Community Betterment and Arts Council of Houston will host a noon April 24 luncheon at the Houston Storm Shelter in honor of Teresa Keller, Missouri Community Betterment director.
The Community Betterment and Arts Council of Houston (CBAC), has encouraged local businesses and community leaders to be a part of its organization, a member of Missouri Community Betterment since 1974.
“We participate in the state conference and annually judges travel to Houston to evaluate the many yearly successes that occur in our town,” said Elaine Campbell of the organization. “We have showcased over 200 progressive projects in our town during those years. Many of our successes have been shared with communities around the state via the annual state conference. Through the presentation of inspirational and encouraging speakers our adults and youth have been able to bring important and exciting ideas back to our community during the 43 years of membership.”
Keller will share the resources and services provided to member organizations in Missouri Community She joined MCB in October 2015. She oversees the annual conference, award competition, youth advisory board, spring youth conference, MCB Day at the Capitol, webinars and the judges task force.
Keeler, a Macon resident, has an economic development background, serving as the Shelby County economic development director at Shelbina. Most recently, she was the office manager for Ehrhardt Properties, Hannibal, which at one time was the franchisee for Hardee’s of Houston. Keller has an associate degree in business administration from Minot State University. She has completed the Heartland Economic Development Course along with other IEDC training and is a 2012 graduate of Leadership Missouri.
The Houston Community Betterment and Y.O.U.T.H participated in the 2016 Missouri Community Betterment judging and community display at the state conference in October at Columbia. Both groups received second place in their categories. Ten youth and six adults attended sessions on entrepreneurship, positive ways to improve the town and networking. One idea picked up is being implemented in Houston: A project to place an address number on each property. An idea for helping out town with house numbers originated from another community.
The projects showcased at the conference last year included: Elaine Campbell leads adult attendees in a fun trivia event, Caterpillars and Butterflies, last fall at the state conference.
•The Pregnancy Resource Center of South Central Missouri, the Houston Community Kitchen, solar panels at the Texas County Food Pantry, the Lone Star Annex community room and the renovation of the Lynch-Tweed house that dates to the Civil War.
•Y.O.U.T.H.: Its community garden and the middle school clean-up project. •Makayla Koch received a Youth Leadership Award for her high school achievements and being the first Missouri Community Betterment youth president.
Judges with Missouri Community Betterment program in fall 2016 listen to a presentation by Elaine Campbell, left, Community Betterment and Arts Council of Houston. Seated are judges Elizabeth Van Winkle, executive director, Kaysinger Basine RPC; and Jason Ray, Springfield Planning and Zoning Commission member.
•Elaine and Delbert Campbell, along with Wilda and Jim McNiell, organized the evening adult networking program. Gamo, a Houston firm, provided the grand prize for the event.
•Two scholarships were given to HHS seniors.
•Put a new roof and refinished the deck on the Community Betterment building. •Replaced the broken 2004 Grand Prize sign on South U.S. 63.
•Participated in Taste of Christmas Everyone in the community is invited to attend the luncheon.
Persons can make a reservation by contacting Elaine Campbell at downtownhouston@houstonmo.org.