Relay For Life of Carthage
NEWS FLASH
November 2008 - Number 1

2009 Relay For Life – Is it that time already?
The leaves are turning colors and cooler weather is upon us telling us that fall has arrived.  And, with the onset of fall it is time to start the planning process for the 2009 Carthage Relay For Life.  We hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful summer and that you are ready to begin gearing up for this important annual community event.
 
The 2009 Relay will be held the first Saturday in June (June 6th) at Central Park.  This year we are going to be doing something different with the event and hope the change will encourage greater community support and turn out for the event.  Be watching future issues of the News Flash for more details.
 
Have you thought about volunteering to help with the Relay on the planning committee, but was unsure and would like more information about what the planning committee does?  Well, here is a brief article taken from the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life website.
 
What is a Committee Member?
You can’t have a Relay For Life event without three things…survivors, teams and committee members.
 
Being a committee member means that you are a part of the group of people that plan and execute the actual Relay For Life event.
 
The committee is composed of many different people with many different skills for the many different features of Relay For Life.  Led by “chairs,” some committee members focus on growing the event, like recruiting new teams, finding sponsors, survivors, helping teams learn more about Relay For Life and the American Cancer Society.  Other committee members focus on event production, like event night activities, logistics, planning ceremonies, advertising the event, and much more.  Every committee in every event is always looking for new members.  The success of an event depends on having new committee members bringing fresh ideas each year.  If you are someone who is passionate about the fight against cancer, is motivated to fight back, wants to represent the American Cancer Society in your community…then you are a committee member.  You just need to sign up!
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There you have it…being passionate about fighting cancer is the only real prerequisite to becoming a committee member.  Everyone who serves on the Carthage Relay For Life committee has a fire burning within them and is passionate about fighting cancer.  Do you carry the flame within?  If so, we want to encourage anyone interested in participating on the Planning Committee this year to attend the committee’s next meeting to be held on Thursday, December 11th at 6:00 p.m. at The Lighthouse on South Main Street in Carthage.  Whether you are looking to “get your feet wet” and want to participate in some small way or to “jump in with both feet”, please plan to attend this meeting.
 
36th Annual Carthage Christmas Parade
Be looking for us at the 36th Annual Carthage Christmas Parade which will be held on Monday evening, December 1, 2008 starting at 7:00 p.m.  Prior to the start of the parade, we will have a booth on the North side of the Courthouse lawn where we will be selling hot drinks, cookies and more!  We will also have a survivor area where survivors can make sure we have their correct name and address and that they are on our mailing list to receive materials for the 2009 Relay For Life.  We are currently accepting any donations of candy for the parade and would love to have volunteers to help at the booth and to walk or ride the float with us.  A flyer about the Christmas parade is included with this issue.  Please share it with everyone you know!
 
If you are interested in working in the booth, please contact Theresa Block at 358-8131 x 2574 or theresa.block@leggett.com.  If you are interested in walking with us and handing out candy along the route, please contact Kathy Hill at 358-8131 x3979 or kathy.hill@leggett.com.
 
Survivor Crystal Jones Receives Awards from the American Cancer Society
Many of you know Crystal Jones as a tireless worker on behalf of the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life.  Recently Crystal, a Carthage native and cancer survivor, was recognized by the ACS with two awards for her volunteer work for the Relay For Life of Carthage.  The awards were presented to Crystal at the ACS’s Southwest Regional meeting held in Springfield, Missouri the end of October.  Crystal was recognized as one of four volunteers in the Southwest Region of Missouri for her outstanding service, dedication and hard work with the Gift of Hope Award.  The Gift of Hope Award is given to very few people each year so this is quite an honor for Carthage and Crystal.  Other volunteers recognized were from Newton County, Laclede County, and Springfield.
 
Crystal’s other award was the Community Volunteer Award.  Joette Blades, Community Manager-Development for the American Cancer Society said of Crystal “This volunteer did an amazing job opening doors in order to get media coverage for the Carthage Relay.  She gave so much of herself in sharing her personal story to encourage others to never give up hope!” 
 
The next time you see Crystal I hope you will congratulate her on this well deserved recognition!
 
Celebrating 25 Years of HOPE
2009 will be the 25th anniversary of the very first Relay For Life event.  Back in 1985, Dr. Gordy Klatt walked and ran 83 miles in 24 hours and raised $27,000 in that first “Relay” held in Tacoma, Washington.  Dr. Klatt didn’t know he was starting a worldwide movement!  In 2008 there were 3.5 million people in 20 countries around the world who believe the same thing Dr. Klatt believed – that HOPE in action can save lives by supporting their local Relay.  Let’s all work together to put HOPE into action in Carthage by supporting the local teams when they put on their fundraisers in the coming months and by attending the 2009 Relay at Central Park on June 6th.

Relay University Held
Relay University is a time for planning committee members from all of the Relay For Life events held in Southwest Missouri to get together.  Six members of the Carthage Relay For Life planning committee attended Relay University recently held in Springfield.  Members attending were Crystal Jones, Kathy Hill, Teresa Roberts, Theresa Block, Stella McGowen and Nora Tebbets.  The day was filled with awards and recognitions, funny skits, door prizes and intense training sessions.  Each member attending Relay U participated in two training sessions each during the day.  Sessions included training relating to Leadership, Team Recruitment, Event Operations, Mission Delivery and Advocacy, Telling your ACS Story, Fundraising, Team Retention and Recognition, Luminaria, Activities, Entertainment, Survivorship, Mission Delivery, Marketing and Communications, Registration and Accounting, Underwriting and Sponsorship and Long-Term Strategic Planning.  Relay U also helps to build excitement for the upcoming 2009 Relay events and kicks off the year.  Everyone had a great time and looks forward to implementing some of the things they learned at Relay U.
 
Calling All Teams
Team Captain meetings will begin on Thursday, January 8, 2009 starting at 6:00 p.m. in the SMB Community Room located at 2417 South Grand.  We will meet the second Thursday of every month through the month of May.  We are so excited to get this year kicked off and look forward to seeing you there!
 
Need More Information?
If you would like more information about the 2009 Carthage Relay For Life, please contact Joette Blades, Community Manager – Development, American Cancer Society, 2700 McClelland Boulevard., Building A, Suite 110, Joplin, Mo. 64804.  Joette’s telephone number is 417-627-7506, and her fax number is 417-782-2348.  Or, if you would like to e-mail Joette, her e-mail address is joette.blades@cancer.org.
 
Corrections, Additions, Deletions And/Or Address Changes
Please write, e-mail or call Nora Tebbets (1790 Pierce Lane, Neosho, MO 64850, nora.tebbets@leggett.com or 417-358-8131 x2402) with any corrections, additions, deletions and/or address changes for recipients of the News Flash.  We apologize if a survivor who is now deceased did not get removed from the mailing labels.  We do our best to screen the information, but sometimes we miss a name.  Also, if you know of a new survivor who may not yet be registered with the American Cancer Society and the Carthage Relay, please feel free to share your News Flash and encourage them to contact us to get on our mailing list.

(Original Post Date: Monday, January 12, 2009)