Mike Lavery blessed the group with our prayer and Joel Koch, with cue card help from Bob Hays, uttered the word "I" to initiate the Pledge of Allegiance.

Jared Haugh conducted the 50-50 Card Draw worth $379 next week. Mike McLaughlin held the winning ticket but drew a 2 of Spades so the pot grows next week.

Jeff Dorsey handled the tail-twisting, stopping for a beer along the way. In an effort to exonerate himself from joke telling humiliation from weeks ago, Dorsey told the same joke again and even read the punch line to make sure it was done properly. Somehow it was funnier when I screwed it up the first time.

Art Awerkamp shared that the letters to businesses went out soliciting sponsors for the Field of Honor. So far $6,350 has been raised with several more awaiting final confirmation. Some members may be asked to contact some business owners in the next few weeks.

Jimmy Louthen asked again to please sell the raffle tickets for Smoke on the River. Again a reminder, this year's Smoke on the River event will feature an all you can eat Hog Roast on Friday night to kick off the fundraiser. Please share this on your personal social media outlet. Jimmy placed signup sheets on the tables. Please step up and help this weekend. As an incentive, a prime rib dinner will be presented to all workers for the event at the September 12th meeting. The rest of you get bread and water.

Good to see Jim Schlepphorst, Sheriff Brent Fischer, Zeke Cernea and Jacob Huff with us again.

Congratulations to Zeke and Jacob on securing the Illinois State Tumbling and Trampoline Competition to Quincy in 2015.