Noon Exchange honors student with ACE Award

By SUSAN AYES

Special to Leader-Press

The Noon Exchange Club of Copperas Cove met on March 13 at Lil Tex Restaurant. President Sandor Vegh opened the meeting, and Dr. Parker Bogue offered the invocation. Texas District Vice President Mike Blount asked members to join in the Pledge of Allegiance. Past President Dennis Ayres gave an update on the May Fest Color Run 5K & Volksmarch, members were encouraged to help enlist sponsors. The event will take place on May 23 at Ogletree Gap. The May Fest will include a Color Run, Volksmarch, fun activities, live entertainment and food. Sponsorship, Color Run Applications and Volksmarch applications are available on the noonexchangeclubofcopperascove.com website. The next committee planning meeting will be March 25. Blount announced the Head Start Easter Egg Hunt will take place on April 2. Last year, the club passed out 350 eggs at both the HCCAA Cove North Head Start near the Senior Center and HCAA Cove Sun Head Start near the Exchange Sunshine Home Apartments. Members were encouraged to bring plastic eggs filled with wrapped candy. Plastic eggs can be dropped off at the Housing Authority located on CasaDrive. Next, Vegh read a letter from Copperas Cove High School Senior Emily Myers. Myers was previously selected as Noon Exchange Club of Copperas Cove’s Youth of the Second Quarter. During the Award Presentation, Pat Thomas presented the ACE Award or the Accepting the Challenge of Excellence Award to Cassidy LaPierre. Cassidy LaPierre has Type 1 Diabetes and it has been Cassidy’s aim to help others with diabetes. She said, “It is great to show others they are not alone.” Her aspirations include getting a Master’s degree in Film Production and Screen Writing at New York University. Following the Awards, Vice President of Fund Raising Inez Faison introduced the guest speaker, School Board President Joan Manning. Manning’s topic included Volunteerism. Manning began her presentation by thanking the club for their volunteer work. Then, Manning shared her history of serving the community as a volunteer. “There are a lot more volunteer opportunities. Volunteering has become more organized.” Manning started volunteering at Darnall and the Fort Hood library when she was young. Then she said, “As soon as my children were old enough to be in school, I became involved in schools and the PTA.” She continued by saing, “I stayed busy as school volunteer for many years. I also stayed heavily involved in church activities.” Then she shared that she was actually recruited to be a school board 20 years ago. “I was sworn in on May of 1995 and I am very proud to be a board member now.” Manning also indicated that she always volunteers in what she believes in, and she is heavily involved in church and children. “I have served on the board of the Hope Pregnancy Center because I believe in the sanctity of life, and the salvation because of their mission to help people that really need help.” In closing she encouraged members, “There are so many places to volunteer. Choose the places that are closest to your heart.” Board Member Angela Fields then conducted the Child Abuse Prevention Raffle. In closing, Club Member Bobby Krei led the Covenant of Service. The Noon Exchange Club of Copperas Cove meets regularly on the second and fourth Friday of the month. For more information contact President Sandor Vegh at (254) 290-8791 or email svegh36@msn.com.