Please join us for the 10th annual Cape and Islands United Way "Best Night of the Year" at Willowbend Country Club in Mashpee on Sunday, June 29, 2008. This year's event will feature the usual array of top shelf restaurants and wine purveyors, along with a great silent and live auction. Also expect some surprises throughout the evening leading up to the best fireworks display ever.

As many of you know by now, Richard Brothers will be "walking off into the sunset" at the end of this year. As President of the Cape and Islands United Way, Rich has presided over 10 years of significant growth and success in fund-raising, community impact and general goodwill and good times. I am fortunate to have worked with Rich for many years and honored to call him a friend. Although he leaves us in great shape, his loss will be immeasurable. There is no one who will be able to "fill his shoes", with or without socks. As the year progresses we will be "honoring" Rich in many ways. Right now one of those ways is the limited edition Vineyard Vines "Sand Dollar" ties which bear the embroidered inscription of "RB 2008 In honor of 10 years service to the community". Available in blue and raspberry, these "collector's items" can be purchased for a limited time at Puritan Clothing in Hyannis or by calling the Cape and Islands United Way office at (508) 775-4746. Please join me in honoring Rich now and throughout 2008.

This year the "Power of Ten" will be the overriding theme and goal of our fundraising efforts. In this, the 10th and final year of the "Rich Brothers era", there are many "10" milestones to acknowledge and benchmarks to achieve.

• First is honoring Rich's stellar 10 years of service to the Cape and Islands community
• Second is our goal of $1.5 million for 2008; a 10 x 10 or 100% increase over 10 years ago.
• Third is reaching the 2008 goal will be a 10% increase over 2007
• Fourth as some have already done, please commit to a personal 10% increase over last year's giving

The Cape and Islands United Way opened this year's fund-raising efforts and announced the 2008 Community Impact Grant recipients at a reception of 150 at Alberto's in Hyannis.

New Board of Directors and Executive Committee members for 2008 include:

• David Curtis, The Community Bank
• Sarah Graham Mann, Case and Mann Associates
• Robert (Bob) Rogers, Retired Executive
• Larry Squire, TD Banknorth
• Dick Fairbanks, Chairman, Orleans Auto Supply, Inc.
• Bill Wendell, Vice Chairman, Wendell Marketing, LLC
• Jeff Dykens, Treasurer, Cape Cod Healthcare
• Ron Reed, Assistant Treasurer, Bank of Cape Cod
• Tony Shepley, Clerk, Shepley Wood Products
• Mary Cotoia, Past Chairman, Bank of Cape Cod