Mel Dillman mentioned that Smoke on the River is 7 weeks away and fliers are now available for members to distribute to help get the word out. Raffle tickets for a $7,500 four-wheeler are now available to sell as well. Something new this year is a Corporate BBQ Experience where a corporate sponsor can invite 20 people to be with one of the BBQ contestants and eat, drink and learn about preparing BBQ from them. A corporate sponsorship is $2,500 and if you know of a business that needs to be contacted please let Mel know. Don't forget there is a Smoke on the River meeting every Tuesday, including tonight (July 23rd) at 5:30pm at The Dock. Everyone is welcomed to attend the meeting.
Kent Anderson revealed that we have 45 people signed up to be judges for Smoke on the River. There is room for more. If interested go to www.smokeontheriver.net
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President Chuck Venvertloh held a second reading on two prospective members to the club. They are Eric Frese of Cason, Huff and Schlueter and Kenneth Rieffer from Riverside Smoke House. Both were proposed by Dennis Koch. Both were approved so bring them in Dennis.
We added two members, but also lost one as President Venvertloh announced that Scott Westhaus as submitted his resignation from the Club. Hate to see Scott go as he was a big part of the Gus Buster team for Gus Macker.
Chuck also mentioned that Dennis and Brian Koch lost their aunt last week. Both were absent along with Joel to attend the funeral. Our thoughts go out to the Koch's.
In their absence, Chuck Venvertloh told the club that Dennis had won "some sort of an award" at the National Convention and when asked what it was, he stated "Dennis got something". Certainly more details on this will be forthcoming after I get the information from the horse's mouth. Apparently, Chuck wasn't even near the horse's stable. Here (from the horse's mouth) is what I did find out from the National Convention . Jim Ruzon of the Joliet Club was elected the new Region 3 VP. Jim has been to our club for the 60th and 65th anniversaries. Tom Karnes, a retired police chief from Lincoln Park, Michigan was elected National President-Elect and Don Wright was installed as National President. Our very own Dennis Koch was elected Vice President of the National Exchange Club Foundation with Past National President Jim Brown of St Petersburg, Florida elected Foundation President.
The Club also received a thank you card from the Quincy Park Band for our donation to them.
With only 19 cards remaining in the deck including the winning Ace of Spades, your humble reporter had the winning ticket but drew the 10 of Spades (which was right next to the Ace of Spades...so close). The pot rolls on to a total of $1,336 for next week's drawing. Thanks to Curt Moore for handling the card draw (more on that later).
It was brought to my attention that with all of the new members we have had over the past year that some members still don't know everyone's name. Therefore, in the weeks ahead your bulletin will start having pictures of members with their name and a short bio so we can all be familiar with each other on Friday's. I may be taking your picture and getting some info from several of you in the future. (in the meantime, check out the member directory on our webpage and make sure your information is correct and current).
Nice article in Sunday's Quincy Herald Whig on Dick Wentura for his volunteering at Blessing Hospital and also Carlos Fernandez on his involvement with Habitat for Humanity.
