We gathered for our first meeting of 2018, and President Knutson is ill. Zac Karpf led the meeting. We welcomed our Gering High School guest, Danni Kautz. She is very active in her school and our community. She plans on attending Chadron State College on with the RHOP program and becoming a Nurse Practitioner. Jim Trumbull announced our club was well represented by the new R.Y.L.A. junior councilors. Of the five openings, three are from our area. Our International project with Turkey, instigated by Stan Haas, is under way, with funding being sent. The program today is Brenda Leisy, director of the Scotts Bluff County Tourism. She was excited to announce that of the top ten events listed by the Star herald, two were tourism events; The Solar Eclipse and the Old West Balloon Fest. The Great Solar Eclipse was a once in a lifetime event which reaped many benefits to the state of Nebraska. Our contribution, when combined with the other towns in the eclipse collation, brought much money and publicity to our area. Ms. Leisy also spoke of the bid and acceptance of the National Balloon competition. She turned the microphone over to Colleen Johnson, director of the Old West Balloon Fest. Beginning in 2019, Western Nebraska will host the competition for three years. The event will bring national recognition and increase our ballooning event substantially. Ms. Leisy also spoke of the growth of the Scotts Bluff Celtic Gathering, which has outgrown its location and will be held this year at the Five Rocks Amphitheater. Both answered questions.
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