Erin Dickerson’s Prayer
Lord,
You created everything, the earth, the stars, and all living things, from mere dirt and dust. You can do amazing things, yet we fail to recognize the possibilities that can come from adversity and the potential role we play in those possibilities. All we need to do is reach out with a caring hand to unlock the power of healing, the power of justice, and the power of love. Help us to recognize the power we hold in the palm of our hands and to use that power for the betterment of those around us.
Amen.
Thank You President Beth Duncan!
Today was the last regular lunch meeting for President Beth Duncan. Beth, we have loved your year. Such a great job at making an Impact! Thank you for all the valuable time that you have given to your club to help your community. Now where is the Bell and Gavel?
Joan Cordonnier and others brought DUNCAN Donut holes for everyone. Joan said, “Thank you Beth Duncan. We DONUT know what we’d have done without you. Donut holes for everyone for you making this year a HOLE lot of fun.”
CHS Spirit Chain
Leah Matthews and Maddie Turber, seniors from CHS visited us today. They told us about the annual fundraiser called Spirit Chain. The organizations they are raising money for this year are “Clothes that Work” and “Diabetes Dayton.” If they raise the most money, they will be this year’s Spirit Queens.
They collected $1060 for Spirit Chain at today’s lunch. The board of directors will match this with another $1100.
If you would like to donate using a check you can mail one to the High School and put on it, “Spirit Chain, Leah Matthews and Maddie Turber.” You can also contact Patrick Arehart, he has a Venmo address you can use to donate. The last day for them to turn in money is October 12, 2023.
Spirit Chain is an annual competition between Centerville High School and Kettering Fairmont High School to raise money for charity. Each school selects different charities every year. Spirit Chain has been going on for over 30 years and they have raised over $2 million.
Announcements
- Gail Aiken announced that the Haunted Trail will be held on October 10th and 11th. They need lots of volunteers. Sign up online using the Member Calendar. Each night about 1000 people will tour the trail.
- Joan Cordonnier is working on a new committee that will focus on finding ways to support students’ mental wellbeing through already established programs such as Hope Squad and the new OWLS program through OI and other initiatives they are exploring with teachers, counselors, and other school personnel. Contact her if you would like to be part of it.
Happy Birthday Diane Arehart, Evelyn Griffin, and Joanie Schiml
Since there is no lunch meeting next week we sang to members if their birthday was either 9/19 or 9/26! Happy Birthday to Diane Arehart 9/26, Evelyn Griffin 9/26 and Joanie Schiml 9/19.
Bob Duffy led us in singing today. It was great to have a triple. Having three people did not inspire us enough to sing well. But we were singing with love. It was the last time for us to sing at lunch during Beth’s year.
We Care Arts, Kelli Campbell
From Kristen Marks
As a 501c3 organization, We Care Arts has been around for 38 years! The goal is to increase confidence and artistic skill in a variety of individuals with varying disabilities and physical challenges. We Care Arts believes in the healing power of creating and producing art that transforms physical, developmental, and mental challenges into a future rich with possibilities.
Since starting, We Care Arts has grown to serve 1200 clients at more than forty off-site locations within the greater Dayton area. The director, volunteer staff and board contribute more than 28,000 hours annually to the We Care Arts Mission.
Kelli Campbell is the Marketing and Communications Coordinator for We Care Arts. Kelli’s love for marketing and her compassion for the disabled community have brought her to We Care Arts. She has been with the organization since 2022.
Slides
The slide deck has more information than is listed in this article.
You can view the slide deck of the presentation here.
Presentation
We Care Arts empowers healing through art and community. Kelli said her job is very fulfilling. She has been in marketing for several years and this is by far the most fulfilling job she has had, and she sees its impact.
Terry Schalnat started We Care Arts in 1983. At that time there was a lot of unemployment and she wanted to do something about it. She started teaching woodshop classes in a Lutheran church basement. They now have 10,000 square feet of space including a huge woodshop. Terry Schalnat will be the Optimist International Governor of the Great Ohio District on October 1, 2024.
The focus of We Care Arts is art and community for adults with disabilities, addiction, or mental health issues. We Care Arts’ vision is a future where people with diverse abilities can achieve their full potential and feel embraced by an inclusive society.
Clients of We Care Arts must be at least eighteen years old and have a referral from a counselor, pastor, or other mental health professional.
They have both in-person and virtual art classes which are taught by artists. Many instructors are artist/clients in various art mediums. They want the best experience for their clients.
We Care Arts has a Mission to Work program. They work with fourteen High Schools in 11 districts. It is a ten-week curriculum with all supplies provided. There is an option for in-person or video instruction. After graduation students can join as an artist/client. CHS is one of their partner schools.
Artists receive commissions for the art they sell. They have businesses that come to We Care Arts for curated artwork. They also sell art at their store in the Town and Country Mall in Kettering as well as online and at the Berkeley Center Campus.
How You Can Help
- Donate money
- Volunteer (you don’t have to be an artist)
- Purchase artwork
- Follow We Care Arts on social media
Types of Volunteers Needed
- Help with events and or join event committees
- Teacher Assistants
- Facility and grounds maintenance
Thank You
Thank you, Kelli Campbell, for educating us about the services of We Care Arts.
Getting to Know Joan Cordonnier, She Becomes CNO President on October 1, 2023
Beth Duncan had a special tribute to President-Elect Joan Cordonnier. Be sure to view the slide deck for the meeting to see all the cute pictures of Joan through the years, including baby pictures!
Beth said, “What do we really know about President-Elect Joan Cordonnier?”
- She was born Joan Patrice
- She is a 1982 graduate of CHS
- She is a 1987 Graduate of Wright State University
- She and Mike Cordonnier have been married 36 years after having dated for the previous 6 years
- She has two children, a boy, and a girl, each of them has a spouse
- She has one grandchild, a girl that she deeply loves!
- She lives in a house in Corwin, Ohio that her husband Mike built
- She loves her Dogs Delaney and Opus
- She raises and loves her chickens
Joan is an athlete that has run marathons (full and half), sprint Triathlons, Olympic Triathlons, half Ironman’s, Century (100 miles) Bike Rides, and she has ridden the Pan Ohio Cleveland-Cincinnati Ride (355 miles). She really loves cycling.
Beth made a custom t-shirt for Joan that has chickens on it. She told Joan to wear the shirt at meetings because it will intimidate would be bell and gavel thieves. On the front it reads, “Every meeting you make, every bell you take, I’ll be watching you.” On the back it says, “I raise chickens. I’m literally a chicken tender.”
Beth then said, “Congratulations Joan! You will be a GREAT President.”
This is Beth Duncan Signing Off
After Beth was done with her Joan presentation, she signed off her last lunch meeting by playing a part of the video from the Sound of Music, “So Long, Farewell.” Beth, you crack me up!
Welcome Guests
| Guest | Guest Of |
| Jacque Dunne | Julie Noeth |
| JT Szabo | Joan Schiml |
| Leah Matthews | CHS Spirit Chain |
| Maddie | CHS Spirit Chain |
| Sue Edwards | Beth Duncan |
| Susie Engle | Julie Noeth |
| Vicki Heinrich | Erin Laurito |
New Member Readings and Inductions
| Name | Sponsor | 1st 2nd 3rd Reading or Induction |
| Alice Onady | Bob Glavin | Induction |
| Peggy Tarnowieckyi | Diane Arehart | 1st Reading |
Happy Bucks
| Member | Reason |
| Jesse Gaither | Daughter is graduating college in just three years and will have her master’s degree in just one more year. |
| Debe Dockins | Beth Duncan has had a wonderful year and is one of the best CNO presidents ever. Thanks for the fun and for your friendship. |
| Bill Stone | Thank you to Beth Duncan for explementary leadership. You have added 47 new members during your CNO presidency, which more than doubles the previous record for a year. |
Sergeants at Arms
| Member | Infraction |
| Gary Hansen | He only shows up for lunch for weeks there are board meetings. |
| Greg Griffin | Took a week to respond to Gail Aiken’s email about being a tree lot captain. |
| Harry Bossey | He said he only comes to lunch when his parole officer makes him. |
| Scott Langer | Showed up early and didn’t seem to know what to do with the extra time. |
| Bob Burkman and Bob Collins | Switched their shoes as part of the ongoing shoe joke and thought the sergeants wouldn’t notice. |
| Chris McAlpine | Late to meeting. Sergeant said maybe the late award may need to be renamed to the Chris McAlpine award. |
Membership Anniversaries
| Member | Joined | Years |
| Denny Cottle | September 20, 2015 | 8 |
| Bill Williams | September 20, 1993 | 30 |
| Sue Brubaker | September 23, 2008 | 15 |
| Mike Cordonnier | September 26, 2018 | 5 |
| Dana Dring | September 26, 2018 | 5 |
| Steve Linder | September 26, 2018 | 5 |
| Carolyn Taylor | September 26, 2018 | 5 |
| Mike Wall | September 26, 1995 | 28 |
| Stephen Walker | September 28, 1998 | 25 |
| Pat Behn | September 29, 2003 | 20 |
| John Powell | September 29, 1999 | 24 |
| Brooks Compton | September 30, 1994 | 29 |
| Denise O’Neil | September 30, 1994 | 29 |
| Karl Frydryk | October 1, 1988 | 35 |
| Ken Irwin | October 2, 2012 | 11 |
| Rick Kempfer | October 2, 2012 | 11 |
| Larry Larrimer | October 2, 2012 | 11 |
Birthdays
| Bill DeFries | September 19 |
| Terri Leputa | September 19 |
| Joanie Schiml | September 19 |
| Harry Bossey | September 22 |
| Carol Smerz | September 22 |
| Jon Werts | September 22 |
| Mark Karns | September 23 |
| Dan Thalheimer | September 24 |
| Diane Arehart | September 26 |
| Casey Dixon | September 26 |
| Evelyn Griffin | September 26 |
| Jeff Kujawa | September 27 |
| Roy Barclay | October 1 |
| Mike Fanelli | October 1 |
CNO Donations – 2013 through August 2023
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.