Phather Phil’s Prayer
Prayer comes in many forms. Sometimes we need a reminder of who we are and why we need to be thankful. Today I have a story that I feel will give you a reminder.
The Legend of The Cherokee Indian Right of Passage
His father takes his son into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blind fold until the rays of the morning sun shines through. He can not cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a man. He can not tell the other boys of this experience, because each boy must come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Even some humans might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and the earth shook the stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man! Finally, after a horrific night, the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then he discovered his father sitting on a stump next to him. He had been on watch the entire time protecting him from harm. Like the Cherokee youth, we too , are never alone. Even when we don’t know it.
God is watching over us, sitting on a stump beside us.
Just because we can’t see God
Doesn’t mean He isn’t there
For we walk by faith, not by sight…
All Photos from the Meeting are Here
Today’s Guests
| Guest | Guest Of |
| Caren DiMario | Debe Dockins |
| Wendy Hattan | Robin Golden |
| Georgia Mergler | Liz Fultz |
| Kelly Plate | Debe Dockins |
| Laura Roesch | Speaker |
| Christina Stava | Sarah Umbreit |
| Julie Taylor | Debe Dockins |
| Laura Thimons | Debe Dockins |
| Amy Wang | Patrick Arehart |
Awards
Myron Rheaume handed out several awards that he collected at a recent district meeting of Optimist International for the year ending 9/30/2017. This was the year Larry Lynde was president. Larry received the Friend of Youth award and a $30 award because the club donated over $30/member to Optimist International. Bill Stone received his Dime a Day pin, a framed optimist painting for his donation of $500 or more last year and his Silver Benefactor pin for his lifetime giving.
Today’s Speaker
Debe Dockins introduced today’s speaker, Laura Roesch, the CEO of the Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley for the past 9 years. “Providing Help. Creating Hope. Changing Lives” is the motto of Catholic Social Services. Laura has been with them for a total of 29 years.
Catholic Social Services, established in 1921, helps kids and adults with need in a 10 county area around us. Most of their clients are from Montgomery County. They offer assistance regardless of religion, ethnic background or socioeconomic condition. Established in 1921.
Some of the things they help with:
1. Child attachment disorder
2. Marriage counseling
3. Unplanned pregnancies
4. Mental health counseling
5. Refugee Resettlement
6. More…
They have a special relationship with the area Food Bank, serving 16,500 meals last year.
They strive to be good neighbors with local governments and other charitable organizations. They want to do what is best overall for our area. This helps reduce overlap and to efficiently use resources.
They have 110 counselors, social workers and other professionals. There are 350 regular volunteers. They serve 23,000 people per year.
The demographics of their clients related to abuse has changed. It used to be a lot more issues with males, now it is half male, half female and many more issues are related to addiction.
Laura spoke mostly about services that have an impact in the Centerville/Washington Township area. She would need several hours to go over all of the services Catholic Social Services provides.
Volunteer opportunities 937-223-7217 ext 1141.
Birthdays
| Member | Birthday |
| Aaron Campbell | February 28 |
| Joan Cordonnier | February 28 |
| Rachel Goetz | March 02 |
| Tim Clemmer | March 02 |
| Tim Stull | March 02 |
| Greg Fay | March 03 |
| Ryan Fay | March 04 |
Membership Anniversaries
| Member | Month | Day | Joined | # Years |
| Charla Rheaume | February | 27 | 02/27/2014 | 4 |
| Jane Fiehrer | February | 27 | 02/27/1998 | 20 |
| Judy DeMarco | February | 27 | 02/27/1998 | 20 |
| Scott Rheaume | February | 27 | 02/27/2014 | 4 |
| Kelly Stone | February | 28 | 02/28/2001 | 17 |
| Richard Stevens | February | 28 | 02/28/2001 | 17 |
| Joseph Willhoite | March | 1 | 03/01/1989 | 29 |
| Mark Kingseed | March | 1 | 03/01/2001 | 17 |
New Member Readings and Inductions
| Name | Sponsor | 1st 2nd 3rd Reading or Induction |
| Amy Wang | Patrick Arehart | 1st Reading |
Sergeants at Arms
| Member | Infraction |
| Everyone at one table | One table with only women was fined |
| Everyone at two tables | Two tables with only men were fined |
Happy Bucks!
| Member | Reason |
| Bill Stone | Wedding anniversary with Kelly. |
| Beth Duncan | Don Massie is walking on his own. |
| Jesse Gaither | Daughter got straight A’s and made the JV softball team. |
| Bob Collins | Centerville Forte a cappella group taking 1st place at state. |
| Bob Collins | 54th Wedding anniversary with Karen. |
| Karen Sirmans | Courtney Sirmans, her daughter just became the women’s soccer head coach at Miami University. |
| Myron Rheaume | Dayton Stealth hockey team is the 2018 Buckeye Travel Hockey League Pee Wee A Bronze Champions. |
| Joe Madden | Happy the all-women table was on the other side of the room. |