Shots from Training in Chattanooga

Our training went really well, and we all seemed to learn something new. Debbie and I got some really good fundraising ideas while the puppeteers were able to swap techniques. Our newest puppeteer got a taste of performing for an audience. Here are some highlights.

Stopping for a high-five after dinner in downtown Chattanooga	Sue showing off her skills with Nam
Candy taking her first stab as a Bunraku specialist before an audience
Performing the Dental Hygiene Life Lessons skit

Chattanooga Bound

With the help of grant funding, we will be travelling to train and network with the Chattanooga Kids on the Block troupe. The annual training has been downscaled considerably due to budget cuts and economic woes, but it's not stopping us! We're trading the conference setting with intimate in-house workshops. This is especially great since we just hired our newest puppeteer. From what I hear, the Chattanooga puppeteers are very talented so it sounds like a great opportunity.
After the training is over Monday evening, we'll be back to host a class for Festival of Sand at our office. We're really kicking into gear for the fundraiser so expect tons of updates soon!

WKYU PBS Pool Party

Yesterday, the troupe made a special appearance at the WKYU PBS pool party at the Russell Sims Aquatic Center. We performed twice for the happily soaked crowd. KOB was lucky enough to share the entertainment slot with the very famous Clifford the Big Red Dog. Here are a few shots from the first show.

Also, you can catch a short write up about the entire party at the Bowling Green Daily News website: http://bgdailynews.com/articles/2009/08/03/news/news1.txt

KOB Calendar

Here are a few events coming up for us:

Sunday, August 2: WKYU PBS pool party at the Russell Sims Aquatic Center. We'll all be out there to perform a couple shows and splash around.

Sunday, August 9 - 10: Regional training at Camp KOB in Chattanooga, TN

Friday, September 11: FESTIVAL OF SAND!!! It's coming up so soon!

Also, we've nearly completed the hiring process for our new puppeteer. Expect a spotlight feature on our new employee coming soon.

Because We Love Louisville (And The 'Ville Loves Us)

Grant Alert! Grant Alert! I'm a little giddy today because we've received another grant today. That's two in two days! This time, we've received $2,250 from the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health & Wellness as a part of the Mayor's Healthy Hometown Movement. Get ready Louisville, because this grant sends our troupe back to the city to perform obesity shows. This time around we're going to reach out to the city's organizations for children such as the YMCA and the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana. With this grant, our tally of shows in the Louisville area should reach about 20! We love The 'Ville!

Meeting in Louisville a Success!

In late March, I travelled to Louisville to meet with members of the WHAS Crusade for Children Advisory Council. During the course of this 8 minute meeting, we discussed the grant I had submitted in January (and just a little bit about eating on the river at Joe's Crab Shack). It was a tough meeting, but I left feeling like I knocked it out of the park. Last week, we received a message on our answering machine stating that the Crusade has invited KOB to attend a thank you lunch and check presentation at Cambridge Market at the end of July. This came as a surprise to all of us because at this point, we had no idea we had received anything. The official notice arrived in the mail today. We have been awarded $3,016 to perform 5 shows (Mental Health, Cerebral Palsy, Obesity, Cancer, and Child Abuse) for children in Louisville. Also, this grant covers half of the cost of replacing our relatively pitiful phone system. Excellent!

The troupe will be headed to Louisville quite a bit with the grants that I've written. Including funds from this grant and two others, we'll hit Louisville with 16 performances!

If you'd like to join us for our lunch and check presentation please let us know. It happens Tuesday, July 28 at noon at Cambridge Market.

Turner Foundation Funds KOB for One Final Year

At the end of June, members of the Laura Goad Turner Charitable Foundation met and decided to fund KOB’s performances in Allen County. The $10,000 grant will allow our troupe to perform free-of-charge for children in the county for the 2009-2010 school year. For the past several years, the Turner Foundation has kept our troupe performing for the children of Allen County. However, this is the last year we will receive funding. The Foundation has decided to shift focus to further aid their community. We have truly appreciated working with the Laura Goad Turner Charitable Foundation over the years and wish the Foundation the best in future endeavors.

In other news, my meeting with the WHAS Crusade for Children that occurred in March must have gone well. We received a call yesterday from a representative inviting us to a thank you lunch and check presentation at Cambridge Market at the end of the month. More information on that grant as I receive it in the mail.

Have a great weekend!