rd Reading |
| Cadance Lowell | Bill Williams | Induction |
Happy Bucks
No time for Happy Bucks this week.
Sergeants at Arms
No time for Sergeants this week.
Membership Anniversaries
| Member | Joined | Years |
| Bob Collins | February 21, 2014 | 9 |
| Kate Trangenstein | February 21, 2020 | 3 |
| Erin Belangia-Sanchez | February 23, 2006 | 17 |
| Chris Ziehler | February 26, 2017 | 6 |
| Judy DeMarco | February 27, 1998 | 25 |
| Jane Fiehrer | February 27, 1998 | 25 |
Birthdays
| Mike Bevis | February 21 |
| Kathy Rearick | February 21 |
| John Thompson | February 24 |
| Pat Behn | February 26 |
| John Sherman | February 26 |
| Blanca Criner | February 26 |
| Ashley Simeone | February 26 |
| Jon Wesney | February 26 |
CNO Donations – 2013 through December 2022
Click here to see a summary of donations the club has made since 2013
Thank You Notes Received
No time for Thanks You Notes this week.