Thursday, September 30, 2010

United Way campaign begins
By Pearl Cantrell
Monitor Staff Writer
ATHENS–These are hard economic times. We hear it every day on the television and in the newspaper. But as hard as it is for most of us, for others it is far worse.
Those are the folks the organizers of this year’s United Way Campaign want you to think about as you ponder what you might give to help reach the $210,000 goal Henderson County chapter president Tony Kalawe has set.
“The one thing I’ve learned form my experience as an NFL spectator is, it takes teamwork to reach goals,” Kalawe said. “Let’s make Henderson County look good.”

Monitor Photo/
Pearl Cantrell
About 150 people attended the kickoff luncheon for United Way in Henderson County and enjoyed a tastefully prepared salad, entree, rolls and dessert at the Athens Country Club while being reminded there are many among the county's 80,000 residents who need their support.

The campaign has already begun, and community-minded leaders at Solar Turbines and Caterpillar and their employees have already raised $30,000 in pledges toward that goal.
Businesses, government officials, volunteers and helping agencies were all invited to the campaign kickoff with a luncheon at the Athens Country Club Sept. 22.
Those from the 26 agencies tapped to benefit from the campaign had the opportunity to share what their financial challenges look to be in the coming year, agencies like the Family Peace Project, which has seen the fall-off in giving this past year.
“Not that, we’ve ever been well off,” fund-raising chairman Bobbi Fain said. “But now, we really need to raise $10,000 this month.”
Representatives from the Family Resource Center report that the number of families they served with school clothes and supplies has grown this year.

Monitor Photo/
Pearl Cantrell
Henderson County United Way chapter president Tony Kalawe pulls the winning ticket for a 22-inch LCD HDTV, as an example of one of the many ways businesses, organizations and individuals might use to raise funds to meet the chapter's $210,000 goal this year.

Others include Delinquency Prevention Program, Disciples Clinic of Athens, Helpline, Henderson County Child Welfare Board, Labor of Love, Teen Court, Meals on Wheels and New Beginnings.
Also, the Rainbow Room, the East Texas Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, CASA, Dogs Against Drugs, the Bully Prevention & Intervention Program and others.
Motivational speaker and administrator for South Place in Athens Hue Adams chose to speak on the many benefits that come from giving of yourself, as he hoped to inspire those present to go back to their businesses and organizations to plan fund-raising events for United Way.
“This is our opportunity to be a blessing to someone else,” he said. “Everyone here has been blessed above and beyond with health, talent and opportunities. Share the wealth.”
There are at least 41 beneficial health factors which have been proven to be associated with altruism, Adams told the gathering.
Adams remunerated seven of them listed by Mayo Clinic Dr. Ann Vincent. Among them were:
• the reduction of stress,
• strengthening the immune system,
• boosting endorphin production, which makes you have a sense of well-being, and
• reducing sensation of pain.
He closed with two quotes from famous men, because surveys show most people believe they are true.
From Abraham Lincoln: “As you grow older, you will discover that you have been given two hands – one to help yourself and the other to help your neighbor.”
And from Winston Churchill: “We live by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
To find out how you can donate to the Henderson County United Way Campaign, call Mary Waddell at the Henderson County Fairgrounds at (903) 670-3324.

KISD joins funding protest
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KEMP–A growing number of school districts are joining together to protest the state’s system of funding Texas’ schools.
Tuesday, trustees of Kemp Independent School District joined with 57 other districts in approving a resolution acknowledging education as a priority.
Kemp joins districts from Aledo, Denison, San Augustine, Lewisville, Pleasant Grove, Hillsboro, Panther Creek and west of Fort Worth to Springtown.
The purpose is to provide one voice to protest the state’s lack of reliable funding improvements during the upcoming legislative session, Superintendent Dr. Peter Running explained.
The number of districts passing the resolution is growing daily, trustees heard.
The final statement in the resolution declares, “We share one unified message to all involved: Make Education a Priority.”
In other business, trustees:
• heard Running report on a minor bus accident that sent the driver to the hospital with a wrist injury and a student to the hospital with a case of whiplash.
“A vehicle tried to pass the bus at a high rate of speed as it (the bus) turned into the school driveway,” Running said.
• heard Running thank voters for their support during the successful TRE election, which passed 204 to 87.
• honored the students of the month – primary Nala Stefanos, intermediate Michelle Juby, junior high Kourtney Hazlip and high school Hailey Stovall.
• accepted the Kaufman County Appraisal Roll as the tax roll for the district.
The 2010 total market values are $673,411,646, with a certifiable taxable value of $329,098,281.
• heard tax collections for the current year are 93 percent, compared to 92 percent for the same period last year.
• heard the average daily attendance through Sept. 13 was 1,571 students, a gain of five students from 2009.
Also, trustees heard nine primary students have enrolled since the September count was taken.