Presidents Message for September 2009

A Very Successful Profile of Champions Event!

Significant donations made from the proceeds!

A few short weeks ago many of us experienced a tremendous, uplifting time at the Profile of Champions Event.  Held for the first time at the Riverhouse Convention Center (the first two years were at the Bend Golf & Country Club), 320 plus people had a very good breakfast, had fellowship on a fine summer morning, and heard a very successful golfer, Fred Funk, tell his story and give his testimony.  We received many positive comments from attendees, verbally, via email and on the response cards on the tables

The COCBA Board of Directors voted before the event to use net proceeds from the P.O.C. to contribute to three organizations- Search Ministries, Teen Challenge and Pregnancy Resource Centers of Central Oregon.  Thanks to God through several key things coming together, we were able to make significant donations to all three.  Fred Funk, of course, was our speaker at a great time: fresh off his U.S. Senior Open win (with the lowest score ever shot on a P.G.A. Tour event), coming in second right before that after a playoff at the Senior British Open and returning to Central Oregon as last year's Jeld-Wen Tradition winner.  This provided a high level of interest to prospective attendees, and they came.

The Harlan Friesen Foundation came through as our event sponsor, even as others who would have helped were unable to do so due to the economic challenges this year.  The Riverhouse made it easy for us with their arrangements and organization.  And Search Ministries made the connections again to allow us to bring another top of the line golfer to share in our venue.  Jeff Hart, the Portland Area Director of Search Ministries made this all possible, and did double duty by filling in for the event M.C., who was ill.  So, even though we held attendance prices at the same level as last year, we were able to net enough revenue to provide some support to each of the three organizations.

It looks like we will be able to bring the Profile of Champions back again next year as it appears the Jeld-Wen Tradition will again return to Sunriver- praise God!  We will know more as the calendar changes to 2010.  But for now, the COCBA would like to thank those that made the 2009 event come together and a great success:

• Fred Funk- for not only playing so well but being a lively, entertaining and engaging speaker.
• Jeff Hart- for pulling things together before and during the P.O.C.
• Harlan Friesen- for coming through in a tough time and being an encouragement when it was most needed.
• The Riverhouse- for being flexible as the attendance kept building, and being thoroughly professional on-site.
• The Attendees- we are so blessed that you decided it was worth your while to come...and seemed to have a great time!
• The P.O.C. committee- who worked behind the scenes to get everything pulled together and especially get the word out to those who were interested, and their leader....
• Bill Moe- who put so much effort and energy into making this a success.  Without Bill, this would not have happened at all, and we would be much the poorer for it.

If I forgot anyone, my apologies and thanks nonetheless.

So, we end the summer with a special, yet so typically Central Oregon event.  It is a privilege to be a part of this at all.

On a different note, the COCBA Board of Directors has decided to take a step back and evaluate our efforts and effectiveness in accomplishing our mission in Central Oregon.  Therefore, we are continuing our break from the monthly lunch meetings which were taking place the second Thursday of each month at the Bend Golf and Country Club.  In fact, that first fall meeting would have been tomorrow, September 10th.  I apologize for the delay in notification. 

Our objective is to determine what programming, activities and  direction will increase the impact of our ministry.  Please pray for us that the right answers will come in the right timing.  If you are interested in contributing to the future of COCBA, either with ideas or leadership, please contact me at either info@cocba.org or whanson@bendcable.com.  We value your input.

That all being said, we hope this new school year and season goes well for each one of you!

In His service,

Wayne Hanson
COCBA Board President
whanson@bendcable.com
541-280-5922