Faces and places

Dr. John Hunkeler was elected president for the Heart of America Council of the Boy Scouts of America at its 2002 annual business meeting in Kansas City, Mo. Hunkeler has served as a member of the executive committee of the council and chaired the Eagle Scout Tribute Fountain Rededication in 1998. Hunkeler is a Silver Beaver recipient, an Eagle Scout and a Hardway Sachem in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say.

The executive board of the Heart of America Council, under the leadership of Hunkeler, will update the council’s 2000-2005 Strategic plan. The focus will be to determine if the council is on track to achieve the plan and continue to deliver quality programs to 56,500 youths in 19 counties in Kansas and Missouri.

Hunkeler is the founder of the Hunkeler Eye Institute. He has chaired the Department of Opthalmology at Kansas University’s School of Medicine.

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The Douglas County Chapter of the American Red Cross announces community members who have been appointed to its Board of Directors for a three-year term. They are: Lynn Parman, vice president of economic development for the Lawrence Chamber of Commer; Janice Wallace, Hallmark Cards Inc.; and Doug Yetman, co-owner of Mojo’s restaurant.

Newly-appointed board officers are Brad Finkeldei, chairman; Robert Longino, vice chairman; Allen Belot, secretary; and Jackie Bunnell, treasurer. They join board members Jenee Armbrister, Mike Corless, Jean Etherton, Cody Howard, Larry Kipp, Annette McDonald, Don McGlinn, Ken McRae, Leanne Miller and Bill Salome.

The Douglas County Chapter of the American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization, led by volunteers, who provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.

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Peggy Crawford is among a group of Allstate insurance agents who recently earned the Personal Financial Representative title. Crawford now will be able to provide her customers variable annuity, variable life and mutual fund products, in addition to auto, homeowner and traditional life insurance products.

Crawford received the title after passing the Series 6 and Series 63 securities license exams and completing an extensive Allstate training curriculum. She is appointed with the broker dealer Allstate Financial Services LLC. in Lawrence.

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Capitol Federal Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Capitol Federal Savings, has donated $500,000 to Let’s Help’s campaign called “Breaking the Cycle of Poverty.” It is a multi-year grant that will be paid over five years. The grant counts toward the $4.75 million goal of the campaign.

The Capitol Federal gift will assist with the consolidation of Let’s Help’s operations in Topeka, according to John Holzhuter, Let’s Help executive director. The consolidation, construction and renovation of the physical plant will enable the foundation to be more effective and efficient. Let’s Help operates its Heartland SHARE program in 390 communities in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma with a budget of nearly $7 million. Let’s Help reaches workers laid off from their jobs, people who need job training or retraining, families trying to stretch their food budgets and others who need a new start in life or support during a crisis.

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Richard Hille has been named president-elect of the Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology. He is vice president of operations and a member of the Board of Directors with the Flood Company of Hudson, Ohio. A member of the coatings industry for 34 years, Hille graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Kansas University in 1968.

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Marty Rus and Christy Blanchard have joined the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, Lawrence, as adult outpatient therapists.

Rus previously worked at Blue Valley Mental Health Center and Lutheran Family Services in Nebraska. Blanchard previously worked in Forensic Services for the Western Missouri Mental Health Center. She has a doctorate in counseling psychology from Kansas University.

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Heather Sharp has been promoted to account executive at Morningstar Communications Company. She will provide day-to-day account management services for various clients and provide sales support for the agency. Sharp is the daughter of Glen and Pam Sharp, Baldwin. She is a 1997 Lawrence High School graduate.

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Kansans who want to invest in their children’s future can get a tax break on their 2002 state income taxes if they invest before the end of the year. Taxpayers have until Dec. 31 to enroll or make additional investments in Learning Quest Education Savings account.

Parents, grandparents and others can receive a reduction in their 2002 Kansas adjusted gross income for contributions of up to $4,000 per student for those married filing jointly or $2,000 for singles.

Learning Quest is the 529 college savings program established by Kansas but available nationally and is administered by Kansas treasurer Tim Shallenburger and managed by American Century Investment Management Inc.

Parents, grandparents and others can open a Learning Quest account by going online to www.learningquestsavings.com or by calling (800) 579-2203.

Honors and awards

The United Way of Douglas County has initiated a Recognition Campaign this fall to show its appreciation for area businesses that have demonstrated outstanding results during this year’s campaign.

US Bank, Aquila and UMB Bank earned Corporate Citizen Awards for having the highest corporate gift per employee.

Laird Noller Automotive Inc., Jim Clark Motors, First Bank, Intrust Bank and Luminous Neon Art & Sign Systems received Employee Participation Awards. The organizations had the highest percentage of employee participation.

Each winner has received a traveling trophy and certificate recognizing their efforts. The winners also will be honored at the United Way’s annual meeting in February.

Coming events

The Community Blood Center is having a grand opening celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the center, 15th Street and Kasold Drive. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be at 11:30 a.m.

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The monthly meeting of the Twilight Chapter of the American Business Women’s Assn. will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the American Legion Building, 3408 W. Sixth St.

Networking will be from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The cost of dinner is $10.

This month’s program will feature makeup tips for the holidays with Mary Beth Mermis of Mary Kay cosmetics. Members also should bring a gift wrapped Christmas ornament for an exchange.

For more information or to make a reservation, contact Val Kampfer, president, at 842-0301 or Paula Commons, membership chairwoman, at 749-8102.