United Way announces 2004 campaign cabinet

United Way of Southeast Missouri announced its 2004 campaign cabinet recently. They are, pictured from left, Larry Dunger, Jeff Brune, Jon Rust, Barry Randolph, Dan Muser, Kathy Bertrand, Jay Wolz, Mike Smythe, Doug Watson. Southeast Missourian

The United Way of Southeast Missouri recently announced Mike Smythe, vice president and general manager of KFVS-12 and UPN The Beat, as the 2004 campaign chairman. Kathy Bertrand of The Bank of Missouri serves as vice chair; Jon Rust of Rust Communications chairs the education marketing committee; and Steven Bjelich of Saint Francis Medical Center chairs the Top 20 CEO Advisory Committee to encourage ongoing support and assist the cabinet in setting its goal for the campaign.

Separated into four divisions, the cabinet is headed by volunteers Jay Wolz of Southeast Missouri Hospital and Barry Randolph of Wood & Huston Bank, who will co-chair the corporate employee division. This division raises approximately 80 percent of total campaign dollars.

Doug Watson, of Union Planters Bank, will chair the professional division which represents professional individuals.

The Patron Division, chaired by Jeff Brune of Cape County Transit Authority, represents individual contributors, retirees and small businesses. The Public Service Division includes education, government, human services agencies and service clubs. Dan Muser, of the city of Cape Girardeau's Parks and Recreation Department, and Melvin Gateley, retired principal and Cape Girardeau City Councilman, will co-chair this division.

To ensure that the 2004 United Way of Southeast Missouri campaign is successful, volunteer efforts to set a goal and recruit additional volunteers for the upcoming campaign that takes place in businesses in all of Cape Girardeau County, Scott City and Perryville are underway. Funding from the 2004 campaign will be allocated by the United Way of Southeast Missouri's board of directors during 2005 to programs providing services in these communities.

The goal for the 2004 campaign will be publicly announced at the Campaign Kick-Off event on Thursday at West Park Cine (Wehrenberg Theaters).

The United Way of Southeast Missouri serves as the leader in uniting people and resources around health and human service issues to build a stronger and healthier community. Over $1 million was raised in the 2003 annual campaign, funding over 40 programs within 32 local agencies. For more information about the local United Way, visit its Web site at www.unitedwayofsemo.org or call 334-9634.