United Way Agency partners, volunteers and service recipients gathered in Jefferson City at the Capitol Plaza Hotel for the United Way of Central Missouri Annual Meeting on Friday. The meeting also celebrated 90 years of service through the United Way.
Awards were presented at the event, and new volunteers were elected to leadership positions as older volunteers left their place with the organization.
Among those who stepped aside for the new leadership was 2014 Campaign Co-Chair Andy Fechtel. The warehouse manager and brand specialist at Fechtel Beverage and Sales graciously accepted an "ambeerlance" award after seeing a humorous video about the definition of a "beer emergency." The video started with United Way officials wondering what Fechtel was doing on "beer emergencies" that made him late to meetings. The video then answered this question by showing a cardboard cutout of Fechtel providing beer and ice to multiple people in various stages of "need."
"I loved it, this was one of the best experiences I have ever had in my entire life," Fechtel said about his time with the United Way. "I definitely feel like the United Way has made Jefferson City a better place because of the work they do, and I am glad I had even a little bit to do with that."
Fechtel's co-chair, Barb Prasad, will be staying on as a campaign co-chair. Fechtel will be replaced by Matt Tollerton of Central Bancompany.
"I am quite excited to step up and participate and be campaign co-chair," Tollerton said. "I have big shoes to fill with stepping in Andy's role, but I am really excited about raising funds for the United Way, and bringing awareness to the community."
Betty Mudd was presented the Live United award. Mudd volunteers for St. Mary's Health Center, Learning in Retirement and St. Joseph Cathedral Parish.
"She is positive and energetic and passionate about serving our community," said Gaye Suggett, 2014 United Way board chair. "She is the person behind the scenes that organizes and assembles the multitudes of campaign packets. ... She helps in various ways to prepare for events such as this."
Suggett also stepped down as board chair, and Gregg Gaffke was named the 2015 chair. In honor of Suggett's tradition of starting board meetings with a quote, Gaffke recited a limerick to mark the occasion.
"An Ameren professional named Gaye is a lady we honor today," Gaffke said. "But not for her PSE rulings and rates or her consumer complaints, but for the great job she did as chairman for the United Way."
Also, Jim Price of the Special Learning Center was presented the Linda E. McAnany Volunteer of the Year Award, and Jim Clardy of the Rape and Abuse Crisis Service (RACS) was presented the Ruth C. Meloy Award for Distinguished Service.
Clardy, who is retired and living in Florida, joined the group poolside via recorded message. In his video, Clardy said it was an honor to serve with RACS. He thanked the United Way and wished he could be there in person.
The United Way later recognized the top five local businesses for workplace employee campaigns and corporate giving. Central Bank and Central Technology Services was No. 1 in the group.
"Central Bank has always been extremely honored to support United Way," said Dan Westhues, senior vice president of the bank. "We have a philanthropic group of employees that love to give back to the community. ... The great thing about the annual meeting is when you realize how many people it takes to pull the campaign off. And $1.8 million is a lot to raise, and you look around this room and you are celebrating a lot of people that put a lot of effort in."