CNO 2.0 Venue and Details
The venue for tonight’s CNO 2.0 meeting was Chappy’s Social House at 880 Washington Village Drive. Thank you to the team at Chappy’s for hosting us.
Learn About Your Club
This CNO 2.0 meeting was a Club Day, offering members and guests an overview of the programs, contests, scholarships, and events the Centerville Noon Optimist Club supports throughout the year. Committee chairs, co-chairs, and members speaking on behalf of their committees each shared a summary of their program.
The goal was not to cover every detail, but to remind members how much is happening across the club and where opportunities exist to get involved.
If you didn’t attend the meeting or you want to revisit a program later, the club website is always available as a reference. Each community event, contest, and fundraiser has its own dedicated page, and the member calendar shows upcoming events and volunteer opportunities throughout the year.
Member Calendar: https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/cal/
Youth Recognition Night
Mike Creech described Youth Recognition Night as the one evening where the club brings all of its youth programs together. Every student who won an award, placed in a contest, or received a scholarship or recognition is invited to Yankee Trace with parents and family. The evening includes light appetizers and ice cream sundae bar, “goodie bags,” student recognition, and often entertainment from Got Talent participants. Mike said last year’s event was on June 12 and will likely be around the same time this year.
https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/youth-recognition/
Oratorical Contest
Jessica Wagner explained that the Oratorical Contest evaluates both writing and delivery. Students write a five-minute speech and then present it live. She invited members to attend so the students have an engaged audience, and she also asked for a few more volunteer judges for the second night. Dates and time: 6:00 p.m. on Monday, February 9, and Thursday, February 12 at Woodbourne Library.
https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/oratorical-contest/
Memorial Education Assistance Awards
Roberta Taylor shared that the club offers a $2,500 Educational Assistance Award for graduating seniors in the Centerville and Washington Township area. Applicants need a strong record of community service and financial need, and the award is renewable. She encouraged members to refer any eligible seniors and to contact Gary Smiga or Roberta.
https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/memorial-educational-assistance-award/
Tom Frazier Tee Off for Youth Golf Classic
Steve Rau, the new golf fundraiser co-chair with Don Stafford, shared background on Dr. Tom Frazier, a charter member and past leader at the Club, District, and Optimist International levels.
He shared recent results and goals: $42,000 last year, about $52,000 the year before. The outing is held at Sycamore Creek Country Club and Steve said the venue is very accommodating, essentially allowing the club to “take over the place” for the day. He asked for additional committee members and volunteers, noting it can take 40 to 50 volunteers on the day of the outing.
Date: Monday, July 13.
https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/golf-tee-off-for-youth/
Mark A. Kreusch Safetyville Square
Katie Calloway said Safetyville Square has been running for about 50 years in the community, and CNO has been running it since 2023, making this the club’s fourth year leading the program. Safetyville serves kids in kindergarten and first grade, with hands-on learning across four days, covering pedestrian safety, police and fire safety, playground safety and water safety.
Katie shared the scale of the program: about 216 kids over the summer, runs three weeks with two sessions per day. She also highlighted the impact on teen volunteers, saying dozens of teens earn volunteer hours and that some former participants return later as volunteers because they enjoyed it so much. Dates: June 8 through June 25, with multiple sessions available.
https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/safetyville-square/
Tri-Star Soccer
Sam Pfabe said Tri-Star Soccer has been part of the club’s work for 35 years. He described it as a skills event where kids rotate through stations covering shooting, passing, dribbling, and ball control. Sam credited high school players as a big reason the event is fun, because they encourage the participants and help guide them through the stations.
The event is typically held in late September on a Friday night when there is an away football game, to avoid conflicts. Sam said the committee will be looking for volunteers later in the year and especially for help on event night.
https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/tri-star-soccer/
Got Talent Contest
Erin Laurito shared that the Got Talent Show is one of the most fun events the club hosts each year. Students in kindergarten through high school who live in Centerville or Washington Township (or attend Centerville schools) submit audition videos, and judges select 10 finalists for a live show.
Date and time: Wednesday, May 6 at 6:30 p.m. at Centerville High School. Erin also announced a format change: this year the contest will have two age groups, 12-and-under and 13-and-over.
https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/cwt/
Respect for Law and EMT/Firefighter of the Year
Gary Anderson spoke about the history behind two long-standing recognition programs and why they carry the names they do. He noted that on January 12, 1998, the community lost two public servants, John P. Kalaman and Robert J. O’Toole. After that tragedy, the club renamed its Respect for Law award in John P. Kalaman’s memory.
The club recognizes two law enforcement honorees in May (one from Washington Township and one from the Centerville Police Department). In October, the club recognizes the EMT/Firefighter of the Year award in Robert J. O’Toole’s memory. Gary explained that honorees are provided by the respective organizations.
https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/respect-for-law/
https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/robert-otoole-emt-firefighter-of-the-year/
Bringing Out the Best in Kids Award
Gary Anderson spoke about the Bringing Out the Best in Kids Award, which recognizes individuals in the community who make a meaningful difference in the lives of children through education, mentorship, and service. Gary explained that the award grew out of the club’s long-standing commitment to youth and education and reflects the Optimist belief that positive influence and encouragement can shape a child’s future.
The award honors those whose work may not always be highly visible, but whose impact is lasting. Educators, mentors, and community leaders are typical recipients, and nominees are identified through recommendations from schools and community partners who see firsthand how these individuals help kids succeed.
Easter Egg Hunt
Carrie Thompson and Deb Ulrich shared details for this year’s Community Easter Egg Hunt. Date and time: Saturday, April 4 at 10:00 a.m. at Oak Grove Park. There will be three age groups (2 to 4, 5 to 7, and 8 to 10) and 8,000 eggs.
Carrie also described the behind-the-scenes work: her house is already filled with eggs and candy. Multiple organizations help stuff eggs, and when those groups finish, the club will need help with the remaining eggs. Egg-stuffing date: March 28 at 9:00 a.m. at St. Leonard’s in the “St. O Room.” They also asked for help the day of the event with setup, and they are looking for an Easter Bunny volunteer.
https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/community-easter-egg-hunt/
Avenue of Flags
Tom Novak shared a few numbers that put Avenue of Flags into perspective. He said the program has been around 21 years, starting with 100 subscribers and ending last year with about 3000 subscribers with 3,971 flags. He also shared that there are 111 routes, and about 22 percent of routes are handled by subscriber teams.
Tom added that the program contributed $139,000 to the club’s programs last year, and he closed with a request for more helpers.
https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/avenue-of-flags/
Essay Contest
Byron Wade said this is his first year as co-chair (with Kristen Marks) and focused on why the Essay Contest matters: it gets students to practice writing a complete, thoughtful essay.
Eligibility: students under age 19. Deadline: February 1. Local awards: $500 for first place, $250 for second, and $100 for third. Byron said the first-place winner advances to the district level, where a $3,500 scholarship is available. Essay length is 700 to 800 words, with minimal adult help, and students should follow the rules closely. Theme: “How My Acts of Service Help Me Understand What My Community Means to Me”
https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/essay-contest/
Social Committee
Connie Risch shared an upcoming social event and asked for your ideas for events. She said the next event is an Escape Room on Thursday, February 26. Plan: arrive at 5:45 p.m., start the escape room at 6:00 p.m., then head to Bock Family Brewing afterward.
Cost is $20 per person, and food and drinks at Bock’s are on your own. Connie shared a perk: if you escape, you get a coupon off your beer at Bock’s. There is a limit of 40 people for the escape rooms, but anyone can meet the group at Bock’s at 7:00 p.m., please sign up.
She also noted the two annual fellowship parties: the Installation Dinner in late September and the Holiday Dinner on the second Tuesday in December.
https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/cal/
Youth Mental Health Initiative
Andy Higgin spoke about the Youth Mental Health Initiative as a community conversation.
Andy said a key concern is the imbalance between online and real-world experiences. Kids are often overprotected in the real world while being underprotected online, especially with social media and intensive online gaming. The initiative encourages a shift back toward a play-based childhood rather than a phone-based childhood.
He outlined three ideas that have helped guide the committee’s work. One is Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation. He also referenced the companion book The Amazing Generation, written for tweens. Another is the “Wait Until Eighth” movement, which encourages parents to work together to delay smartphones until after eighth grade. The third is the “Let Grow” approach, which emphasizes giving kids more independence by stepping back and letting them solve problems, build friendships, and create their own play.
https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/youth-mental-health/
Haunted Trail and Speakers Committee
Debe Dockins said the Speakers Committee schedules weekly lunch speakers and she welcomed ideas for future presenters.
For the Haunted Trail, Debe said the event is held in October in partnership with the Washington Township RecPlex, with themed scenes and student involvement. She mentioned participation from Junior Optimist Clubs from the middle schools and high school and said the trail brings about 2,000 people through Countryside Park. Dates: October 13 and 14 (Tuesday and Wednesday). Debe also reminded everyone it is a food drive, and she said last year the event collected more than 2,000 pounds of food and over $300 in cash donations.
https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/haunted-trail/
Will Cale Scholarship
Joan and Mike Cordonnier explained that the Will Cale Scholarship is dedicated to students attending Sinclair Community College. The scholarship is up to $6,000 total, structured as $1,000 per semester for up to six semesters.
Mike explained the student selection process: Centerville High School has nine counselors, and each counselor nominates one student, so the committee typically receives nine applications. The scholarship often serves students who could benefit from both financial support and mentoring, including students with anxiety or a lack of support at home.
The program goal is to provide each student with two mentors, which means the committee needs 18 mentors if nine students are selected. Mentors check in (often by text once or twice a month) and meet periodically, helping with practical steps like campus visits or navigating the enrollment process. Mike also shared a story about Will Cale sending birthday cards to students, and how meaningful that was for students who did not often have that kind of support at home.
https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/will-cale-scholarship/
Skilled Trade Scholarships
Fred Polizzi shared that the club has offered Skilled Trade Scholarships for seven years. He said the program supports both technical schools and Sinclair, with scholarship amounts including $3,500 for technical school and $1,000 per semester for up to six semesters at Sinclair. He estimated that roughly 25 to 30 students have gone through the program, spanning careers like welding, electronics, automotive repair, aeronautics, EMT, and firefighter pathways.
https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/skilled-trades-scholarship/
Americana Booth
Karen Charnesky said the Americana booth is a fun way to be part of the community on the Fourth of July, and she is looking for committee members and volunteers to staff it. She also said the booth will be used more intentionally for recruiting new members.
https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/community-work/
Photography Contest
Patrick Arehart shared that the Photography Contest is open to high school students. Prizes are $500, $250, and $100. Flyers will be distributed to schools, and members can help by encouraging any high school students they know to enter.
https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/photography-contest/
Big Backyard Party and Castle Fishing Day
Patrick Arehart shared notes on behalf of Andy Dickerson regarding Castle Fishing Day, which is held in late May or early June each year. The event supports members of The Castle, which serves as a safe haven for mental health recovery. Volunteers assist Castle members with fishing, including baiting hooks and removing fish when needed. The club also supplies bait, fishing equipment, and food. Volunteer duties include helping participants fish and preparing and serving simple, popular meals such as hot dogs, metts, brats, chips, and drinks.
The Big Backyard Party, sponsored by the Centerville-Washington Park District and held at Oak Grove Park around the end of July, is an annual community event. For the CNO booth, Andy needs volunteers to serve as “ambassadors” who can greet attendees, explain what the club does, and connect interested families to the club’s work. In addition, volunteers help teach kids how to cast fishing rods and reels. The club supplies all fishing equipment, and volunteer responsibilities focus on assisting and instructing children during the activity.
Family Adventure Day, Fishing Derby, and Kids Day in the Park
Greg Fay, on behalf of Bob Lawson, shared updates on three long-running community events that focus on getting kids and families outdoors and engaged together.
The Fishing Derby is held each year in early June and gives kids the chance to fish, compete by age group, and enjoy a free lunch and prizes. It is one of the club’s most hands-on youth events and relies on volunteers to help with setup, registration, and support throughout the morning.
https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/fishing-derby/
Family Adventure Day is sponsored by the RecPlex and held at the RecPlex every spring. Club volunteers assist kids with fishing by baiting hooks, helping with casting when needed, and removing fish. Volunteers also hand out club information and talk with families about the club’s programs.
https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/event/family-adventure-day-2/
Optimist Kids Day in the Park is a free summer event held at Delco Park around the first of August. Supported by multiple Optimist Clubs, the event features activities for children and families. Our club runs a fishing game and a football toss, with volunteers helping operate the games and handing out prizes to participating kids.
https://centervillenoonoptimist.com/optimist-kids-day-in-the-park/