The 12-county area not-for-profit North East Community Action Corporation (NECAC) 36-member Board of Directors held its annual meeting and installation of officers and directors dinner on Oct. 24 at the Church of the Nazarene Fellowship Hall in Bowling Green.

The dinner was attended by NECAC board members, employees and guests. Entertainment was provided by magician Mitch Williams of Canton, Ill.

In his annual report, NECAC President and Chief Executive Officer Don Patrick gave a thorough account of the past year’s activities and offered praise to board members, staff and volunteers who helped make 2016-2017 another successful year for serving the disadvantaged.

“Always remember, you are the true face of NECAC,” Patrick said. “Because of all of you, NECAC continues to remain the largest and the best Community Action Agency in the state of Missouri, and still one of the major leading Community Action agencies on the national level.”

Chairman of the Board and Presiding Marion County Commissioner Lyndon Bode of Palmyra thanked the board for allowing him to serve in the position.

“Our whole goal and purpose is to help people that need help – give them a helping hand, not a handout, but just a helping hand where they can get back on their feet again and be productive members of society.”

Charles McCann of St. Joseph, former director of the community services block grant (CSBG) with the Missouri Department of Social Services and a certified community action professional (CCAP) with the national community action partnership, performed the installation ceremony.

McCann called NECAC “an excellent agency that has “all the elements of success – leadership, dedication and compassion.

Along with Bode as chairman of the board, McCann installed these officers for 2017-2018: Vice Chairman Fred Vahle of Warrenton; Secretary D. Randall Cone of Louisiana in Pike County; Trustees – Troy Dawkins of Shelbina in Shelby County; John Bracey of Canton in Lewis County; and Mike Bridgins of St. Peters. Patrick also took the oath of office. 

All of these members make up the board’s executive committee.

These directors were sworn in: Travis Fleer of Lewistown and Paul Kinney of Canton in Lewis County; Matt Bass, Jere Burkemper and Fred Layton, all of Troy; Clarence Walker, Jean Jones and Mickey Shipp, all of Macon; Josh Wilson of Palmyra and Roy Hark of Hannibal; Mike Whelan of rural Stoutsville, Peggy Hultz of Madison and Maxine Jones of Holliday; Rich Daniels of Wellsville and Cheryl Wisdom and Jane Dorlac, both of Montgomery City; Bill Allen of Bowling Green and Bette Maxwell of Louisiana; John Lake and Lowell Jackson, both of Center, and Judith Statler of New London; Jerry Crutchfield of Huntsville, Patricia Danner of Moberly and Will Barger of Clifton Hill; Anita Telkamp of St. Charles and Diane Hileman of St. Peters; Glenn Eagan of Shelbyville and Debbie Vannoy of Bethel; and Angie Scott of Warrenton.

Warren County has one position vacant.

NECAC is a 12-county area social service, community health and public housing Community Action Agency that contracts with federal, state and local governments, private businesses and other not-for-profit organizations to operate and administer self-sufficiency service programs for the low-income, elderly, youth, disabled and disadvantaged population. The agency’s central administration offices are located in Bowling Green, with NECAC Service Centers operated in each county.

NECAC is one of 19 non-profit community action agencies in Missouri and part of a national network of 980 agencies.

The not-for-profit North East Community Action Corporation (NECAC) held its Annual Meeting and Installation of Officers and Directors Dinner Oct. 24. NECAC President and Chief Executive Officer Don Patrick, left, and NECAC Board Chairman Lyndon Bode presented certificates of recognition to NECAC Warren County Board Members Fred Vahle and Angie Scott, both of Warrenton. The agency celebrated 52 years of helping people and changing lives. Submitted photo.