Erin Dickerson’s Prayer
Our life stories and perspectives shape the way we live, speak, work, and fellowship with our neighbors. Yet so often we are hesitant to share pieces of ourselves with others. We hide those pieces like skeletons in our closets. Lord, lead us to be authentic in who we are, in the struggles we have and are facing, the battles we have won, and in the realization that through it all, the good, the bad, and the ugly, we are wholly yours.
Amen.
Volunteer Signups Available Online with the Virtual Clipboard
Did you know that you can now sign up to volunteer or to take part in social events using a simple online registration form right from your phone or PC? The Member Calendar has a complete list of upcoming volunteer opportunities and social events.
Announcements
- Joan Cordonnier announced that many committee meetings are now on the Member Calendar of the website. Thank you Diane Arehart for putting schedules online.
- Beth Duncan, announced that an adult nighttime Easter Egg Hunt will be held March 8, 2024. After the hunt there will be a party at Bock’s Family Brewery. The eggs will have raffle tickets and everyone will win something. Signups are available online using the Member Calendar.
- Mike Bevis announced that the new Avenue of Flags flyer has been printed. Thanks to the marketing team Diane Arehart, Katie Calloway, Deb Saunders and Paul Stull. Here is a copy of the flyer.
- Mike Bevis announced that the golf outing is 6 months from now on July 15, 2024. They are looking for additional committee members and they need lots of volunteers, especially for the day of the event.
- Bob Lawson announced that Family Adventure Day, Fishing Derby, Castle Fishing Event and Big Backyard Party need committee members to help grow the events! They are looking for fresh new ideas for these events! If you have an interest in joining one or more of the committees, please contact Andy Dickerson.
Thank you Roy Barclay for Supporting the Margaret Barclay Oratorical Contest
Thank you, Roy Barclay, for your support and the prize money for the first level of the Margaret Barclay Oratorical contest. Roy has given a cash prize for the winners at the club level for over a decade.
Margaret Barclay Memorial 2024 Optimist Oratorical Contest
Jessica Wagner. 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 Ron Thompson.
The prompt for this year’s Oratorical Contest is, “How to Change the World with Optimism.”
Speaker A, Sixth Grade Boy from Watts Middle School
Excerpts of ideas from his speech follow:
- Being optimistic has a ripple effect on other people.
- Optimism can make real change in the world.
- Set realistic goals that are achievable, celebrate achievements along the way, and take breaks on the way to your goals.
- Learn from your mistakes to grow and improve yourself.
- Optimism and determination are ways to improve yourself and those around you.
Speaker B, Eighth Grade Girl from Tower Heights Middle School
Excerpts of ideas from her speech follow:
- Optimism is a combination of gratitude, hope and benevolence.
- Gratitude can make you happy.
- Being optimistic is not about being happy all the time.
- Hope keeps most people going when they think they can’t.
- Benevolence is the doing of Optimism. A chain reaction of others doing good deeds often happens when you do benevolent work.
- Optimism can change the world.
Speaker C, Eighth Grade Girl from Magsig Middle School
Excerpts of ideas from her speech follow:
- Changing the world is a huge task, the key to changing the world is through optimism.
- Random acts of kindness may not change everyone’s world, but you can make a difference to the people involved in the kindness.
- Story of the girl returning star fish to the ocean after washing up on the shore.
- She told us the story of Hellen Keller, who everyone knows, and those that helped her, who we don’t know. Without them helping her we would never know about Hellen Keller, plus many of them were disabled.
- Optimism, once ignited, cannot be stopped.
Speaker D, Eighth Grade Boy from Magsig Middle Schools
Excerpts of ideas from his speech follow:
- “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” – Hellen Keller
- Optimism is not just about being happy; it is hopefulness for a successful outcome.
- If you consciously think like an Optimist you will subconsciously become an Optimist.
- Affecting those around you with optimism will cause it to spread like wildfire.
- The long-term solution you must exhibit first is to be hopeful; be appreciative of things around you like the beauty of a sunrise.
- Focus on what you can control, don’t stress about the situations you cannot control and you will be more optimistic.
Congratulations to the Contestants
Jessica Wagner said, “We congratulate and thank each one of these students for having the courage to speak to us today.”
“We get great support from the principals at all three Centerville middle schools, and I thank them for promoting this contest to their students.”
“Thank you to those who helped today: Ron Thompson, my co-chair, Liz Fultz, a past co-chair, continues to provide valuable assistance, Diane Arehart, who helped publicize the contest, Andy Higgins, Rebekah Buck, and Dave Mitchell who served as judges, and Jean Pummill, who served as timekeeper.”
“As for the importance of public speaking – 70% of those in leadership roles say it is an essential skill for success. So, I want to emphasize to all of today’s contestants, there are no losers here. All of you have gained valuable experience. Unfortunately, we can send only one speaker on to the Zone 16 contest in March. “
“Each contestant will receive certificate of participation.”
The Winner is Speaker C
Speaker C won today and she received a medallion and a cash a cash prize from Roy Barclay. She will move on to the zone contest. The winners of the zone contests move on to the regional level with those winners advancing to the district level and from there the winners go to the national competition.
About the Oratorical Contest
The following information about the Oratorical Contest is from Jessica Wagner.
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 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 contribute 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 |
| Chris Mackey | Patrick Arehart |
New Member Readings and Inductions
| Name | Sponsor | 1st 2nd 3rd Reading or Induction |
| Chris Mackey | Patrick Arehart | 1st Reading |
| Jan Gerber | Erin Dickerson | 1st Reading |
Happy Bucks
No time for Happy Bucks this week
Sergeants at Arms
No time for Sergeants this week
Membership Anniversaries
| Member | Joined | Years |
| Ellie Parker | February 8, 2011 | 13 |
Birthdays
| Shelby DiPasquale | February 6 |
| Steve Pitrof | February 6 |
| Don Kelley | February 8 |
| Mariah Vogelgesang | February 8 |
| Michelle Tagliamonte | February 9 |
| Mary Ann MacKenzie | February 11 |
| Ron Tinnerman | February 11 |
| John Horner | February 12 |
| Dan Samiec | February 12 |
CNO Donations – Since 2013
Click here to see a summary of donations the club has made since 2013
Thank You Notes Received this week
A copy of Thank You Notes the club received this week are here