PAGE A8 • SEPTEMBER 4, 2012
THE POSEY COUNTY NEWS • SERVING THE COUNTY SINCE 1882 • WWW.POSEYCOUNTYNEWS.COM
GENERAL NEWS United Way Recognizes Leadership Givers to Begin 50th Anniversary Celebration The United Way of Posey County recognized more than 400 local people who were Leadership Givers in last fall’s campaign at an August 28th dinner celebration at the Mt. Vernon High School Cafeteria. Sponsors of the dinner, who made this donation in addition to their usual United Way contribution, are Cargill, Consolidated Grain & Barge Company, Countrymark Cooperative, Inc., CSB State Bank, Fifth Third Bank, First Bank, GAF, Bill and Muriel Gillenwater, McKim’s IGA, Old National Bank, SABIC Innovative Plastics, United Fidelity Bank, Vectren Corporation, and WSI. After an invocation by Fr. Jim Sauer of St. Matthew Church of Mt. Vernon and Holy Angels Church of New Harmony, Keith Spurgeon, United Way President, introduced the other officers and members of the Board of Directors of the United Way of Posey County. They are Wayne Games, First VicePresident; Staci Reese, Second Vice-President; Niall McConville, Treasurer; Pat Beckgerd, Secretary; and Board of Directors Members Paul Allison; Kenyon Bailey; Grant Beloat; Steve Bennett; Todd Camp; Andrea Gentry; Michelle Hudson; Phyllis Johnson; Connie Marvel; Jay Price; Dan Ritter; Lindsay Schmitt; Molly Stalker; Tom Verkamp: Larry Williams; Aaron Wilson; and Shawn Worman. Elizabeth Baier has served as Executive Director since 1982. Rhonda Wolf was also recognized for her help. Wayne Games, Staci Reese, Jeff Pickrell, Elizabeth Baier, Don Baier and Rhonda Wolf were recognized for their help with the evening. Past-Presidents of the United Way of Posey County Steve Bennett; Wayne Games; Bill Gillenwater; David Givens; Michelle Hudson; Ken Meyer; Jon Neufelder; Dan Ritter; and
Larry Williams were also recognized. Keith Spurgeon, last year’s campaign chairperson, said that the Leadership Givers were vital in helping the United Way of Posey County raise over $664,447 in last fall’s campaign. He said this year’s campaign will kick off on September 19 at 8 AM at the Alexandrian Public Library in Mount Vernon at a breakfast that will be provided, cooked, and served by the United Way Board of Directors to thank United Way volunteers for their efforts in recognition of the 50th Anniversary and everyone is invited. Guest speaker will be Michelle Hudson, local realtor of the Shrode Agency and long-time community supporter. More than 120 volunteers will work throughout the United Way campaign to raise this year’s goal of $690,000. Keith Spurgeon noted that there are 21 agencies that provide services to Posey County people this year who received United Way of Posey County funds including Albion Fellows Bacon Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Buffalo Trace Council – Boy Scouts of America, Catholic Charities, Children’s Learning Center of Posey County, Christian Church Day Care Center, Community Emergency Assistance, ECHO Community Health Care, Family Matters, Homeless Shelter of Mt. Vernon, Indiana Legal Services, Lampion Center, New Harmony Ministry Association, Posey County Council on Aging, Posey County Red Cross, Posey County Rehabilitation Services, Rehabilitation Center, Salvation Army, Visiting Nurse Association of Southwestern Indiana, WNIN Radio Reading Service and Willow Tree of Posey County. Last year over 15,790 Posey County residents used the services of at least one of these agencies.
NORTH POSEY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT OF THE MONTH
CODY DAVID DEVINE Date Of Birth: 9/13/94 Grade: Senior – 12th Grade Parent/Guardian(s): David and Jennifer Devine Hobbies / Community Involvement: Student Council, National Honors Society, Big Brothers Big Sisters, PEERS Project, North Posey Relay for Life, Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Keith Spurgeon announced that, in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the United Way of Posey County, there will be a Variety Show with a dozen exceptional acts on Saturday, October 13, at 7:00 P.M. at the Mount Vernon High School Auditorium. The Variety Show, hosted by Dan Katz, will be free to the public as a celebration and a thank you to the Posey County Community for its generosity and support these past 50 years. Spurgeon said that Consolidated Grain & Barge Co. had offered to sponsor this 50th Anniversary event in addition to its support of the United Way campaign so that no United Way funds or contributions will be used for this event. Wayne Games, this year’s campaign chairman, mentioned that Sabic, Babcock & Wilcox, St. Wendel School, St. Philip School, St. Matthew School, MSD Mt. Vernon, and MSD North Posey, are Pacesetters this year, running their United Way campaign early to get the drive off to a good start. He noted that this is Babcock & Wilcox’s 50th year in Mount Vernon, also, and that B&W employees helped to start the United Way in Posey County. Michelle Hudson introduced the winner of the Elizabeth D. Baier Youth Spirit Award, Margaret Maier, and explained that the Award had been started in 2007 to honor Elizabeth D. Baier’s 25th anniversary as Executive Director of the United Way of Posey County. The Award recognizes an incoming high school senior who resides in Posey County for outstanding leadership, volunteerism, and community involvement. Margaret Maier, a senior at Mount Vernon High School and daughter of Paul and Jackie Maier, spoke of the need to help others and her plans to become a doctor. She will be an ambassador for the United Way of Posey County among her peers and throughout the community for the next year. Executive Director Elizabeth Baier told the Leadership Givers that their support was making a difference in our community, and was an important part of claiming the matching grant of just over $65,000 earlier this year that was used to have the Neighbor to Neighbor classes about financial stability offered in the northern part of the County through Community Emergency Assistance, ECHO Community Health Care offering more services to the uninsured
and underinsured of Posey County, and Big Brothers Big Sisters become fully established throughout all of Posey County. She said “These efforts to strengthen the financial stability of Posey County families, provide more access to health care, and help young people grow up to be participating citizens in a strong community are the beginnings of efforts that will change lives in our community.” Elizabeth Baier asked everyone to become a part of the United Way campaign, saying that each person is needed “as we work to meet the challenges of the future.” Individuals using the services of local United Way agencies including the Neighbor to Neighbor program through Community Emergency Assistance, ECHO Community Health Care, and the Rehabilitation Center spoke of the importance of having the programs and services available and the impact that these programs and services have on people’s lives. One speaker said that participating in the Neighbor to Neighbor program taught her financial responsibility and to know the difference between needs and wants, and that she is now a facilitator for the program. The local man using the services of ECHO Community Health Care said that he had no health insurance even though he was employed fulltime and that he head serious health problems and expensive prescriptions. He said he was able to receive skilled and compassionate health care and help with the medication to enable him to keep living his normal life and working to help others. The mother of a young girl using the Rehabilitation Center spoke of how the child was autistic and how the services had changed their lives because their daughter was able to communicate, participate, and attend school. The child greeted the group and stood with her mother while she spoke. The featured speaker of the event was Bob Jones, President and CEO of Old National Bank who told the Leadership Givers that they are the fabric of this community and made a difference every day in what they do. He said the idea of Local People Helping Local People is a very important part of what makes Posey County a vibrant community of people looking out for each other. He noted that many people help each of us during our lives and even though you may say thank you, you can never really pay it back, but you can pay it forward. He said, “You can make a difference the next time. If you have a good life, pay it forward so other people are as blessed as you are.” Wayne Games, campaign chairman, said reaching the campaign goal was going to be a big challenge this year $690,000, up from $640,000 last year and was an increase of $50,000 in recognition of the 50th anniversary. He said that it was attainable with everyone’s help and that we are
fortunate to live in this community of caring people where it is important to everyone if people need help. Games asked everyone to look at the Leadership Giving levels, which start at $250, to think about going to the next level, to talk to co-workers and neighbors about giving a little more, and to think about how “life is good, so we can do that.” Games added “Help our United Way in Posey County reach its goal and celebrate 50 years of service to the people of Posey County.” Leadership Givers from the 2011 United Way Campaign are: Petroleum Level – Donald and Elizabeth Baier, Steve and Tina Bennett, Anonymous, Joseph and Pamela Castrale, Rodney and Lynn Clark, Beth Crafton, Doug Debelak, Dennis and Sherry Dick, Wayne and Judy Games, Bill and Muriel Gillenwater, Anthony Glaser, Mike and Rev. Monica Gould, Steve Hutto, Elizabeth Jordan, John Martin, Stewart and Connie Marvel, Niall and Shelly McConville, Kenneth Miller, Karl Neely, Jon and Donna Neufelder, Billy Reynolds, Dan and Mary Ritter, Bill Rountree, Rick Silvers, Keith and Gloria Spurgeon, Safwat Tadros, Michael Walsh, and John Washuta. Titanium Level – Thomas Bakke, Dave and Pam Carl, John Deaton, Bruce and Beth Dingman, Brenda Gunter, Christina Harlow, Henry and Michelle Hudson, Duane and Linda Kuhlenschmidt, Glen Kuper, Jill Marshall, Jon and Gretchen Mansfield, Chigozie Mbeledogu, Thomas and Kathy Verkamp, Dr. Gordon and Dr. Gayle Vogel, Larry Williams and Sam and Connie Woehler. Platinum Level – David Albright, Timothy Allen, Philip Angermeier, D Baro, Janice Barrett, Darrel Bates, Barry and Joy Biggs, Darrell Bollier, Roger Boyer, Paula Briscoe, Fernando Cuellar, Judith D’Agostino, David and Darlene Duckworth, Betty Greenwell, Tom Hall, Janet Heldt, Dr. Thomas and Nelda Hickey, Jason Hoehn, William Hollar, Lansy Holm, Michael Keene, John R. and Julie Martin, Tim Mauck, Leeann Miller, William Newman, Clayton and Marjorie Powers, Raymond Raisor, Dr. David and Betty Rice, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Schirtzinger, Ronnie and Dee Sheffer, Charles Somers, Thomas and Laura Sommerfield, Bryan Stegall, Benny and Barbara Tennyson, Paul and Wanda Wade, Keith Wamsley, Paul and Holly Watzlavik, Mark and Susan Wezet, Brian Williams, Julie Daugherty Williams, and Shawn and Dawn Worman. Gold Level – Paul and Tamara Allison, Steve Allyn, Pat and Paul Beckgerd, Stephen and Patricia Britt, Jeffrey Buente, Jay Digman, Gregory Fischer, Jason Gries, Brock Guthrie, Robert and Lee Ann Hargrove, Glenn Henderson, Justin Jarvis, Kim Knollman, Timothy Marvel, Wanda Mattingly, Keith Nance, Jacob Oberholtzer, Steve and Kathy Riordan, Joan Roedel, Thomas Savage, Nancy Schulze, Richard K. Smith, Jr., Jason and Molly Stalker, and Craig Walker. Silver Level – Jim and Judy Alsop, Phyllis Alspaugh, Bruce Baker, Karl Baro, Connie Barrow, Diana Billman, Patrick Blankenberger, Paula BoneRush and Geno Rush, Ronald Bradford, Cary Bredemeier, David and Vicki Campbell, John Wayne Culley, Karen Davis, Kristine Deig, Lindsey Dickens, Roy Dickens, Michael Farmer, James Louis Flener, Geoff and Kristina Gentil, Charles Gibbs, Tom and Jody Giles, Thomas Guggenheim, Joyce Hack, Tom Heckman, Gayle Helfrich, Timothy Hesse, Jason Hinderliter, Andrew and Nancy Hoehn, Norman Johnson, Tom and Janice Kopatich, George and Shannon Lance, Marilyn Marshall, Shannon Marshall, Christina Mayes, Christina McCarty, Keith McCutchan, James Mckinley, Arthur Mengon, George Lee Morgan, Alice W. Morris, Paul Naab, Tinsley Northington, John O’Daniel, Sarah O’Daniel, Carol Peerman, Jody Pfister, Jeffrey Pharr, Dave Reherman, Richard Reich, John Rogers, Wayne Rueger, Beth Russell, Greg/Lisa/Jeff/Patricia Russell, Austin Samanns, Bob and Ann Scarafia, Jerry and Beth Schilling, Bob and Sandy Seitz, Ronald and Joan Siers, Randall Simon, Tom and Lisa Smith, Matthew Smorch, Tina Deal Spears, Bill and Lynn Stendeback, Katherine Stephens, Brandon Thornburg, Marko Vukovich, Angela Wannemuehler, Beth Walter,
Charles Walter, Doug Weber, Robert Wessel, John Willis, Kirby and Patricia Wilson, Gary Wink, Eric and Rhonda Wolf, Dorothy Woodall, James Wyant, and Randall Yeida. Bronze Level – Steve Action, Martha M. Alldredge, Anonymous, Phoebe Allison, Joseph and Donna Anderson, Tammy Anderson, Tara Anderson, Dr. Sarah R. Appel, Sondra Ash, J. Michael Ashworth, Michael John Axton, Barb Babb, Timothy Baier, Kenyon and Marsha Bailey, Kenneth Barry, Amy Bartlett, Ronald Basham, Ed Batteiger, Richard Beirman, R. David Bell, Bill Bender, Susan Blackburn, Sam and Shirley Blankenship, Mike Boerner, Kimberly Bouch, Brian Bougher, Agnes Bowlds, Mr. and Mrs. David Bowler, Bruce Breeze, Clifford Briggs, John Broadhead, Bryan Bulkley, Derrick Bulkley, Damian Burnside, Norma Sue Butler, Randall Calvert, Todd Camp, John Cape, Robert Carpenter, Frank Chapman, Wilfred Clark, Steve Cochran, Christopher Corbitt, Kerry Cox, William Cox, Joseph Crissup, Carl Culiver and Karen Walker, Steve Culley, Chris Datzman, Jane Delesma, Alicia Denning, William Denning, Chris Diaz, Cindy Eaton, Leslie Brook Embrey, William Embrey, Rick Englebright, Sarah Enlow, Michael and Sue Farquharson, Rodney Fetcher, Michelle Floyd, Dan Funk, Nancy Gibbs, Daniel Gibson, Sandra K. Giles, Tommy Giles, David and Barbara Givens, William Ronald Goff, Robert Green, Kimberly Grimes, Larry Gross, Ron Hagy, Bradley Hall, Bruce Hall, William Hall, Andy Hamilton, Peter Hamilton, Denny and Jenifer Hargett, Cheryl Harmon, John Harris, Suzanne Hayden, Jerry Healy, John Hendricks, Jeff Henry, Beth McFadin Higgins, Nathan Hinton, Charles and Tamara Hoehn, Diana Hoehn, Scott and Genise Huey, Marc Huff, Craig Hutton, David Jackson, Kenneth R. and Nancy L. Johnson, Michael Johnson, Sam and Phyllis Johnson, Stuart Johnson, Kelly Jones, Tamara Jones, Benjamin Kaetzel, Dr. Darin Keitel, Donald Kensell, Fr. Thomas Kessler, Tony Kirk, David Kneer, Donna Kohlmeyer, Cody Kueber, Derek Lake, Scott Lantaff, Leigh Latshaw, Dr. and Mrs. Matthew Lee, Jon Like, Kathie Lindsey, Richard and Virginia Lloyd, Sherri Lueder, Adam Lyell, Angie Lyke, Katrina Mann, Lori Mann, Christopher Marks, Warren Matthews, Paul and Judy Maurer, Timothy McDaniel, William McDowell, Teresa McDurmon, James Meinschein, Ravishankar Menon, Ken and Peggy Meyer, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Michl, Maria Milan, Elizabeth Miller, William Minton, Scott Mitchell, Steve and Elizabeth Mitchell, John Mobley, Rhonda C. Moore, R. David Morris and Doris Kuebler, Angela Morrow, Gail Morrow, Michael Moye, Scott Moye, Werner Mueth, Dashawn Murray, Shelia Naab, David and Kathy Nelson, Samuel Nicotra, Kim O’Grady, Marie Opatrny, Frances Overton, Elizabeth Pace, Donald K. Parker, Steven Patton, Connie Pearce, James Pervenecki, Richard Pfister, Mark Pharr, Rodney Phillips, Gordon Plouchard, Kristina Lee Plouchard, Michael Preske, Marissa Priddis, John Raisor, James and Tracy Reese, Blair Reeves, Kristi Reynolds, Sheryl Richardt, Shawn Ricketts, Steven Roberts, Rebecca Roos, Patrick Rose, Myron Rucker, Dennis Rueger, Larry Rutledge, Katherine Rybak, Fr. Jim Sauer, Debra Schmitt, Donna Schmitt, Mark and Lindsay Schmitt, Pamela Schneck, Tom and Tammy Schneider, Lawrence Seib, Gary and Sue Shelton, Eddie Sledd, Cynthia Smith, Debra Snyder, Ryan Spalding, Lester Spaulding, Stephanie Stacy, David Steele, Betty Stevens, Glenn Stewart, John Stewart, Dirk Suits, Dr. William and Jean Sutton, Torrey Sweetser, Jim and Vicky Swinney, John Taylor, James M. Tenbarge, Jennifer Thiem, Fran Thoele, Samantha Thomas, Dwayne Thompson, Diann Uhde, Doug VanMeter, Julia Vantlin, Amanda VanWinkle, Barb VanZant, Benjamin Verkamp, Jackie Verville, Margaret Vogel, Christopher Wade, Deward Wagner, Kimberly Wagner, Peggy Wagner, Jesse Walker, Matthew Walls, Cheryl Weber, Bridget Wehr, Kenneth Weinzapfel, Darren West, Mary Ann White, Thomas Whitfield, James Wild, Kevin Wildeman, Nicholas Wildeman, Jim and Pat Wiley, Barbara Williams, Leah K. Williams, Matthew Williams, Michael Willman, Aaron Wilson, Faye Wilson, Keely Winiger, Andrew Woehler, Fran Wood-Osborne, and Angela Woolsey. Anyone interested in getting more involved with the United Way of Posey County or wanting more information may call 838-3637, or email uwposey@sbcglobal.net.