Chairman

Bert Grayson, community-relations director for Gullette & Grayson, was recently elected to the position of chairman of the ambassadors organization for the Jessamine County Chamber of Commerce. The organization is a volunteer service group charged with assisting the chamber staff in membership-related activities such as recruiting new members and coordinating the annual banquet, groundbreakings and ribbon-cuttings. This is Grayson's third year as an ambassador.

United Way of the Bluegrass has chosen Coos Ockers as the 2008 Clark County campaign chairman. A native of the Netherlands, Ockers first came to the United States in 1974 and settled in central Kentucky with his wife, Janet. He is excited about his position and is telling the community to prepare for the coming campaign. "I know these are financially tough times for everyone," said Ockers, "but that means people on the receiving end will appreciate it that much more. " Ockers is a former president of the Winchester Rotary Club and is this year's Rotarian of the Year.

FRANKFORT -After serving just three terms in the Kentucky House, State Rep. Mike Harmon, R-Danville, has received a vice chairmanship to the House Tourism Development and Energy Committee. "This appointment to serve as a vice chairman for the House Tourism Development and Energy Committee is especially humbling as I am the only Republican Caucus member to receive that honor this year," said Harmon. "For the past six years, I have been privileged to have a hand in shaping legislation that is critical to the citizens of our state, and I look forward to continuing this endeavor as a committee vice chairman.

Centre College Board of Trustees Chairman David Grissom has stepped down after serving in the position for 22 years and as a trustee for 32 years. Grissom was a major factor in the success of the college's fundraising campaigns. The announcement was made Friday at the Centre Associates Dinner in Louisville in conjunction with the annual winter Board of Trustees meeting. It was announced that the Campaign for A More Perfect Centre, the college's most ambitious campaign to date, ended Dec. 31 with impressive results: $169,374,192 has been raised, more than $49 million than the $120 million goal.

After 17 years of service on the Danville Board of Education, Marvin Swann announced his resignation Tuesday night in a tearful farewell. "It is with true regret that I submit this letter of resignation effective at the closing of this meeting," Swann said, reading from a statement to the board and pausing at times to maintain his composure. "It has been an honor to serve on this board. " Swann's son-in-law, Ernest Dunn, recently took a job at Hogsett Elementary School, making Swann ineligible to serve on the school board.

When the Boyle County Fire Board voted not to reappoint Steve Hamblin as chairman earlier this month, it did not make its reasons public. But Hamblin, in a written statement to The Advocate-Messenger, suggests it might have been because board members were not happy with the way the department spent money during his tenure. (Click here to read the text of Hamblin's statement.) The fire department had nearly $1.5 million in tax money on reserve in the bank two years ago, Hamblin said.

When it comes to the brass behind the Great American Brass Band Festival, John Albright wears the loftiest title. He serves as chairman of the steering committee. But when it comes to recalling his favorite memories of the event, he sounds like he's been more comfortable riding in the back of pickup holding down some piece of sound equipment than sitting in the front of a boardroom giving out some pieces of advice. In fact, serving as a grunt working behind the scenes, not a suit shining in the spotlight, was where it all started for Albright - and, despite his important position, where it continues to this day. "Actually, my involvement with the festival was a product of involvement with another festival," Albright said during a recent chat in his Caldwell Stone office, where his day job is president of the company.

The Federal Communications Commission just doesn't get it when it comes to regulating free speech, darn it! Freedom of speech doesn't automatically mean people can say every "bleeping" thing that comes into their heads, especially if they are on broadcast television. Remember, this is an industry that took decades to permit sitcom characters to use - or even refer to - the toilet. Most Americans will recall the "flap over the flap" - Janet Jackson's infamous, milli-second, partial breast exposure at the 2004 Super Bowl.

The first changes to the Clark County Board of Education brought by the November election were put in place Tuesday with new leaders taking office. The board elected Dr. Michael Kuduk as its chairman and newcomer Michael McGowan as its vice chair. Board member Judy Hicks had previously served as chair and Debbie Fatkin, who was defeated by McGowan in November, was the previous vice chair. “I look forward to serving everyone in the community,” Kuduk said. “I want to do everything I can to foster communication between the board and the community we serve.” One of Kuduk's first acts was to schedule a series of work sessions for the board.

In response to Emmanuel Gray's Feb. 27, 2013 letter, Helping Hands wants to correct some information. When the Red Cross decided to limit their presence here and work from Lexington, the local Red Cross board formed Helping Hands to fill the gap and help those in need. A total of $850 was donated by all 12 members (eight of whom still remain on the board) to apply for 501C3 non-profit status. Helping Hands provides disaster relief, not as first responders, but in conjunction with Red Cross, Salvation Army, and many other local agencies.