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July 19, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Bonnie Prigge, 573-265-2993 Meramec Regional Community Foundation elects board members ST. JAMES – Vicki Nelson of Maries County and Dr. Don Claycomb of Osage County were elected to serve on the Meramec Regional Community Foundation (MRCF) board at its July 6 meeting at the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) in St. James. Nelson, who lives in Belle, Mo., is a banker and serves as vice president for Mid America Bank. Nelson has been banking since 1975 and lending since 1978. She also has served on the board of directors for Central Workforce Board since 2009 and is currently the secretary/treasurer for Three Rivers Helping Hands, an Osage County foundation where she has served on the board of directors since 2006. She enjoys camping, horseback riding and reading, as well as spending time with her children and grandchildren. Nelson is replacing MRCF board member Ray Schwartze, who served a one-year term. Dr. Claycomb, who lives in Linn, Mo., is president of the Linn State Technical College, and is replacing MRCF board member Russell Scheulen, who served a one-year term. Dr. Claycomb is also involved with the Rotary Club of Jefferson City, the Lions Club in Linn, the Capital Region Medical Center Foundation and the Linn State Technical College Foundation. He is the vice chair for Girl Scouts Missouri Heartland, a trustee for the Culver-Stockton College and the vice chair for the Osage County Agritourism Council. Dr. Claycomb enjoys doing community service and spending time with his family. Nelson and Dr. Claycomb have been elected to serve three-year terms. A Gasconade County board member Gerald Ebker is also leaving the board, however, no selection has been made at this time. The MRCF board also includes MRPC’s executive director, which changed July 1. Bonnie Prigge, a 20-year veteran of MRPC, replaced Richard Cavender, who retired after 32 years of service. Prigge lives in Vichy, Mo. and is active with the Vichy Fire Department and the Maries County R-2 Parent Teacher Organization. In other business, Faith Barnes gave a presentation on the Hope Alliance of Missouri, a not-for-profit organization in Rolla, Mo., that she established. Barnes explained her organization provides backpacks of food on Fridays for under-privileged students in the Rolla and Newburg school districts. Board members discussed the process of creating a regional foundation directory to benefit communities, as well as to increase MRCF’s visibility. MRCF board members are also continuing to educate the region on the foundation through developing strategies and establishing contacts. This will help MRCF complete its goal of continuing to increase its partnerships and affiliates. MRCF is an outgrowth of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission and is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, Springfield. MRCF was established in May 2010 and serves Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties outside of existing CFO affiliate areas. For more information on MRCF, contact Luci Flaim, community development specialist with MRPC, at (573) 265-2993 or by email at lflaim@meramecregion.org. |