Presidents Report

Presidents Report

I find myself writing articles like this, much too often.  I write this article with much sadness to inform you of the passing of Johney Atherton.  Johney passed away on January 29, 2012 at his home in Enid, OK.  Johney was the chapter’s resident trap shooter and probably one of the best shooters in this area that shot from a wheelchair.  Johney was well known on the trap shoot circuit and attended many of the events.  He loved the outdoors and the shooting sports.  Johney was the driving force behind our Trapshoot and will be missed by many.  I ask you to keep his wife Jerry and their family in your prayers.

On the lighter side, we have completed our annual audit and giving the bad economy we did very well.  We were able to maintain all our programs and even grow a few new activities while staying within our budget.  Now looking forward we face new challenges, the economy is still down and National PVA has made many cuts from the National level including the chapter grant which means we will have to be either more effective fundraisers or be more conservative with this year’s budget.  I feel confident we can do both and still maintain all our programs to their fullest. 

During December the chapter not only helped with our traditional “Adopt-a-Families” but with the help from our special friends and volunteers the Hope Hospice Bizzy Beez, we were able to deliver 300 crocheted wheelchair pouches and 300 crocheted caps to the veterans at the Claremore Veterans Center.  As many of you may know The Hope Hospice Bizzy Beez is a community based group of volunteers headed by my wife Belinda.  These volunteers have many functions or talents.  Some help with hospice patients, others crochet, some help with ‘Relay for Life”.   Many of these volunteers have become a fixture at some of our events like the Green Country meetings and the Bass tournaments.  One of the outreach activities of the Bizzy Beez is crocheting.  Their crocheted items are then given to a variety of people such as hospice patients, nursing homes patients, children at the Little Rock Children’s Hospital and the veterans.  At the Claremore Veterans Center these volunteers also helped the residents at a pizza party.  We are fortunate to have volunteers like these, thank you for all you do.

Last but not least are changes.  Like it or not sometimes changes are necessary, that is why if you call or come by the office you may hear a new voice or see a new face.  Jill Kinser has joined our family as our new office secretary.  Jill started with the chapter the middle of January.  Please be patient with her as she learns us and our ways.  We are looking forward to working with Jill.