Bob Burkman’s Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for Your guiding hand in the birth of this nation. You stirred hearts toward liberty and lit the path to independence. May we never forget that freedom is a blessing from You, and may we honor Your influence with gratitude and humility. Keep our country ever mindful of Your justice and grace.
Amen.
Thank You, Sarah Umbreit
President Elect Sarah Umbreit led today’s meeting in place of President Paul Boeckman, who is on a family vacation. President Paul taunted Sarah again in his weekly President notes that she for sure would lose the bell and gavel this week. She was sure to get a photograph at the end proving she maintained full control of both the bell and the gavel. Nice work Sarah!
Announcements
Optimist International Foundation President’s Club Awards
Bill Stone, our club’s representative for the Optimist International Foundation for the Ohio District, recognized Jeff Umbreit and Sarah Umbreit with President’s Club awards for their donations to the Optimist International Foundation. Bill reminded members that donations to the foundation can be easily made online. Visit oifoundation.org and fill out the simple form.
Americana 5K Recap
Sarah Umbreit thanked all the volunteers who helped make the Americana 5K a success. A total of 1,141 participants started the race at 7:30 AM. The winning runner finished in an impressive 15 minutes and 6 seconds. The event welcomed participants from 21 states and even a runner from Ireland.
Volunteer Opportunities – Big Backyard Party and Kids Day in the Park
Bob Lawson announced volunteers are needed soon, please sign up using the Member Calendar.
- July 26: Big Backyard Party, volunteers needed for the casting station and to serve as club ambassadors.
- August 2: Kids Day in the Park
CNO 2.0 Meeting on July 17, 2025 – Community Service Project
Diane Arehart announced that the next CNO 2.0 meeting will be held at Zink’s and will feature a Crayons to Classrooms community service project. The group will also be collecting school supplies to support local students. You can bring your donations to the meeting or drop them off at a regular lunch meeting beforehand.
Items needed are:
- Marker Packs (regular and dry erase)
- Colored Pencil Packs
- Pencils
- Crayons
- Children’s Scissors
- 70ct Spiral Notebooks
- Glue Sticks
- Filler Paper
- Pocket Folders
- Construction Paper
Americana Festival Booth Recap
Andy Higgins provided a recap of the club’s Americana Festival booth. The team set up an interactive board with the question: What would you do if you had no phone, no TV, no tablets, no computers—no screens of any kind? Children were invited to write their answers on sticky notes and post them on the board, resulting in more than 100 creative responses.
In addition to the board activity, the team made over 75 contacts and added 40 new email sign-ups for future club updates. Andy thanked everyone who helped plan, organize, and staff the booth.
Ohio’s Aerospace and Defense: A Strategic Advantage for the Nation
Bob Burkman introduced Colonel Joseph E. Zeis Jr., United States Air Force, Retired, who is a Senior Policy Advisor for Aerospace and Defense to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a cabinet-level position created in 2019 to protect and grow Ohio’s military and aerospace installations. Installations include Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and NASA Glenn Research Center. In this role, he also works to enhance the quality of life for service members and their families.
A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Zeis served over 26 years in the Air Force, including command of the 46th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base. He later earned his law degree Magna Cum Laude from the University of Dayton and practiced civil litigation before joining the Governor’s team.
Zeis opened by conveying Governor DeWine’s gratitude for the community leadership demonstrated by civic groups like the Centerville Noon Optimist Club.
Slides
View Joe Zeis’s presentation slides here.
Ohio’s Aerospace and Defense Strength
Ohio has a unique position in aerospace and defense, combining a deep history of innovation with leading-edge technology and research. Zeis shared that more than 40% of the U.S. defense budget flows through Ohio, particularly through the Defense Logistics Agency in Columbus. Additionally, over 33% of the Air Force budget is executed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), which employs more than 38,000 people.
WPAFB is home to critical assets such as the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC), and the National Space Intelligence Center (NSIC). Zeis highlighted that Ohio leads not only in aeronautics but also in space operations and intelligence.
He said that aerospace and defense activity spans the entire state—from NASA Glenn in Cleveland to Springfield’s work on advanced air mobility to Mansfield’s cybersecurity missions.
Challenges and Opportunities
Zeis discussed the shrinking number of major defense manufacturers—from 42 primes down to just five—creating single points of failure for military and civil systems. Ohio is actively working to attract new aerospace companies and diversify its defense industrial base. He cited Sierra Nevada Corporation as an example, with its massive hangar operations at the Dayton International Airport, where new survivable airborne command aircraft are being built.
The state’s strategy focuses on four key pillars:
- Preserve, Protect, Defend, and Expand federal aerospace and defense installations.
- Research and Development (R&D) to drive innovation in both military and civilian aerospace.
- Attract New Missions and Industry to Ohio.
- Sustain and Develop the Workforce, including university education and career tech programs that can lead to six-figure careers in advanced manufacturing and aerospace.
Ohio Leading the Way
Zeis described Ohio as an “intellectual property goldmine” thanks to its research universities, federal labs, and aerospace companies. The proximity of manufacturers, researchers, and military operations creates an environment where innovation can move quickly from concept to reality.
He shared stories of how proximity and community support have helped Ohio win major contracts, including upgrades to Air National Guard units and new advanced aerospace manufacturing facilities.
The Governor’s Call to Action
Zeis closed by encouraging Ohioans to see themselves as leaders in the next era of aerospace. Just as Ohio led the nation into the Air Age with the Wright Brothers and the Space Age through figures like John Glenn and Neil Armstrong, today’s Ohio is poised to lead in advanced air mobility, autonomous systems, and defense technologies.
He left the audience with the message that what happens in Ohio matters—not only for the state’s economy but for the security and future of the entire nation.
Thank You
Thank you, Joe Zeis, for educating us on Ohio’s pivotal role in aerospace and defense, and for sharing the exciting vision for the future.
President Paul’s Quote of the Week
“Don’t find fault, find a remedy, anyone can complain.” – Henry Ford
Welcome Guests
| Guest | Guest Of |
| Ann Morrissey | Guest |
| Bev McCurdy | Guest |
| Carrie Thompson | Tom Conroy |
| Dan France | Tony Danial |
| Hunter Busch | Jeff Busch |
| JD Grom | Larry England |
| Colonel Joe Zeis | Speaker |
| Judy Martinson | Guest |
| Kathy France | Tony Danial |
| Lucas Dice | Gail Aiken |
| Missy Mae Walters | Guest |
| Rachael Wilkerson | Guest |
| Steve Burkman | Bob Burkman |
| Sue Armstrong | Guest |
| Sue Labatzky | Guest |
| Terry Schalnat | Guest |
| Tony Feldkamp | Larry Lyunde |
| Ashley Campbell | Maha Kashani |
| Karen Kronson | Guest |
New Member Readings and Inductions
| Name | Sponsor | 1st 2nd 3rd Reading or Induction |
| Carrie Thompson | Tom Conroy | 1st Reading |
Happy Bucks
| Member | Reason |
| Tom Novak | Tom thanked everyone that has helped with the success of the Avenue of Flags. |
| Ray Daley | Ray and his wife’s daughter is expecting their first grandchild in September. |
| Gary Anderson | Gary congratulated Larry England for placing first in his age group in the Americana 5K. |
Sergeants at Arms – Sergeants – Gary Anderson and Maha Kashani
| Member | Infraction |
| Jane Fiehrer and Scott Langer | Jane and Scott each had attire promoting their business. |
| Mike Bevis | Mike lost his guest today. |
| Arline Danial | Arline had the best fashion sense of the day. |
Club Membership Anniversaries
| Member | Joined | Years |
| Dave Mitchell | July 8, 2022 | 3 |
| CeAnn Chalker | July 10, 2000 | 25 |
| Cameron Langer | July 14, 2022 | 3 |
| Steve Mays | July 14, 2022 | 3 |
Birthdays
| Phil Speelman | July 8 |
| Bob Glavin | July 9 |
| Chastity Richburg | July 10 |
| Olga Simon | July 11 |
| Greg McAfee | July 12 |
| Julie Woodruff | July 14 |
CNO Donations – Since 2013
Click here to see a summary of donations the club has made since 2013
Thank You Notes Received this Week
CLICK HERE to see This Week’s Thank You Notes
Links to PowerPoint and Pictures
CLICK HERE to see the PowerPoint Slides from this week’s meeting