Chamber members and manners at monthly luncheon
By SANDRA STONE Each year, members of the Meade County Area Chamber of Commerce receive a special treat when the 6th-graders from Battletown and Payneville elementary schools join them for the annual Manners Luncheon. The idea for this annual event began with a conversation 11 years ago between Pat Garcia, family resource coordinator for Payneville and Battletown, and Jennifer Porter-Benham, Meade County Extension agent for family and consumer sciences. Some kids, said Garcia, haven’t had the opportunity to get dressed up and go out to eat, and may not know how to conduct themselves in such situations. To that end, Garcia and Porter-Benham set out to teach some manners and give the kids a chance to have some fun in the process. Porter-Benham goes to the classrooms and conducts several sessions on manners. And the culminating event is the manners luncheon for which the young men are required to wear a coat and tie and the young ladies must wear skirts and dresses. “Sometimes I’d rather be in my blue jeans and tennis shoes,” said Benham, who was very nicely turned out for the occasion. “But it’s nice to dress up because it makes us feel special. And they’re special kids.” The luncheon was sponsored by the Meade County Extension Service and catered by the Meade County Homemakers. If you missed it, you missed a great time. In other business, Chamber president Roxann Curts announced the first community relations dinner of the year would be held Feb. 23, hosted by Vine Grove. She encouraged Chamber members to become involved in this and similar events, particularly in light of the changes anticipated throughout the region with the implementation of realignment at Fort Knox. Chamber executive director Russ Powell provided an update from the Meade County BRAC Action Group, a private-public partnership which is looking at ways to market Meade County to those who will be relocating to Fort Knox. The immediate effort, he said, is directed toward meeting with civilian employees of the Army. The Fort Knox Road Show will begin in March with about 2,500 possible contacts expected. “Our effort is to make sure they have more information from Meade County than from any other county in the region,” said Powell, “and make sure it’s accurate.” Funds are also being raised for this effort. Anyone wishing to become involved is encouraged to contact the Chamber office at 422-3626. Porter-Benham announced the Meade County Wellness Task Force is getting ready for Get Moving Meade County. Sponsorships for goody bags and incentive prizes are still needed, she said. She also encouraged businesses, organizations and individuals to form teams to get moving and maybe win a prize. For more information about Get Moving Meade County, contact Porter-Benham at the Extension office, 422-4958, or Melissa Kinnard at the Meade County Health Department, 422-3988. The Meade County Champions are hosting a methamphetamine awareness training session Feb. 23 for educators, law enforcement officials and parents. Because of the graphic and disturbing nature of the some of the material to be presented, no one under 18 will be admitted. For more information about the training session, call Beverly Morrison at 422-7515. Rev. Willard Knipp announced the third annual Lenten Lunchfest series will begin March 1 at noon at Brandenburg United Methodist Church. Lunch will be served. There will be no charge, but donations are welcome. Knipp will be the first speaker in the series. The topic will be “If I were seeking elected office in Meade County.” Knipp stressed the speakers will not be candidates, and all speakers have agreed they will not endorse a specific candidate or party in their talks. For more information, call Brandenburg United Methodist Church at 422-2810.
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Photo by Sandra Stone