Bob Burkman’s Prayer
Dear God
We come before you today with hearts full of hope, minds full of dreams, and a coffee cup that is, by faith, always half full.
Grant us the vision to see rain as free lawn irrigation, traffic jams as surprise karaoke sessions and long lines as opportunities to practice patience (or at least people-watching).
Help us embrace setbacks as plot twists in our bestselling success story and remind us that even Wi-Fi outages are just invitations to reconnect with nature, books, or the long-lost art of simply staring out the window.
When life gives us lemons, may we not only make lemonade but also open a profitable lemonade stand and then franchise it. Let us believe that every closed door is just a test of our creativity in lock-picking.
Fill our souls with so much optimism that even Monday mornings cower before our enthusiasm. And when the going gets tough, may we remember: The sun still shines above the clouds, pizza exists, and laughter is calorie-free.
Amen.
Announcements
Family Adventure Day – April 26, 2025
Bob Lawson announced that CNO will host a casting station during Family Adventure Day at the RecPlex on April 26, 2025, 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Volunteers are needed— please sign up to help using the Member Calendar. Volunteers do not need any fishing experience; the ponds are not ready yet so no actual fishing will occur.
Safety on Wheels – May 18, 2025
Steve Mays, the Chair of the Safety on Wheels program, is looking for 10 volunteers for the event at Forest Field Park from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM on May 18, 2025. This year’s event includes new activities like a temporary tattoo station for young riders. Please sign up using the Member Calendar.
Andy Higgins Shared Updates
Andy Higgins announced planning is underway for a Community Read of The Anxious Generation to take place in early 2026, in collaboration with local churches and book clubs. Discussions are ongoing about including mental health outreach at the Americana Festival through a booth or interactive activities.
Build-a-Bear
Carol Smerz announced that the next Build-a-Bear will be May 2, 2025, at South Community Mental Health Center in Moraine – volunteers are needed. Please sign up using the Member Calendar.
Kentucky Derby Party
Sue Jessee announced that the Derby Party will take place May 3, 2025, at 4:30 PM. For details and to sign up, use the Member Calendar.
Thank you Sarah Umbreit
Sarah Umbreit did yet another impressive job of running our meeting today while Paul Boeckman was on spring break with his family.
Election Process for 2025–2026 Leadership Team – Week Two
Today we continued to hear from the leadership team for 2025-2026. For full details of the process and all of the leaders for 2025-2026 click here for last week’s article.
Andy Higgins – Vice President
Fishing for Trouble (and Maybe a Barracuda)
Andy Higgins took the mic and made one thing very clear: he will not be volunteering to chair any fishing events. Not now, not ever.
You see, Andy grew up in a hardcore fishing family. His dad, grandpa, and brothers were hooked on fishing—pun very much intended. “Too many” Sunday afternoons were spent chasing fish at any spot between Muskingum and the Cuyahoga. Andy’s preferred spot? In the car with Grandma, reading a book and pretending fish didn’t exist.
But then came the winter of 1977. The great blizzard. Also, the great guilt trip.
Andy’s grandpa’s cancer had returned, and the family decided it was time for a bucket list trip to Florida—four boys, Grandma, Grandpa, Sister Theresa, Aunt Genolia, in two cars. Somewhere between unpacking and sunscreen, someone had the bright idea: Let’s take Grandpap deep sea fishing.
Andy, then a teenager, protested in true teenage form: whining, sulking, and clinging to dry land with everything he had. But it was Grandpa’s last chance to go, so off they went.
Now, if you don’t know, deep sea fishing boats usually leave at 6:00 AM and don’t come back until everyone’s sunburned and smelling like mackerel. Luckily, they found a small charter willing to take them out for just a couple of hours. By 9:00 AM they were on the water, and three hours later they had caught nine fish—four kingfish, two tuna, a bonito, a sailfish, and a barracuda. Dad was asked if he wanted to mount the sailfish and had to make a spot decision or they wouldn’t bring it into the boat. But you couldn’t take 3 kids fishing and only get one fish mounted, so it turned out to be a lot more expensive trip than expected.
Andy, of course, caught the barracuda. His brother Dave caught the sailfish and Stan caught the tuna. Cue dramatic return to the dock with a sport fish flag flying from the mast, people pointing and cheering, pictures, and a writeup for the newspaper back home.
“But I got mine!” Andy said. “So, I’m officially retired from fishing.”
But he wasn’t quite done. He wrapped up with a sentiment that made us all smile:
“That’s why events like our Fishing Derby are so important to our kids—because they give them that much more time to create memories with each other and with their families, instead of just being online and playing games.”
Wise words from a reluctant fisherman with one very impressive barracuda on the wall.
Sam Pfabe – Board Member
Sam Pfabe grew up in the small town of Louisville—not the Kentucky one, but the one in northeastern Ohio—so it should come as no surprise that he’s been a lifelong fan of the Browns and the Guardians. That means he’s no stranger to heartbreak, but also no stranger to loyalty.
He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1978 with a degree in accounting, followed by an MBA from the University of Akron in 1984. He earned his CPA and spent the early part of his career in public accounting doing audit and tax work. From there, he served as Chief Financial Officer for several small and medium-sized businesses. After decades of financial leadership, he retired in 2021.
These days, he fills his time with hobbies like golfing, bowling, and biking—not all at once, of course. He and his wife Jayne have been married for 42 years and have two daughters, one son-in-law, and two grandchildren.
When his daughters were younger, he coached all kinds of youth sports—basketball, soccer, softball—even boys’ basketball. He also served as a mentor in the College Promise program, meeting monthly for four years with a student who went on to graduate from Wright State University with honors. She now works at Miami Valley Hospital as a histology lab assistant (yes, that’s the study of the microscopic structure of tissues—he’s done the homework so you don’t have to).
He joined the Centerville Noon Optimist Club ten years ago—sponsored by Tom Jumer—and has since been involved in a wide range of activities: Avenue of Flags, the Christmas Tree Lot, Tri-Star Basketball, and currently serves on the Finance Committee.
His motivation for seeking a position on the Board is simple: he wants to deepen his involvement and help make a greater impact on the youth in our community.
Don Stafford – Board Member
Don Stafford grew up in Dayton, Ohio, and attended Corpus Christi Grade School in North Dayton. He later transferred to public school, attending Patterson Co-Op where he studied electrical work. That decision, guided by his parents and driven by both practicality and economics, turned out to be the right one. Don went on to complete an electrical apprenticeship and steadily climbed the ranks in the electrical construction industry—working as a foreman, superintendent, project manager, and eventually branch manager before retiring in 2021 after a 50-year career.
A strong advocate for the skilled trades, Don believes deeply in the value of programs like the CNO Skilled Trades Scholarship. “College isn’t for everybody,” he said. “It wasn’t for me, but with hard work and a good work ethic, the trades offered a great career.”
Don has been married to his wife for 47 years. They have three children—two sons and a daughter—and four granddaughters. Two of their children live in the Dayton area, and one lives in Columbus. He takes great joy in being involved in the lives of his grandchildren, whom he describes as a “unique blessing.”
Outside of work, Don has always had a passion for basketball. He coached for several years and still enjoys shooting hoops. Another favorite pastime is working in his yard, something he and his wife both enjoy.
Don joined the Centerville Noon Optimist Club to give back to the community and stay involved with youth. He’s been an active participant in many club activities, including the Christmas Tree Lot, Avenue of Flags, Tom Frazier Tee Off for Youth Golf Outing, Tri-Star Basketball, the Skilled Trades Scholarship, and the Will Cale Scholarship.
Don appreciates the opportunity to serve on the board.
Liz Fultz – Board Member
Liz Fultz is stepping into a one-year board position, taking over the seat vacated by Andy Higgins. In her own words, “my talk today will be as short as my term on the board.”
Liz grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and graduated high school in Northern Illinois. Right after graduation, her dad moved the family to Eastern Kentucky. Liz went on to attend Morehead State University, where she earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration—a somewhat uncommon path for a future librarian, as she joked, “not English Literature, like you were probably thinking.”
It was at Morehead State where she met her husband—they proudly call themselves “Morehead Mergers.” Liz later earned her Master’s Degree in Library Science from the University of Kentucky.
Her first professional role as a librarian brought her to the Washington-Centerville Public Library, where she started as a reference librarian. She’s grateful to have landed in such a strong library system and community.
Liz and her husband moved to Washington Township in 2010. Their two children are both Centerville High School graduates and, in just a month, will both be college graduates. “I’m very excited,” Liz said, “I’ll be getting a raise!”
Now, Liz is looking forward to giving back by serving on the board and working alongside Sarah Umbreit and the rest of the leadership team.
Welcome aboard, Liz!
Washington Township Update with Mike Thonnerieux
Today we heard from Mike Thonnerieux, the Washington Township Administrator, who provided an engaging and wide-ranging update on township operations, development, and upcoming projects.
You can view the slide deck of the presentation here.
Introduction and Background
Mike Thonnerieux was introduced by Gary Smiga, who noted that our club has recently hosted updates from several local leaders—including Centerville Schools, the City of Centerville, and the Washington-Centerville Public Library. Now it was time to hear from the Township’s top administrator.
Hired in 2023, Mike is the fourth person ever to serve as Washington Township Administrator. He oversees the day-to-day operations of all township services and reports directly to the Washington Township Trustees.
Mike is a proud graduate of THE Centerville High School, received his Bachelor’s Degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, and holds a Master’s Degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He began his public service career working at the Washington Township RecPlex.
As Gary recounted with a smile, Mike also got his start “mucking out stalls” on a horse farm owned by longtime trustee and business owner Lee Snyder—an early introduction to hard work in the community he now helps lead.
Mike enjoys mountain biking in the woods, camping, and snowboarding with his family. He and his wife Sarah (née Dickerson) are raising three children: Mitchell, who is studying to become a firefighter EMT; Elliot, a robotics-loving junior; and Claire, who runs cross country and races cyclocross.
The family includes Hagrid, a 92-pound Great Dane/Lab mix and their first dog. Mike joked that he was a holdout on getting a dog—but now, Hagrid is a beloved member of the household.
Township Overview
Washington Township covers approximately 31 square miles and is split between incorporated and unincorporated areas. Mike reminded residents that even if you live within the City of Centerville, you still receive township services, including fire protection and access to the RecPlex.
The township’s leadership includes:
- Trustee President: Scott Paulson
- Trustee Vice President: Brian Lunne
- Trustee: Sharon Lowry
- Fiscal Officer: Gary Smiga
The Board of Trustees sets policy, while Mike oversees day-to-day operations across all departments—including development services, fire, recreation, public works, and partnerships with county law enforcement.
Development Projects
Washington Township is one of the fastest-growing communities in Montgomery County, with both residential and commercial projects underway.
Residential
Mike highlighted three major housing developments:
- CRG (272-unit multifamily development at Spring Valley and Yankee): Designed with a buffer zone and variety of unit types.
- MI Homes Sorrento Project (near the old Turner Farm): Featuring a mix of large and small lots; homes are selling at approximately two per month with prices starting around $800,000.
- Design Homes (south of Kensington Place): A 38-lot, 26-acre expansion of an existing neighborhood.
Commercial
Post-COVID, the township has seen strong reinvestment rather than decline:
- Sheetz opened on the former Ethan Allen site at 725 and Paragon. The township worked with the company to incorporate a brown roof and canopy rather than the usual red, aligning with local aesthetic standards.
- Panda Express also opened nearby with matching design adjustments.
- Dayton Children’s Hospital completed a new two-story, 20,000 sq. ft. medical office building at Far Hills and Lamplighter.
Comprehensive Plan
The township recently adopted a refreshed Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Resolution after significant public input and 18 working sessions. The plan outlines a vision for growth and redevelopment, especially along commercial corridors, and positions the township for long-term success over the next 20 years.
Gateway Plaza and Recreation
Mike unveiled plans for the upcoming Gateway Plaza, located between RecPlex East and West. The project includes:
- A new interactive fountain and lighted plaza
- Outdoor shelter and stage area for camps and performances
- A new ticket booth for Woodland Lights
- Improved pedestrian and vehicle access via Paragon Road
- Color-changing lights for seasonal and event themes
Construction on Phase 1 is underway, with Phase 2 to follow. Funding has been supplemented by grants and support from state representatives, notably $1 million in state funding secured with help from Representative Tom Young.
Mike emphasized that while the two RecPlex buildings won’t be physically connected, the plaza will create a functional and symbolic link between them.
Wrapping Up
Mike closed by promoting the Coffee & Networking series at the RecPlex—a free business meetup on the third Tuesday of each month, in partnership with the South Metro Regional Chamber.
Thank You
Thank you, Mike Thonnerieux, for your detailed and personable update. Your leadership and transparency help keep our community informed and engaged.
President Paul’s Quote of the Week
“Do not wait on a leader, look in the mirror – it’s you.” -Katherine Miracle
Volunteer and Social Event Signups Available Online with the Virtual Clipboard
Did you know you can now sign up to volunteer or participate in social events using a simple online registration form from your phone or PC? The Member Calendar has a complete list of upcoming volunteer opportunities and social events.
Welcome Guests
| Guest | Guest Of |
| Amelia Cordonnier | Joan Cordonnier |
| Cherri Young | Fred Polizzi |
| Mark Kennard | Melissa Deeter |
| Olga Simon | Ron Thompson |
| Phil Young | Fred Polizzi |
| Vivette Bowling | Patrick Arehart |
New Member Readings and Inductions
| Name | Sponsor | 1st 2nd 3rd Reading or Induction |
| Vivette Bowling | Patrick Arehart | 2nd Reading |
| Donna Kastner | Mike Bevis | 2nd Reading |
| Olga Simon | Ron Thompson | 3rd Reading |
| Teresa Nichols | Jane Fiehrer | 3rd Reading |
Happy Bucks
No time for Happy Bucks this week
Sergeants at Arms – Steve Rau and Don Stafford
No time for Sergeants this week.
Club Membership Anniversaries
| Member | Joined | Years |
| Blanca Criner | April 16, 2014 | 11 |
| Mark Karns | April 18, 2019 | 6 |
| Judy McFadden | April 18, 2019 | 6 |
| Vida McDowell | April 19, 1999 | 26 |
| Stan Fronzaglia | April 19, 1999 | 26 |
| Andrew Cain | April 19, 2018 | 7 |
Birthdays
| Carol Burkman | April 16 |
| Ellie Parker | April 16 |
| Susan Vass | April 16 |
| Denise O’Neil | April 18 |
| David Wiedmeyer | April 20 |
| Tom Young | April 21 |
| Steve Mays | April 21 |
CNO Donations – Since 2013
Click here to see a summary of donations the club has made since 2013
Thank You Notes Received
No Thank You Notes were received this week
Links to PowerPoint and Pictures
CLICK HERE to see the PowerPoint Slides from this week’s meeting