This newsletter is sponsored by Harold and Grace Neel Foglesong, of Rural Retreat, VA. Their sponsorship of this newsletter will pay for the postage, paper and mailing labels. Thank you Harold and Grace!

We have recently lost our source to have the duplex copies of the newsletter printed at little or no cost and are seeking a new source. If you or your company has a means to make the newsletters’ duplex copies or would like to sponsor the next Association newsletter, contact any officer.

Thank you for allowing me to be your President for 2006. I will need the help of all the members to continue to carry out the goals of the Association.

Any ideas that you have to further the Association will be appreciated. We look forward to seeing each of you at the Association’s different functions and having you use YOUR facilities.

Mary Ann Hays Buchanan

Nelva Rutrough

Sincere appreciation is extended to Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Bruce Repass and to Donna Houck Compton for all the copies of newsletters and cookbooks that they made for the Association in the past. We don’t know what we would have done without their valuable assistance. We couldn’t have accomplished what we have without them. Thanks! Now that they are semi-retired from their former business endeavors, we look forward to having them continue in the day-to-day Association affairs.

Plans are underway to offer CPR classes in the gymnasium. There might be a small fee to cover the expenses of the certified instructors and necessary supplies. If interested or for more information, call Wade Hall at 682-4380. Indicate if day or evening classes would be most convenient for you.

High School Senior’s applications for the Harry P. King Memorial Scholarship must be postmarked by April 21, 2006. Application forms are available in the Ceres Post Office, in area high school guidance departments, or by calling 682-4255. Applicants must either live in Ceres, have lived in Ceres or have Ceres family ties.

It is a delight to see the gym and fitness room being used so often. The gym is open each Tuesday and Thursday morning for indoor walking and/or exercise. This is especially helpful for the older citizens. Adults play basketball on Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Youth, up to 12 years old, play basketball from 3:00 – 7:00 PM on Thursdays and older children play basketball on Tuesday evenings. A special lower basketball goal has been purchased for the younger children. The Fitness Room is used daily.

The Federal appropriation must pass through the budget of the State in which the money will be spent. The $120,000 that was designated for the Ceres Alumni Association is in Virginia’s Transportation Bill. No funds will be available until the Commonwealth of Virginia passes the Transportation portion of the Budget Bill currently under consideration. At the time that this is being written, no resolution on the Transportation Bill has been made. Hopefully we will know more soon.

Hurry if you want a space in the Flea Market on May 5^th and 6^th. Each 10 X 10’ space inside the gym is $10 and outside spaces are available for $5. Vendors must furnish their own tables and may not sell food. The Alumni Association will sell food items and donated yard sale items. Sale hours are May 5 (noon – 8:00 PM) and May 6, (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM). Vendors may setup Thursday evening or Friday morning. For vendor information, call Anne at 682-4587.

April 20, 7:00 PM (the special program that was announced earlier for the Spring membership meeting must be postponed until a later date)

The Groseclose family will have part of their reunion in Ceres on June 19, 2006. We look forward to having them here.

This is in response to a member’s question. Association dues are $25 per year or $100 for 5 years. Dues are for the calendar year of Jan. – Dec. It is hoped that everyone would pay their dues in January but if the dues are sent in later in the year, they are still credited for that calendar year and a card is mailed to the member indicating the dues are paid through that calendar year.