President Kathy Ward called the meeting to order at 7:05 showing also present Jerry Ward, Bill and Kim LaPorte, Connie McWhirter, Nelda Cuppy, Larry Manes, Lori Holman, Morgan Wilson, and Michael Plaschka.

Michael Plaschka discussed a new group at the High School he is working to start, the “Fresh Start” program. The purpose is to combat drug use by students at Marmaton Valley schools. He suggests that what is most needed is more things for “kids” to do that keep them out of trouble. He suggested such things as a local swimming pool (probably beyond our reach), a teen center (the old community center or other empty building), a walking trail, or evening trips to other local pools (Humboldt, Ft. Scott, Chanute, etc). He also is interested in the possibilities of local community projects, old prescriptions disposal, and “character building” activities during seminar time in school. Fresh Start plans a meeting this Wednesday (July 18) at the Senior Community Center for organizational purposes. All interested are invited to attend.

After considerable discussions concerning Fresh Start’s ideas, the normal meeting proceeded. The minutes from the last meeting and the treasurer’s report were reviewed an accepted with bills yet to be paid to reimburse Jonet Bland for plants in front of the Senior/Community Center and to Nelda for planters and plants placed along Cedar Street in the business district. These should total not more than $200.

The Center has been reserved for 1:00 to 5:00 on August 17 and 7:00 to 3:00 on August 18 for the fall (or late summer) rummage sale. We will set up on the 17th (Friday) and sell from 7:00 to 1:00 on the 18th (Saturday). We will contact Brenda to see if she can bring the big clothes rack again.

We will help with Moran Day by soliciting items for the Merchants’ Drawing. Connie has a list of about 70 donors from last year for us to contact. She will divide up the list among those who are willing to help. Hopefully, enough people will volunteer that each will need to contact only a few people. If you are willing to help with this effort, contact Connie and she will put you on the list.

Most days 12 to 15 people are riding the swim bus. This is down from the past two years. A suggestion was made to run only on Wednesday’s next year. We will make that determination next spring. The group approved taking the riders to Dairy Queen on the last trip of this summer (July 31) and allowing them up to three dollars each for a treat. We have designated funds for the swim bus that are sufficient to do this.

Kathy had information on a free tax preparation program for low income families being sponsored by the AARP foundation (separate from the AARP). It would train volunteers to work with low income wage earners to file their taxes. Anyone interested can get details by talking to Kathy.

The Library has received its $20,000 grant from the Union Pacific. It will be held awaiting further additional funds to allow for the building of a new library. Kathy saw the Historical Society sponsored program featuring Debbie Barnes Snodgrass and found it very good. She wondered if we might be able to do a similar thing here to raise money for the library. Further discussion will ensue at a later date.

The “first Friday” food distribution is going well. We have been serving about 30 families representing 70 people at each event. The amount and variety of food distributed changes from month to month. We try to limit participants to people from the immediate Moran/Mildred area – Elsmore has its own distribution Friday. Members of the American Legion Auxiliary have been helping with this activity.

There being no further matters to come before the group and considering the time taken with the Fresh Start discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 8:50. The next meeting will be at 7:00 pm in the Senior/Community Center on August 8th.