UNITED WAY CELEBRATES SUCCESS, LOOKS FORWARD

The Area Wide United Way celebrated it's past year's successes as it's annual meeting held on Thursday.

Board members, volunteers, campaign coordinators and agency directors meet to approve a slate of new directors, review the past year's accomplishments and look to 1998.

The 1997 campaign raised a record $585,000.

New directors joining the board are Donna Burk, Southwestern Bell; Kevin McDonald, Procter & Gamble; Jim Rust, R&M Fabrics; and Clare Urhahn, Lee Rowan.

Returning board members are Kevin Govero, BP Financial Services; Donna Hanschen, Ameritech; Gera LeGrand, Zimmer Radio Group; John Mehner, Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce; Bill Miller, retired executive; Anne Poston, Dana Corp.; Narvol Randol Jr., Bank of Missouri; and Craig Wells, Mercantile Bank.

Outgoing board members were also recognized. Pat Allen, Rich Gross, Rick Lambert and Bob Robins all served on the board since 1991.

Officers for 1998 were elected. Kevin Govero is president. Dr. John Holcomb is vice president; Bill Miller, treasurer, and Nancy Jernigan as secretary/executive director.

Charlie Neese was recognized for his role as honorary chairman of the campaign and KFVS was thanked for their production of the campaign video, which has been nationally recognized with a second place award in the United Way of America's communications contest.

Edythe Davis was introduced as the chairman of the 1998 campaign.

In addition to raising money for 24 community agencies, the United Way is also working with the Community Caring Council to develop a county-wide centralized information and referral network.

A series of workshops has been developed to train individuals to seek out funding opportunities. A "think tank" of experienced fund-raisers is being developed to further this process.