The Friends of Coal’s direct outreach effort is continuing and in fact is picking up steam headed into the summer months, with several speaking engagements and end of the year state high school championship events through our partnership with the West Virginia Secondary Schools Athletic Commission.
WVCA Executive Committee Member, Jim Bunn, President of Coal River Energy, presented the individual achievement plaque to Matthew Brafford, after his tremendous effort in the State Track & Field Championship in Charleston last weekend.
During the month of May alone, the association staff has spoken to the following groups as part of our “speakers’ bureau” and outreach activities:
| Wheeling Lions Club | May 15 | WesBanco Arena | Chris Hamilton |
| Leadership WV | May 17 | Logan | Chris Hamilton |
| WV County Commissioners Association Board Meeting |
May 20 | Parkersburg/Blennerhasset Hotel 11:30 am |
Chris & Bill |
| WV Bureau of Senior Programs | May 23 | Cedar Lakes, WV | Don Nehlen - Bill Raney |
This has allowed us to take our message in front of several thousand people directly. We have another four events already lined up for the month of June with more in the process of being finalized.
In addition, we have worked through this year’s sponsorship of the WVSSAC to present state championship trophies to thousands of student athletes. We have billboards and signage at each of the events and we are working hard to insure that each event has a representative of the Friends of Coal on hand to give out the trophies. We need your help in that regard. This year is almost over but we need to begin scheduling for next year’s state championship events starting in the fall. Please call us at 304.342.4153 if you would like to be our representative at one of the events.