J.D. CHARLES, Staff Writer

The Logan County Community Fund is marching on in March and gearing up for spring.

The organization is planning on holding its annual dinner this May 4 at 5:30 p.m. at the West Logan Church of God meeting hall.

"We have been meeting in the past couple of month talking about who we are, what we are about and what direction we want to go," Bea Orr noted at the March 24 meeting. "Last year was not a good year as we didn't have a director for much of it, and Mary Etta Elliot (the previous director) was not able to step back in time to assist."

In recent months the almost-dormant charitable organization has become revitalized. New interim director Teresa Maynard has been getting training from longtime director Mary Etta Elliot who has been vital in helping the organization rebuild. Funds have been coming in from donors including Magnum Coal, LEASA and Logan Regional Medical Center among others, and LCCF members have been talking with the public about getting involved or making pledges or donations.

Maynard and board president Bea Orr have been out and about meeting with local civic groups and organizations to get the message out that the community fund is back in action and working to assist local agencies such as the Salvation Army, the USO, the Tug Valley Recovery Shelter, scouting and others. Over the years the Community Fund has assisted those organizations along with the Red Cross as well as helped many working families who got hit by fires and floods and brought servicemen home during times of family crisis.

"The people of Logan County need the help the community fund has provided in the past," noted Bea Orr. "These agencies are relying on us to help them."

Orr said it is important that new members of civic clubs, who are active and involved with the community, become aware of the Community Fund and its goals. Orr said some of the youngbloods involved in area civic groups would be a good fit as new board members. Orr noted that longtime Community Fund stalwart Ed Eiland helped her and Maynard explain the organizations history and works when they met with his civic club, the Kiwanis, recently.

"With the state of the national economy and recent fires we have had and going into flood season the community fund is more important than ever before," Orr noted.

Usually the community fund has its annual fundraiser in August or September for the next year. Orr discussed kicking off the 2010 fundraising season as well as the possibility of a fundraiser for this year. Angie Rice noted that there are few activities in the fall and said perhaps a Halloween costume party for adults could be a good event to form a fundraiser around.

Board members discussed division chairs who have worked with the legal community, land companies, mines and mining services, banking, insurance agencies, education and healthcare industries in past fundraising efforts and talked about recruiting new members. Members also discussed state tax credits which proved to be a popular selling point for donors, noted longtime board member Tommy Owens.

"We started out with $30,000 in tax credits one year and used them all," noted Mary Etta Elliot. "We used every one we got for years." Elliot said Teresa Maynard will be attending a state meeting soon to find out about getting tax credits for the LCCFs donors.

Don Elkins noted that some people think that when they make a donation to the United Way it goes to the Logan County Community Fund, but such is not the case.

"Several years ago, we were affiliated with them," Elkins said. "On the national level, they had a scandal and we split from them and went completely local. The money donated here, stays here."

In other Community Fund news:

• According to one board member, local businessman and council member Don Browning is trying to help the organization and has contacted another business in town about that situation.

•The LCCF will be reaching out to the community of Man to get it more involved and will be trying to revitalize old board members and recruit new ones.

•The LCCF has been trying to get an answer from the Charleston Red Cross about sharing rent and has sent an invoice to that agency for January through March. The agency has apparently had difficulty in contacting WVOW radio for assistance.

• Members discussed having a campaign gimmick such as a barometer or ladder.

You can contact the Logan County Community Fund at lccf.logan@verizon.net. or by calling (304) 752-4462.