KI BOIS Community Action Foundation, Inc. KI BOIS NEWS Volume 9, Issue 14 November, 2018 Helping People. Changing Lives. Serving Eastern Oklahoma Since 50th Anniversary of KI BOIS Events Culminate with Gala For 50 years, KI BOIS Community Action has been working to end poverty. Its mission is the direct result of the War on Poverty launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. On Thursday, October 25 th, KI BOIS held its 50th Anniversary Gala. KI BOIS Board, staff and honored guests enjoyed an evening filled with food, entertainment and memories. The evening kicked off with the Stigler High School Jazz Band greeting guests as they arrived. Their selections put everyone in a festive mood, although the weather was a bit rainy and gloomy. Various photo opportunities were available for guests. Our resident photographer, Lana Huggins, was on-hand to take just the right picture that captured the feelings and emotions of the night. At 6:00 p.m., longtime Board Chair Gene Bass welcomed everyone, and the invocation was given by former employee and board member David Ward. The flag salute was led by Board 1 st Vice Chair John Cook. A delicious birthday cake was cut and everyone sang Happy Birthday to KI BOIS, followed by a wonderful dinner, served by the Stigler High School Band members. Following dinner, Tom Marlatt, KI BOIS Associate Director/CFO introduced special guests. Carroll Huggins, Executive Director/CEO and honored guests took the microphone to reflect on their years of service or association with KI BOIS. Many employees who have passed on were mentioned and remembered ondly. There were many laughs, and a few tears, as each one proudly stood and told of how KI BOIS had enhanced their lives. The evening ended with KI BOIS Associate Director/COO Larry Hall leading guests in the Promise of Community Action and the candle lighting ceremony. All Board Members, Leadership staff, and some longtime employees lit a candle and spoke briefly about KI BOIS. Gene Bass was presented a plaque recognizing him for his dedication and service to the agency. It was a beautiful evening. Guests reflected on the past and looked to the future. More Gala pictures on Pages 3-4
Page 2 From the Desk of the Executive Director / CEO This time of the year make me thankful to live in our beautiful Southeastern Oklahoma. The wonderful fall weather and the beautiful fall foliage add to the natural beauty of the lakes and woodlands. It seems so peaceful here compared to the events in other parts of the world that we see on television each day. When giving our daily devotions we need to remember the leaders of our state and country and especially our men and women in uniform who preserve our freedom on a daily basis sometimes at a great cost to themselves and their families. On November 11 th our great nation honors all Veterans. As we start to think about Thanksgiving and the many wonderful things that we have to be thankful for I encourage you to be especially mindful of those in your local community who are in need. Many of them we serve on a daily basis and many who are too proud to ask for help. Please take time to volunteer with your local community groups and churches that prepare annual Thanksgiving Meals for the needy or deliver Food Baskets to the Carroll Huggins hungry. I wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving! Carroll Huggins, CCAP Executive Director / CEO November 2018 Calendar of Events Veterans Day Observed (Office Closed) - November 12, 2018 KI BOIS Board Meeting & Thanksgiving Meal - November 15, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. Thanksgiving Day (Offices Closed) - November 22, 2018 Thanksgiving Holiday (Office Closed) - November 23, 2018 Veterans Day Facts Veterans Day originated as Armistice Day on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans living or dead but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime. Veterans Day occurs on November 11 every year in the United States. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially changed the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day. In 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed by Congress, which moved the celebration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. The law went into effect in 1971, but in 1975 President Gerald Ford returned Veterans Day to November 11, due to the important historical significance of the date. Great Britain, France, Australia and Canada also commemorate the veterans of World War I and World War II on or near November 11th: Canada has Remembrance Day, while Britain has Remembrance Sunday (the second Sunday of November). is published monthly by KI BOIS Community Action Foundation, Inc. 200 Southeast A Street P.O. Box 727 Stigler, OK 74462 918-967-3325 800-299-4479 www.kibois.org R. Carroll Huggins Executive Director / CEO Tom Marlatt Associate Director / CFO Larry Hall, Associate Director / COO In Europe, Great Britain and the Commonwealth countries it is common to observe two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. every November 11. KI BOIS Community Action Board of Directors Gene Bass, Board Chairperson John Cook, 1st VP Cecil Williams, 2nd VP Jan Coplen, Sec/Treasurer Steve Carter, Parliamentarian Kay Box, Editor 918-967-3325, Ext. 131 kay.wood@kibois.org www.kibois.org www.facebook.com/kibois www.twitter.com/kibois_caf
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KI BOIS NEWS Page 5 Volunteers Make A Difference In Poteau The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) LeFlore & Haskell Counties Appreciation Banquet was held on October 23, 2018 at the Kiamichi Technology Center in Poteau. Congratulations Sandie Rutherford, KI BOIS RSVP Director on a job well done. Our volunteers are very special to us at KI BOIS and we appreciate them very much.. Guests enjoyed a meal of chicken fried steak and all the trimmings, with dessert cupcake flowers made by Denice Daniels. Entertainment was provided by Royce Alverson. Many fellow KI BOIS employees, including Shaunda Noah, Royce Alverson, Denice Daniels, Kathy Healy, Linda Love and Rosalind Newby were on-hand to assist.
Page 6 The KI BOIS team "KI BOIS KUTIES" were not the winning team but had a great time competing in the recent "Are U Smarter Than A Fifth Grader" fundraiser. Team members consist of former board member, Sue Wagner, KATS driver Bill Fazekas, Board Member John Cook, Board Member Vic Bullard, and KI BOI S News Redonna Perry, Sharon Arnett, Joe Sorrell, and Charla Sloan at the annual Bus Roadeo. Sharon, from Eufaula KATS, competed in the mini van competition and Joe from Holdenville KATS competed in the Shuttle Bus competition placing 3rd overall. Congratulations! Trick or Treat at KI BOIS Central Office in Stigler. Our KI BOIS Community Action Super Heroes greeted Stigler kindergarteners and passed out candy. Times got a little spooky at Keota Head Start on Halloween. These little goblins are posing just before going out on a hunt for candy. We re fighting Poverty one day at a time! Having fun while learning! KI BOIS Head Start!
Page 7 Medicare Contact your nearest KI BOIS office for more information about Medicare Open Enrollment. Staff can assist you or refer you to someone who Are you looking for a way to ring in the holiday season? Then volunteer to be a bell ringer during The Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign. Individuals, families, civic groups, Sunday School classes, virtually anyone can help out. All funds raised stay in the county there are collected to help with emergency assistance. KI BOIS Community Action the Salvation Army Service Unit in Haskell, Latimer and Pittsburg Counties. To volunteer, or for more information, contact: Christi Jones, Haskell County - 918.967.3325 Claudia Jeffrey, Latimer County - 918.465.3381 Megan Reames, Pittsburg County - 918.423.3525
Page 8 Several KI BOIS Employees weigh in on just what Thanksgiving means to them. Other submissions will be posted on our Facebook & Twitter Pages. -- I am thankful for a great group of People I work for and with. The people I work with in my office are very supportive and fun! - Kathy Healey I am thankful for God that he loved us so much that he sent his Son to save us. Charla Sloan I am thankful for parents who taught me by example! - Doylene Knowlton I am Thankful for the ladies I work with as a team, to provide the best for our little goblins Gans Head Start Ryal Head Start is thankful to have loving, involved families that recruit new families to join our center! We are thankful to work in a noble profession in which we partner with a supportive group of parents and children who, with their countless hugs, melt our hearts every day. - Panama Head Start Jesus and the Cross. Rick Cole I give Thanks for God giving his son. Thank you. Rena Thomas All employment opportunities are posted on our website, www.kibois.org. These positions are open to KI BOIS Community Action Foundation Staff as well as to the public. (ALL POSI- TIONS SUBJECT TO CONTINUED PROJECT FUNDING.) Deadline for all openings: Until Filled. Current employees please submit a letter of interest to Human Resources. Applications may be picked up at any KI BOIS Community Action Foundation, Inc. office or printed from the website, www.kibois.org. Applications should be returned to: KI BOIS Community Action Foundation, Inc. P. O. Box 727, Stigler, OK 74462 Attention: Human Resources