If you or your company would like to sponsor a future newsletter, please contact any officer or mail your check for $165 to P.O. Box 32, Ceres, VA 24318. This covers postage only.

Hello

I hope you all are enjoying this great summer weather. I can’t believe that on July 3^rd I was wearing a long sleeve shirt and a coat. I sure am looking forward to getting some fresh garden veggies from Bill Creggar and Wil Bevil.

If you did not get to the July 4^th Pig Roast you missed one of the most successful events we have had since I became a member. We had about 200 meals served and the Bone Drye Band was wonderful. Thanks go to Sue Repass for bringing us such a talented group. Thanks to a number of the families in the community we had some great fireworks to celebrate our great country’s Independence.

It was great to look out and see the kids playing on the playground and all the people setting out front taking in the great band music. We are so fortunate to have such a great community center. We have asked the Band to come back later this summer if possible. Thanks to the all the members who turned out to help with the event. And a special thanks to the Chefs G.H Perry and Nelson Tibbs. The food was great.

The Gym Project is still with the VDOT. The last we heard they are waiting for the Civil Rights comments from VDOT. They are taking a very long time to complete their review. We hope they will be completed soon and that we can proceed with the project.

There are still some openings for the gym usage in August and September so call to schedule your activity. Our next big event is the Homecoming in October. Your raffle tickets are being sent with this letter and as you all know this is the Alumni’s biggest fund raiser. We have some great gifts this year and I hope YOU can sell a lot of tickets.

We still need to build up our membership. Please help us keep this facility going by continuing your memberships and recruiting new members.

Spread the word on our wonderful fitness center you can’t beat the price at $5 a month to stay healthy.

Please keep our Military Troops in your thoughts and prayers, when you see them say thanks for keeping our country free.

A nice prize will go to the individual who sells the most ($) in tickets. A cash prize will go to the individual purchasing the most ticket. Again, we would appreciate your help this year. This is our largest fund raiser.

We hope you will sell or buy the enclosed raffle tickets. Sold ticket stubs may be mailed to PO Box 32, Ceres, VA 24318. Raffle tickets are $1.00 each or 12 for $10.00. If you need additional tickets, please let us know.

If we make $1,020 on the Homecoming Festival, it will be matched by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Thrivent is a fraternal organization composed of Lutheran Church members or employees of Lutheran organizations. Sharon Lutheran Church is a co-sponsor of this match grant. Appreciation is expressed to both Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and the members of Sharon Lutheran Church.

Last year’s Toys for Tots campaign was seen as a success. The "toy" items were donated to the Department of Social Services for the benefit of needy children. Thirty-two "stuffed animals" were donated to the Virginia Department of State Police to be used for children in crisis situations. Both organizations expressed deep appreciation. State Police officers emphasized the value of having a stuffed animal or blanket to help comfort a child at accident scenes. Thank you for making this possible last year. We want to continue the practice.

W. Jennings Umberger

Elsie Foglesong Barr

Terry Ray Umbarger

Special thanks go Janet Repass White and the Bone Drye band from Baltimore for coming to Ceres for the July 4^th Pig Roast and providing some GREAT music. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks!

Also, thanks to all who came out to enjoy the delicious meal. 196 people were served and the total donations for this fundraiser were $2,603. This amount includes $140 for 50/50; $125 for museum sales; and $375 for sales of Boston Butts. The final expenses for this fundraiser have not been tabulated yet. Thanks to your generosity, the fundraiser was a big success.

July 18, 2008 – 1:00 PM

Peery Center Gym

October 17, 2090

Peery Center Gym

Registration starts at 11:00 AM

Meal served at 1:00 PM

Meal catered by Loretta Worrell

(Same as last year)

Meal cost - $15.00

Reservation forms must be returned by

October 9, 2008 to PO Box 32, Ceres, VA

See registration forms in this newsletter.

Dr. Sidney Harvey has planned a special recognition of the

1959 boys basketball team who participated in State Finals.

Remember "Toys for Tots" drive.

(See registration form below)

October 31, 2009 7:00 – 9:00 AM

Applebee’s Restaurant – Wytheville

$5.00 per person (tickets available soon)

Association will makes $4.25 on each ticket sold

Association members will be your servers!

Come and enjoy

3^rd Thursday – 7:00 PM

Everyone is welcome to attend.

Ninth Annual Ceres Homecoming

Register now: Registration Form