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.
Announcements
Visual Arts Contest 2025
Jane Fiehrer, co-chair of the Visual Arts Contest with Rachel Goetz, announced that the annual Visual Arts contest is now open. Paintings or drawings must be submitted online by February 22, 2025. Here is the link to the contest. Children in two age groups (7 & under and 8–11) can submit drawings or paintings for cash prizes. This year’s theme is “Bringing Out the Best.”
Oratorical Contest
Jessica Wagner announced that the Oratorical Contest begins next week. Middle and high school students will compete in a speech competition, and volunteers are needed as judges. Let her know if you would be a judge on either or both lunches.
Youth Mental Health Summit
Andy Higgins announced that Epiphany Lutheran Church is sponsoring a Mental Health Summit for Parents and Care Givers supporting the mental well-being of children and youth, on Saturday morning, February 22, 2025. The event is designed for anyone who cares for young people. Click here for details and to sign up for the free event.
Volunteer Opportunities at Centerville City Schools
Joan Cordonnier introduced Heather Schnier, the Centerville City Schools volunteer coordinator, who announced that academic volunteers are needed to assist middle school students at Tower Heights and Magsig during study hall sessions. Additionally, Masterworks volunteers are sought to present pre-made art presentations at elementary schools. There is a flyer with details in the PowerPoint at the bottom of the slides from the deck for the meeting. Here is link about opportunities.
Will Cale Scholarship Mentors Are Needed
Joan Cordonnier is looking for mentors to support nine Will Cale Scholarship recipients this year. They are great kids who need a little extra help. If you have questions before you commit, reach out to Joan, who will explain the mentoring process. Without more volunteers, some students may have to be turned away.
Social Events
Euchre Tournament
Beth Duncan announced that there is a Euchre tournament on Friday, February 28, 2025, at ContempoRoast. For details and to sign up, use the Member Calendar.
Bourbon, Wine and Beer Tasting
Beth Duncan announced that Patrick and Diane Arehart will host a Bourbon, Wine and Beer tasting at their home on Saturday, March 22, 2025. For details and to sign up, use the Member Calendar.
Recognizing Those Who Serve: Gary Anderson’s Presentation
Paul Boeckman introduced Gary Anderson, who provided an overview of three key recognitions awarded annually by the Centerville Noon Optimist Club. These awards highlight individuals who have made significant contributions to our community: the Respect for Law Award, EMT/Firefighter of the Year Award, and the Bringing Out the Best in Kids Award.
Respect for Law Award
This award originated from a 1965 discussion between former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and an Optimist International President, leading to a national initiative. In 1998, Centerville Noon renamed the award to the John P. Kalaman Respect for Law Award in honor of Officer Kalaman, who tragically lost his life in the line of duty. This award is presented to a recipient from the Centerville Police Department and another from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department. The 2025 presentation will take place on Tuesday, May 13.
EMT/Firefighter of the Year Award
Created in memory of Robert J. O’Toole, another public servant who died in the same 1998 accident, this award recognizes outstanding emergency responders. The 2025 award will be presented on Tuesday, October 14.
Bringing Out the Best in Kids Award
This recognition began in 2003 as a tribute to Gary Anderson for his 35 years of service in Centerville Schools. The award was later renamed to reflect the Optimist Club’s mission of supporting youth. It honors educators and others who have a profound impact on students. This year’s award will be presented on Tuesday, June 3.
Summary
These awards reinforce our club’s commitment to honoring law enforcement, firefighters, and educators who make Centerville and Washington Township a better place.
CNO Board Member Spotlights
Deb Saunders
Like many members, Deb Saunders was introduced to the club by Mike Bevis, whom she thanks for bringing her in. She has been a member of CNO for nine years and actively serves on the Golf Committee and the Marketing Communications Team, where she designs much of the club’s marketing materials. She is also a former co-leader of the Visual Arts Contest and enjoys volunteering with Build-a-Bear.
Before joining CNO, Deb was already familiar with many club members from her time at Monarch/Paxar/Avery Dennison. She worked on projects with Greg Griffin’s team and reported to Myron Rheaume, whom she thanks for willingly signing all her reviews.
Deb spent 25 years at the company as a Senior Graphic Designer before her position was eliminated following Avery Dennison’s acquisition. In 2016, she launched her own LLC, DEBSAUN4DESIGN, where the “4” represents her creative process: Idea | Collaborate | Create | Solution.
This month, she celebrates 34 “long, excruciating” years with her life partner—a statement delivered with her signature humor. She considers it a pleasure to be part of what she calls “The Best Optimist Club in the World!”
Erin Laurito
Erin Laurito, a Centerville native, practiced real estate law in Dayton for nearly 20 years before transitioning to a full-time career in real estate sales with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Professional Realty. She became involved with the Centerville Noon Optimist Club (CNO) through the Avenue of Flags program and has since taken on multiple leadership roles.
She chairs the Got Talent Committee, co-captains a Tree Lot team, serves as an advisor for the Junior Optimist Club at Watts Middle School, and is active in the Americana Festival committee, the Egg Hunt, and other volunteer efforts.
Erin’s journey with CNO began when she noticed her flag delivery while working from home. After reaching out to Tom Novak, she was introduced to Debe Dockins, took on a flag route, attended a club lunch, and soon became a member. She has since built strong friendships within the club and remains deeply engaged in its mission.
Erin lives in Washington Township with her husband and two daughters—one in third grade at John Hole Elementary and the other in sixth grade at Watts Middle School.
Karen Charnesky
Karen Charnesky was born and raised in Michigan as the youngest of five siblings. Nearly four years ago, she and her husband, Tom, relocated to the area, and they have been married for 36 years. They have one son, Andrew, who is married and lives in San Francisco. She looks forward to the day when they have grandchildren.
Karen finds great joy in her work as an agent with New York Life, where she helps people protect their loved ones and ensure they don’t outlive their financial resources—two responsibilities she values deeply.
She joined the Centerville Noon Optimist Club to become more involved in the community after moving to Centerville. It has provided her with both meaningful connections and opportunities to give back. Karen is an active volunteer, serving as chair of the American Festival, co-chair of the golf outing, and participating in various programs such as the tree lot and the Avenue of Flags. Now a member of the board, she looks forward to many more years of service and appreciates the opportunities CNO has given her.
Steve Rau
A lifelong local, Steve grew up in Kettering, attended Alter High School, and earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton. He has been married to JoAnne for 43 years, and they have three children—Lynn, Katie, and Matt—as well as four grandchildren. They do a lot of traveling because their kids and grandchildren are on the west and east coasts.
Steve began his career at Ford, working on automatic transmissions, a fitting role given that he grew up with a wrench in his hands and still enjoys working on cars. He later worked for Monsanto at the Mound, where he met JoAnne, and also crossed paths with Roland Rapp, who was the Engineering accountant. After that, he worked for several small firms.
An avid cyclist, Steve previously enjoyed running but had to give it up. When he retired six years ago, he sought volunteer opportunities and explored CNO’s website. An inactive member offered to sponsor him, but he procrastinated—until one day, Tom Novak came by to install a flag sleeve in his yard. Not long after, Tom convinced him to join CNO, where Steve quickly became involved in placing flag sleeves and handling flags. He credits Tom for bringing him into the club.
Now in his second year on the CNO board, Steve finds it rewarding to learn how the club operates and to collaborate with others in deciding how to grant funds for youth programs. Through CNO, he has met many great people and formed lasting friendships.
He is the new Sergeant-at-Arms, and he jokingly warned members to be mindful of their jeering, as he would remember.
Andy Higgins
Andy Higgins moved into his home in 2010 and wanted to display an American flag. Finding that his house lacked a proper mount, he made a trip to Home Depot, picked up a Tapcon drill bit, and planned to install a flag bracket. However, before he had the chance to complete the project, he met his new neighbors, Mike and Sue Brubaker.
As he shared his plans with them, Mike took the opportunity to introduce him to the Optimist Club and the Avenue of Flags. That conversation sparked Andy’s initial connection to the organization. He first became a subscriber to the Avenue of Flags program, and when his work schedule later allowed, he joined as a full member. Since then, he has been actively involved for four to five years, embracing both the community engagement and networking opportunities the club provides.
Andy often speaks about the power of networking within the club. Through events like teacher appreciation breakfasts and community outreach initiatives, members can create valuable connections and share resources. Reflecting on professional networking, he examined LinkedIn statistics and realized the vast potential of their collective reach. With just 1,000 personal contacts, one’s extended network can easily surpass a million connections. Considering the club’s 300 plus members, this reach could extend to nearly 300 million people, underscoring the strength of their community ties.
For Andy, the Optimist Club has been an incredible experience, combining service, personal growth, and meaningful relationships. He looks forward to continuing to make an impact through the organization.
Thank You
Thank you, Gary Anderson, for educating us on these important recognitions, and thank you to our CNO Board for sharing your stories!
President Paul’s Quote of the Week
“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in the person’s determination.” – Tommy LaSorda
Volunteer and Social Event Signups Available Online
Did you know that you can 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.
Welcome Guests
| Guest | Guest Of |
| Gabby Morgan | Internet Walk In |
| Heather Schnier | Joan Cordonnier |
| Jack Langer | Cameron Langer |
| Matthew Taulbee | Patrick Arehart |
| Vivette Bowling | Internet Walk In |
New Member Readings and Inductions
| Name | Sponsor | 1st 2nd 3rd Reading or Induction |
| Nanea LLacuna | Stephanie Llacuna | 2nd Reading |
| Cris Peterson | Mike Bevis | 2nd Reading |
Happy Bucks
| Member | Reason |
| Myron Rheaume | At Drug Mart he was wearing a CNO logo and an employee thanked him because without the Will Cale Scholarship he received he would not have gone to college. |
| Myron Rheaume | It’s amazing the relationships you build through CNO. He and Andy Higgins got to talking about Myron’s son, Scott, and Andy’s daughter, Elyse, who both have special needs. Through this connection, Elyse joined the TOP Optimist Club and even became its president. |
| Andy Higgins | A couple of weeks ago, I presented a program on grip tape. One of the students I work with in that program just won her science and engineering fair. She was the only one invited to internationals and will present her research on CRISPR genome editing to the world. She’s just 16 years old—an amazing talent. She’ll be heading to Columbus, Ohio, and I’m excited to see her project. |
| Joan Cordonnier | Happy about Myron’s mention of the Will Cale Scholarship. She said, “It always warms my heart to hear about that. And I’m happy for Jane Fiehrer mentioning her support for the Will Cale Scholarship last week.” |
| Joan Cordonnier | A belated Happy Buck for Centerville High School’s production of Jekyll and Hyde last week. It was fantastic! A bit darker than their usual shows, but truly outstanding. Sorry you all missed it! The next musical will be The Little Mermaid—I’ll keep you posted on dates. |
| Carol Smerz | Happy that we are reaching younger members, like newer member Spencer, in the club and the community. |
| Karl Frydryk | Happy to see Paul Stull doing a great job guarding the podium today. |
| Don Kelley | In honor of my upcoming birthday on Saturday, I have a statement, “If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself!” |
| Paul Boeckman | He said that there was a plaque at the at St Bonaventure basketball stadium that says, “Tony and Arline Danial met here.” While there is no plaque, the two CNO members first met there at a dance while in college. |
Sergeants at Arms
| Member | Infraction |
| Paul Boeckman | Paul missed two weeks of running our meetings, but the real problem is that the UD Flyers lost to St. Bonaventure in New York and Paul was at the game. |
| Ken Peacock | Ken’s newest sponsored member, Erin Giffin, was inducted last week and he wasn’t at the meeting. |
Club Membership Anniversaries
| Member | Joined | Years |
| Melanie Asbell | February 5, 2024 | 1 |
| Jeff Mogg | February 5, 2024 | 1 |
| Bridget Herzog | February 5, 2024 | 1 |
| Beth Hall | February 5, 2024 | 1 |
| Dave Ball | February 5, 2024 | 1 |
| Scott Sowder | February 5, 2024 | 1 |
| Ellie Parker | February 8, 2011 | 14 |
Birthdays
| Greg Crabtree | February 5 |
| Shelby DiPasquale | February 6 |
| Don Kelley | February 8 |
| Mariah Vogelgesang | February 8 |
| Michelle Tagliamonte | February 9 |
CNO Donations – Since 2013
Click here to see a summary of donations the club has made since 2013
Thank You Notes Received
CLICK HERE to see the Thank You Notes received this week
Links to PowerPoint and Pictures
CLICK HERE to see the PowerPoint Slides from this week’s meeting