Foundation adds board members

The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation welcomed new board members to its board of directors at its annual meeting on July 23.

John Bartelsmeyer, Steve Buerge, Lindsay Madison, Dave Martin and Randy Nichols were officially added to the board for upcoming terms. Members serve three-year terms and bring various areas of expertise to the foundation, a news release said.

"We are excited to have the new board members join us. We are looking forward to making use of their insight and experience," Chairperson Janet Braun said.

Rotating off the board are Susan Brown, John Hill, John Horn and Rick Werling. "We are so grateful for the past board members' time on the board and the work they contributed. Susan, John, John and Rick will continue to serve as ambassadors -- and from time to time we will certainly consult them for their input," Braun said in the release.

The Fort Scott Area Community Foundation serves the region fulfilling philanthropic goals that benefit the common good of the community and improve quality of life.

Helping the foundation toward its goal, Fort Scott resident and award-winning writer Judy Marshall recently told the board she would donate proceeds from her latest book, "Legends and Lore of Bourbon County," to the foundation.

For her the book, Marshall interviewed many local residents about tales of Fort Scott. She researched each legend and considers her depiction to be very close to the truth -- if not entirely factual, a news release said.

Marshall is the winner of a Kansas City Star-sponsored writing contest and recognized as the statewide winner of short story fiction competitions sponsored by the North Carolina Writers' Network and the North Carolina Arts Council.

Judy and her husband, Bob, have lived in the Fort Scott area since 1998. They have three children and six grandchildren. Copies of "Legends & Lore of Bourbon County" are available for $15 each by contacting Judy at (620) 223-3516 or by emailing her at Judy Marshall@cebridge.net.

FSACF was founded in 2007 by a group of citizens interested in encouraging philanthropy and strengthening communities. As a local center for philanthropy, the FSACF works with individuals, families, corporations, private foundations and not-for-profit organizations to carry out their charitable objectives and address emerging community issues. The FSACF is an affiliate of both the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas and the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation.

On a side note, the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation has announced that 2012 grant applications were released Aug. 1. Applications are available by download at www.FSACF.com, by email by contacting Carol MacArthur at carolmacarthur46@gmail.com, or for pick up at the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall.

"We are so happy to be able to help fund projects for charitable organizations in the Fort Scott area," FSACF Granting Chairperson Carol MacArthur said in the release.

FSACF has awarded more $20,000 to area groups and organizations over the past three years and is excited to be involved in yet another granting cycle for the good of the community.

Applications are due by noon Sept. 1. Grants will be awarded at the foundation's Chamber Coffee, held at Citizens Bank on Thursday, Nov. 1.