Joe McCulloch
- SCC Prosecuting Attorney
On October 27th, Joe McCulloch, St Charles County Prosecuting Attorney presented a brief to the Ambassadors. Prosecutor McCullogh has a long history in law enforcement, including 20 years as a Police Officer and detective. He also has 20 years’ experience as a criminal defense attorney. Joe was appointed to his current position on May 1st by the County Executive, Steve Ehlmann.
The Prosecuting Attorney’s office has 25 attorneys and an equal number of support staff—including four victim’s advocates and three investigators. They have an annual budget of $6.4 million.
At the beginning of a criminal case, prosecutors work with police officers to seek arrest warrants and search warrants from judges who review the criminal investigation to ensure there is probable cause for the search or the arrest. The Warrant Office has seven attorneys and reviewed nearly 8,000 cases and filed charges in over 5,100 of those cases in 2022. That’s like 14 per day…every day. Yikes!
The Special Victims Unit has four victim advocates who help with getting protection orders, assist with crisis support and act as courtroom escorts. They help victims know what to expect. Although it’s an everyday task for the folks in the prosecutor’s office, for many of the victims it’s the worst experience of their life. SVU is mindful of this.
Joe also talked about other aspects of the prosecutor’s office such as drug treatment court, school safety, jury duty and working together with local municipalities on various task forces.
We thank Prosecutor McCulloch for talking to the Ambassadors and for helping to keep the residents of St. Charles County safe. For more information, visit the website: https://www.sccmo.org/414/Prosecuting-Attorney
Dr. Sean Doherty
- VP, Missouri Botanical Garden
Dr. Sean Doherty was the guest speaker at the Lake St Louis Ambassadors Meeting on Friday, October 20, 2023. Dr. Doherty Is the Vice President of Education at the Botanical Garden where he has been for 25 years.
Before Dr. Doherty came to the Garden he was a teacher, superintendent, and leader in Human Resources. He came from a background of Leadership Development, Systems Thinking and Strategic Planning.
The Missouri Botanical Garden is located at 4344 Shaw Blvd. in St. Louis, MO. This national historic landmark was founded in 1859 by Henry Shaw. It has 79 acres of scenic landscaping and historical structures.
In the spring of 1810, 18 years old, Shaw landed in St. Louis and took a half day journey on horse back out of town into the country. He soon found himself on elevated ground overlooking a prairie. “Uncultivated, without trees or fences, but covered with tall luxurious grass. Undulated by the gentle breeze of spring,” he recorded. That was Shaw’s true love. 40 years after his arrival in St. Louis, he opened a Botanical Garden on that piece of land for the city’s residents. The Garden became what we know today. The Missouri Botanical Garden.
It is the oldest Garden in the U.S.
Henry Shaw opened a hardware and cutlery business in St. Louis in 1819. As the city’s population grew, Shaw’s business expanded to include investments in agriculture commodities, mining, real Estate and furs. With all of his success, Shaw retired at the age of 39. Owning 1000 acres in St. Louis, allowed him to build his country home on the land we know as Tower Grove House.
Through his acts of philanthropy, Shaw added the Missouri Historical Society and the St. Louis Mercantile Library.
158 years after opening the Missouri Botanical Garden, The European Tradition of horticulture design combined with education and search for knowledge, The Missouri Botanical Garden is a National Historic Landmark and a center for science, conservation, education and horticulture display.
The Missouri Botanical Garden focuses it’s work on areas that are rich in biodiversity but threated by habitat destruction. They operate the world’s most active research and training programs in tropical botany. Scientist collaborate with local institutions, schools, indigenous people to understand plants, create awareness, offer alternative craft conservation strategies. The Missouri Botanical Garden is striving for a world that can sustain without sacrificing prosperity for future generations. The center aims to bring together the world’s top mining’s in the field of Biodiversity International.
Thanks to Dr. Doherty, we know the actual history and their reason to exist. The Missouri Botanical Gardens is continuously charged to come up with new and innovative ways to bring people to the Gardens. The Garden has the highest membership ever, over 50,000 members. They boast of over a million visitors will visit the Garden in 2023.
Michael Hurlbert
- SCC Director of Community Development
Director Hurlbert, came by to talk to the Ambassadors this past Friday. Mr. Hurlbert, a self-described “data nerd” talked mostly about nerdy data—but interesting, nevertheless.
First, he spoke about development numbers and trends. Some were surprised to hear that both single family and multi-family housing permits were down around 23 percent from 2021 to 2022. When asked about the multi-family housing statistic, Mike noted that these numbers are from the county and do not include areas incorporated by cities. Most of the apartments are in the cities—not so much in the county. He also said that multi-family starts tend to ebb and flow and from 2020 to 2021 they rose dramatically. In fact, residential permits of all types peaked in 2021 and have been decreasing since.
Commercial permits in the county rose nearly 60% from 2021 to 2022. Commercial growth is strong in the area along I-370 in the northern part of the county, mainly due to warehousing.
He also noted, to no one’s surprise, that we are growing Population was 360k in 2010, 405k in 2020 and is expected to be 470k by 2030. He also mentioned some projects such as building code updates (public process, updated every five years) the Uniform Development Order and new GIS Mapping/Zoning: https://maps.sccmo.org/
Director Hurlbert finished his talk with some nerdy data about the 2030 Master Plan. This policy guide is reviewed every five years. The Plan is a 5-to-20-year outlook and takes into account various factors such as: demographics, regulations, land use, parks and recreation. Plans from the various cities are integrated into the overall county plan. They did all that stuff so well; they won an award from The American Planning Association (not made up). You can see the Master Plan here: https://www.sccmo.org/2009/Master-Plan-Envision-2030/MasterPlan2030
Here's a final nerdy data point: 42% of all county land is undeveloped flood plain. That’ a lot!
Kevin Dunn
- Executive Director PWSD #2
Kevin Dunn, Executive Director of PWSD#2, spoke to the LSL Ambassadors about the operation of our primary water system and one of the three sanitary sewer districts serving Lake Saint Louis. Kevin has 40 years’ experience in the water industry, is a registered Professional Engineer, and has been with PWSD#2 for 6 years. PWSD#2 was incorporated in 1967 with 5 districts which it serves now with both water and sewers. Its districts are set up based on population and it serves 43,900 units with water and over 15,000 housing units with sewer service. It shares the area with Duckett Creek for sewer service. Following incorporation, PWSD#2 did maintenance work only. It added Lake St Louis and Ofallon Hills water service in in 1974 which began its expansion. In 1981 Wentzville and the GM plant were added using a 24-inch main. (Today GM is served with 2 30-inch mains). PWSD#2 is located along I-64 and is easily identified by its 3-million-gal water tower. It has approximately 773 miles of mains, ranging in size from ½ inch to 42 inches in diameter. The largest water customers are Wentzville, O’Fallon, Master card, Winghaven irrigation and St Joseph West. The biggest capital projects include water treatment plant improvements, new 30” main along Hwy 40/61, a new main to the hospital and a new transmission main to Foristell. Today, PWSD#2 supplies 32.7 million gallons of water per day to its customers. It is sourced from the City of St Louis Howard Bend plant in the Chesterfield bottoms and from the Defiance wellfield. There are 28 wells at the field or plant which source 20 million gal per day and 30 million gallons per day is purchased from St Louis. The district has 19 employees and outsources Field Operation to a subcontractor Woodward & Curran. They currently have 66 employees. For more information see their website at https://www.waterdistrict2.com/.
Pat Mace
- Sailboat Builder
Pat Mace sailed up to the Ambassadors meeting on Friday to tell us all about the “Lady in Blue”. This cerulean beauty is a sailboat that was hand-crafted by Mr. Mace in his garage from “a pile of wood” and was launched in Lake St. Louis on July 9th, 2023. Since that time, she has won the Skippers’ Choice Award as Favorite in the annual Classic and Wooden boat show in Door County, Wisconsin https://dcclassicboatshow.com/2021-festival-awards/
Pat Mace moved to LSL about 15 years ago and was in the LSL sailing club for around 8 years. He became interested in sailing as a teenager when his grandfather took him on a 30-foot schooner on Like Michigan. Shortly thereafter, he found plans for a 30-foot schooner in Mechanics Illustrated and fell in love.
Lady in Blue took 2 ½ years to build. Mr. Mace spent two months on the decking alone, which is made mostly of poplar. This decking was meticulously hand-crafted and is spectacular. Every fitting, nail and screw is stainless steel. It was a labor of love.
She sports a high waterline, folding mast, flat bottom and gaff rigging…no need for a weighted keel. That’s a bunch of sailboat stuff.
Thanks to Patrick Mace for sharing his artistic endeavor with the LSL Ambassadors.
Mary Dempsey
- SCC Recorder of Deeds
Mary was elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2021 to the Recorder of Deeds Office. Prior to that she was employed as Assistant Recorder of Deeds for 2 years. In 2020, St Charles County Recorder’s office purchased new software that has greatly expanded the documents that be processed and digitally recorded. Now, rather than just records of land ownership, marriage licenses, military records such as DD-214s, federal and state liens, fraud alerts and documents used in Ancestry research can be recorded and searched. Of course, officials such as judges and prosecuting attorneys data is shielded from public view.
Ancestry records from 1807 through 1946 are recorded in St Charles County. Existing records were scanned and incorporated so they are available for researchers. All marriage licenses were scanned and placed on line. Any resident with military service records (DD-214) can go to the office and get them scanned and incorporated. Federal and tax liens are included in the database, but commercial liens are found in the case net database. Records from 1947 onward can be reviewed in the Recorders Office. The Recorder’s office databases can now be used online or in person at the St Charles County Administration building. The website https://www.sccmo.org/511/Recorder-of-Deeds is available for use by the public.
Eli Isele
- Field Specialist in Horticulture
On September 15th, the Lake St. Louis Ambassadors meeting had the privilege of presenting Eli Isele as our guest speaker.
Eli Isele has the position of Horticulture Field Specialist for St. Louis and St Charles County. Eli holds a BS in agriculture from the University of Missouri and an MS in sustainable development practice from the University of Florida. He has extensive practical working experience with all types of agriculture, from a 5,800 acre conventional macadamia nut operation in
Hawaii to two organic vegetable farms in Wisconsin.
He also served in the Peace Corps in Malawi, focusing his work with a beekeepers’ CO-OP.
Previous to joining MU Extension he has been establishing and managing the Donald Danforth Plant Science center Field Research Site.
Previous to the Danforth Center he worked as an Extension Agent with the
University of Hawaii focusing on sustainable agriculture on the big island and working to improve disease resistance and yield of orchard crops.
Eli spoke on his experiences while serving in the Peace Corps. One of the missions while in the Peace Corps was to promote better understandings between our countries. His two years in Malawi Africa as a young man helped him understand a different culture than what he had always known.
The LSL Ambassadors appreciated the message that Eli brought to our community service organization.
Thank you Eli!
LTC Steve Brown
- Retired USAF B-52 and U-2 Pilot
Last Friday the Lake St. Louis Ambassadors had one of their own members as the morning’s presenters.
Steve Brown has been a member of the LSL Ambassadors for over 20 years. He gave an engaging talk on his experiences as a pilot for the B-52 and U-2 while serving in the Air Force.
Steve is a retired Lt Colonel in the U.S. Air Force. He was a command pilot and instructor for the B-52 and U-2 planes. He has served in Viet Nam, Korea, Japan, Panama, England and Cyprus. Steve was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (2 times)
After Retiring from USAF, he was a pilot for the following companies/organizations:
Flight Dept. Captain for Mercantile Bank, May Co, Federated Dept. stores and Macy’s.
He became the flight director and chief pilot for PRS Investment Corp, Grupo Amasua and for the president of Real Madrid Football Team based in Madrid, Spain.
Steve has a Bachelor’s Degree from University of Kansas
Master’s Degree from Central Missouri State University
Conversational skills in Spanish, Japanese and Korean
Safety Consultant to Dept of Energy Nuclear Weapons Division.
Consultant to ATF - Panama
Briefer for Lockheed Corp and NASA special projects.
Director of Reconnaissance in Asian Pacific Theater
Lifetime MO State Teacher Certification
Offshore Ocean Skipper, certified by British Royal Yachting Association
Served on Finance Advisory Board for Whiteman Federal Credit Union.
The LSL Ambassadors have such interesting speakers, and this was one of the best!
Bryan Hampton
- Director, SCC Crime Lab
Bryan Hampton from the Saint Charles County Crime Lab stopped by the Ambassadors today to tell us about what’s going on at his lab. Mr. Hampton is the Lab Director and his nine-person strong team analyzes not only drugs (84% of cases), but also biological/DNA samples (10%) and firearms/ballistics (9%). For you math people, there is some overlap of cases.
In 2022, the lab tested 3,096 samples out of 2,557 samples submitted. Yeah, ,they’re overperformers. Actually, recent hires have allowed the lab to reduce their backlog of cases, so they have been able to test more samples than were actually submitted.
Most of these cases are drug samples, with Meth and Opioids comprising the lion’s share. Fentanyl positives are increasing rapidly from a low of zero a mere 10 years ago. Surprisingly, cocaine has also seen a recent uptick, while meth cases are on the decline.
Testing for all these drugs must meet minimum thresholds to be considered “positive”. All samples are subsequently destroyed.
Bryan and his ballistics team also examine the casings and the lands and grooves on expended bullets they receive as evidence. They enter their findings into the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) operated by ATF, which allows the lab to compare their findings with other state labs to help find the bad guys. The lab also tests the functionality of seized firearms.
The Crime Lab also tests biological and DNA evidence. They test bodily fluids and DNA evidence that is found on jewelry, glasses, firearms, etc. These data are also entered into a national database called the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). The SCC Crime Lab has had over 1400 “hits” on CODIS since 2018. One of these “hits” was the unsolved case of Angie Houseman who went missing in 1993—it’s legit CSI stuff…you should google it. Spoiler alert: Dirtbag sentenced to life-- https://www.sccmo.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1586&ARC=3332
Thanks to Mr. Hampton and the good work of his team: https://www.sccmo.org/432/Criminalistics-Laboratory-Division
Lynn Jordan
- Manager, Regions Bank
On 8-17-23 Lynn Jordan of Regions Bank spoke to the Ambassadors about credit and fraud. We are constantly bombarded with student debt, interest rates rising, financial dilemmas, home ownership, and credit scores. Lynn chose to enlighten us about establishing and repairing one’s credit. When establishing credit, banks review your capacity, capital, collateral and character. Capacity concerns your income and debt to income ratio. Capacity and collateral are two commonly understood items and character basically is how well you may your debts. The first three things one should do right now to gain mire knowledge about your credit status and the need you have to repair it is 1) check your credit report and find out your credit score, 2) pay on time (collections may remain on your report for seven years) and 3) pay down your debt (keep balances low, don’t close credit cards or open new ones). You can request an annual credit report free at annualcreditreport.com. Three agencies, equifax.com, experian.com and transunion.com, also provide a credit report but may charge a fee. Regions Bank has a lot of tools and resources that provide information and training classes and materials to help one learn more about credit. Call Lynn at the local Regions bank (314-695-8220) or go to their website Regions.com/NextStep.
Joe Markell
- Markell Estate Planning
On Aug 11th, Joe Markell, a new member of LSL Ambassadors, spoke about Estate Planning. He is a lawyer specializing in Elder Care issues. He was introduced by Louis Wray who has worked with Joe on estate planning, long term care, trusts and other issues for handling family wealth transfers from one generation to the next and ways to take full advantage of the laws that help one avoid probate court and costly surprises when elders pass on. It’s important to minimize expenses before and after death to maximize the percent of one’s estate that remains in the hands of family members and not in the hands of others. Joe mentioned that most estate plans just don’t work. He specializes in beneficiary directed credit shelter trusts that protect against creditors, predators, second marriage issues, lawsuits, divorce issues and bankruptcy. They are very flexible and since life is constantly changing, along with new laws being passed, they meet with you regularly to review your needs. Such items as Insurance trusts, real estate trusts and Medicaid trusts or transfers via TOD or POD beneficiary are not enough to safely pass wealth on. For an appointment to review your estate plan, call Joe at 636-466-8349 go to his website at www.MarkellPC.com.
Chuck Gatschenberger
- Office of the Missouri Military Advocate
The weekly program for the Ambassadors of Lake St Louis on Friday, July 16 was presented by Mr Chuck Gatschenberger, Coordinator, Strategy and Performance Office of the Missouri Military Advocate. Mr Gatschenberger had been a State Representative for the Missouri House of State Representatives for 15 years. He served the 108th District in the Missouri House of Representatives. Chuck was a champion of the Second Amendment rights and protecting the innocent lives of the unborn. He is proud to have expanded the Castle Doctrine to allow Missourians to defend themselves on rental properties. He has worked diligently for local government and small businesses to be named the Chair of Local Government Committee.
Chuck now works as the Coordinator of the Office of the Missouri Military Advocate. He travels many miles to find businesses that will hire military veterans. The CSP program (Career Skills Program) allows a military member the opportunity to train and possibly employ the military members of the internship program they are hired for. Military members can be authorized to intern at a private company for up to five and one-half years, while still being paid and receiving all military benefits. The employer is not responsible for providing any pay or benefits to the Military member while the Military member is interning for the employer. The military member is considered an Active Military while interning for the company.
If the employer chooses to retain the military member after the internship, the employer will take over and assume all responsibility for the military member as a private employee. The military member will turn in all paperwork to their commander for signature once they receive the internship agreement signed by the employing company. The Commander is required to know where the military member is working during his internship. The Commander will sign the paperwork allowing the release of the military member will be during his time of internship.
The program is designed to assist military members to transition from the military to private employment. Military members are not allowed to receive any compensation during this time of internship.
The employer will be responsible for completing the Career Skills Program Weekly Progress Report on a weekly basis.
What a great way to support your country and help a military member to rejoin the workforce outside of the military.
If this is of interest to you or you have any questions, please contact Chuck Gatschenberger at:
Chuck.Gatschenberger@ded.mo.gov or by calling him at 573-619-4471.
Erin O'Reilly
- RN, MSNR, IBCLC, La Leche League
July 7, 2023, the Lake St Louis Ambassadors welcomed Mrs. Erin O’Reilly to speak out our Friday morning meeting. Erin O’Reilly is an RN, MSNR, IBCLC, volunteer with La Leche League as a leader, former WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator, Public Health Nurse, past President of the St Louis Breastfeeding Coalition and a member of the Missouri Breastfeeding Coalition, the US Breastfeeding Coalition, US Lactation Consultant Association and the International Lactation Consultant Association.
Erin lives in St Louis and has a passion for supporting and educating Moms and people in general on the importance of breastfeeding. During her time as President of the STL Breastfeeding Coalition she helped to get a Missouri law passed on breastfeeding.
She would like to spread the word of the importance of breastfeeding and breastfeeding support.
#1-Breastfeeding is important for many reasons. It is nourishment and nurture for a newborn baby. It reduces illness and chronic diseases.
#2-Approximately 84% of mothers initiate breastfeeding but only 36% make it to one year. It is recommended that mothers breastfeed for 1-2 years for ultimate nourishment and protection from illnesses. https://cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reported.htm
#3-National Paid Family Leave would increase the number of Mom’s success of breastfeeding and meet the goal of completing 1-2 years of breastfeeding.
#4-Impoverished and uneducated families have the lowest breastfeeding rates due to many barriers.
#5-Socially disadvantaged children suffer the worst effects of non-breastfeeding success due to lack of a secure family structure.
#6-Breastfeeding is a full-time job for mothers with children under the age of 3 months. Feeding 10-12 times a day on an average takes ½ - 1 hour per feeding.
#7-It is recommended that babies exclusively breastfeed at least till they are 6 months of age, then add solid foods gradually while continuing breastfeeding for up to 2 years.
Please feel free to reach out to Erin O’Reilly at this website: https://www.lllstl.org/
Robin Phillips
- CEO, Child Care Aware of Missouri
Robin spoke to the LSL Ambassadors about Childcare Awareness at our weekly meeting on Friday. She is the CEO of Child Care Aware of Missouri. She has spent 23 years in early childhood education and non-profit management and has been at Child Care Aware for the last 16 years. She is a Child Care advocate who influences state legislatures, government providers and a Mom who used high quality child care so she could work and have a career. This organization is a resource for parents, employers and communities and helps them to know, use and develop Child Care solutions and how to find high quality providers. Average cost of childcare in Missouri is $656 per child per month and infant care costs more than $1000 per month. Average family expenses range from 14% to 27% of their income. Even at these high rates there is often a yearlong waiting list. While child care has always had an impact on women’s ability to go to work, it is a major issue impacting the workforce today especially due to the impact of the pandemic and the inability to get large numbers of women to re-enter the workforce. It has a dramatic impact on family incomes and on the economy in general. For more information, contact robin@mochildcareaware.org.
Sharla Harding
- SSM Director of Volunteer Services
On April 14, 2023 Sharla Harding of SSM visited the Ambassadors to discuss SSM’s role in our community and to discuss Volunteers at St Josephs Hospital and other SSM facilities. Sharla is Director of Volunteer Services and Guest Relations. Deb Graves is President of the SSM Campus in Lake St Louis and has a Medical VP, a Nursing VP and an Operations VP reporting to her. SSM Health is the 6th largest health care organization in the US, It operates in 4 states, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Oklahoma. It has 40,000 employees, 410,00 members of its health plan, runs 23 hospitals, and manages pharmacy benefits for more than 5 million patients. In St Charles County, SSM has 3 hospitals, one trauma center, 2 Urgent Care centers, 110 physicians and 19 office locations. At St. Joseph Hospital – Lake St. Louis, there are 215 licensed beds, 1,012 employees, 563 physicians, 122 volunteers, 9685 admissions, 1295 births, 45,0054 Emergency visits, 100,492 Outpatient visits, 1563 Inpatient surgeries, and 5297 outpatient surgeries each year. SSM‘s history began with 5 German nuns coming to the US in search of religious freedom in 1872. In 1873 they came to St Charles to help in the many pandemics here at the time. In 1879, they came and stayed. Franz Schulte donated his home as a hospital in gratitude for their help in treating his son. Today, SSM has a new focus on Volunteerism. They have used volunteers to support clinical professionals and to do some tasks that provide relief and assistance to the staff. Volunteers are also used as patient Ambassadors in roles that improve patients experience while in the hospital.
Heather Kemper
- Nonprofit Consultant
Heather Kemper came by the Ambassadors recently. Yeah, she’s the Director of Development for Miriam School & Learning Center and yup, she is a board member for the O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce. She’s also a co-founder of 100 Women Who Care in St. Charles County. But does any or all of this make her happy? I would say, unequivocally, yes!
Ostensibly, Ms. Kemper’s goal is to help nonprofit organizations expand their mission. But really, she does this by helping all of us individually expand our missions. Sneaky, huh? Heather knows that happy people are dedicated to service to others.
Heather’s focus was on happiness. It seems like a simple thing, yet it can be elusive. Are you gladsome? Are you Grumpy or Ted Lasso? At least 50% of our happiness quotient is intrinsic. We were born with it. It’s our “set point.” However, only 10% of our personal satisfaction is due to circumstances. Remember that.
A full 40 percent of our glee is intentional. This is the part that we can control. Let’s do that, please. Here are a few simple things: healthy lifestyle, exercise, purposeful control of our thoughts. Mindfulness. But these are just the foundations. Heather believes that the primary factor in fostering happiness in ourselves is service to others. That’s truth.
Heather gave the Ambassadors a Happiness Survey to complete during her talk. I’m happy to report that—like the residents of Garrison Keillor’s fabled Lake Wobegon—we are all way above average. We are, as you may know, a club dedicated to the betterment of our community. We’re relatively happy because we are a service organization.
That’s the key. If rich people could buy happiness, they would. Many of us might think that we can increase our happiness with money. We buy stuff, we go places, we do things. That’s fluff.
Humans (like most of you reading this) are hardwired to give to other people. True happiness comes from helping others. So, find your true purpose, help others, and live happily.
The glee abides.
Mike Stagoski -- Edward Jones
On Feb 3rd, 2023, Mike Stagoski spoke to the LSL Ambassadors about retirement plans, activities and how to succeed at retiring! It is seldom that we have a fellow ambassador speak to us about something we all have experience with! And most of us think were experts at it. Mike mentioned that there four main pillars of retirement. These are Health, Family, Purpose and Finances. Mike’s company, Edward Jones, joined with two other companies to conduct a large scale study on retirement. The results showed that people are redefining retirement as a new chapter in their life. In this new chapter, retirees who have a higher quality of life are more likely to grade themselves high in each of these four pillar areas. To achieve something close to your ideal retirement requires thought and action in each of these areas. They defined good health as being able to do what you want to do. Also, they found that that more wealth brings better health. Families were also defined differently by retirees. Family grows and is usually considered to be anyone whom you care for or that you love, whether you're related to them or not. This new family is the one that you want to maintain positive meaningful and supportive relationships with during your retirement. Retirees find they have a lot more time on their hands and that three is more free time per day. When you're over 65, your average free time is about 7.5 hours up from four hours when you're working. Retirees need to be able to fill this time with meaningful things using their talents and knowledge to make contributions. This makes for a happier retirement, give one purpose, and helps with the self-image. This is also an age where you have a lot more time to spend with your family members. In summary, understand that health, family, purpose and finance are very important in shaping your life and your quality of life. Second, maintain a balance of action in each pillar. Third, don’t go it alone. Get help with planning for success in each pillar! The better you plan, the happier retirement you should have! For more info visit the website at edwardjones.com.
ELECTION DAY NOV 8th
Recently Kurt Bahr, St Charles County Election Director of Elections, visited with the LSL Ambassadors to discuss the General Election on Nov 8th. His purpose was to highlight the recent changes to election law since the primary election earlier this year.
So, what is new?
- A new law requires voters to present a valid photo ID to cast a ballot in person.
- No Excuse absentee voting is now allowed in the last two weeks before the election,
- Drop boxes are banned.
What ID do you need to show? A Missouri drivers license or State ID, US Passport or other ID listed at sos.mo.gov/showit2vote.
Diamond Diva Empowerment Foundation
On Friday, 10-21-22, Bran – Dee Jelks, Program Director and Tasha Love, Business Manager, of the Diamond Diva organization visited the LSL Ambassadors to tell us about their foundation and programs that support survivors of domestic violence. The Diamond Diva Empowerment Foundation is a 501©3 organization dedicated to helping women and children who are experiencing or have survived domestic violence situations. Their programs and services provide housing placement, rental assistance, counseling, education, prevention, safety planning and connections to whole array of community resources. They act as a clearing house to connect these people to multiple community service organizations in St Louis that can provide services to these clients.
Missouri has the third-highest rate of people who have experienced domestic violence. About 41% of Missouri women and 35% of men experience intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence, or stalking. In 2018, Missouri had 45,548 reported domestic violence incidents, a 10.3% increase from 2014. In 2020, domestic violence cases increased to over 200% in certain regions due to COVID lockdowns.
During this year’s campaign, their goal is to raise $500,000 to aid women and children with adequate housing and to provide 2500 Love Packages™ to local domestic violence shelters and safe houses. They are committed to rebuilding the core of the family unit, while encouraging each survivor to focus on their strengths and well-being. They hope that by providing financial literacy classes, support groups, personal development courses, and mental health counseling, they can inspire, uplift, and empower the women they serve. For more information on what they do and how you can help, see www.2DEF.org.
On Friday, 10-21-22, Bran – Dee Jelks, Program Director and Tasha Love, Business Manager, of the Diamond Diva organization visited the LSL Ambassadors to tell us about their foundation and programs that support survivors of domestic violence. The Diamond Diva Empowerment Foundation is a 501©3 organization dedicated to helping women and children who are experiencing or have survived domestic violence situations. Their programs and services provide housing placement, rental assistance, counseling, education, prevention, safety planning and connections to whole array of community resources. They act as a clearing house to connect these people to multiple community service organizations in St Louis that can provide services to these clients.
Missouri has the third-highest rate of people who have experienced domestic violence. About 41% of Missouri women and 35% of men experience intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence, or stalking. In 2018, Missouri had 45,548 reported domestic violence incidents, a 10.3% increase from 2014. In 2020, domestic violence cases increased to over 200% in certain regions due to COVID lockdowns.
During this year’s campaign, their goal is to raise $500,000 to aid women and children with adequate housing and to provide 2500 Love Packages™ to local domestic violence shelters and safe houses. They are committed to rebuilding the core of the family unit, while encouraging each survivor to focus on their strengths and well-being. They hope that by providing financial literacy classes, support groups, personal development courses, and mental health counseling, they can inspire, uplift, and empower the women they serve. For more information on what they do and how you can help, see www.2DEF.org.
Steve Collier and Marty Povin
- Restore St. Charles
,Restore St Charles is a faith based program that aims to restore lives, hope, and faith of people in St Charles County by restoring homes and properties in St Charles County. Restore St. Charles was founded to help fellow citizens with the challenges facing them today, thus enabling them to reclaim their future. Work began in 2007 as a Christian Outreach group from Dardenne Presbyterian Church and is now supported by several churches and service organizations and other sponsors.
Restore St. Charles is an all-volunteer organization. Volunteers are the heart and soul of the organization and are focused on helping where help is needed. No special skills are needed other than a willingness to help our neighbors in need. One project is done each month. Projects planned for the near timeframe include Handicap ramps, painting, siding, rear egress stairs, and handrails, deck repairs, flooring repairs or replacement and other similar efforts. These are required so people can stay in their home. Volunteers and donations are needed to keep this beneficial program going. For more information or to volunteer, see restorestcharles.org.
- Restore St. Charles
,Restore St Charles is a faith based program that aims to restore lives, hope, and faith of people in St Charles County by restoring homes and properties in St Charles County. Restore St. Charles was founded to help fellow citizens with the challenges facing them today, thus enabling them to reclaim their future. Work began in 2007 as a Christian Outreach group from Dardenne Presbyterian Church and is now supported by several churches and service organizations and other sponsors.
Restore St. Charles is an all-volunteer organization. Volunteers are the heart and soul of the organization and are focused on helping where help is needed. No special skills are needed other than a willingness to help our neighbors in need. One project is done each month. Projects planned for the near timeframe include Handicap ramps, painting, siding, rear egress stairs, and handrails, deck repairs, flooring repairs or replacement and other similar efforts. These are required so people can stay in their home. Volunteers and donations are needed to keep this beneficial program going. For more information or to volunteer, see restorestcharles.org.
Zip Rzeppa - Mater Media
This week LSL Ambassadors were entertained by the memorable Zip Rzeppa, one of the most popular TV personalities to ever host a sports show in the St Louis area. He was always entertaining and filled his time slot with crazy antics, weird performances and unforgettable skits and he did this in all sports seasons. He attended high school in the Detroit area where he played quarterback in football and basketball. He was known to “zip” his passes to his receivers and this is where he earned his nick name that he was to use professionally later in life. After high school, he attended Boston University where he earned a degree in journalism and was a member of the basketball team. At Boston University, he was a classmate of both Howard Stern and Bill O’Reilly.
After college, Rzeppa began his broadcasting career announcing Boston University football and hockey games. He worked in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, slowly climbing the pro ladder in broadcasting. He then went back to Boston, where he was reunited with Bill O’Reilly. During a career interview he asked the “boss” how to succeed in the business, and was told that “you need to do something to get more attention”.
His next stop was KTVI in St Louis where he became popular for his Friday night Zippo Awards for "The best, the worst, and the weirdest performances in the wild and wacky wonderful world of sports." At KTVI-TV, a years-long rift began with the Cardinals. He moved to KMOV where he started several well-known features with others with star power. In total, Rzeppa anchored more than 8,000 local TV sportscasts. In 2014, he was inducted into the St. Louis Media Hall of Fame.
After leaving broadcasting, Rzeppa entered the not-for-profit world. He worked for Goodwill and the St Vincent De Paul. He is the Founder and current Executive Director of Mater Media, evangelizing the Catholic faith through book publishing, events, fundraising, and speaking engagements. He is the author of two books, ‘My Rock & Salvation’ (2014), a novel for teens, and an autobiography.
This week LSL Ambassadors were entertained by the memorable Zip Rzeppa, one of the most popular TV personalities to ever host a sports show in the St Louis area. He was always entertaining and filled his time slot with crazy antics, weird performances and unforgettable skits and he did this in all sports seasons. He attended high school in the Detroit area where he played quarterback in football and basketball. He was known to “zip” his passes to his receivers and this is where he earned his nick name that he was to use professionally later in life. After high school, he attended Boston University where he earned a degree in journalism and was a member of the basketball team. At Boston University, he was a classmate of both Howard Stern and Bill O’Reilly.
After college, Rzeppa began his broadcasting career announcing Boston University football and hockey games. He worked in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, slowly climbing the pro ladder in broadcasting. He then went back to Boston, where he was reunited with Bill O’Reilly. During a career interview he asked the “boss” how to succeed in the business, and was told that “you need to do something to get more attention”.
His next stop was KTVI in St Louis where he became popular for his Friday night Zippo Awards for "The best, the worst, and the weirdest performances in the wild and wacky wonderful world of sports." At KTVI-TV, a years-long rift began with the Cardinals. He moved to KMOV where he started several well-known features with others with star power. In total, Rzeppa anchored more than 8,000 local TV sportscasts. In 2014, he was inducted into the St. Louis Media Hall of Fame.
After leaving broadcasting, Rzeppa entered the not-for-profit world. He worked for Goodwill and the St Vincent De Paul. He is the Founder and current Executive Director of Mater Media, evangelizing the Catholic faith through book publishing, events, fundraising, and speaking engagements. He is the author of two books, ‘My Rock & Salvation’ (2014), a novel for teens, and an autobiography.
Steve Ehlmann - County Executive
Our esteemed County Executive, Steve Ehlmann, dropped by recently to give the Ambassadors an update on the state of the county…and the state of the county is strong. Mr. Ehlmann focused on three main topics: recovery, safety and growth.
Recovery. St. Charles County had some of the lowest COVID-19 statistics in the area and in the state, in terms of cases, hospitalizations and deaths. The county health department hosted 179 community vaccination events and has the third highest vaccination rate in the state with 65% of its population fully vaccinated.
On the subject of opioids, the county reported 426 opioid deaths from 2017 to 2020. Unfortunately, this number is growing. Mr. Ehlmann explained that the county will receive nearly $20 million from lawsuit settlements and we will use this money to expand treatment facilities.
Safety. Steve spoke about the efforts of the auto theft task force and how they have reduced losses over 40% from the high in 2020. Aggressive enforcement and strict sentencing have proved vital to this success.
Also, the county is engaged in hiring more Safety Resource Officers (SRO’s) for all the schools. Back when the primary problem of guns in schools was from students bringing in the guns, SRO’s at elementary schools were not deemed as critical. The county is changing that.
Burglaries, auto theft, fraud, arson, larceny and aggravated assaults have all been reduced by double-digit percentages in the county in over past year. St. Charles County is a pretty safe place to live.
Growth. Passage of the recent Prop R for Roads will allow the county to continue to maintain and improve the transportation infrastructure to keep up with the continually growing region. Both housing and commercial construction permits are above the pre-pandemic numbers. Also, new records were set in the growth of multi-family construction in both 2020 and 2021.
Our Parks Department recently celebrated its 25th anniversary since its inception in 1997. Saint Charles County now boasts 21 parks covering over 4,000 acres. The newest, Oglesby Park, located on Meyer Road near Wentzville, opened this summer.
If you like these facts and want to learn more, read the 2021 Report to the Community: https://www.sccmo.org/2041/Report-to-the-Community
Our esteemed County Executive, Steve Ehlmann, dropped by recently to give the Ambassadors an update on the state of the county…and the state of the county is strong. Mr. Ehlmann focused on three main topics: recovery, safety and growth.
Recovery. St. Charles County had some of the lowest COVID-19 statistics in the area and in the state, in terms of cases, hospitalizations and deaths. The county health department hosted 179 community vaccination events and has the third highest vaccination rate in the state with 65% of its population fully vaccinated.
On the subject of opioids, the county reported 426 opioid deaths from 2017 to 2020. Unfortunately, this number is growing. Mr. Ehlmann explained that the county will receive nearly $20 million from lawsuit settlements and we will use this money to expand treatment facilities.
Safety. Steve spoke about the efforts of the auto theft task force and how they have reduced losses over 40% from the high in 2020. Aggressive enforcement and strict sentencing have proved vital to this success.
Also, the county is engaged in hiring more Safety Resource Officers (SRO’s) for all the schools. Back when the primary problem of guns in schools was from students bringing in the guns, SRO’s at elementary schools were not deemed as critical. The county is changing that.
Burglaries, auto theft, fraud, arson, larceny and aggravated assaults have all been reduced by double-digit percentages in the county in over past year. St. Charles County is a pretty safe place to live.
Growth. Passage of the recent Prop R for Roads will allow the county to continue to maintain and improve the transportation infrastructure to keep up with the continually growing region. Both housing and commercial construction permits are above the pre-pandemic numbers. Also, new records were set in the growth of multi-family construction in both 2020 and 2021.
Our Parks Department recently celebrated its 25th anniversary since its inception in 1997. Saint Charles County now boasts 21 parks covering over 4,000 acres. The newest, Oglesby Park, located on Meyer Road near Wentzville, opened this summer.
If you like these facts and want to learn more, read the 2021 Report to the Community: https://www.sccmo.org/2041/Report-to-the-Community
Scott Drachnik - Economic Development Council
You might think that a speaker from the Economic Develop Council (EDC) would be super boring. You would be wrong. Mr. Scott Drachnik was lively, entertaining and informative. Scott, as the President and CEO of this outfit, leads his team in attracting and nurturing business development (and hence, jobs) in St. Charles County. Healthcare, IT, Financial Services and Manufacturing are just some of the sectors that the EDC incubates, fosters and mentors in St. Charles County.
Mr. Drachnik highlighted five major developments for which the EDC was instrumental: General Motors (Wentzville) expansion, MEMC, Amazon, improvements to the St. Charles riverfront and investments in the Missouri Wine Country.
In 2019 General Motors announced the largest-ever private investment in the State of Missouri-- $1.5 billion for its Wentzville Assembly Plant.
In June 2020, MEMC announced an $800 million supply agreement to expand production at the O'Fallon-based producer of silicon wafers. The deal will bring $210M in capital investment and 75 jobs to O'Fallon.
You might not know this, but Amazon is the largest employer in St. Charles County with over 6,000 new jobs in the past four years. Amazon's four-story, 855,000 square-foot facility is located in the Premier 370 business park, which is along the Highway 370 Logistics Corridor. The park, which is also home to FedEx, Best Buy, Grove Collaborative, and others, has been a boon to the local economy, generating 8,000 jobs in the past two years.
Another development is the improvement of the riverfront from St. Charles, MO to the Family Arena. The River Pointe project will entail building parking, retail, restaurants, office space, entertainment, and multifamily dwellings. Once development is completed it’s expected to provide roughly 4000 jobs, increase the annual visitors by a million people, and produce an annual revenue of an estimated 1.5 billion dollars.
Finally, St. Charles County is home to the Weinstrasse or “Missouri Wine Road” which boasts the highest concentration of wineries in the state and was the first American Viticultural Area (AVA) designated by the federal government in 1980. A $100 million investment is underway by the Hoffmann Family of Companies to enhance and expand Missouri Wine Country in St. Charles County into the Napa Valley of the Midwest.
All of these projects were fostered by the EDC. BTW, the Economic Development Council is NOT a government agency. They are a 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to improving St. Charles County and these a just a few of the projects currently underway. All of these endeavors will attract high quality jobs for you and yours.
For more information, visit https://www.edcscc.com/
You might think that a speaker from the Economic Develop Council (EDC) would be super boring. You would be wrong. Mr. Scott Drachnik was lively, entertaining and informative. Scott, as the President and CEO of this outfit, leads his team in attracting and nurturing business development (and hence, jobs) in St. Charles County. Healthcare, IT, Financial Services and Manufacturing are just some of the sectors that the EDC incubates, fosters and mentors in St. Charles County.
Mr. Drachnik highlighted five major developments for which the EDC was instrumental: General Motors (Wentzville) expansion, MEMC, Amazon, improvements to the St. Charles riverfront and investments in the Missouri Wine Country.
In 2019 General Motors announced the largest-ever private investment in the State of Missouri-- $1.5 billion for its Wentzville Assembly Plant.
In June 2020, MEMC announced an $800 million supply agreement to expand production at the O'Fallon-based producer of silicon wafers. The deal will bring $210M in capital investment and 75 jobs to O'Fallon.
You might not know this, but Amazon is the largest employer in St. Charles County with over 6,000 new jobs in the past four years. Amazon's four-story, 855,000 square-foot facility is located in the Premier 370 business park, which is along the Highway 370 Logistics Corridor. The park, which is also home to FedEx, Best Buy, Grove Collaborative, and others, has been a boon to the local economy, generating 8,000 jobs in the past two years.
Another development is the improvement of the riverfront from St. Charles, MO to the Family Arena. The River Pointe project will entail building parking, retail, restaurants, office space, entertainment, and multifamily dwellings. Once development is completed it’s expected to provide roughly 4000 jobs, increase the annual visitors by a million people, and produce an annual revenue of an estimated 1.5 billion dollars.
Finally, St. Charles County is home to the Weinstrasse or “Missouri Wine Road” which boasts the highest concentration of wineries in the state and was the first American Viticultural Area (AVA) designated by the federal government in 1980. A $100 million investment is underway by the Hoffmann Family of Companies to enhance and expand Missouri Wine Country in St. Charles County into the Napa Valley of the Midwest.
All of these projects were fostered by the EDC. BTW, the Economic Development Council is NOT a government agency. They are a 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to improving St. Charles County and these a just a few of the projects currently underway. All of these endeavors will attract high quality jobs for you and yours.
For more information, visit https://www.edcscc.com/
Carol Merz and Sharon Tick - Aging Ahead
Carol Merz, Administrator, and Sharon Tick, Director of Volunteers, spoke to LSL Ambassadors about the Green Lantern and the services provided from their facility in Wentzville. Senior support activities include meals on wheels and operation of the activity center. For St Charles County, 10 people work there to answer the phone for people calling about the activities for services such as health services, caregivers, helpers, and grants to provide help of various types. The agency offers in-home help of various types such as meals, bathing, house cleaning and medical support. They can also help veterans find the help they need to support daily activities. The Wentzville Center was begun under the Older Americans Act of 1965. Operations started in Wentzville in 1971. When three women started a meal service of 10 meals, this has been ongoing for 51 years. In 1973, 5 days per week operation began and a dining room added. This was the first such operation in Missouri.
Sharon Tick is chairperson of the Support Committee, a non-profit committee self-funding all daily activities at the senior center including games during the day, dances, and a full calendar of activities for seniors. This includes a physical therapist‘s visit two days a week and a transportation committee which has purchased a van for the center’s use. All activities are now located at the Green Lantern but will soon be relocated to the new Rec Plex in Wentzville. See their Facebook page at Wentzville Green Lantern Senior Center.
Carol Merz, Administrator, and Sharon Tick, Director of Volunteers, spoke to LSL Ambassadors about the Green Lantern and the services provided from their facility in Wentzville. Senior support activities include meals on wheels and operation of the activity center. For St Charles County, 10 people work there to answer the phone for people calling about the activities for services such as health services, caregivers, helpers, and grants to provide help of various types. The agency offers in-home help of various types such as meals, bathing, house cleaning and medical support. They can also help veterans find the help they need to support daily activities. The Wentzville Center was begun under the Older Americans Act of 1965. Operations started in Wentzville in 1971. When three women started a meal service of 10 meals, this has been ongoing for 51 years. In 1973, 5 days per week operation began and a dining room added. This was the first such operation in Missouri.
Sharon Tick is chairperson of the Support Committee, a non-profit committee self-funding all daily activities at the senior center including games during the day, dances, and a full calendar of activities for seniors. This includes a physical therapist‘s visit two days a week and a transportation committee which has purchased a van for the center’s use. All activities are now located at the Green Lantern but will soon be relocated to the new Rec Plex in Wentzville. See their Facebook page at Wentzville Green Lantern Senior Center.
Scott Rupp – Public Service Commission
On May 6, 2022, Scott Rupp of the MO PSC spoke to the LSL Ambassadors about Energy in Mo. It is a monopoly business and as such is regulated in the best interest of the public and the economy. Scott is focused primarily on new technology in the energy field and delivered a very upbeat message about the new technology being applied to the problem of providing enough energy at the right time for current and future needs. In Missouri, normally about 70% of our energy is generated using coal. Recently, the consortium in MO experienced a production high point where coal provided 33%, natural gas 33% and wind about 12% of the energy. (The remainder was produced by solar, water power and other means.) Eastern MO is part of a 16 state consortium for generating power and putting it on the grid. Western half of MO is part of a 14 state group generating energy. For both groups wind power is being added to the grid as much as possible due to its low cost of about 2 cents per Kilowatt hour. This is down from 55 cents per KWHr in 1980! New technology also is being used to make the turbine blades in sections to ease transportation problems and to reduce recycling problems. Wind is not the only area driving cost reductions. Nuclear energy may soon be on the rebound due to new, smaller reactors that are portable and safer than those now in use. Also solar panels are much more efficient than in the past and a 1% increase in efficiency means a 10X higher power output, enabling many more cost effective applications. SO what are the problems left to solve for renewable energy systems? Batteries must be made to store energy generated by these renewable sources. Stored compressed air is being considered, water pumping from a lower reservoir during off-peak hours to a higher one like Taum Sauk here in Mo. But the golden solution being sought around the world is hydrogen stored in containers and used in cars, trains, and power plants. Today Japan leads in research and in applications of hydrogen as a fuel for cars and other applications.
On May 6, 2022, Scott Rupp of the MO PSC spoke to the LSL Ambassadors about Energy in Mo. It is a monopoly business and as such is regulated in the best interest of the public and the economy. Scott is focused primarily on new technology in the energy field and delivered a very upbeat message about the new technology being applied to the problem of providing enough energy at the right time for current and future needs. In Missouri, normally about 70% of our energy is generated using coal. Recently, the consortium in MO experienced a production high point where coal provided 33%, natural gas 33% and wind about 12% of the energy. (The remainder was produced by solar, water power and other means.) Eastern MO is part of a 16 state consortium for generating power and putting it on the grid. Western half of MO is part of a 14 state group generating energy. For both groups wind power is being added to the grid as much as possible due to its low cost of about 2 cents per Kilowatt hour. This is down from 55 cents per KWHr in 1980! New technology also is being used to make the turbine blades in sections to ease transportation problems and to reduce recycling problems. Wind is not the only area driving cost reductions. Nuclear energy may soon be on the rebound due to new, smaller reactors that are portable and safer than those now in use. Also solar panels are much more efficient than in the past and a 1% increase in efficiency means a 10X higher power output, enabling many more cost effective applications. SO what are the problems left to solve for renewable energy systems? Batteries must be made to store energy generated by these renewable sources. Stored compressed air is being considered, water pumping from a lower reservoir during off-peak hours to a higher one like Taum Sauk here in Mo. But the golden solution being sought around the world is hydrogen stored in containers and used in cars, trains, and power plants. Today Japan leads in research and in applications of hydrogen as a fuel for cars and other applications.
Good Friday Program
Steve Cauley – Pastor, Living Lord
Pat Rankin – Deacon, St. Patricks
Jonathan Shelor – Pastor, FBC LSL
Keith Spaugh – Pastor, Chapel on the Lake
The four Pastors of the Apocalypse (ok, one is a Deacon) came by the Ambassadors on Good Friday to participate in our traditional Ambassador Good Friday program. The theme was: The Meaning of Good Friday.
This annual tradition was started many years ago by Ambassador Emeritus George Humphries who wondered, “Why do we call it good?”
Why is Good Friday good? It is, after all, a remembrance of the excruciating death of Jesus. A truly innocent man who was put to death on a cross, while others mocked and scoffed Him.
In many ways the cross has been domesticated. It’s so ubiquitous that we sometimes forget about its meaning, which is the sacrifice and the remission of sins for all who believe and confess.
The only reason that Good Friday is good is because Sunday is coming. Without the resurrection, it would all be meaningless. But, it had to be done. It was all prophesied well in advance. The work that Jesus had come to do had been completed.
Tetelestai. It is finished.
Steve Cauley – Pastor, Living Lord
Pat Rankin – Deacon, St. Patricks
Jonathan Shelor – Pastor, FBC LSL
Keith Spaugh – Pastor, Chapel on the Lake
The four Pastors of the Apocalypse (ok, one is a Deacon) came by the Ambassadors on Good Friday to participate in our traditional Ambassador Good Friday program. The theme was: The Meaning of Good Friday.
This annual tradition was started many years ago by Ambassador Emeritus George Humphries who wondered, “Why do we call it good?”
Why is Good Friday good? It is, after all, a remembrance of the excruciating death of Jesus. A truly innocent man who was put to death on a cross, while others mocked and scoffed Him.
In many ways the cross has been domesticated. It’s so ubiquitous that we sometimes forget about its meaning, which is the sacrifice and the remission of sins for all who believe and confess.
The only reason that Good Friday is good is because Sunday is coming. Without the resurrection, it would all be meaningless. But, it had to be done. It was all prophesied well in advance. The work that Jesus had come to do had been completed.
Tetelestai. It is finished.
Corporal Dallas Thompson – Missouri State Highway Patrol
The Missouri Highway Patrol are seemingly everywhere, and on Friday, March 18, they were visiting the Ambassadors for their weekly meeting. Corporal Dallas Thompson, the Public Information Officer from Troop C stopped by to give us a briefing. We all behaved accordingly.
The troopers got their start with 55 in the first graduating class in St. Louis in 1931 and today they have over 1000 officers. And yes, they are everywhere. They have an aircraft division, drug and crime control division, gaming division, commercial motor vehicle division and marine operations (among others). They even provide security for the Governor. Here’s a fun fact: a casino cannot operate without a state trooper on the premises.
Troopers don’t just write tickets—although they did write over 100,000 of them in 2020. They also work investigations on major crashes, maintain a crime lab, patrol the skies, roads and waterways, maintain law and order in our casinos, and work on organized crime and anti-terrorism related projects.
Next time you have any encounter with the MSHP, consider simply thanking them for being “Ladies and gentlemen who enforce the law”. Then hand over your license and insurance card.
The Missouri Highway Patrol are seemingly everywhere, and on Friday, March 18, they were visiting the Ambassadors for their weekly meeting. Corporal Dallas Thompson, the Public Information Officer from Troop C stopped by to give us a briefing. We all behaved accordingly.
The troopers got their start with 55 in the first graduating class in St. Louis in 1931 and today they have over 1000 officers. And yes, they are everywhere. They have an aircraft division, drug and crime control division, gaming division, commercial motor vehicle division and marine operations (among others). They even provide security for the Governor. Here’s a fun fact: a casino cannot operate without a state trooper on the premises.
Troopers don’t just write tickets—although they did write over 100,000 of them in 2020. They also work investigations on major crashes, maintain a crime lab, patrol the skies, roads and waterways, maintain law and order in our casinos, and work on organized crime and anti-terrorism related projects.
Next time you have any encounter with the MSHP, consider simply thanking them for being “Ladies and gentlemen who enforce the law”. Then hand over your license and insurance card.
Jae Chung -- Bridgemaker
Wherever there is a gap, you need a bridge to cross it. Jae has often found himself in the gap, so he decided to be a bridge. Mr. Chung was born in South Korea and immigrated to the United States with his family when he was 11 years old. So, from a young age, he was regarded as “in between”. When he was in the United States, he was considered an “Asian”. When he was Korea, he was considered an American. He was in the gap. He realized from an early age that he could travel between these cultures and this was an asset.
Jae went on to earn advanced degrees in Divinity, Church History and Intellectual History of the United States. For 10 years, he was the Pastor of an 80,000 member mega-church in South Korea. A big job with big responsibilities. In this capacity he saw many gaps: rich vs. poor; powerful vs. powerless; those regarded as sufficiently pious vs. those deemed as less than desirable. He was a bridge. This was a place where prostitutes, celebrities, people with tattoos (a strict taboo in S. Korea) and Ambassadors could gather and worship God. To the chagrin of some church elders, Pastor Chung facilitated this bridge between people.
During his years in the Unites States, Mr. Chung primarily lived in San Francisco and New York. It wasn’t until he moved to Missouri, at the age of 41, that he finally met a Conservative. At first, he was surprised to see Fox News on TV or to meet people who enjoyed hunting. But, once he got to know them, he changed his preconceived notions.
While Jae is no longer a Pastor, he still preaches. He still bridges gaps. His main message is: regardless of our differences, we have one common trait…we’re all human. And we all need Grace.
Wherever there is a gap, you need a bridge to cross it. Jae has often found himself in the gap, so he decided to be a bridge. Mr. Chung was born in South Korea and immigrated to the United States with his family when he was 11 years old. So, from a young age, he was regarded as “in between”. When he was in the United States, he was considered an “Asian”. When he was Korea, he was considered an American. He was in the gap. He realized from an early age that he could travel between these cultures and this was an asset.
Jae went on to earn advanced degrees in Divinity, Church History and Intellectual History of the United States. For 10 years, he was the Pastor of an 80,000 member mega-church in South Korea. A big job with big responsibilities. In this capacity he saw many gaps: rich vs. poor; powerful vs. powerless; those regarded as sufficiently pious vs. those deemed as less than desirable. He was a bridge. This was a place where prostitutes, celebrities, people with tattoos (a strict taboo in S. Korea) and Ambassadors could gather and worship God. To the chagrin of some church elders, Pastor Chung facilitated this bridge between people.
During his years in the Unites States, Mr. Chung primarily lived in San Francisco and New York. It wasn’t until he moved to Missouri, at the age of 41, that he finally met a Conservative. At first, he was surprised to see Fox News on TV or to meet people who enjoyed hunting. But, once he got to know them, he changed his preconceived notions.
While Jae is no longer a Pastor, he still preaches. He still bridges gaps. His main message is: regardless of our differences, we have one common trait…we’re all human. And we all need Grace.
LSL Schnucks Manager
On 12-10-21 Joe Kampelman, manager of LSL Schnucks store, visited with the LSL Ambassadors. Joe has two sons ages 16 and 19, and one step-son age 21. He lives in Wentzville and has been married for 20 years. He has worked for Schnucks since 1995 when they bought National Supermarkets. He started as a bagger at National and worked his way up in store management. He has worked at thirteen different stores and has been at LSL Schnucks for three years. Joe explained how his store was undergoing remodeling changes due to new competition from the new Dierberg’s store, to new competitive pressures due to a changing workforce and the problems hiring new employees. They are working hard to automate more and more of the functions that a store has to provide. One can see more and more self-check-out stations, robotic inventory control and shelf re-stocking is also being automated as much as they possibly can. The floor has recently been changed from a tile floor to a finished concrete floor because of the reduced maintenance required and the inability to hire adequate janitorial workforce. This reduced the dramatically and several competitors also are going to finished concrete floors for the same reason. A significant change in the deli area was made to upgrade to hot food for take-out offerings and to change the appearance of this area of the store. In response to the question of what impact Dierberg’s new location had on his store, Joe said he noticed a sudden drop of about 15% in sales. He’s confident that most of his customers will return and he is making a determined effort to recoup his past level of sales. He has seen some recent recovery but it’ll take time to totally recover from this impact on sales. Joe is very supportive of Lake St Louis community activities and allows permitted groups to do some collections at the storefront. Schnucks also supports a lot of charity and humanitarian organizations in LSL. He has been very supportive of LSL Ambassadors activities. Please patronize our local store to keep our sales tax and jobs in LSL.
On 12-10-21 Joe Kampelman, manager of LSL Schnucks store, visited with the LSL Ambassadors. Joe has two sons ages 16 and 19, and one step-son age 21. He lives in Wentzville and has been married for 20 years. He has worked for Schnucks since 1995 when they bought National Supermarkets. He started as a bagger at National and worked his way up in store management. He has worked at thirteen different stores and has been at LSL Schnucks for three years. Joe explained how his store was undergoing remodeling changes due to new competition from the new Dierberg’s store, to new competitive pressures due to a changing workforce and the problems hiring new employees. They are working hard to automate more and more of the functions that a store has to provide. One can see more and more self-check-out stations, robotic inventory control and shelf re-stocking is also being automated as much as they possibly can. The floor has recently been changed from a tile floor to a finished concrete floor because of the reduced maintenance required and the inability to hire adequate janitorial workforce. This reduced the dramatically and several competitors also are going to finished concrete floors for the same reason. A significant change in the deli area was made to upgrade to hot food for take-out offerings and to change the appearance of this area of the store. In response to the question of what impact Dierberg’s new location had on his store, Joe said he noticed a sudden drop of about 15% in sales. He’s confident that most of his customers will return and he is making a determined effort to recoup his past level of sales. He has seen some recent recovery but it’ll take time to totally recover from this impact on sales. Joe is very supportive of Lake St Louis community activities and allows permitted groups to do some collections at the storefront. Schnucks also supports a lot of charity and humanitarian organizations in LSL. He has been very supportive of LSL Ambassadors activities. Please patronize our local store to keep our sales tax and jobs in LSL.
East-West Gateway Council
On Dec 3rd, 2021, Jim Wild spoke to the LSL Ambassadors to discuss the purpose and function of the East-West Gateway Council which is responsible for distributing federal funds in this region for highway and transportation projects and performs the planning for such projects. Jim has been with them since 1993. This group has operated since 1965 to provide a forum for cooperative problem-solving and the coordinated development of regional policy. EWG’s founders were the chief elected officials of the city of St. Louis, Franklin, Jefferson, St. Charles, and St. Louis counties in Missouri and Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair counties in Illinois. Its board of directors is made up of a 29 member BOD of local government reps and citizens. It includes MODOT, IDOT, Bi-State Dev. and the States of Mo and IL. The Council started with just coordinating transportation funding but has grown now to develop regional and local plans for transportation, environmental quality, housing, emergency preparedness and access to employment. It now plays a huge role in the life of all citizens of the region and is the focus organization for the region’s Federal funded projects. This includes funding for all municipalities and counties in the region and MODOT and IDOT regional projects. The Council is the repository for all regional data on transportation, environmental quality, housing and emergency preparedness. Their website has reports, plans, funding requests and plans for each of the disciplines. Please see ewgateway.org for the information.
Long Range Transportation Plan https://www.ewgateway.org/transportation-planning/long-range-planning/
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) :https://www.ewgateway.org/transportation-planning/transportation-improvement-program/
Where We Stand :https://www.ewgateway.org/research-center/where-we-stand/
OneSTL - Sustainability Plan :https://www.ewgateway.org/community-planning/sustainability-planning/
Transportation Safety :https://www.ewgateway.org/transportation-planning/safety-initiative/
The MODOT Local Area Engineer also attended this meeting. MODOT’s system consists of 33,830 miles of roads and 10,399 bridges, both of which rank among the largest for any state in the nation. MoDOT has identified $1 billion in annual unfunded needs and has a High Priority Unfunded Needs list to guide selection projects. MoDOT list includes $4.5 billion of road and bridge projects in three tiers. To review these projects see www.modot.com.
On Dec 3rd, 2021, Jim Wild spoke to the LSL Ambassadors to discuss the purpose and function of the East-West Gateway Council which is responsible for distributing federal funds in this region for highway and transportation projects and performs the planning for such projects. Jim has been with them since 1993. This group has operated since 1965 to provide a forum for cooperative problem-solving and the coordinated development of regional policy. EWG’s founders were the chief elected officials of the city of St. Louis, Franklin, Jefferson, St. Charles, and St. Louis counties in Missouri and Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair counties in Illinois. Its board of directors is made up of a 29 member BOD of local government reps and citizens. It includes MODOT, IDOT, Bi-State Dev. and the States of Mo and IL. The Council started with just coordinating transportation funding but has grown now to develop regional and local plans for transportation, environmental quality, housing, emergency preparedness and access to employment. It now plays a huge role in the life of all citizens of the region and is the focus organization for the region’s Federal funded projects. This includes funding for all municipalities and counties in the region and MODOT and IDOT regional projects. The Council is the repository for all regional data on transportation, environmental quality, housing and emergency preparedness. Their website has reports, plans, funding requests and plans for each of the disciplines. Please see ewgateway.org for the information.
Long Range Transportation Plan https://www.ewgateway.org/transportation-planning/long-range-planning/
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) :https://www.ewgateway.org/transportation-planning/transportation-improvement-program/
Where We Stand :https://www.ewgateway.org/research-center/where-we-stand/
OneSTL - Sustainability Plan :https://www.ewgateway.org/community-planning/sustainability-planning/
Transportation Safety :https://www.ewgateway.org/transportation-planning/safety-initiative/
The MODOT Local Area Engineer also attended this meeting. MODOT’s system consists of 33,830 miles of roads and 10,399 bridges, both of which rank among the largest for any state in the nation. MoDOT has identified $1 billion in annual unfunded needs and has a High Priority Unfunded Needs list to guide selection projects. MoDOT list includes $4.5 billion of road and bridge projects in three tiers. To review these projects see www.modot.com.
Rick Fessler--Serial Entrepreneur
Rick Fessler has recently sold a national retail business with over 120 stores. His objective in this operation was to put people over profit, provide leadership skills, good training and to help his people become better employees. He focused on teaching them that in retail jobs they should learn all they can and realize this was not a job they could plan to retire from. Every Friday morning he held a staff meeting. It was a call-in meeting and concentrated on finances, new ideas to try, and operational improvements. In small retail outlets, most all the employees are young, have little or no experience, and almost all are reluctant to take part in leadership classes or skill improvement plans. From the owner’s standpoint, one wants to train people to know their job and improve so they can perform more functions and move up to be assistant managers and managers. The point is to make your people better employees so they can move up in their career by finding even better opportunities to pursue. Why were the young people so reluctant to take part? What was lacking? They did not believe anyone wanted to do for them what was being offered. Their parents and their schools had de-valued them and they did not believe they had WORTH. Business on the other hand says your worth is what you produce. Young people have a hard time accepting this, thinking instead, what are you trying to get from them? So Mr. Fessler has embarked on a mission to help people live a vital life, one of gratitude, openness, and kindness. By each of us pursuing this lifestyle, together we can build a better tomorrow. To help make a significant statement about a Vital Life, he has produced a gifting program to use to make others aware of how meaningful they are to you. Make them a gift of the VIDL water bottle which shows excellence in a product and it has a significant and strong message to the one receiving the gift. It asks one to evaluate the kind of life they want to live. The message of the VIDL LIFE can be found at the website vidllife.com. The bottles can also be ordered on the same website.
Rick Fessler has recently sold a national retail business with over 120 stores. His objective in this operation was to put people over profit, provide leadership skills, good training and to help his people become better employees. He focused on teaching them that in retail jobs they should learn all they can and realize this was not a job they could plan to retire from. Every Friday morning he held a staff meeting. It was a call-in meeting and concentrated on finances, new ideas to try, and operational improvements. In small retail outlets, most all the employees are young, have little or no experience, and almost all are reluctant to take part in leadership classes or skill improvement plans. From the owner’s standpoint, one wants to train people to know their job and improve so they can perform more functions and move up to be assistant managers and managers. The point is to make your people better employees so they can move up in their career by finding even better opportunities to pursue. Why were the young people so reluctant to take part? What was lacking? They did not believe anyone wanted to do for them what was being offered. Their parents and their schools had de-valued them and they did not believe they had WORTH. Business on the other hand says your worth is what you produce. Young people have a hard time accepting this, thinking instead, what are you trying to get from them? So Mr. Fessler has embarked on a mission to help people live a vital life, one of gratitude, openness, and kindness. By each of us pursuing this lifestyle, together we can build a better tomorrow. To help make a significant statement about a Vital Life, he has produced a gifting program to use to make others aware of how meaningful they are to you. Make them a gift of the VIDL water bottle which shows excellence in a product and it has a significant and strong message to the one receiving the gift. It asks one to evaluate the kind of life they want to live. The message of the VIDL LIFE can be found at the website vidllife.com. The bottles can also be ordered on the same website.
Avalon Park
Kevin Kast, retired CEO of SSM in St Charles and well known leader of healthcare systems in the St Louis area, spoke to the Ambassadors on 5 November 2021. He has spent a significant portion of his career developing and managing mental programs and healthcare services for older adults. He has now developed a new project, Avalon Park in Cottleville. It is a locally owned and locally managed independent living facility or assisted living facility located in St Charles County near the intersection of Gutermuth Road and Hwy 364. The local ownership team, Covenant Ventures, consists of 20 Medical Doctors who have practiced locally and Kevin Kast, who is the managing partner. The most active doctor in the ownership group is Dr Ron Wepprich. Kevin Kast is in the building several times a week. He introduced Megan Schmidt, the onsite manager (called Megan the Magnificent by one of the residents!). She has had experience with independent living, with memory care and also worked at 5 skilled nursing facilities. She began in home sales, has helped people move into assisted living facilities, and now is managing a facility. The objective is that once you move into Avalon you never have to leave it! They have good food, provided by a chef with International experience, in-home health care is available on-site, and a program director with fitness, education and social programs available every day. Medical services are available each day from 1000 to 1400 hours. They have a good happy hour on site, provide a bus to go to local restaurants such as Lewis & Clark or other main street venues, and take residents to local events in St Charles County. Both 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom apartments (650 sf or 850 sf) are available. Each has a voice activated security system. A large dining room or a private dining room is available for residents. Two other novel features are a Medical Advisory Board is available and each apartment has its own ventilation system. At Avalon there is no buy-in requirement. Residents pay $1600 up front in fees. The small one bedroom apt rents for $2240 per month. Two bedroom until begin around $3000 per month. Presently only small 1 bedroom units are available. A garage or covered parking is available at an additional cost. For more information see www.avalonparksl.com.
Kevin Kast, retired CEO of SSM in St Charles and well known leader of healthcare systems in the St Louis area, spoke to the Ambassadors on 5 November 2021. He has spent a significant portion of his career developing and managing mental programs and healthcare services for older adults. He has now developed a new project, Avalon Park in Cottleville. It is a locally owned and locally managed independent living facility or assisted living facility located in St Charles County near the intersection of Gutermuth Road and Hwy 364. The local ownership team, Covenant Ventures, consists of 20 Medical Doctors who have practiced locally and Kevin Kast, who is the managing partner. The most active doctor in the ownership group is Dr Ron Wepprich. Kevin Kast is in the building several times a week. He introduced Megan Schmidt, the onsite manager (called Megan the Magnificent by one of the residents!). She has had experience with independent living, with memory care and also worked at 5 skilled nursing facilities. She began in home sales, has helped people move into assisted living facilities, and now is managing a facility. The objective is that once you move into Avalon you never have to leave it! They have good food, provided by a chef with International experience, in-home health care is available on-site, and a program director with fitness, education and social programs available every day. Medical services are available each day from 1000 to 1400 hours. They have a good happy hour on site, provide a bus to go to local restaurants such as Lewis & Clark or other main street venues, and take residents to local events in St Charles County. Both 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom apartments (650 sf or 850 sf) are available. Each has a voice activated security system. A large dining room or a private dining room is available for residents. Two other novel features are a Medical Advisory Board is available and each apartment has its own ventilation system. At Avalon there is no buy-in requirement. Residents pay $1600 up front in fees. The small one bedroom apt rents for $2240 per month. Two bedroom until begin around $3000 per month. Presently only small 1 bedroom units are available. A garage or covered parking is available at an additional cost. For more information see www.avalonparksl.com.
The Kaufman Fund
Wayne Kaufman whirled into the Ambassador meeting on October 8th like a dervish. The man is a human dynamo. Mr. Kaufman is (among many other things) the founder and president of the Kaufman fund. The primary goal of the Kaufman fund is to help homeless and at risk Veterans to become independent and self-sufficient. Since 1990, TKF has helped raise and distribute over $1.5 million. They are a 100% volunteer organization with NO paid employees. All funds raised stay in the St Louis region and currently, nearly 90% or all proceeds go to support Veterans and their families.
Here are just some of the ways that they support the Veteran community in the greater St. Louis area:
…and about 38 other different things ranging from providing Christmas trees and presents, rides to doctor appointments, grief counseling, providing winter coats. Just about anything a Veteran needs, The Kaufman Fund will seek to provide it.
How do they do all of this, you might ask? Well, corporate sponsors is one answer. Another is through fundraisers, such as golf tournaments and casino nights. And also through the goodwill of the community…that means you. You can help The Kaufman Fund meet the needs of Veterans by volunteering or donating.
If you know a veteran in need or if you would like to volunteer or donate, please visit: https://www.thekaufmanfund.org/
Wayne Kaufman whirled into the Ambassador meeting on October 8th like a dervish. The man is a human dynamo. Mr. Kaufman is (among many other things) the founder and president of the Kaufman fund. The primary goal of the Kaufman fund is to help homeless and at risk Veterans to become independent and self-sufficient. Since 1990, TKF has helped raise and distribute over $1.5 million. They are a 100% volunteer organization with NO paid employees. All funds raised stay in the St Louis region and currently, nearly 90% or all proceeds go to support Veterans and their families.
Here are just some of the ways that they support the Veteran community in the greater St. Louis area:
- Housing assistance to homeless Veterans and their families
- Employment assistance to unemployed Veterans
- Helping Veterans with legal issues through their Legal Program
- Helping Veterans with medical and dental issues not covered by the VA
- Animal therapy for Veterans suffering from PTSD
- Scholarships for Veterans children
- Food for VETS program which assists both Veterans and their families
…and about 38 other different things ranging from providing Christmas trees and presents, rides to doctor appointments, grief counseling, providing winter coats. Just about anything a Veteran needs, The Kaufman Fund will seek to provide it.
How do they do all of this, you might ask? Well, corporate sponsors is one answer. Another is through fundraisers, such as golf tournaments and casino nights. And also through the goodwill of the community…that means you. You can help The Kaufman Fund meet the needs of Veterans by volunteering or donating.
If you know a veteran in need or if you would like to volunteer or donate, please visit: https://www.thekaufmanfund.org/
ARCA - Midwest
Darrel St. Aubin came by on October 1st to talk to the Ambassadors about drug addiction (yes, alcohol is a drug). Mr. St. Aubin is the lead therapist with Assisted Recovery Centers of America (ARCA Midwest). ARCA Midwest employs a three-pronged strategy to help people with drug addiction: One-on-one therapy, group therapy and medically assisted treatment. Since many (most?) addictions stem from unresolved feelings and emotions, personal therapy can help individuals get to some of the “root causes” of their addiction. Group therapy is instrumental for ongoing support, personal reflection, sharing of struggles and successes and developing a sense of camaraderie and accountability. Finally, medically assisted treatment is essential in both the withdrawal stage (to prevent adverse medical consequences) and in the ongoing recovery stage (to reduce or eliminate cravings).
It should be noted that the two drugs that can cause death upon sudden cessation are alcohol and methamphetamines, which is why the medical assisted portion of the treatment is so important. Darrel shared some poems written by former clients, Ode to Ethyl and Dear Addie, which told of their journeys through addiction to recovery. That’s the whole point of recovery: recovering the person you once were.
Most of ARCA Midwest clients, especially in the west county location, are treated on an outpatient basis. This allows individuals to undergo treatment without missing work or other obligations and it is completely anonymous. At the six month stage, ARCA boasts a success rate of over 90 percent.
If you or someone you know could benefit from this program, please visit: https://www.arcamidwest.com/
Darrel St. Aubin came by on October 1st to talk to the Ambassadors about drug addiction (yes, alcohol is a drug). Mr. St. Aubin is the lead therapist with Assisted Recovery Centers of America (ARCA Midwest). ARCA Midwest employs a three-pronged strategy to help people with drug addiction: One-on-one therapy, group therapy and medically assisted treatment. Since many (most?) addictions stem from unresolved feelings and emotions, personal therapy can help individuals get to some of the “root causes” of their addiction. Group therapy is instrumental for ongoing support, personal reflection, sharing of struggles and successes and developing a sense of camaraderie and accountability. Finally, medically assisted treatment is essential in both the withdrawal stage (to prevent adverse medical consequences) and in the ongoing recovery stage (to reduce or eliminate cravings).
It should be noted that the two drugs that can cause death upon sudden cessation are alcohol and methamphetamines, which is why the medical assisted portion of the treatment is so important. Darrel shared some poems written by former clients, Ode to Ethyl and Dear Addie, which told of their journeys through addiction to recovery. That’s the whole point of recovery: recovering the person you once were.
Most of ARCA Midwest clients, especially in the west county location, are treated on an outpatient basis. This allows individuals to undergo treatment without missing work or other obligations and it is completely anonymous. At the six month stage, ARCA boasts a success rate of over 90 percent.
If you or someone you know could benefit from this program, please visit: https://www.arcamidwest.com/
St. Charles County Police Department
Chief Frisz spoke to the Ambassadors on September 24th…so we were all on our best behavior. The Chief has served in the law enforcement community for 36 years in various jurisdictions in the St. Louis area, including as the former Chief of the Wentzville Police Department.
While many departments across the country are struggling with recruiting and retention due to lack of political support and the defund the police movement, the St. Charles County Police Department has both political and community support and has not had these problems. SCCPD has been successful in gaining experienced recruits from the local St. Louis area. They currently have 145 officers and have hired 30 new offices in the past year.
From the law enforcement community, we hear the unanimous refrain: Lock your car! Most of the crimes in the area are property crimes and most of these are crimes of opportunity. Criminals are checking car doors and, if they can gain access, can usually find items of interest: purses, guns, key fobs, etc. Don’t make it easy for them!
Many of these unlocked cars also get stolen. Young criminals (as young as 11, but most 18 to 26 years old) come across the river to get cars that they can quickly sell for $50 to $500. To combat this, last winter local law enforcement developed a task force of 35 to 40 officers (including helicopters) operating from the Blanchette Bridge to Wentzville. These operations resulted in 127 arrests which, in addition to the high bonds imposed by prosecutors, reduced crime significantly.
Coordinated efforts by multiple departments are key to dealing with crime on a regional scale. To that end, St. Charles County and departments across the region have developed the Regional Intelligence Communication Center (RICC). By integrating assets such as cameras and license plate readers, they are able to detect, thwart and solve crime in near-real time.
The Ambassadors shout a hearty “Thank You!” to Chief Frisz and the St. Charles County Police Department.
For more information about your police department, visit: https://www.sccmo.org/406/Police
Chief Frisz spoke to the Ambassadors on September 24th…so we were all on our best behavior. The Chief has served in the law enforcement community for 36 years in various jurisdictions in the St. Louis area, including as the former Chief of the Wentzville Police Department.
While many departments across the country are struggling with recruiting and retention due to lack of political support and the defund the police movement, the St. Charles County Police Department has both political and community support and has not had these problems. SCCPD has been successful in gaining experienced recruits from the local St. Louis area. They currently have 145 officers and have hired 30 new offices in the past year.
From the law enforcement community, we hear the unanimous refrain: Lock your car! Most of the crimes in the area are property crimes and most of these are crimes of opportunity. Criminals are checking car doors and, if they can gain access, can usually find items of interest: purses, guns, key fobs, etc. Don’t make it easy for them!
Many of these unlocked cars also get stolen. Young criminals (as young as 11, but most 18 to 26 years old) come across the river to get cars that they can quickly sell for $50 to $500. To combat this, last winter local law enforcement developed a task force of 35 to 40 officers (including helicopters) operating from the Blanchette Bridge to Wentzville. These operations resulted in 127 arrests which, in addition to the high bonds imposed by prosecutors, reduced crime significantly.
Coordinated efforts by multiple departments are key to dealing with crime on a regional scale. To that end, St. Charles County and departments across the region have developed the Regional Intelligence Communication Center (RICC). By integrating assets such as cameras and license plate readers, they are able to detect, thwart and solve crime in near-real time.
The Ambassadors shout a hearty “Thank You!” to Chief Frisz and the St. Charles County Police Department.
For more information about your police department, visit: https://www.sccmo.org/406/Police
Cuivre River Electric Cooperative
Keith Stone gave an electrifying talk to the Ambassadors on September 17th. Keith is the Vice President of Economic Development and Corporate Services (whew!) at Cuivre River Electric Cooperative. CREC is the largest electric coop in Missouri with over 70 thousand members in Lincoln, Pike, Montgomery, Warren and St. Charles counties.
Currently, coal and natural gas account for the vast majority (70%) of the electrical power that they distribute although that has diminished in recent years as green alternatives have come online. Currently, wind and hydro account for just over 25% of electricity generation and CREC looks to incorporate solar power in the near future which will further reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
CREC is proud of the fact that during the historic cold weather this past February that all of its customers enjoyed reliable, uninterrupted service—even though they experienced a new record of peak demand. Much of this reliability is based both on its ability to use multiple fuels to generate power and to have the right mix of renewables.
Cuivre River Electric Cooperative is also a good corporate neighbor. Its Cuivre Cares program donates employee time to help the local community. CREC sponsors college scholarships. They recently sent line crews down south to help restore power to parts of Louisiana after hurricane Ida as part of its Cooperative Cooperation program. Since 1997, CREC members donated over six million dollars through Operation Roundup to help families in need. As a non-profit, CREC restored $7.7 million in Capital Credits to its members this past July.
For more information about your electric cooperative, visit: https://www.cuivre.com/
Keith Stone gave an electrifying talk to the Ambassadors on September 17th. Keith is the Vice President of Economic Development and Corporate Services (whew!) at Cuivre River Electric Cooperative. CREC is the largest electric coop in Missouri with over 70 thousand members in Lincoln, Pike, Montgomery, Warren and St. Charles counties.
Currently, coal and natural gas account for the vast majority (70%) of the electrical power that they distribute although that has diminished in recent years as green alternatives have come online. Currently, wind and hydro account for just over 25% of electricity generation and CREC looks to incorporate solar power in the near future which will further reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
CREC is proud of the fact that during the historic cold weather this past February that all of its customers enjoyed reliable, uninterrupted service—even though they experienced a new record of peak demand. Much of this reliability is based both on its ability to use multiple fuels to generate power and to have the right mix of renewables.
Cuivre River Electric Cooperative is also a good corporate neighbor. Its Cuivre Cares program donates employee time to help the local community. CREC sponsors college scholarships. They recently sent line crews down south to help restore power to parts of Louisiana after hurricane Ida as part of its Cooperative Cooperation program. Since 1997, CREC members donated over six million dollars through Operation Roundup to help families in need. As a non-profit, CREC restored $7.7 million in Capital Credits to its members this past July.
For more information about your electric cooperative, visit: https://www.cuivre.com/
O'Fallon Senior Center Administrator
Lynne Dacey, Administrator of the O’Fallon Senior Center came to talk with the Ambassadors on September 10th. The O’Fallon Senior Center contracts with Aging Ahead, which is a non-profit organization that serves seniors in St. Charles, St. Louis, Franklin and Jefferson Counties. Lynne has been the Administrator for nine years and loves interacting with the seniors there. The center provides a place for seniors to socialize and offers varies events such as computer classes, Tai Chi, shuffleboard, pool, bingo and sponsors monthly parties. They also have fundraisers such as trivia nights and dances to help finance their operations.
The Senior Center also cooks hot meals Monday through Friday for the Meals on Wheels program which serves the local area. Due to COVID-19 they are currently delivering frozen meals weekly. The Meals on Wheels program currently serves approximately 170 seniors, which will likely increase once hot meals are resumed.
In addition to offering social opportunities and home meals, one of the Center’s primary objectives is to allow seniors to remain in their homes as long as possible. They provide home safety assessments and can help with housing modifications to enhance accessibility. They contract with EMT to provide transportation and provide rides to local doctors’ offices through the STAR program. A new program, Whiskers on Wheels, provides for the needs of seniors’ pets.
If you or someone you know can benefit from these services (or if you would like to volunteer to help) please visit the O’Fallon Senior Center: https://www.agingahead.org/what-we-do/community-locations/o-fallon/
Lynne Dacey, Administrator of the O’Fallon Senior Center came to talk with the Ambassadors on September 10th. The O’Fallon Senior Center contracts with Aging Ahead, which is a non-profit organization that serves seniors in St. Charles, St. Louis, Franklin and Jefferson Counties. Lynne has been the Administrator for nine years and loves interacting with the seniors there. The center provides a place for seniors to socialize and offers varies events such as computer classes, Tai Chi, shuffleboard, pool, bingo and sponsors monthly parties. They also have fundraisers such as trivia nights and dances to help finance their operations.
The Senior Center also cooks hot meals Monday through Friday for the Meals on Wheels program which serves the local area. Due to COVID-19 they are currently delivering frozen meals weekly. The Meals on Wheels program currently serves approximately 170 seniors, which will likely increase once hot meals are resumed.
In addition to offering social opportunities and home meals, one of the Center’s primary objectives is to allow seniors to remain in their homes as long as possible. They provide home safety assessments and can help with housing modifications to enhance accessibility. They contract with EMT to provide transportation and provide rides to local doctors’ offices through the STAR program. A new program, Whiskers on Wheels, provides for the needs of seniors’ pets.
If you or someone you know can benefit from these services (or if you would like to volunteer to help) please visit the O’Fallon Senior Center: https://www.agingahead.org/what-we-do/community-locations/o-fallon/
St. Charles County Road Board Manager
Amanda Brauer came by to speak to the Ambassadors on Friday August 27th. Amanda is the manager of the STC Road Board. Remember that ½ cent sales tax that was passed in 1985? Well, the Road Board personnel are the folks responsible for managing that money. All those pennies add up to about $30 million per year. The Road Board solicits and evaluates road and bridge projects and makes recommendations to the County Executive and County Council. Their 2022-2024 Travel Improvement Plan consists of 60 projects with a price tag of nearly $50 million.
Among those projects are the David Hoekel Parkway which will include a new interchange at I-70 and Point Prairie Road. Another project is designed to alleviate the detestable “Wentzville Bottleneck”. This venture will add lanes on I-70 from I-64 to Wentzville Parkway, improve the S-curve and replace the railroad bridge. Construction is expected to begin in the Fall of 2023.
Sometimes, building new roads isn’t the only answer. Making better use of the roads already in place is a better idea. That’s why the Road Board has implemented Gateway Green Light. Gateway Green Light is a cooperative effort to improve the coordination of traffic signals throughout St. Charles County. The program helps synchronize traffic signals on streets throughout the county, especially those that cross city limits.
For more information on these and other projects, visit the St. Charles County Road Board website at: https://www.sccmo.org/216/Road-Board
Amanda Brauer came by to speak to the Ambassadors on Friday August 27th. Amanda is the manager of the STC Road Board. Remember that ½ cent sales tax that was passed in 1985? Well, the Road Board personnel are the folks responsible for managing that money. All those pennies add up to about $30 million per year. The Road Board solicits and evaluates road and bridge projects and makes recommendations to the County Executive and County Council. Their 2022-2024 Travel Improvement Plan consists of 60 projects with a price tag of nearly $50 million.
Among those projects are the David Hoekel Parkway which will include a new interchange at I-70 and Point Prairie Road. Another project is designed to alleviate the detestable “Wentzville Bottleneck”. This venture will add lanes on I-70 from I-64 to Wentzville Parkway, improve the S-curve and replace the railroad bridge. Construction is expected to begin in the Fall of 2023.
Sometimes, building new roads isn’t the only answer. Making better use of the roads already in place is a better idea. That’s why the Road Board has implemented Gateway Green Light. Gateway Green Light is a cooperative effort to improve the coordination of traffic signals throughout St. Charles County. The program helps synchronize traffic signals on streets throughout the county, especially those that cross city limits.
For more information on these and other projects, visit the St. Charles County Road Board website at: https://www.sccmo.org/216/Road-Board
LSLPD Chief of Police
Lake St. Louis Police Chief Chris DiGiuseppi came to speak with the Ambassadors on August 20th. He began with a PSA: “Lock Your Cars!” He described a recent rash of car thefts and break-ins by the “Felony Lane Gang”. To thwart these miscreants, LSLPD, in coordination with other local departments formed an auto theft task force which included 20 to 30 officers and K-9 units and utilized additional equipment such as helicopters and license plate readers. Vehicle and property theft are the majority of the incidents that our department deals with on a daily basis.
Chief DiGuiseppi also touched on the recent officer involved shooting in LSL which was the result of a domestic disturbance. Bottom line: bad guy is in jail. He also discussed some recent legislative actions such as the Police Reform Bill which includes a ban on choke holds, mandatory background checks for new officers and additional funds for training.
The Chief also introduced the newest member of the force, Zeke the wonder dog, along with his handler Pat Dolan. Zeke is a big, black German Shepherd. Since Zeke was raised in the Netherlands, he only speaks Dutch. True story. All his commands are in Dutch. He is considered a force multiplier and is trained to bite and hold, but usually just barking does the trick.
With all the anti-police rhetoric spreading through the country, the Lake St. Louis Police Department enjoys widespread support from the local community thanks, in part, to its Chief, Chris DiGiuseppi.
Lake St. Louis Police Chief Chris DiGiuseppi came to speak with the Ambassadors on August 20th. He began with a PSA: “Lock Your Cars!” He described a recent rash of car thefts and break-ins by the “Felony Lane Gang”. To thwart these miscreants, LSLPD, in coordination with other local departments formed an auto theft task force which included 20 to 30 officers and K-9 units and utilized additional equipment such as helicopters and license plate readers. Vehicle and property theft are the majority of the incidents that our department deals with on a daily basis.
Chief DiGuiseppi also touched on the recent officer involved shooting in LSL which was the result of a domestic disturbance. Bottom line: bad guy is in jail. He also discussed some recent legislative actions such as the Police Reform Bill which includes a ban on choke holds, mandatory background checks for new officers and additional funds for training.
The Chief also introduced the newest member of the force, Zeke the wonder dog, along with his handler Pat Dolan. Zeke is a big, black German Shepherd. Since Zeke was raised in the Netherlands, he only speaks Dutch. True story. All his commands are in Dutch. He is considered a force multiplier and is trained to bite and hold, but usually just barking does the trick.
With all the anti-police rhetoric spreading through the country, the Lake St. Louis Police Department enjoys widespread support from the local community thanks, in part, to its Chief, Chris DiGiuseppi.
Dice Perkins Demonstrates Leadership Skills
Dice Perkins, a member of the LSL Ambassadors, provided our regular weekly meeting with a lighthearted look at leadership skills and training by showing that such efforts are not always hard work. He asked questions for individuals to answer, had teams of 2 or more work on problem-solving, and had people interacting with others to reach certain goals. It should have made us all aware (again) that we need to take a new look at problems we face, we need to improve our teamwork and to sharpen our thinking when faced with difficulties rather than accepting the status quo as the best we can do!Perhaps we can send Dice on a road trip to Jeff City or to DC!
Dice retired from a large urban police department. He was forced to attend Dale Carnegie Training in the late 70’s. After attending and graduating from Dale Carnegie Training, he retired from the Police Department, finished his master’s degree, and went to work full-time for Dale Carnegie Training in Detroit, Michigan. For the past 38 years he has travelled to 41 countries on behalf of Dale Carnegie Training. He is a Certified “Carnegie Master” and is certified in all Dale Carnegie Programs, certifying new Trainers and facilitating training for businesses around the globe.”
Dice Perkins, a member of the LSL Ambassadors, provided our regular weekly meeting with a lighthearted look at leadership skills and training by showing that such efforts are not always hard work. He asked questions for individuals to answer, had teams of 2 or more work on problem-solving, and had people interacting with others to reach certain goals. It should have made us all aware (again) that we need to take a new look at problems we face, we need to improve our teamwork and to sharpen our thinking when faced with difficulties rather than accepting the status quo as the best we can do!Perhaps we can send Dice on a road trip to Jeff City or to DC!
Dice retired from a large urban police department. He was forced to attend Dale Carnegie Training in the late 70’s. After attending and graduating from Dale Carnegie Training, he retired from the Police Department, finished his master’s degree, and went to work full-time for Dale Carnegie Training in Detroit, Michigan. For the past 38 years he has travelled to 41 countries on behalf of Dale Carnegie Training. He is a Certified “Carnegie Master” and is certified in all Dale Carnegie Programs, certifying new Trainers and facilitating training for businesses around the globe.”
General Manager, O'Fallon Hoots
David Schmoll dropped by today to talk to the Ambassadors. The Hoots just finished their 2021 baseball season and, while they didn’t win the whole enchilada, they contended well and a good time was had by all.
Hoots games are, well…a hoot! It’s a family friendly atmosphere where you can enjoy great baseball, have a dog and a drink, and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. They even hosted a Home Run Derby pitting local collegiate players against former Major League Baseball batters. In a surprising come-from-behind situation, the local sluggers won the day.
Among the many other societal changes over the past year, the Hoots management also had to change with the times. Due to travel restrictions, they developed the Carshield Collegiate League for local college players. CCL Teams such as the T-Ravs, Shredded Cheese and the Rubber Chickens play all of their games locally at Carshield Field in O’Fallon when the Hoots are out of town.
The Hoots are also interested in investing in the community. They host youth soccer, baseball tournaments and other community events. So far this year, Carshield Field has had over 100,000 people through their gates
Alas, the season is finished for this year. But, next spring and summer if you’re looking for a quality local baseball experience in a casual, non-hectic atmosphere, come out and cheer on the Hoots. You won’t be disappointed.
David Schmoll dropped by today to talk to the Ambassadors. The Hoots just finished their 2021 baseball season and, while they didn’t win the whole enchilada, they contended well and a good time was had by all.
Hoots games are, well…a hoot! It’s a family friendly atmosphere where you can enjoy great baseball, have a dog and a drink, and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. They even hosted a Home Run Derby pitting local collegiate players against former Major League Baseball batters. In a surprising come-from-behind situation, the local sluggers won the day.
Among the many other societal changes over the past year, the Hoots management also had to change with the times. Due to travel restrictions, they developed the Carshield Collegiate League for local college players. CCL Teams such as the T-Ravs, Shredded Cheese and the Rubber Chickens play all of their games locally at Carshield Field in O’Fallon when the Hoots are out of town.
The Hoots are also interested in investing in the community. They host youth soccer, baseball tournaments and other community events. So far this year, Carshield Field has had over 100,000 people through their gates
Alas, the season is finished for this year. But, next spring and summer if you’re looking for a quality local baseball experience in a casual, non-hectic atmosphere, come out and cheer on the Hoots. You won’t be disappointed.
Ranken Tech Admissions Counselor
On 30 July, Patrick Glnnn from Ranken Tech spoke to the LSL Ambassadors about their programs, their locations and the surprising growth they continue to experience. Ranken is a private non-profit technical education training center that trains people for employment in technical fields. Ranken opened in Wentzville in 2013, and it was the first time they had a campus outside of St Louis. There are now over 300 students on this campus. At Wentzville, five technical fields are offered: Automotive, Electrical, Manufacturing, Information Technology, and Construction. Also, due to requests for graduates to have the ability to continue their education in order to get a Bachelor’s Degree, Ranken added general education classes which are fully transferrable to 4 year colleges. This allowed them to add a BS in applied Management. Students attend classes 5 hours per day and 75% of the time the class is “hands-on”. Some highlights are : Automotive trainees “never leave without a job!”; In construction, Architecture trainees often go on to get BS degrees and jobs leading to construction management positions; In Electrical field, training is focused on manufacturing including robotics and other CAD/CAM position as automation continues to increase. Lots of internships are available and this is now resulting in 98% placement rate. Cost of schooling runs between $33k and $45K and the first year annual salary in these fields exceeds the cost of the program. Tutoring is available to all students and is free to all. One issue is there is a high attrition rate because too few students are prepared for the rigorous general education course in English and Math. Next year, 2022, another Ranken campus will begin operation in Troy, MO.
On 30 July, Patrick Glnnn from Ranken Tech spoke to the LSL Ambassadors about their programs, their locations and the surprising growth they continue to experience. Ranken is a private non-profit technical education training center that trains people for employment in technical fields. Ranken opened in Wentzville in 2013, and it was the first time they had a campus outside of St Louis. There are now over 300 students on this campus. At Wentzville, five technical fields are offered: Automotive, Electrical, Manufacturing, Information Technology, and Construction. Also, due to requests for graduates to have the ability to continue their education in order to get a Bachelor’s Degree, Ranken added general education classes which are fully transferrable to 4 year colleges. This allowed them to add a BS in applied Management. Students attend classes 5 hours per day and 75% of the time the class is “hands-on”. Some highlights are : Automotive trainees “never leave without a job!”; In construction, Architecture trainees often go on to get BS degrees and jobs leading to construction management positions; In Electrical field, training is focused on manufacturing including robotics and other CAD/CAM position as automation continues to increase. Lots of internships are available and this is now resulting in 98% placement rate. Cost of schooling runs between $33k and $45K and the first year annual salary in these fields exceeds the cost of the program. Tutoring is available to all students and is free to all. One issue is there is a high attrition rate because too few students are prepared for the rigorous general education course in English and Math. Next year, 2022, another Ranken campus will begin operation in Troy, MO.
Great Rivers Greenway
On July 23rd 2021 Emma Klues, V-P of Communications and Outreach spoke to the LSL Ambassadors about the trails in the St Louis metropolitan area and the fact that their usage has increased by 72% in 2020 demonstrating their popularity to the local population. The mission of Great Rivers Greenway is to make St Louis a more vibrant place to live, work and play by developing a regional network of greenways. Greenways are outdoor spaces connecting people and places. Each greenway is unique, reflecting the character of the communities it connects. GRG is building to connect the entire metro area together, ranging from St Charles Co, St Louis Co, St Louis, and Illinois. So far 128 miles have been built over a twenty year period. Budget estimates run about $20 M a year and it costs about $3.5 M per mile of greenway. Trails are where you can take a walk or run, usually they are paved and accessible to all. Conservation projects are included along the trails as well as amenities such as benches, restrooms, playgrounds and parking areas. The district is 1200 square miles and has about 2 million people. Funding comes from a tax passed 20 years ago. Two recent greenways added are the Centennial greenway and the Boschert Greenway here in St Charles County. For more info visit www.GreatRiversGreenway.org.
On July 23rd 2021 Emma Klues, V-P of Communications and Outreach spoke to the LSL Ambassadors about the trails in the St Louis metropolitan area and the fact that their usage has increased by 72% in 2020 demonstrating their popularity to the local population. The mission of Great Rivers Greenway is to make St Louis a more vibrant place to live, work and play by developing a regional network of greenways. Greenways are outdoor spaces connecting people and places. Each greenway is unique, reflecting the character of the communities it connects. GRG is building to connect the entire metro area together, ranging from St Charles Co, St Louis Co, St Louis, and Illinois. So far 128 miles have been built over a twenty year period. Budget estimates run about $20 M a year and it costs about $3.5 M per mile of greenway. Trails are where you can take a walk or run, usually they are paved and accessible to all. Conservation projects are included along the trails as well as amenities such as benches, restrooms, playgrounds and parking areas. The district is 1200 square miles and has about 2 million people. Funding comes from a tax passed 20 years ago. Two recent greenways added are the Centennial greenway and the Boschert Greenway here in St Charles County. For more info visit www.GreatRiversGreenway.org.
St. Charles County Director of Elections
On July 16th Kurt Bahr visited the LSL Ambassadors to give us a rundown on the 2020 election results and procedures in St Charles County. Kurt reported that St Charles County uses OpenElect Voting Scan (OVO) vote counting machines. They are made by Unisys Voting Systems of San Diego and programmed by Adkins and Sons located in Clayton, MO. These machines are never connected to the internet. The voting machines used are the Freedom Voting Tablet (FVT). They are ballot marking devices, are ADA required, and they do not count the votes. They can print ballots, can be used by anyone and are never connected to the internet. Poll Pads are used in place of paper ledgers and contain the list of approved, registered voters. They are updated in real time to prevent fraud. These machines undergo several Tests and Audits. There are logic and accuracy tests, a public test where members of the public are invited to test them, and post-election audits where actual ballots from precincts are used. The county also uses challengers and watchers, unpaid volunteers who observe the activities at the polling places and at counting centers. Absentee voting is allowed in Missouri but it is excuse based. A registered voter must must provide an acceptable excuse and request an absentee ballot. These are sent out by the Election Authority and, upon receipt, are checked for signature and notary, if applicable. They are then secured until Election Day when they are counted. Using this system St Charles County has had an excellent record of fraud-free elections. About 1% of returned ballots is not signed and is invalid. Most rejections of absentee ballots result from an inability to verify that the signature is proper. Also of concern to the Election Authority is the fact that elections are secure and that all voters have accessibility to the polls. For more information, see sccmo.org/elections.
On July 16th Kurt Bahr visited the LSL Ambassadors to give us a rundown on the 2020 election results and procedures in St Charles County. Kurt reported that St Charles County uses OpenElect Voting Scan (OVO) vote counting machines. They are made by Unisys Voting Systems of San Diego and programmed by Adkins and Sons located in Clayton, MO. These machines are never connected to the internet. The voting machines used are the Freedom Voting Tablet (FVT). They are ballot marking devices, are ADA required, and they do not count the votes. They can print ballots, can be used by anyone and are never connected to the internet. Poll Pads are used in place of paper ledgers and contain the list of approved, registered voters. They are updated in real time to prevent fraud. These machines undergo several Tests and Audits. There are logic and accuracy tests, a public test where members of the public are invited to test them, and post-election audits where actual ballots from precincts are used. The county also uses challengers and watchers, unpaid volunteers who observe the activities at the polling places and at counting centers. Absentee voting is allowed in Missouri but it is excuse based. A registered voter must must provide an acceptable excuse and request an absentee ballot. These are sent out by the Election Authority and, upon receipt, are checked for signature and notary, if applicable. They are then secured until Election Day when they are counted. Using this system St Charles County has had an excellent record of fraud-free elections. About 1% of returned ballots is not signed and is invalid. Most rejections of absentee ballots result from an inability to verify that the signature is proper. Also of concern to the Election Authority is the fact that elections are secure and that all voters have accessibility to the polls. For more information, see sccmo.org/elections.
Attorney, Dardene Prairie Prosecutor
Jeff Sandcork spoke to the Ambassadors on July 9th, 2021, concerning his observations on court life in St Charles County. He is a second generation lawyer and his firm is Sandcork Law firm in St Charles. His father was a lawyer here for over 50 years. He worked with his father for several years until his father passed away in 2013. He has represented individuals in civil and criminal cases, practiced family law, worked on divorce cases as well as wills and trusts. He currently is the city prosecutor in Dardenne Prairie municipal court. He discussed the many changes rapidly taking place in the justice system locally and across the state. The lowering of bonds for people charged with misdemeanors and sometimes felony activities makes it hard to penalize people for their actions or delinquent or criminal behavior. City courts have a major problem collecting fines for illegal activity or license violations etc. This was an interesting discussion and provided a look into the problems with handling participants in illegal activities after they have been apprehended and the problems city and county governments have in collecting fines or jailing miscreants. If you want a good look at what is going on in your area, Jeff recommends you visit a city court session to help understand the problems faced by local governments.
Jeff Sandcork spoke to the Ambassadors on July 9th, 2021, concerning his observations on court life in St Charles County. He is a second generation lawyer and his firm is Sandcork Law firm in St Charles. His father was a lawyer here for over 50 years. He worked with his father for several years until his father passed away in 2013. He has represented individuals in civil and criminal cases, practiced family law, worked on divorce cases as well as wills and trusts. He currently is the city prosecutor in Dardenne Prairie municipal court. He discussed the many changes rapidly taking place in the justice system locally and across the state. The lowering of bonds for people charged with misdemeanors and sometimes felony activities makes it hard to penalize people for their actions or delinquent or criminal behavior. City courts have a major problem collecting fines for illegal activity or license violations etc. This was an interesting discussion and provided a look into the problems with handling participants in illegal activities after they have been apprehended and the problems city and county governments have in collecting fines or jailing miscreants. If you want a good look at what is going on in your area, Jeff recommends you visit a city court session to help understand the problems faced by local governments.
St. Charles County Executive
Steve Ehlmann, St Charles County Executive, spoke to the Ambassadors on Jun 25th 2021 about the current state of affairs in the County. He mentioned that in St Charles County, our approach to COVID-19 differed from that of surrounding counties and health depts. Our county allowed customers to choose which businesses were essential, educated people on the benefits of wearing a mask rather than mandating it, and worked with schools to keep students and teachers safe. Bars and restaurants remained open with social distancing and limited hours. St Charles County had a lower percentage of covid patients, lower rate of hospitalization and lower ICU rates than MO and St Louis and ST Louis Co. The death rate from Covid was also lower in ST Charles County than in the surrounding counties. County employees and volunteers alike have put forth big efforts during the pandemic and deserve a big THANK You! Other newsworthy items in St Charles County include our continued growth and the need for more infrastructures. I-70 began in 1957 and is still our primary main interstate in Missouri. A new Port Authority is being kicked of this year and planning activities are underway. Our Parks in St Charles County continue to set attendance records. The Department is adding new amenities to our parks each year. A new addition is Riverside Landing in the north part of the county near the Mississippi River. Also, new Missouri River boat rides are being contemplated from Augusta to Klondike Park.
Steve Ehlmann, St Charles County Executive, spoke to the Ambassadors on Jun 25th 2021 about the current state of affairs in the County. He mentioned that in St Charles County, our approach to COVID-19 differed from that of surrounding counties and health depts. Our county allowed customers to choose which businesses were essential, educated people on the benefits of wearing a mask rather than mandating it, and worked with schools to keep students and teachers safe. Bars and restaurants remained open with social distancing and limited hours. St Charles County had a lower percentage of covid patients, lower rate of hospitalization and lower ICU rates than MO and St Louis and ST Louis Co. The death rate from Covid was also lower in ST Charles County than in the surrounding counties. County employees and volunteers alike have put forth big efforts during the pandemic and deserve a big THANK You! Other newsworthy items in St Charles County include our continued growth and the need for more infrastructures. I-70 began in 1957 and is still our primary main interstate in Missouri. A new Port Authority is being kicked of this year and planning activities are underway. Our Parks in St Charles County continue to set attendance records. The Department is adding new amenities to our parks each year. A new addition is Riverside Landing in the north part of the county near the Mississippi River. Also, new Missouri River boat rides are being contemplated from Augusta to Klondike Park.
US Navy LT Austin Hulsey
Lt. Austin “Tofu” Hulsey of VAQ-138 Squadron United States Navy visited the LSL Ambassadors on 18 June 2021 and gave us a presentation on his career, his aircraft and on his current assignment. Lt Hulsey went to Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation where he studied aircraft systems. He had not decided just yet on what his career path might be. He did not go to a service academy, the usual path for US military pilots. While at college, he met a retired USN admiral who interviewed him and suggested that he pursue a military career as a pilot. After several attempts, he was finally selected for Officers Candidate School, followed by maintenance officer assignments starting at NAS Lemoore, CA. He continued to pursue a pilot training option. After a considerable amount of perseverance, he was eventually able to become an EA- 18G pilot. He is currently stationed in the Seattle area at Whidbey Island, WA where he is a pilot in the VAQ-138 Yellowjackets squadron. He flies the EA-18G “Growler”, an electronic warfare aircraft, whose role is to attack enemy radar and other targeting systems and to provide targeting information to friendly aircraft. Primarily it is an enemy Radar suppression system to disable the enemy Radar systems. He also discussed the electronic system the EA-18 G uses and the weapons it carries on its missions. It was great to hear an active duty USN pilot talk about his education, training and his current role in his squadron.
Lt. Austin “Tofu” Hulsey of VAQ-138 Squadron United States Navy visited the LSL Ambassadors on 18 June 2021 and gave us a presentation on his career, his aircraft and on his current assignment. Lt Hulsey went to Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation where he studied aircraft systems. He had not decided just yet on what his career path might be. He did not go to a service academy, the usual path for US military pilots. While at college, he met a retired USN admiral who interviewed him and suggested that he pursue a military career as a pilot. After several attempts, he was finally selected for Officers Candidate School, followed by maintenance officer assignments starting at NAS Lemoore, CA. He continued to pursue a pilot training option. After a considerable amount of perseverance, he was eventually able to become an EA- 18G pilot. He is currently stationed in the Seattle area at Whidbey Island, WA where he is a pilot in the VAQ-138 Yellowjackets squadron. He flies the EA-18G “Growler”, an electronic warfare aircraft, whose role is to attack enemy radar and other targeting systems and to provide targeting information to friendly aircraft. Primarily it is an enemy Radar suppression system to disable the enemy Radar systems. He also discussed the electronic system the EA-18 G uses and the weapons it carries on its missions. It was great to hear an active duty USN pilot talk about his education, training and his current role in his squadron.
Vine Wealth Management
On June 11th Louis Wray of Vine Wealth Management visited the LSL Ambassadors to present an update on the stock market situation. He showed a graph of the S&P 500 which identified the inflection points on the curve. Currently, the market is pricey but still appears to be good. The growth cycle has been ongoing since 2008 and still the P/E ratio is 16.5. When asked about “Robin hood” accounts, he said they were ok but that most of an investor’s money should be in a regular market account. As far as inflation being a major concern, Wray said the bond market “is about right” meaning that currently inflation doesn’t seem to be a major issue with investors. The Government bond interest rate shows a flat line after seven (7) years meaning interest rates are somewhat low which is a plus for equity investors. Currently, the best opportunity is in International markets. Vaccination rates are up to about the US level so the EU will be opening up. Europe is already starting to see fundamental changes. For additional information call Louis Wray at 636-561-5559 or go to www.vinewm.com.
On June 11th Louis Wray of Vine Wealth Management visited the LSL Ambassadors to present an update on the stock market situation. He showed a graph of the S&P 500 which identified the inflection points on the curve. Currently, the market is pricey but still appears to be good. The growth cycle has been ongoing since 2008 and still the P/E ratio is 16.5. When asked about “Robin hood” accounts, he said they were ok but that most of an investor’s money should be in a regular market account. As far as inflation being a major concern, Wray said the bond market “is about right” meaning that currently inflation doesn’t seem to be a major issue with investors. The Government bond interest rate shows a flat line after seven (7) years meaning interest rates are somewhat low which is a plus for equity investors. Currently, the best opportunity is in International markets. Vaccination rates are up to about the US level so the EU will be opening up. Europe is already starting to see fundamental changes. For additional information call Louis Wray at 636-561-5559 or go to www.vinewm.com.
PhasedLogix visits LSL Ambassadors
On Jun 4th, Kevin Stevenson of PhasedLogix, an IT specialist visited the Ambassadors to discuss Cybersecurity and such IT topics as ransomware, phishing, scam calls, malware and where to find some pointers on how to protect one’s email, computers, phones and other electronic devices. Today, Cybercrime captures approx. $1.5 Trillion per year using both direct attacks and sneak attacks! In 2018, 6 billion business data records were exposed and while each record may have a small value, they add up quickly. A credit card record might sell for $2-$5 per record, but customer personal identity information and employee identity information bring $20-$450 per record. Attempted hacks on your systems can be reported and if you think you have been part of an online data breach you can find out by going to https://monitor.firefox.com. To check out Kevin’s company website go to the PhasedLogix website : https://getmethegeek.com/
On Jun 4th, Kevin Stevenson of PhasedLogix, an IT specialist visited the Ambassadors to discuss Cybersecurity and such IT topics as ransomware, phishing, scam calls, malware and where to find some pointers on how to protect one’s email, computers, phones and other electronic devices. Today, Cybercrime captures approx. $1.5 Trillion per year using both direct attacks and sneak attacks! In 2018, 6 billion business data records were exposed and while each record may have a small value, they add up quickly. A credit card record might sell for $2-$5 per record, but customer personal identity information and employee identity information bring $20-$450 per record. Attempted hacks on your systems can be reported and if you think you have been part of an online data breach you can find out by going to https://monitor.firefox.com. To check out Kevin’s company website go to the PhasedLogix website : https://getmethegeek.com/
Chabad Jewish Center--St. Charles County
On May21st, Rabbi Chaim Landa spoke to the LSL Ambassadors about the Jewish community in St Charles County. Rabbi Chaim and his wife, Bassy, are co-directors of the new Chabad Center for St Charles County which is planned to be the community center of Jewish life in St Charles county. The Chabad is a branch of the Chabad in St Louis which was established in and follows the influence and spiritual leadership of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of the Chabad Lubavitch movement. The establishment of the Chabad is intended to provide a space for every Jew in St Charles county to feel at home and to eventually grow into a spiritual and educational center for the St Charles county Jewish community. Rabbi Chaim was born and raised in the St Louis area and after high school studied in Toronto, New York, LA and Israel. Bassy was born in LA and hater high school she attended Machon Shoshanat Seminary in Jerusalem, Israel, where she completed her early childhood and teacher training. For more info, see www.JewishStCharles.org. Today there are approximately 4,000 Jews in St Charles County and about 60,000 in the St Louis area. The Rabbi left us with a small ark and a message from Rabbi Schneerson to carry forward, “Small acts of kindness can not only change the lives of those around us but change the world for good.” The Rabbi asked us to fill our arks and 1) Choose a charity, 2) Give every day and 3) Give even just a penny!
On May21st, Rabbi Chaim Landa spoke to the LSL Ambassadors about the Jewish community in St Charles County. Rabbi Chaim and his wife, Bassy, are co-directors of the new Chabad Center for St Charles County which is planned to be the community center of Jewish life in St Charles county. The Chabad is a branch of the Chabad in St Louis which was established in and follows the influence and spiritual leadership of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of the Chabad Lubavitch movement. The establishment of the Chabad is intended to provide a space for every Jew in St Charles county to feel at home and to eventually grow into a spiritual and educational center for the St Charles county Jewish community. Rabbi Chaim was born and raised in the St Louis area and after high school studied in Toronto, New York, LA and Israel. Bassy was born in LA and hater high school she attended Machon Shoshanat Seminary in Jerusalem, Israel, where she completed her early childhood and teacher training. For more info, see www.JewishStCharles.org. Today there are approximately 4,000 Jews in St Charles County and about 60,000 in the St Louis area. The Rabbi left us with a small ark and a message from Rabbi Schneerson to carry forward, “Small acts of kindness can not only change the lives of those around us but change the world for good.” The Rabbi asked us to fill our arks and 1) Choose a charity, 2) Give every day and 3) Give even just a penny!
Karen Cooper, Special Needs Advocate
On May 14th Karen Cooper, a F.A.C.T. volunteer, spoke to the Ambassadors. F.A.C.T. is a Family Advocacy and Community Training non-profit organization that provides services to families who have adults or children with disabilities and has operated in St Charles County since 1988. F.A.C.T.’s Parent Support Partners, who are parents of children with disabilities, provide guidance to families using a peer mentoring approach. They focus on helping families navigate systems, understand their child’s diagnosis, and access community resources. The program goals are to keep children and youth at home, in school and in the community. Another goal is to keep children free from law enforcement involvement and to support them in educational pursuits. When are these services needed? Whenever a child is struggling in school, when a family has concerns about their child and don’t know how to address it, when a family doesn’t know what services are available or how to get them. The family or child must be a resident of St. Charles, Lincoln, or Franklin Counties and must have a mental or behavior health diagnosis. This support party must have a documented developmental disability and family members must be eligible for St Louis Regional Center Services. F.A.C.T. personnel will assist eligible families through the Regional Center application process. More information is available at www.factmo.org.
On May 14th Karen Cooper, a F.A.C.T. volunteer, spoke to the Ambassadors. F.A.C.T. is a Family Advocacy and Community Training non-profit organization that provides services to families who have adults or children with disabilities and has operated in St Charles County since 1988. F.A.C.T.’s Parent Support Partners, who are parents of children with disabilities, provide guidance to families using a peer mentoring approach. They focus on helping families navigate systems, understand their child’s diagnosis, and access community resources. The program goals are to keep children and youth at home, in school and in the community. Another goal is to keep children free from law enforcement involvement and to support them in educational pursuits. When are these services needed? Whenever a child is struggling in school, when a family has concerns about their child and don’t know how to address it, when a family doesn’t know what services are available or how to get them. The family or child must be a resident of St. Charles, Lincoln, or Franklin Counties and must have a mental or behavior health diagnosis. This support party must have a documented developmental disability and family members must be eligible for St Louis Regional Center Services. F.A.C.T. personnel will assist eligible families through the Regional Center application process. More information is available at www.factmo.org.
LSL Ambassadors 2020 Annual Report
On May 7, Treasurer Don Hammond gave us an update on the Ambassadors activities, membership, service to the community, speakers and the fireworks funding for the 2021 July 4th celebration. In 2020, we had planned to support 14 civic events but due to Covid-19, only three of these were held which severely curtailed our activities. We held speaker series meeting 31 times and lost 16 opportunities due to suspended meetings. We had 16 cancelled meetings which saved expenses we would normally have. As a result, we donated the $2300 saved to charities, organizations, and individuals impacted by Covid-19. In 2020, we cancelled the July 4th fireworks and put a plan in place to contract for a BIGGER and BETTER show in 2021. It is now on contract. We are planning an energetic fund raising effort to raise the money to cover these costs. We gave out two scholarships to local students in 2020 and in 2021. Planning is under way to add a third scholarship, with an emphasis on trade or technical education. Overall, Ambassadors sought out community areas where we could be of service and hope to never see a year like 2020 again!
On May 7, Treasurer Don Hammond gave us an update on the Ambassadors activities, membership, service to the community, speakers and the fireworks funding for the 2021 July 4th celebration. In 2020, we had planned to support 14 civic events but due to Covid-19, only three of these were held which severely curtailed our activities. We held speaker series meeting 31 times and lost 16 opportunities due to suspended meetings. We had 16 cancelled meetings which saved expenses we would normally have. As a result, we donated the $2300 saved to charities, organizations, and individuals impacted by Covid-19. In 2020, we cancelled the July 4th fireworks and put a plan in place to contract for a BIGGER and BETTER show in 2021. It is now on contract. We are planning an energetic fund raising effort to raise the money to cover these costs. We gave out two scholarships to local students in 2020 and in 2021. Planning is under way to add a third scholarship, with an emphasis on trade or technical education. Overall, Ambassadors sought out community areas where we could be of service and hope to never see a year like 2020 again!
St. Charles County Boys and Girls Club
On April 30th, 2021, Jacquelynne McClelland of the St Charles Girls and Boys Club visited the LSL Ambassadors. She is the Director of Resources and Development in St Charles County. The Club serves youth primarily through sports programs and after school programs. Sports areas now include soccer and basketball primarily with a big concentration on swimming in the summer. There are a lot of young people in St Charles County who don’t know how to swim and basic instruction in swim in needed. After school programs include tutoring in several subjects, computer access, help with homework and use of electronic games. This support is available to children for only $25 per year. The facility is available after school until 6:30 or 7:00 PM each day. Some STEM classes and competitive teams are also available. Currently two facilities serve St Charles County, but the goal is to expand into West St Charles County, primarily in the Wentzville area. The current focus is on character development, academics, and health. A Power House reading program is used and Buffalo Wild Wings sponsors sports teams. The STEM group made face shields for First Responders during the pandemic. In June 2020, it was the first youth organization to bring children back into summer programs. Currently they have a $113 Million budget and rely on 4 major fundraising events and community grants to support these programs.
On April 30th, 2021, Jacquelynne McClelland of the St Charles Girls and Boys Club visited the LSL Ambassadors. She is the Director of Resources and Development in St Charles County. The Club serves youth primarily through sports programs and after school programs. Sports areas now include soccer and basketball primarily with a big concentration on swimming in the summer. There are a lot of young people in St Charles County who don’t know how to swim and basic instruction in swim in needed. After school programs include tutoring in several subjects, computer access, help with homework and use of electronic games. This support is available to children for only $25 per year. The facility is available after school until 6:30 or 7:00 PM each day. Some STEM classes and competitive teams are also available. Currently two facilities serve St Charles County, but the goal is to expand into West St Charles County, primarily in the Wentzville area. The current focus is on character development, academics, and health. A Power House reading program is used and Buffalo Wild Wings sponsors sports teams. The STEM group made face shields for First Responders during the pandemic. In June 2020, it was the first youth organization to bring children back into summer programs. Currently they have a $113 Million budget and rely on 4 major fundraising events and community grants to support these programs.
St. Charles County Parks Director
Ryan Graham has been Director of the County Parks since 2017. He has a Bachelor’s degree and has a Masters in History so he is well placed here in St Charles with our many historic sites and structures. Earlier in his career he worked for National Parks and was at Gettysburg.
The St Charles County Parks department began in 1997 with the goal of stopping the loss of green space that was rapidly being gobbled up by new developments. St Charles County passed a use tax that was to be spent on acquiring and maintaining park space. Today we have 20 parks, 17 of which are open and 3 are in reserve, i.e. not in use yet. One is in “life use” meaning that the family from which it is being acquired is still living on the property. The most recent acquisition is the Missouri Bluffs Golf Course and its surrounding area. The largest park is Indian Camp Creek which is 603 acres located on the Lincoln County line. The smallest is The Heritage Museum located just off Hwy 364 near the Heritage subdivision. This year Broemmelsiek Park, the second largest, will get a new playground; Matson Hill will get new trails to connect to the Daniel Boone Hays home; Klondike Park is getting a new boat dock, added cabins and other amenities; Lindenwood Park (Daniel Boone Home) has new programs and 4 staff members have won national awards; and MO Bluffs Park has group camping, new trails and a connection to the Katy Trail. The annual attendance figures show how well used the Parks are: 2015- 1.5 Million attendance, 2016 – 1.4 M, 2017 – 1.48 M, 2018 – 1.6 M, 2019 -2.525 M and in 2020 - 4.5 M.
Ryan Graham has been Director of the County Parks since 2017. He has a Bachelor’s degree and has a Masters in History so he is well placed here in St Charles with our many historic sites and structures. Earlier in his career he worked for National Parks and was at Gettysburg.
The St Charles County Parks department began in 1997 with the goal of stopping the loss of green space that was rapidly being gobbled up by new developments. St Charles County passed a use tax that was to be spent on acquiring and maintaining park space. Today we have 20 parks, 17 of which are open and 3 are in reserve, i.e. not in use yet. One is in “life use” meaning that the family from which it is being acquired is still living on the property. The most recent acquisition is the Missouri Bluffs Golf Course and its surrounding area. The largest park is Indian Camp Creek which is 603 acres located on the Lincoln County line. The smallest is The Heritage Museum located just off Hwy 364 near the Heritage subdivision. This year Broemmelsiek Park, the second largest, will get a new playground; Matson Hill will get new trails to connect to the Daniel Boone Hays home; Klondike Park is getting a new boat dock, added cabins and other amenities; Lindenwood Park (Daniel Boone Home) has new programs and 4 staff members have won national awards; and MO Bluffs Park has group camping, new trails and a connection to the Katy Trail. The annual attendance figures show how well used the Parks are: 2015- 1.5 Million attendance, 2016 – 1.4 M, 2017 – 1.48 M, 2018 – 1.6 M, 2019 -2.525 M and in 2020 - 4.5 M.
USO of Missouri
On April 16th David Henroid of the USO visited the Lake St Louis ambassadors. He has been a volunteer with the USO since 1989. He got out of the army in 1972 after serving in Korea and in West Germany. In 1989 he observed the troop exodus when the soldiers left Fort Leonard Wood for Christmas They needed a place to wait for travel connections at Lambert Field. The USO at Lambert Airport that had been funded by J S McDonnell using space provided rent-free by the City of Saint Louis provides just such a space. This follows a long tradition of USO operations which began in 1941. It set up by FDR when he asked an organization of volunteers to bridge the gap between the soldiers and the civilians left at home. The group of volunteers set up their own organization and received no funding. So in 1941 to 1945 they had organizations primarily in train stations to send off and receive the soldiers when they came home from the war. There were 15 to 20 cities around the country that also had satellite locations in areas of the city where they held dances. The main one in Saint Louis was at the Soldiers Memorial. In 1981 the modern era USO re-opened and now serves families and soldiers. The average age of the volunteers is 62 years old. Some have active military service but most do not. There are 10 specialized staff that actually run the business operations of the USO. In 2007 terminal two area was added .Today's military are approximately 25 to 30% women so the facility serves everyone men, women and families year-round. Missouri USO also opened an area at Fort Leonard Wood which serves about 20,000 soldiers per month. Also at Fort Leonard Wood, they have a food truck service which goes to the various areas of the base such as the rifle range or other places soldiers have to spend extended periods of time. An Open House is held before Christmas, with an annual thank you for families. USO and Boeing provide about 2,800 dinners, gift certificates from local stores, and a Santa Express. Last March 2020 the USO had to close. Five months ago they opened up five days a week; from 7 am to 5 pm. Scott AFB and Fort Leonard Wood USOs are now open from 7 am to 10 pm. There's also a mobile USO facility that serves the Mo National Guard and Whiteman Air Force Base. For more info see www.usomissouri.org.
On April 16th David Henroid of the USO visited the Lake St Louis ambassadors. He has been a volunteer with the USO since 1989. He got out of the army in 1972 after serving in Korea and in West Germany. In 1989 he observed the troop exodus when the soldiers left Fort Leonard Wood for Christmas They needed a place to wait for travel connections at Lambert Field. The USO at Lambert Airport that had been funded by J S McDonnell using space provided rent-free by the City of Saint Louis provides just such a space. This follows a long tradition of USO operations which began in 1941. It set up by FDR when he asked an organization of volunteers to bridge the gap between the soldiers and the civilians left at home. The group of volunteers set up their own organization and received no funding. So in 1941 to 1945 they had organizations primarily in train stations to send off and receive the soldiers when they came home from the war. There were 15 to 20 cities around the country that also had satellite locations in areas of the city where they held dances. The main one in Saint Louis was at the Soldiers Memorial. In 1981 the modern era USO re-opened and now serves families and soldiers. The average age of the volunteers is 62 years old. Some have active military service but most do not. There are 10 specialized staff that actually run the business operations of the USO. In 2007 terminal two area was added .Today's military are approximately 25 to 30% women so the facility serves everyone men, women and families year-round. Missouri USO also opened an area at Fort Leonard Wood which serves about 20,000 soldiers per month. Also at Fort Leonard Wood, they have a food truck service which goes to the various areas of the base such as the rifle range or other places soldiers have to spend extended periods of time. An Open House is held before Christmas, with an annual thank you for families. USO and Boeing provide about 2,800 dinners, gift certificates from local stores, and a Santa Express. Last March 2020 the USO had to close. Five months ago they opened up five days a week; from 7 am to 5 pm. Scott AFB and Fort Leonard Wood USOs are now open from 7 am to 10 pm. There's also a mobile USO facility that serves the Mo National Guard and Whiteman Air Force Base. For more info see www.usomissouri.org.
Mayor and Mayor-Elect of LSL
Mayor Kathy Schweikert visited the Ambassadors meeting to provide a “State of the City” to our members. Most cities and states have been very concerned about sales tax receipts since this is the primary source of their revenue. Fortunately, LSL receipts have held up during the pandemic as shown by the following amounts: FY 20: $5.3 million, FY 19: $5.2 million, FY 18: $5.1 million, FY 17: $5 million.
The housing activity in the city has held up well as shown by the new starts: 2021 YTD: 38 New Single Family Permits($15,000,000 valuation), 2020: 208 New Single Family Permits($73,000,000 valuation), 2019: 170 New Single Family Permits(+$55,000,000 valuation). A new park has opened to the public called Deer Ridge Park. It is mostly in a natural state with 2.5 miles of trails. It can be accessed via Wyndstone Subdivision. The mayor also mentioned ongoing improvements to the city; Boulevard Park will have its playground equipment replaced and parking lot and walking trail repairs will be completed. A major traffic flow improvement will begin in 2021 with construction of the roundabout at I-70 and LSL Blvd. The estimated cost is $2.5 million. In addition, the city plans to spend over the next three years, $4.8 million a year, for capital projects of which $3.3 million is from grants and $1.5 million from City funds. The city continues to grow as evidenced by the four (4) Subdivisions under Construction: McBride: Wyndstone, McBride & Zykan: Mill Creek, Renaissance Living: Creekside Landing and Consort Homes & Fischer & Frichtel: Windsor.
Kathy has decided to retire as Mayor of LSL and did not run for re-election. Jason Law ran unopposed for the seat and is now the Mayor-Elect. He attended the meeting with Kathy and was introduced to the members. He stated that he plans to continue the planned improvements and bring some new things to the office based on his experience. He is employed by St Louis County Police department where he is a Captain and is currently assigned to the Jennings area where new methods are being tried to minimize violent crime in that area. Kathy also mentioned that a new crimefighter has been “hired” by the LSL Police department, Zeke, the new K-9 for LSL.
Mayor Kathy Schweikert visited the Ambassadors meeting to provide a “State of the City” to our members. Most cities and states have been very concerned about sales tax receipts since this is the primary source of their revenue. Fortunately, LSL receipts have held up during the pandemic as shown by the following amounts: FY 20: $5.3 million, FY 19: $5.2 million, FY 18: $5.1 million, FY 17: $5 million.
The housing activity in the city has held up well as shown by the new starts: 2021 YTD: 38 New Single Family Permits($15,000,000 valuation), 2020: 208 New Single Family Permits($73,000,000 valuation), 2019: 170 New Single Family Permits(+$55,000,000 valuation). A new park has opened to the public called Deer Ridge Park. It is mostly in a natural state with 2.5 miles of trails. It can be accessed via Wyndstone Subdivision. The mayor also mentioned ongoing improvements to the city; Boulevard Park will have its playground equipment replaced and parking lot and walking trail repairs will be completed. A major traffic flow improvement will begin in 2021 with construction of the roundabout at I-70 and LSL Blvd. The estimated cost is $2.5 million. In addition, the city plans to spend over the next three years, $4.8 million a year, for capital projects of which $3.3 million is from grants and $1.5 million from City funds. The city continues to grow as evidenced by the four (4) Subdivisions under Construction: McBride: Wyndstone, McBride & Zykan: Mill Creek, Renaissance Living: Creekside Landing and Consort Homes & Fischer & Frichtel: Windsor.
Kathy has decided to retire as Mayor of LSL and did not run for re-election. Jason Law ran unopposed for the seat and is now the Mayor-Elect. He attended the meeting with Kathy and was introduced to the members. He stated that he plans to continue the planned improvements and bring some new things to the office based on his experience. He is employed by St Louis County Police department where he is a Captain and is currently assigned to the Jennings area where new methods are being tried to minimize violent crime in that area. Kathy also mentioned that a new crimefighter has been “hired” by the LSL Police department, Zeke, the new K-9 for LSL.
Local Clergy on Good Friday
The LSL Ambassadors resumed their weekly meetings April 2nd after suspending them for about a year due to Covid-19 lockdowns and social distancing. This Good Friday resumption was most welcome with a large turn-out and an unusually large number of speakers (6), each with an upbeat message. Attendees were still required to wear masks but masks were allowed to be removed while one was eating breakfast or drinking, generally following rules established in St Charles County for eating establishments. The first speaker was retired LSL Chief of Police, Mike Force. He mentioned the upcoming election on Apr 5th and discussed local issues on the ballot and how they could impact local firemen and police. The next speakers on the agenda brought back the traditional presentations on the significance of Good Friday in our lives here in Lake St Louis. They were Bernie Buchman, Deacon of St Patrick Catholic Church, Pastor Kevin Spaugh Senior Pastor Chapel of the Lake, Rev Roy Christell, Retired Pastor Living Lord Lutheran Church, Pastor Jonathan Shelor, Senior Pastor First Baptist Church LSL and Pastor Steve Colley Living Lord Lutheran Church, who is newly arrived in LSL and attended his first meeting of the Ambassadors. The presentations were focused on Good Friday and highlighted its importance to Christianity, pointing out that without Death on the Cross; there would be no Resurrection, the promise of Christianity. Topics included “Why is Good Friday good?”, “Good Friday World” (Today’s world), “Hope” and Proverbs Chapter 6, which lists the seven deadly sins and how prominent there are in today’s world.
The LSL Ambassadors resumed their weekly meetings April 2nd after suspending them for about a year due to Covid-19 lockdowns and social distancing. This Good Friday resumption was most welcome with a large turn-out and an unusually large number of speakers (6), each with an upbeat message. Attendees were still required to wear masks but masks were allowed to be removed while one was eating breakfast or drinking, generally following rules established in St Charles County for eating establishments. The first speaker was retired LSL Chief of Police, Mike Force. He mentioned the upcoming election on Apr 5th and discussed local issues on the ballot and how they could impact local firemen and police. The next speakers on the agenda brought back the traditional presentations on the significance of Good Friday in our lives here in Lake St Louis. They were Bernie Buchman, Deacon of St Patrick Catholic Church, Pastor Kevin Spaugh Senior Pastor Chapel of the Lake, Rev Roy Christell, Retired Pastor Living Lord Lutheran Church, Pastor Jonathan Shelor, Senior Pastor First Baptist Church LSL and Pastor Steve Colley Living Lord Lutheran Church, who is newly arrived in LSL and attended his first meeting of the Ambassadors. The presentations were focused on Good Friday and highlighted its importance to Christianity, pointing out that without Death on the Cross; there would be no Resurrection, the promise of Christianity. Topics included “Why is Good Friday good?”, “Good Friday World” (Today’s world), “Hope” and Proverbs Chapter 6, which lists the seven deadly sins and how prominent there are in today’s world.
Medicare Open Enrollment Period
Kathy Otey, an Ambassador member, explained some of the complexities of navigating the Medicare open enrollment process. This enrollment period lasts until Dec 7th. She is a local source of information who can guide you to choose the best insurance plan for you and your family. She is familiar with Medicare, Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans, Medicare Part D (drug plans) and with Medigap plans. Several of our members have used her expertise to enroll in plans that better suited their needs than the one they were currently enrolled in and she guided them toward a better option. During this open enrollment period, SSM has rolled out four new Medicare Advantage plans which add to the options available to local senior citizens. Some features this year of Medicare Advantage plans include allowances for vision and dental care, reductions in your Part B premiums, coordinated coverages with Tricare and VA plans and usually they include a Part D drug plan as well. To get the plan that best suits your needs, see your current agent or call Kathy Otey (636-485-9274) for some guidance. You can also find out what is available to you in Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans at medicare.gov or you can go to Mo.gov/medigap to find out about medigap plans offered in Missouri (https://insurance.mo.gov/seniors/srmedigap.php).
Kathy Otey, an Ambassador member, explained some of the complexities of navigating the Medicare open enrollment process. This enrollment period lasts until Dec 7th. She is a local source of information who can guide you to choose the best insurance plan for you and your family. She is familiar with Medicare, Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans, Medicare Part D (drug plans) and with Medigap plans. Several of our members have used her expertise to enroll in plans that better suited their needs than the one they were currently enrolled in and she guided them toward a better option. During this open enrollment period, SSM has rolled out four new Medicare Advantage plans which add to the options available to local senior citizens. Some features this year of Medicare Advantage plans include allowances for vision and dental care, reductions in your Part B premiums, coordinated coverages with Tricare and VA plans and usually they include a Part D drug plan as well. To get the plan that best suits your needs, see your current agent or call Kathy Otey (636-485-9274) for some guidance. You can also find out what is available to you in Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans at medicare.gov or you can go to Mo.gov/medigap to find out about medigap plans offered in Missouri (https://insurance.mo.gov/seniors/srmedigap.php).
St Charles County Recycling Center
On Nov 5th, Recycle Director Ryan Tilley spoke to the LSL Ambassadors concerning the county’s recycling efforts and locations. Ryan graduated from University of Mo with a bachelor’s degree and earned a Master’s degree at UMSL. He is Director of the Div. of Environmental Health and Protection in the Dept. of Public Health. He is responsible for the two Recycle Centers in the county, one at 2110 East Pitman Ave in Wentzville and the other at 60 Triad South Dr in St Charles. The unit in Wentzville was established in 1989 and the more recent one in St Charles in 2004. This div of Public Health is also responsible for mosquito control, smoking inspection and inspections to verify purity levels of Kratom. In response to a question about who’s buying our recycled trash, he said China stopped buying it because it was clean enough, i.e. it had too many contaminants. There may be a possibility that China might increase their buying in the near future because their economy is on the upswing again and they use recycled materials as a source of materials for their manufacturing processes. There are no landfills in St Charles County for our waste and it must be delivered to a St Louis county landfill. Recycle Centers take a long list of items, most at no cost, the list is so long it is included in the attached photos or you may find it at the sccmo.org website or call 636-949-7406.
On Nov 5th, Recycle Director Ryan Tilley spoke to the LSL Ambassadors concerning the county’s recycling efforts and locations. Ryan graduated from University of Mo with a bachelor’s degree and earned a Master’s degree at UMSL. He is Director of the Div. of Environmental Health and Protection in the Dept. of Public Health. He is responsible for the two Recycle Centers in the county, one at 2110 East Pitman Ave in Wentzville and the other at 60 Triad South Dr in St Charles. The unit in Wentzville was established in 1989 and the more recent one in St Charles in 2004. This div of Public Health is also responsible for mosquito control, smoking inspection and inspections to verify purity levels of Kratom. In response to a question about who’s buying our recycled trash, he said China stopped buying it because it was clean enough, i.e. it had too many contaminants. There may be a possibility that China might increase their buying in the near future because their economy is on the upswing again and they use recycled materials as a source of materials for their manufacturing processes. There are no landfills in St Charles County for our waste and it must be delivered to a St Louis county landfill. Recycle Centers take a long list of items, most at no cost, the list is so long it is included in the attached photos or you may find it at the sccmo.org website or call 636-949-7406.
St Charles City-County Library
On Oct 30, Jason Kuhl, Director of St Charles City-County Library, spoke to the LSL Ambassadors about current events and new plans for the library. He started working part time in the library at Illinois State while in college. Eventually he changed his career choice to the library field. Currently there are 12 operating locations in St Charles County, one new one is being built and one is closing. The Discovery branch is closing and the 6 North Café building at Hwy Z near I-70 has been purchased is undergoing renovation now. It will employ a new concept, including more openness and an outdoor area. It will be opening early in 2021. Six of the current locations are considered small, three are medium sized and 3 are large facilities. There is also one mobile facility. The library belongs to a network for Inter Library Loans so that a member may request items from other libraries in the area and in other states as well.
The library was founded in 1973 by combining the Kathryn Linneman library with the St Charles County library. In FY2020 5.1 million items were checked out and almost 1 million of them were electronic. There were 1.2 million visitors, 131,000 people attended 4800 classes held on the library premises. 22,000 people were also served through 1100 outreach visits by staff members. The budget for FY2020 was $20,516,106 of which 95% was from taxes. Grants and fees made up the rest.
The library is a learning center and focused on early childhood literacy. Areas are designed to be friendly to small children, with larger open areas and rooms for play. For more information go to mylibrary.org. On Nov 3rd the library will be closed. Only voters will be able to enter.
On Oct 30, Jason Kuhl, Director of St Charles City-County Library, spoke to the LSL Ambassadors about current events and new plans for the library. He started working part time in the library at Illinois State while in college. Eventually he changed his career choice to the library field. Currently there are 12 operating locations in St Charles County, one new one is being built and one is closing. The Discovery branch is closing and the 6 North Café building at Hwy Z near I-70 has been purchased is undergoing renovation now. It will employ a new concept, including more openness and an outdoor area. It will be opening early in 2021. Six of the current locations are considered small, three are medium sized and 3 are large facilities. There is also one mobile facility. The library belongs to a network for Inter Library Loans so that a member may request items from other libraries in the area and in other states as well.
The library was founded in 1973 by combining the Kathryn Linneman library with the St Charles County library. In FY2020 5.1 million items were checked out and almost 1 million of them were electronic. There were 1.2 million visitors, 131,000 people attended 4800 classes held on the library premises. 22,000 people were also served through 1100 outreach visits by staff members. The budget for FY2020 was $20,516,106 of which 95% was from taxes. Grants and fees made up the rest.
The library is a learning center and focused on early childhood literacy. Areas are designed to be friendly to small children, with larger open areas and rooms for play. For more information go to mylibrary.org. On Nov 3rd the library will be closed. Only voters will be able to enter.
LSL Farmers Market Update
Matt Kern and Stephanie Hardy spoke to the LSL Ambassadors about the products and producers who sell them at the Farmers and Artists Market hosted in the Meadows Mall. They are open from the first week of April until the first week of November. Their mission is to bring the local producers and the Lake St Louis community together. It is producers only market which means no sellers who buy from wholesalers and then bring produce into the market. It has been running for 11 years now; it began in 2011 in O’Fallon and moved to the Meadows in 2013. Carl and Robin Sander started the market and Matt has continued running the market since 2015. It has grown from a dozen or so vendorsto45 in 2015 and now has 75 full time vendors. Each week they have a total of 85 to 90 vendors because they also bring in daily vendors to add variety. The priorities of the market are to support local producers, engage the community and serve local residents. Matt has a farm in Wright City and Stephanie has a farm in Warren County where she raises chickens, sheep and several other products. More information is available at themanbehindthefood.com or Matt may be reached at 636-352-6716
Matt Kern and Stephanie Hardy spoke to the LSL Ambassadors about the products and producers who sell them at the Farmers and Artists Market hosted in the Meadows Mall. They are open from the first week of April until the first week of November. Their mission is to bring the local producers and the Lake St Louis community together. It is producers only market which means no sellers who buy from wholesalers and then bring produce into the market. It has been running for 11 years now; it began in 2011 in O’Fallon and moved to the Meadows in 2013. Carl and Robin Sander started the market and Matt has continued running the market since 2015. It has grown from a dozen or so vendorsto45 in 2015 and now has 75 full time vendors. Each week they have a total of 85 to 90 vendors because they also bring in daily vendors to add variety. The priorities of the market are to support local producers, engage the community and serve local residents. Matt has a farm in Wright City and Stephanie has a farm in Warren County where she raises chickens, sheep and several other products. More information is available at themanbehindthefood.com or Matt may be reached at 636-352-6716
David Redfield-
Liability Insurance Revisited
On Oct 16th, David Redfield discussed Liability Insurance with the LSL Ambassadors and answered questions from the audience. He recommended that everyone reevaluate their insurance needs regularly and verify that the liability amounts being carried more than cover the value of one’s assets. It was recommended that one should consider buying an umbrella policy as a better value for the consumer than raising liability coverages on individual auto and homeowners policies. One should be wary of adding a boat to a homeowner’s policy rather than buying a stand-alone boat policy. This should be investigated thoroughly to verify that the coverage’s are the same.
David graduated from Texas A&M in 1999 and worked for Edward Jones from 1999 to 2002 in Financial Services. He then went with State Farm in Texas and Illinois. In 2008 he became a State Farm Agent in Fair Oaks, Ca. until 2019. He relocated to Lake St Louis in 2019, and now is with Farmers Insurance as a Business Consultant.
Liability Insurance Revisited
On Oct 16th, David Redfield discussed Liability Insurance with the LSL Ambassadors and answered questions from the audience. He recommended that everyone reevaluate their insurance needs regularly and verify that the liability amounts being carried more than cover the value of one’s assets. It was recommended that one should consider buying an umbrella policy as a better value for the consumer than raising liability coverages on individual auto and homeowners policies. One should be wary of adding a boat to a homeowner’s policy rather than buying a stand-alone boat policy. This should be investigated thoroughly to verify that the coverage’s are the same.
David graduated from Texas A&M in 1999 and worked for Edward Jones from 1999 to 2002 in Financial Services. He then went with State Farm in Texas and Illinois. In 2008 he became a State Farm Agent in Fair Oaks, Ca. until 2019. He relocated to Lake St Louis in 2019, and now is with Farmers Insurance as a Business Consultant.
Demetrius Cianci-Chapman-
Director of Public Health
On Oct 9th Demetrius Cianci-Chapman, Director of St Charles County Public Health, spoke to the Ambassadors about the department and specifically about COVID-19. St Charles County Public Health Dept. which he heads is committed to protecting and enhancing the health and quality of life for all members of the community. The Department of Public Health has three divisions - Health Services, Environmental Health and Protection, and Humane Services. To achieve its goals, the department coordinates with federal, state, and local organizations and provides a wide range of services that impact the lives of St. Charles County’s residents and visitors each day.
Everyone is always glad to hear good news about their home town, area, county or state. According to US News and World Report, St Charles County is one of the healthiest counties in the country; ranks number 82 out of the top 100 counties in the nation and is the only Missouri County in the top 100. The measurement is based on life expectancy, education, income and employment. So what can we do to continue this position in the nation? The county Health Dept. is continuing to monitor disease threats and respond as required, as a community we can continue healthy behaviors and care for our community. As individuals, we can stay active, set healthy goals, continue regular medical care and stay informed about new health threats and potential solutions.
The Health Dept. maintains the website providing COVID-19 information to our residents and to those who access the website at sccmo.org/covid. The data on this site is updated daily. It presents data such as the total number of cases, the cases per 100K (or infection rate) and total number of deaths.
Director of Public Health
On Oct 9th Demetrius Cianci-Chapman, Director of St Charles County Public Health, spoke to the Ambassadors about the department and specifically about COVID-19. St Charles County Public Health Dept. which he heads is committed to protecting and enhancing the health and quality of life for all members of the community. The Department of Public Health has three divisions - Health Services, Environmental Health and Protection, and Humane Services. To achieve its goals, the department coordinates with federal, state, and local organizations and provides a wide range of services that impact the lives of St. Charles County’s residents and visitors each day.
Everyone is always glad to hear good news about their home town, area, county or state. According to US News and World Report, St Charles County is one of the healthiest counties in the country; ranks number 82 out of the top 100 counties in the nation and is the only Missouri County in the top 100. The measurement is based on life expectancy, education, income and employment. So what can we do to continue this position in the nation? The county Health Dept. is continuing to monitor disease threats and respond as required, as a community we can continue healthy behaviors and care for our community. As individuals, we can stay active, set healthy goals, continue regular medical care and stay informed about new health threats and potential solutions.
The Health Dept. maintains the website providing COVID-19 information to our residents and to those who access the website at sccmo.org/covid. The data on this site is updated daily. It presents data such as the total number of cases, the cases per 100K (or infection rate) and total number of deaths.
Kathy Schweikert - LSL Mayor
Oct 2nd Mayor Schweikert updated the LSL Ambassadors on city happenings during 2020. She reported that City Hall was closed from April through July due to coronavirus. They have now re-opened and all employees wear masks for protection. The office space is still off limits to the public, bur residents can still come and see people and use a meeting room for discussions. No visits to office space are allowed. During the closed period, the city operated virtually using technology such as Zoom. A couple of alderman meetings were attempted but wearing of masks was inadequate, so meetings were cancelled and now are held on Zoom. Business activity is up in LSL as measured by sales tax revenue, and housing permits and construction also has also increased. Boulevard Park will be getting new playground equipment and the parking lot and trails will be repaired. Deer Ridge Park is now open and has a 2.5 mile long trail for walking and biking. The Police Dept. also has a new addition, a K-9 officer that specializes in drugs. Windsor Park, the new development along I-64 across from the lake will have 82 homes when completed. A draft of the new proposed Zoning Map is available for review either online or at City Hall. The aldermen and Planning & Zoning will discuss it at a meeting Oct 5th. Most changes are commercial areas. The new urgent center, TAUC, has opened in the South Ridge Shoppes which is near Hwy ‘N’ and Orf Road and is located in LSL and O’Fallon. Grillo’s Chop & Barrel has opened and it specializes in meat and whiskey. Dierberg’s now has P&Z approval and Board of Aldermen approval to proceed and construction will begin with a planned Oct/Nov 2021 opening.
Oct 2nd Mayor Schweikert updated the LSL Ambassadors on city happenings during 2020. She reported that City Hall was closed from April through July due to coronavirus. They have now re-opened and all employees wear masks for protection. The office space is still off limits to the public, bur residents can still come and see people and use a meeting room for discussions. No visits to office space are allowed. During the closed period, the city operated virtually using technology such as Zoom. A couple of alderman meetings were attempted but wearing of masks was inadequate, so meetings were cancelled and now are held on Zoom. Business activity is up in LSL as measured by sales tax revenue, and housing permits and construction also has also increased. Boulevard Park will be getting new playground equipment and the parking lot and trails will be repaired. Deer Ridge Park is now open and has a 2.5 mile long trail for walking and biking. The Police Dept. also has a new addition, a K-9 officer that specializes in drugs. Windsor Park, the new development along I-64 across from the lake will have 82 homes when completed. A draft of the new proposed Zoning Map is available for review either online or at City Hall. The aldermen and Planning & Zoning will discuss it at a meeting Oct 5th. Most changes are commercial areas. The new urgent center, TAUC, has opened in the South Ridge Shoppes which is near Hwy ‘N’ and Orf Road and is located in LSL and O’Fallon. Grillo’s Chop & Barrel has opened and it specializes in meat and whiskey. Dierberg’s now has P&Z approval and Board of Aldermen approval to proceed and construction will begin with a planned Oct/Nov 2021 opening.
Kurt Bahr- Election Authority of St. Charles County
On Sep 25th Kurt Bahr visited the LSL Ambassadors and spoke about the upcoming election. Actually, it is already an ongoing election! Kurt is the St Charles County Director of Elections. He has been in office since Jan 2019, and was a state representative before that. Currently St Charles County has a population of about 400,000 people and has about 296,000 registered voters. Of these, 260,000 are active voters and 16,000 inactive. The last date to register for the upcoming Nov 3rd election is Oct 7th.The last day to request an absentee ballot is Oct 21st and the last day to vote absentee in person is Nov 2nd. So far, 7800 ballots have been mailed, while another 7000 are expected to be mailed. This year Missouri has added a new election rule due to Covid -19 that allows “at Risk” voters to vote an absentee ballot. Anyone over 65 years of age or with a compromised immunity system, kidney or liver disease, have diabetes, etc., can vote an absentee ballot. Also, Missouri has implemented early voting by mail. Absentee is not the same as “early voting”. Early ballots must be requested through the US Postal Service and they must be returned via US Postal Service. Several changes have been made this year incorporating technology and its application. A new election reporting website has been added, more voter information is available and training for staff and judges has been provided. For Covid protection, Plexiglas shields and hand sanitizer has been added to polling places. For more information contact the election authority at 636-949-7551; Questions go to Election@sccmo.org; for absentee voting go to ElectionAbsentee@scc.org.
On Sep 25th Kurt Bahr visited the LSL Ambassadors and spoke about the upcoming election. Actually, it is already an ongoing election! Kurt is the St Charles County Director of Elections. He has been in office since Jan 2019, and was a state representative before that. Currently St Charles County has a population of about 400,000 people and has about 296,000 registered voters. Of these, 260,000 are active voters and 16,000 inactive. The last date to register for the upcoming Nov 3rd election is Oct 7th.The last day to request an absentee ballot is Oct 21st and the last day to vote absentee in person is Nov 2nd. So far, 7800 ballots have been mailed, while another 7000 are expected to be mailed. This year Missouri has added a new election rule due to Covid -19 that allows “at Risk” voters to vote an absentee ballot. Anyone over 65 years of age or with a compromised immunity system, kidney or liver disease, have diabetes, etc., can vote an absentee ballot. Also, Missouri has implemented early voting by mail. Absentee is not the same as “early voting”. Early ballots must be requested through the US Postal Service and they must be returned via US Postal Service. Several changes have been made this year incorporating technology and its application. A new election reporting website has been added, more voter information is available and training for staff and judges has been provided. For Covid protection, Plexiglas shields and hand sanitizer has been added to polling places. For more information contact the election authority at 636-949-7551; Questions go to Election@sccmo.org; for absentee voting go to ElectionAbsentee@scc.org.
Andy Tuerck - MoDot Update on Local Road Projects
On Sep 18th, Andy Tuerck of MoDot spoke to the LSL Ambassadors about Highway issues in St Charles County and particularly those that affect western St Charles County traffic. Andy mentioned that the Covid pandemic had both good and bad impacts on MoDot. First, the GOOD: 1) there was less traffic. 2) projects underway are getting done much faster thereby allowing highways to be returned to full use sooner than normal, some examples in our area are I-64 repairs, Route P overlay and Hwy A repairs by the GM plant. Now for the BAD: 1) Missouri has experienced an increase in crashes even though there has been a decrease in traffic, 2) MoDot has had twice as many worker related crashes as last year, 3) the work is being done less efficiently due to social distancing, 4) less revenue, 5) there is no new 5 yr. plan this year ( and this is updated each year), hiring, discretionary spending and engineering solicitations including planning are all frozen now, and MoDot work has been reduced to a 32 work week this summer. It’s easy to see that the negative impacts greatly outweigh the positive one for MoDot.
In St Charles County, MoDot’s crash density shows St Charles 5th street interchange and I-70 and Wentzville parkway as the two primary problem areas. The project design for I-70 and the RR track bridge started with the cross-Missouri I-70 Improvement when choices such as 8- 10 lanes from Wentzville to Kansas City were being considered for I-70 . Right now even though 100,000 cars transit this area each day, Missouri doesn’t have the money to do the desired improvement project. The public perception is the curve is substandard; however the vertical and horizontal clearances are really the problem here. Since the railroad preceded I-70, the changes will have to be made to the highway! The RR Bridge is only 81 years old (which is like new to them); it would be too difficult to try to change it. The current plan is to add width to the south of I-70 where MoDot has some right of way. A new roadway and temporary bridges will be built over a period of years and finally a 6-lane roadway under the railroad will be completed. In 2021 work is expected to start on the Dave Hoeckel Parkway and the LSL Blvd/I-70 interchange roundabout. In 2022, The Wentzville Parkway roundabout will be added and an extension to Interstate Drive will be added. Highways 70/64/40/61 in this area are all 1950s designs and all need to be updated to handle today’s traffic. St Charles County has a population of 400,000 today and is the fastest growing county in the state. It also is the only county that that works so closely with the state on planning and designing highways so that when federal funding becomes available, the projects can begin with waiting for the usual process of right of way acquisition, design planning etc. which adds a lot of additional time to highway projects. For more information see modot.gov.
On Sep 18th, Andy Tuerck of MoDot spoke to the LSL Ambassadors about Highway issues in St Charles County and particularly those that affect western St Charles County traffic. Andy mentioned that the Covid pandemic had both good and bad impacts on MoDot. First, the GOOD: 1) there was less traffic. 2) projects underway are getting done much faster thereby allowing highways to be returned to full use sooner than normal, some examples in our area are I-64 repairs, Route P overlay and Hwy A repairs by the GM plant. Now for the BAD: 1) Missouri has experienced an increase in crashes even though there has been a decrease in traffic, 2) MoDot has had twice as many worker related crashes as last year, 3) the work is being done less efficiently due to social distancing, 4) less revenue, 5) there is no new 5 yr. plan this year ( and this is updated each year), hiring, discretionary spending and engineering solicitations including planning are all frozen now, and MoDot work has been reduced to a 32 work week this summer. It’s easy to see that the negative impacts greatly outweigh the positive one for MoDot.
In St Charles County, MoDot’s crash density shows St Charles 5th street interchange and I-70 and Wentzville parkway as the two primary problem areas. The project design for I-70 and the RR track bridge started with the cross-Missouri I-70 Improvement when choices such as 8- 10 lanes from Wentzville to Kansas City were being considered for I-70 . Right now even though 100,000 cars transit this area each day, Missouri doesn’t have the money to do the desired improvement project. The public perception is the curve is substandard; however the vertical and horizontal clearances are really the problem here. Since the railroad preceded I-70, the changes will have to be made to the highway! The RR Bridge is only 81 years old (which is like new to them); it would be too difficult to try to change it. The current plan is to add width to the south of I-70 where MoDot has some right of way. A new roadway and temporary bridges will be built over a period of years and finally a 6-lane roadway under the railroad will be completed. In 2021 work is expected to start on the Dave Hoeckel Parkway and the LSL Blvd/I-70 interchange roundabout. In 2022, The Wentzville Parkway roundabout will be added and an extension to Interstate Drive will be added. Highways 70/64/40/61 in this area are all 1950s designs and all need to be updated to handle today’s traffic. St Charles County has a population of 400,000 today and is the fastest growing county in the state. It also is the only county that that works so closely with the state on planning and designing highways so that when federal funding becomes available, the projects can begin with waiting for the usual process of right of way acquisition, design planning etc. which adds a lot of additional time to highway projects. For more information see modot.gov.
Steve Brown - U2 Pilot
Steve Brown, a member of the LSL Ambassadors spoke at our meeting on “9/11” about pilot training, in-flight experiences and all the support structure needed to fly the most famous spy plane in the world. He showed a video of Gary Sinese going through the long arduous process of suiting up for the 10-12 hour flight that is typical in the U2. Steve was a High School band director when he was drafted in 1968 and he joined the USAF to avoid going into the army. The only way into the air force at that time was as a pilot so that was the path he took. During his time in the air force he flew in small aircraft in Vietnam, B-52s and the U2. Of course this also required flight training in the T-38. His more interesting flights were in the U2 aircraft in which he logged more than 2000 hours. He became a member of a small “brotherhood” of about 1100 U2 pilots of which he is #368. U2s are located at Beale AFB in California, about 40 miles North of Sacramento. Steve was stationed there for his U2 tours and for the B-52 tour. The U2 is probably the only airplane that has a chase car, driven by a pilot, who gives ground clearance to the pilot while landing. The chase car is driven at 115 mph behind the aircraft to maintain visual contact with the landing gear and passes on this info to the pilot.
The U2 was first developed by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in 1954-1955 timeframe. They have developed over 40 aircraft usually for very specific, secret uses. It began with the F-104 Starfighter and many modifications later, it achieved its desired flight characteristics. It remained in the “dark” world. i.e. unknown, until Gary Powers was shot down in one on a flight over the USSR in 1961. Today’s U2s have had many upgrades including a new engine, new sensor systems, a new navigation system and new flight controls. This aircraft flies at the very edge of space and in fact a space suit like the ones astronauts use is required for U2 pilots. The flight surgeons office must uniquely modify a suit for each pilot, integrate the pilot into the suit, then integrate the suit into the ejection seat and then into the aircraft. Pilots breathe 100% oxygen during flight, but their body is exposed to air. The atmospheric condition for the pilot is the same as 35,000 feet even they are flying at 70,000 feet. The system is designed so that pilots can eject at both 70,000 ft. and on the ground and be safe in either situation. In all the years the U2 has been flying only one pilot was lost and that was in the South China Sea. His radio was bad and he was not able to survive in the cold water until he was found over 24 hours later. To find out more info on the U2 Google it!
Steve Brown, a member of the LSL Ambassadors spoke at our meeting on “9/11” about pilot training, in-flight experiences and all the support structure needed to fly the most famous spy plane in the world. He showed a video of Gary Sinese going through the long arduous process of suiting up for the 10-12 hour flight that is typical in the U2. Steve was a High School band director when he was drafted in 1968 and he joined the USAF to avoid going into the army. The only way into the air force at that time was as a pilot so that was the path he took. During his time in the air force he flew in small aircraft in Vietnam, B-52s and the U2. Of course this also required flight training in the T-38. His more interesting flights were in the U2 aircraft in which he logged more than 2000 hours. He became a member of a small “brotherhood” of about 1100 U2 pilots of which he is #368. U2s are located at Beale AFB in California, about 40 miles North of Sacramento. Steve was stationed there for his U2 tours and for the B-52 tour. The U2 is probably the only airplane that has a chase car, driven by a pilot, who gives ground clearance to the pilot while landing. The chase car is driven at 115 mph behind the aircraft to maintain visual contact with the landing gear and passes on this info to the pilot.
The U2 was first developed by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in 1954-1955 timeframe. They have developed over 40 aircraft usually for very specific, secret uses. It began with the F-104 Starfighter and many modifications later, it achieved its desired flight characteristics. It remained in the “dark” world. i.e. unknown, until Gary Powers was shot down in one on a flight over the USSR in 1961. Today’s U2s have had many upgrades including a new engine, new sensor systems, a new navigation system and new flight controls. This aircraft flies at the very edge of space and in fact a space suit like the ones astronauts use is required for U2 pilots. The flight surgeons office must uniquely modify a suit for each pilot, integrate the pilot into the suit, then integrate the suit into the ejection seat and then into the aircraft. Pilots breathe 100% oxygen during flight, but their body is exposed to air. The atmospheric condition for the pilot is the same as 35,000 feet even they are flying at 70,000 feet. The system is designed so that pilots can eject at both 70,000 ft. and on the ground and be safe in either situation. In all the years the U2 has been flying only one pilot was lost and that was in the South China Sea. His radio was bad and he was not able to survive in the cold water until he was found over 24 hours later. To find out more info on the U2 Google it!
Kyle Gaines–SCCAD
On Friday, August 19th, the Ambassadors welcomed Mr. Kyle Gaines, the Director of Community Relations for the St. Charles County Ambulance District (SCCAD). Mr. Gaines last spoke with the Ambassadors two years ago to tell us about Proposition Ambulance, which passed in 2018 and helped the District fund new stations and acquire new equipment.
This year, Mr. Gaines spoke to us primarily about cardiac arrest and what YOU as a member of the general public can do if you encounter someone needing assistance. Last year, the District responded to approximately 45,000 calls for assistance in St. Charles County. Among the most critical are the cardiac arrest calls—this is when quick response times are crucial.
A cardiac arrest is not synonymous with a heart attack. A heart attack (a.k.a. myocardial infarction) is caused by a blockage in a coronary artery which causes pain and discomfort, but there is still some blood flow and the patient is typically conscious. During a cardiac arrest, the heart completely stops, there is no blood flow and the patient is usually unconscious and unresponsive. This is when immediate intervention is crucial.
Under ideal conditions, SCCAD response time is at least six to seven minutes, but brain death begins to occur in four to five minutes, so assistance from the general public is an important link.
A large percentage of the general population (as high as 70%) would feel reluctant to help due to both fear of intimate contact (you know, mouth-to-mouth) and fear of liability. Well, guidance has evolved over the years and now it’s a “hands only” requirement for the majority of patients. Also, Missouri has a strong Good Samaritan law which should help allay those legal fears.
Well then, what should you do? Just remember the THREE C’s: Check, Call, Compress. Check for responsiveness, consciousness. Are they breathing? If not, Call 911. Be calm, give good directions. Next step is Compress: center of chest (two fingers above xiphoid process), heal of hands, arms locked, straight down, 100 to 120 compressions per minute at a depth of around 2.5 inches. High quality, uninterrupted chest compressions are critical.
What about AED’s? Good question, thank you. If an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is available, have someone retrieve it. It’s generally not advisable to cease chest compressions to retrieve the AED, but the AED can be integrated whenever it becomes available. There are various brands of AED’s available but they all operate basically the same: Turn on, Attach pads to bare chest, Follow prompts.
The primary goal of all this is to keep the patient’s blood flowing until the professionals arrive. A little knowledge of the basics will help reduce your fear and could save a life—maybe someone you love. But, whether it’s a loved one or a total stranger, please don’t fail to act.
Come visit the Lake St. Louis Ambassadors at our next Friday breakfast meeting at 7am in the LSLCA Ballroom—you might learn some stuff.
On Friday, August 19th, the Ambassadors welcomed Mr. Kyle Gaines, the Director of Community Relations for the St. Charles County Ambulance District (SCCAD). Mr. Gaines last spoke with the Ambassadors two years ago to tell us about Proposition Ambulance, which passed in 2018 and helped the District fund new stations and acquire new equipment.
This year, Mr. Gaines spoke to us primarily about cardiac arrest and what YOU as a member of the general public can do if you encounter someone needing assistance. Last year, the District responded to approximately 45,000 calls for assistance in St. Charles County. Among the most critical are the cardiac arrest calls—this is when quick response times are crucial.
A cardiac arrest is not synonymous with a heart attack. A heart attack (a.k.a. myocardial infarction) is caused by a blockage in a coronary artery which causes pain and discomfort, but there is still some blood flow and the patient is typically conscious. During a cardiac arrest, the heart completely stops, there is no blood flow and the patient is usually unconscious and unresponsive. This is when immediate intervention is crucial.
Under ideal conditions, SCCAD response time is at least six to seven minutes, but brain death begins to occur in four to five minutes, so assistance from the general public is an important link.
A large percentage of the general population (as high as 70%) would feel reluctant to help due to both fear of intimate contact (you know, mouth-to-mouth) and fear of liability. Well, guidance has evolved over the years and now it’s a “hands only” requirement for the majority of patients. Also, Missouri has a strong Good Samaritan law which should help allay those legal fears.
Well then, what should you do? Just remember the THREE C’s: Check, Call, Compress. Check for responsiveness, consciousness. Are they breathing? If not, Call 911. Be calm, give good directions. Next step is Compress: center of chest (two fingers above xiphoid process), heal of hands, arms locked, straight down, 100 to 120 compressions per minute at a depth of around 2.5 inches. High quality, uninterrupted chest compressions are critical.
What about AED’s? Good question, thank you. If an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is available, have someone retrieve it. It’s generally not advisable to cease chest compressions to retrieve the AED, but the AED can be integrated whenever it becomes available. There are various brands of AED’s available but they all operate basically the same: Turn on, Attach pads to bare chest, Follow prompts.
The primary goal of all this is to keep the patient’s blood flowing until the professionals arrive. A little knowledge of the basics will help reduce your fear and could save a life—maybe someone you love. But, whether it’s a loved one or a total stranger, please don’t fail to act.
Come visit the Lake St. Louis Ambassadors at our next Friday breakfast meeting at 7am in the LSLCA Ballroom—you might learn some stuff.
Mark Fingerhut –
Missouri River Adventure
On Aug 21st Mark Fingerhut spoke to the LSL Ambassadors about his 2456 mile long journey kayaking down the Missouri River in 2019. This trip took 96 days from May 13 to Aug 17, 2019. He began in West Yellowstone, Mt and wound up in St Louis after kayaking down the Madison River for 100 miles, the Missouri River for 2341 miles and down 15 miles on the Mississippi River. The boat used was a cedar strip kayak made by Shane Camden in New Haven, MO. It was 20 feet long and carried about 200 pounds of cargo along with the paddler. It was a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. This trip was used to raise funds for the Missouri River Relief organization which helps clean and maintain the river for boating activities. When the trip began, it was cold in Montana and included some rain, some portages and encountered 13 dams along the way. Some portages were too long and a cart or a truck was used to overcome these obstacles. The trip was divided into 6 parts, the first one the 100 miles on the Madison River in Montana. Part 2 was on the Missouri from Three Forks, MT to Ft Peck Dam, MT and covered 543 miles. The Ft Peck Lake is a very large reservoir and can be dangerous to cross when winds rise making waves or if a storm comes up, which they often do. Parts 2 and 3 included world class fishing and world class beautiful scenery such as mountains, cliffs, river cataracts and the hole in the wall mountain. It also was the site of former homesteads which were abandoned after 30-40 years or more and the cabins are still there and date from the 1880s. Part 4 was 580 river miles, lasting 27 days, from Bismarck, ND to Sioux City, IA. This part included oil wells, farmland and several lakes. Mark often pitched his tent with storms brewing but it was on this section where he encountered a storm so strong that he laid in his tent and held it down to keep it from blowing away. Lake Oahe, 231 miles long stretches from Bismarck to Pierre, SD contains 370,000 acres and is the 4th largest reservoir in the US. Part 5 consists of 732 river miles from Sioux City to the Mississippi River confluence. It lasted 19 days. It also covered a section of the river which familiar to Mark, the 340 miles from Kansas City to St Charles which he has kayaked a few times before. Part 6 was 15 miles and took one day on the river and was enjoyed by Mark and several friends who accompanied him to the arch. For more info see paddlestlouis.com and riverrelief.org.
Missouri River Adventure
On Aug 21st Mark Fingerhut spoke to the LSL Ambassadors about his 2456 mile long journey kayaking down the Missouri River in 2019. This trip took 96 days from May 13 to Aug 17, 2019. He began in West Yellowstone, Mt and wound up in St Louis after kayaking down the Madison River for 100 miles, the Missouri River for 2341 miles and down 15 miles on the Mississippi River. The boat used was a cedar strip kayak made by Shane Camden in New Haven, MO. It was 20 feet long and carried about 200 pounds of cargo along with the paddler. It was a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. This trip was used to raise funds for the Missouri River Relief organization which helps clean and maintain the river for boating activities. When the trip began, it was cold in Montana and included some rain, some portages and encountered 13 dams along the way. Some portages were too long and a cart or a truck was used to overcome these obstacles. The trip was divided into 6 parts, the first one the 100 miles on the Madison River in Montana. Part 2 was on the Missouri from Three Forks, MT to Ft Peck Dam, MT and covered 543 miles. The Ft Peck Lake is a very large reservoir and can be dangerous to cross when winds rise making waves or if a storm comes up, which they often do. Parts 2 and 3 included world class fishing and world class beautiful scenery such as mountains, cliffs, river cataracts and the hole in the wall mountain. It also was the site of former homesteads which were abandoned after 30-40 years or more and the cabins are still there and date from the 1880s. Part 4 was 580 river miles, lasting 27 days, from Bismarck, ND to Sioux City, IA. This part included oil wells, farmland and several lakes. Mark often pitched his tent with storms brewing but it was on this section where he encountered a storm so strong that he laid in his tent and held it down to keep it from blowing away. Lake Oahe, 231 miles long stretches from Bismarck to Pierre, SD contains 370,000 acres and is the 4th largest reservoir in the US. Part 5 consists of 732 river miles from Sioux City to the Mississippi River confluence. It lasted 19 days. It also covered a section of the river which familiar to Mark, the 340 miles from Kansas City to St Charles which he has kayaked a few times before. Part 6 was 15 miles and took one day on the river and was enjoyed by Mark and several friends who accompanied him to the arch. For more info see paddlestlouis.com and riverrelief.org.
Chief Kurt Frisz –
St. Charles County Police
On Friday, LSL Ambassadors speaker was Kurt Frisz, ST Charles County Police Chief. He has been Chief since Feb 11th this year, when he was hired following his service as Wentzville Chief of Police. Prior to that he served 30 years as a St Louis County officer where he retired as a Captain. His service included time on the SWAT Team, Helicopter pilot and in several precincts in St Louis County. In 2014, St Charles County changed its Sheriff’s department from an elected sheriff position to a more professional police department headed by a chief. There are still lots of people still on the force who were deputies prior to the change to the police force. Police are more process and procedure oriented and centered on enforcing the law equally and a lot less concerned with “taking care of your friends” so you can be re-elected every four years. This often causes divisiveness in a sheriff’s department. Every promotion and raise is based on merit. Today all the commanders have 20-30 years of experience and have a lot of regional resources available to them. A lot attention is paid to working together with municipal, state and other regional departments to get the most effective in fighting crime in the area. They work with the regional drug task force monitoring local, regional and cartel activities and also terrorist activities. Some police are assigned to the DEA in their activities. The biggest local problems continue to be night-time car raids, stolen guns (often from unlocked cars) and personal items. Unlocked cars lead to stolen items, garage door openers, raised garage doors and then direct access into homes! Cameras with license tag reads are being put on bridges into the county so cars of interest can be tracked when they enter and leave the county as a step in preventing these raids. Today, hiring is becoming a problem due to lack of qualified applicants. Lake St Louis is home to the St Charles Police Academy which generally has 15-20 cadets per class. Even with this class and the influx of veteran police from other organizations still leaves St Charles County having a difficult time filling openings with qualified new hires. With regard to protestors that marched into our cities and the county, the St Charles County force and several cities met with them and marched with in an attempt to begin discussions about their concerns. One of their main concerns of course was the budget. It was pointed out that 80-90% goes to wages and benefits, with the last 10% focused on training, equipment and uniforms. Items that also must be paid for are buildings, body cameras and software. Programs such as DARE and school resource officers are an important element in maintaining contact with young people in the community. For a detailed overview, please review the budget on the county government website.
St. Charles County Police
On Friday, LSL Ambassadors speaker was Kurt Frisz, ST Charles County Police Chief. He has been Chief since Feb 11th this year, when he was hired following his service as Wentzville Chief of Police. Prior to that he served 30 years as a St Louis County officer where he retired as a Captain. His service included time on the SWAT Team, Helicopter pilot and in several precincts in St Louis County. In 2014, St Charles County changed its Sheriff’s department from an elected sheriff position to a more professional police department headed by a chief. There are still lots of people still on the force who were deputies prior to the change to the police force. Police are more process and procedure oriented and centered on enforcing the law equally and a lot less concerned with “taking care of your friends” so you can be re-elected every four years. This often causes divisiveness in a sheriff’s department. Every promotion and raise is based on merit. Today all the commanders have 20-30 years of experience and have a lot of regional resources available to them. A lot attention is paid to working together with municipal, state and other regional departments to get the most effective in fighting crime in the area. They work with the regional drug task force monitoring local, regional and cartel activities and also terrorist activities. Some police are assigned to the DEA in their activities. The biggest local problems continue to be night-time car raids, stolen guns (often from unlocked cars) and personal items. Unlocked cars lead to stolen items, garage door openers, raised garage doors and then direct access into homes! Cameras with license tag reads are being put on bridges into the county so cars of interest can be tracked when they enter and leave the county as a step in preventing these raids. Today, hiring is becoming a problem due to lack of qualified applicants. Lake St Louis is home to the St Charles Police Academy which generally has 15-20 cadets per class. Even with this class and the influx of veteran police from other organizations still leaves St Charles County having a difficult time filling openings with qualified new hires. With regard to protestors that marched into our cities and the county, the St Charles County force and several cities met with them and marched with in an attempt to begin discussions about their concerns. One of their main concerns of course was the budget. It was pointed out that 80-90% goes to wages and benefits, with the last 10% focused on training, equipment and uniforms. Items that also must be paid for are buildings, body cameras and software. Programs such as DARE and school resource officers are an important element in maintaining contact with young people in the community. For a detailed overview, please review the budget on the county government website.
"Sissy" Swift –
Child Advocacy Center
“Sissy” Swift of the Child Advocacy Center of Northeast Missouri spoke to the LSL Ambassadors on Jul 17th concerning the Social Services Agency located on Heritage Pwky in Wentzville. The center has the role of investigating child abuse in the 14 Missouri counties it serves. The Wentzville office has 23 staff members and the Hannibal office has seven members. Law enforcement personnel are generally not used in these cases because they are trained to do interrogations, a different methodology than the one preferred for interviewing children. The Center coordinates all the specialists used in these interviews. Today Missouri has 15 of these centers throughout the state. Several years ago law enforcement did these interviews using their methodology. Lawyers who had won a case were called by a Grandmother who wanted to discuss a case they had just won. They expected a pat on the back. However, the grandmother complained about the trauma the child had suffered because of the repeated appearances on the witness stand, reporting what had happened and who had abused him. Testifying against parents or relatives was excruciatingly painful and left the child with a lot of trauma and no knowledge of how to handle it. Based on this, a lawyer in Huntsville, Alabama developed a team of specialists, social workers, mental health professionals, teachers and the like who could do forensic investigations with the child and family members and others involved, so that the child would not have to appear in the courtroom and undergo the painful testimony that was needed in the past. Usually these cases start with a “hotline” call, a neighbor’s report or a teacher’s report to the agency. Within 3 days a cursory interview is done, then followed by a forensic investigation. Five to 10 years ago there were 389 cases annually in Mo, but this year there is over 800/ year. The teams consist of Child Division personnel, Prosecuting Attorney Office people, law enforcement and now special facility animals (dogs trained as comfort animals) for an interview and then next steps are established. State of Mo, Federal Gov. and St Charles County fund this effort plus fund raising activities. The state requires all teachers to undergo some training in this area, primarily to recognize and report problems. Problems primarily arise (90%) from someone who Loves them, Likes them or Lives with them. More info can be found at www.thechildcenter.com.
Child Advocacy Center
“Sissy” Swift of the Child Advocacy Center of Northeast Missouri spoke to the LSL Ambassadors on Jul 17th concerning the Social Services Agency located on Heritage Pwky in Wentzville. The center has the role of investigating child abuse in the 14 Missouri counties it serves. The Wentzville office has 23 staff members and the Hannibal office has seven members. Law enforcement personnel are generally not used in these cases because they are trained to do interrogations, a different methodology than the one preferred for interviewing children. The Center coordinates all the specialists used in these interviews. Today Missouri has 15 of these centers throughout the state. Several years ago law enforcement did these interviews using their methodology. Lawyers who had won a case were called by a Grandmother who wanted to discuss a case they had just won. They expected a pat on the back. However, the grandmother complained about the trauma the child had suffered because of the repeated appearances on the witness stand, reporting what had happened and who had abused him. Testifying against parents or relatives was excruciatingly painful and left the child with a lot of trauma and no knowledge of how to handle it. Based on this, a lawyer in Huntsville, Alabama developed a team of specialists, social workers, mental health professionals, teachers and the like who could do forensic investigations with the child and family members and others involved, so that the child would not have to appear in the courtroom and undergo the painful testimony that was needed in the past. Usually these cases start with a “hotline” call, a neighbor’s report or a teacher’s report to the agency. Within 3 days a cursory interview is done, then followed by a forensic investigation. Five to 10 years ago there were 389 cases annually in Mo, but this year there is over 800/ year. The teams consist of Child Division personnel, Prosecuting Attorney Office people, law enforcement and now special facility animals (dogs trained as comfort animals) for an interview and then next steps are established. State of Mo, Federal Gov. and St Charles County fund this effort plus fund raising activities. The state requires all teachers to undergo some training in this area, primarily to recognize and report problems. Problems primarily arise (90%) from someone who Loves them, Likes them or Lives with them. More info can be found at www.thechildcenter.com.
VISION LEADERSHIP
St Charles County
On Feb 28th, Mark Hollander, Executive Director of Vision Leadership, explained their training program to the Lake St Louis Ambassadors. Their mission is to educate business and community leaders by developing their community awareness, leadership skills and motivating them to be active in the community. Mark is a retired St Charles County banker and was the first employee of the 501© 3 organization, beginning in 2017. The concept for the organization began around 1998 with two previous organizations, one in St Charles and one in Wentzville which later combined. They educate local leaders about public policy, social issues, business challenges, and future county direction. This is accomplished through a one day per month program where participants meet on the third Thursday of each month from August through April. The first meeting is an overnight retreat at a local conference facility. Each month the meeting location changes and is planned to highlight differing elements of St Charles County.
Highlights include a trip to Jefferson City to meet with state legislators and other government officials. Topics include tourism, education, social issues and services, media, healthcare and first responders. Government offices at the state, county and city level are reviewed and economic development activities in St Charles County are also included. For more information visit www.visionleadership.org.
St Charles County
On Feb 28th, Mark Hollander, Executive Director of Vision Leadership, explained their training program to the Lake St Louis Ambassadors. Their mission is to educate business and community leaders by developing their community awareness, leadership skills and motivating them to be active in the community. Mark is a retired St Charles County banker and was the first employee of the 501© 3 organization, beginning in 2017. The concept for the organization began around 1998 with two previous organizations, one in St Charles and one in Wentzville which later combined. They educate local leaders about public policy, social issues, business challenges, and future county direction. This is accomplished through a one day per month program where participants meet on the third Thursday of each month from August through April. The first meeting is an overnight retreat at a local conference facility. Each month the meeting location changes and is planned to highlight differing elements of St Charles County.
Highlights include a trip to Jefferson City to meet with state legislators and other government officials. Topics include tourism, education, social issues and services, media, healthcare and first responders. Government offices at the state, county and city level are reviewed and economic development activities in St Charles County are also included. For more information visit www.visionleadership.org.
Dr. Curtis Cain – Wentzville Schools
On Friday the thirteenth, the Lake St Louis Ambassadors were lucky to have Dr. Cain speak to us about the continued growth the Wentzville schools are experiencing. WSD is the state’s fastest growing district and is now the 9th largest in Missouri. As with all schools experiencing significant growth, the district needs more building space and needs increases in salary to add staff and to keep staff in place. There is a lot of pressure on current teachers, administrators and other staff members to leave for higher salaries in surrounding districts. Prior projects on schedule for completion in 2020 and 2021 include expansions at Holt High, Peine Ridge elementary, Barfield, and Pearce Hall, and the new Journey Elementary school. A new high will open in 2021. Even with this additional space , new building expansion and additions will be needed required to accommodate the new growth. The district is proposing two new propositions to be voted on April 7, 2020. Proposition C is a NO TAX Increase for classroom space and Proposition S is a $0.49 for salary increases needed to attract and retain staff. The tax increase amounts to about $15.52 a month for a $200,000 home.
On Friday the thirteenth, the Lake St Louis Ambassadors were lucky to have Dr. Cain speak to us about the continued growth the Wentzville schools are experiencing. WSD is the state’s fastest growing district and is now the 9th largest in Missouri. As with all schools experiencing significant growth, the district needs more building space and needs increases in salary to add staff and to keep staff in place. There is a lot of pressure on current teachers, administrators and other staff members to leave for higher salaries in surrounding districts. Prior projects on schedule for completion in 2020 and 2021 include expansions at Holt High, Peine Ridge elementary, Barfield, and Pearce Hall, and the new Journey Elementary school. A new high will open in 2021. Even with this additional space , new building expansion and additions will be needed required to accommodate the new growth. The district is proposing two new propositions to be voted on April 7, 2020. Proposition C is a NO TAX Increase for classroom space and Proposition S is a $0.49 for salary increases needed to attract and retain staff. The tax increase amounts to about $15.52 a month for a $200,000 home.
DELTA CENTER - Living Independently
This week’s speaker at the Ambassadors was Jim Ruedin of Delta Center, a non-profit in St Peters that serves St County, Lincoln County and Warren County. Their mission is to support the aging population and people with spinal cord injuries including disabilities of all types. Their services are designed to connect people to resources and to empower them to live independently in the community. Services include Peer Support, Skills training, Advocacy, Transitional skills, Information and Referrals, and Consumer Directed Services. They have an equipment exchange program for durable medical equipment and do fund raising to provide equipment for the disabled. They advocate for individuals with housing issues pertaining to handicaps and sometimes this means fighting the system including government rules and regulations. They also help people navigate the complex Medicaid, Medicare and Social Services bureaucracy to get their needs met. Assessments are made of residences to determine what changes are needed to insure that aging people can age in place rather than seeking out more expensive quarters. Another service is helping one to hire one’s own personal care staff within the community rather than hiring an agency as a means to reduce cost. More information about Delta Center is available at www.dcil.org.
This week’s speaker at the Ambassadors was Jim Ruedin of Delta Center, a non-profit in St Peters that serves St County, Lincoln County and Warren County. Their mission is to support the aging population and people with spinal cord injuries including disabilities of all types. Their services are designed to connect people to resources and to empower them to live independently in the community. Services include Peer Support, Skills training, Advocacy, Transitional skills, Information and Referrals, and Consumer Directed Services. They have an equipment exchange program for durable medical equipment and do fund raising to provide equipment for the disabled. They advocate for individuals with housing issues pertaining to handicaps and sometimes this means fighting the system including government rules and regulations. They also help people navigate the complex Medicaid, Medicare and Social Services bureaucracy to get their needs met. Assessments are made of residences to determine what changes are needed to insure that aging people can age in place rather than seeking out more expensive quarters. Another service is helping one to hire one’s own personal care staff within the community rather than hiring an agency as a means to reduce cost. More information about Delta Center is available at www.dcil.org.
WENTZVILLE COMMUNITY CLUB
Significant Leadership and Contributions
Diane Ransom of The Wentzville Community Club informed the LSL Ambassadors about the WCC, a civic organization formed in the early 30’s while the country was still feeling the effects of the Great Depression. Its founding purpose was to help the city and its citizens.
When the City of Wentzville voted for water service, the bond issue covered the water tower, well digging, and water lines, but not service connections. Businessmen proposed a street carnival to raise the money needed, $1500, which was given to the city. It was decided to organize a carnival every year to pay off the bonds. The celebration became an annual event and lasted through 1968. The Club incorporated in 1937 and it soon purchased its first property on Pearce Blvd. Now, 86 years later, Wentzville Community Club, which as the city’s first economic developer brought in industry and jobs, continues today as a significant contributor to local organizations and a source of scholarships to local students. The Flea Market, now in its 44th year, has received accolades in being voted “Best Flea Market” in the area. It is the source of funding for the Florence Heine Scholarship Program. The scholarship program began in 1965 and has offered more than $700,000 in college scholarships. In 2019 it assisted 33 students who attend 18 different colleges. In the 1980’s, Bingo was added and allows the Club to also fund 501©3 organizations. A short list of other contributions to the Wentzville community would include:
Significant Leadership and Contributions
Diane Ransom of The Wentzville Community Club informed the LSL Ambassadors about the WCC, a civic organization formed in the early 30’s while the country was still feeling the effects of the Great Depression. Its founding purpose was to help the city and its citizens.
When the City of Wentzville voted for water service, the bond issue covered the water tower, well digging, and water lines, but not service connections. Businessmen proposed a street carnival to raise the money needed, $1500, which was given to the city. It was decided to organize a carnival every year to pay off the bonds. The celebration became an annual event and lasted through 1968. The Club incorporated in 1937 and it soon purchased its first property on Pearce Blvd. Now, 86 years later, Wentzville Community Club, which as the city’s first economic developer brought in industry and jobs, continues today as a significant contributor to local organizations and a source of scholarships to local students. The Flea Market, now in its 44th year, has received accolades in being voted “Best Flea Market” in the area. It is the source of funding for the Florence Heine Scholarship Program. The scholarship program began in 1965 and has offered more than $700,000 in college scholarships. In 2019 it assisted 33 students who attend 18 different colleges. In the 1980’s, Bingo was added and allows the Club to also fund 501©3 organizations. A short list of other contributions to the Wentzville community would include:
- $20,000 for City water and sewers,$13,000 to the Fire Department, $7,000 to the School District
- Thousands of dollars for the war effort in the 1940’s
- First and oldest sponsor in St. Charles County of both the Boys and Girl Scouts.
- Over $150,000 has been donated by the Club including the property and buildings for businesses, in an effort to improve and promote Wentzville. In 1943 the club bought the Acme Garment Factory. In 1947 the Club gave $20,000 to purchase and build the Binkley Manufacturing Building to provide jobs after the war
THE LAKE ST. LOUIS AMBASSADORS
February 14, 2020
Today’s guest speaker has taught Dale Carnegie courses for the past 36 years. He has travelled the world over, speaking and training on the lessons contained in Mr. Carnegies’ book “How to Win Friends and Influence People. He, also, is one of our own Ambassadors, Mr. Darrel “Dice” Perkins.
The topic of the presentation, “Let’s Be Nice to Others” covers the following basic principles.
1.Don’t criticize, condemn or complain
2.Give honest, sincere appreciation
3.Arouse in the other person an eager want
4.Smile
5.Remember, that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
6.Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
7.Talk in terms of the other person’s self interest
8.Make the other person feel important and do it sincerely
Mr. Perkins elaborated on each point emphasizing it with true stories from his vast knowledge gained through years of experience. The entire presentation was entertaining, encouraging and thought provoking for all in attendance.
February 14, 2020
Today’s guest speaker has taught Dale Carnegie courses for the past 36 years. He has travelled the world over, speaking and training on the lessons contained in Mr. Carnegies’ book “How to Win Friends and Influence People. He, also, is one of our own Ambassadors, Mr. Darrel “Dice” Perkins.
The topic of the presentation, “Let’s Be Nice to Others” covers the following basic principles.
1.Don’t criticize, condemn or complain
2.Give honest, sincere appreciation
3.Arouse in the other person an eager want
4.Smile
5.Remember, that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
6.Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
7.Talk in terms of the other person’s self interest
8.Make the other person feel important and do it sincerely
Mr. Perkins elaborated on each point emphasizing it with true stories from his vast knowledge gained through years of experience. The entire presentation was entertaining, encouraging and thought provoking for all in attendance.
Lake St Louis Ambassadors Activities in 2019
This week’s speaker was Don Hammond who summed the Ambassador’s activities for 2019. Since we are dedicated to promoting civic, cultural, and educational growth of our city, we strive to make it a better place to live, work, and play. We do this by providing volunteers to the community organizations, providing education opportunities and information to our membership, and offering fellowship for our membership. Each year we take stock of what we’ve done in the prior year and strive to improve on it the next.
In 2019, Ambassadors sponsored the led the LSL Fireworks Display efforts, provided three scholarships to local area high school students, had two Music on the Lake events, and sponsored the Meet the Candidate events. Ambassadors also volunteered at the Special Olympics Polar Plunge, CA Open House, Meadows 5-mile Run, Antique Boat Show, 3 Sea Lions Swim Meets, Water Ski Club events, LSL Triathlon, and the LSL Police Dept. Open House. This amounted to a total of 18 events.
The Ambassadors speaker series included 12 speakers from Lake St Louis, St Charles County, and Community Association Civic Officials, Organizations and Departments. Other speakers represented local businesses (5), charitable organizations (4), 3 local clubs, and 4 speakers from local schools. We also invited 4 speakers on personal finance and 9 speakers on topics of general interest. For more information see our Facebook page or our website lslambassadors.com
This week’s speaker was Don Hammond who summed the Ambassador’s activities for 2019. Since we are dedicated to promoting civic, cultural, and educational growth of our city, we strive to make it a better place to live, work, and play. We do this by providing volunteers to the community organizations, providing education opportunities and information to our membership, and offering fellowship for our membership. Each year we take stock of what we’ve done in the prior year and strive to improve on it the next.
In 2019, Ambassadors sponsored the led the LSL Fireworks Display efforts, provided three scholarships to local area high school students, had two Music on the Lake events, and sponsored the Meet the Candidate events. Ambassadors also volunteered at the Special Olympics Polar Plunge, CA Open House, Meadows 5-mile Run, Antique Boat Show, 3 Sea Lions Swim Meets, Water Ski Club events, LSL Triathlon, and the LSL Police Dept. Open House. This amounted to a total of 18 events.
The Ambassadors speaker series included 12 speakers from Lake St Louis, St Charles County, and Community Association Civic Officials, Organizations and Departments. Other speakers represented local businesses (5), charitable organizations (4), 3 local clubs, and 4 speakers from local schools. We also invited 4 speakers on personal finance and 9 speakers on topics of general interest. For more information see our Facebook page or our website lslambassadors.com
City of Lake St Louis
On Jan 31st, Mayor Kathy Schweikert visited the LSL Ambassadors to provide an update on the” state of the city”. She pointed out that LSL started as a residential lake community in 1966. It was later incorporated as a city in 1975, and today has over 16,000 residents, 700+ businesses and continues to add new housing starts and new businesses. Currently about 170 new residences are under construction in at least three new subdivisions. The major employers in the city continue to grow adding more employees, and new businesses are adding to job growth. NISC plans to add a new building and new employees, including software engineers. The Meadows continues to partner with the city in providing sponsorship and a space for community activities. RetailNEXT, a contest-based selection process with national reach, has been started as a way of attracting new start-up businesses to the Meadows. The city continues to add new park space including a 2 acre space in the Meadows and a property owned for some time but without access. It has been called the “No Name” park and straddles Peruque Creek in a low lying area and will provide a passive, natural setting and over three miles of trails. Transportation improvements include continued phased improvements to Lake St Louis Blvd and the start of the I-70 LSL Blvd roundabout in 2021. Some new businesses being added or in the permitting process include Clementine’s in the Meadows, Imo’s, a hatchet throwing venue, an Urgent Care in South Ridge (near Aldi’s) and a Dollar General replacing the video store.
St Charles County Veterans Museum----Remembering those who served
Jim Higgins visited the Ambassadors this week to tell us about Ralph Barrale’s quest for funds, space for parks and street names, among other ways, to honor veterans in St Charles County. This museum came about after many years of effort by Ralph Barrale seeking ways to honor and remember the veterans of St Charles County. Its one year anniversary is next week. Also, Ralph’s 100th birthday would have been this month. The museum is open on Thursday and Friday from 10-6 PM and from 10-4 PM on Saturday. It is open to all and also welcomes groups, such as school class tours, high school leadership groups and senior citizen groups. Currently the museum needs volunteers, and one urgent need is for teachers who can help explain the stories of our veterans to kindergarten or elementary students. Recently, a high school leadership group volunteered to help out at the museum and asked what tasks they could be assigned. They were given a “clean and learn” task, i.e. they were to clean for an hour and then to spend an hour reading the stories of the stories of the veterans displayed there. Afterward, they were asked what they learned and it was very informative to them. It pointed out that their education doesn’t provide information about people’s lives and what they have accomplished. Few adults and even fewer students have much knowledge of WWII and the Vietnam War, so this is a good way to find out about our local veterans contributions to history and to get a personal insight into how they lived and what obstacles they had to overcome. The special highlight of this museum is to tell the story of the St Charles County veterans so that their lives are not forgotten. They currently have about 250 veterans stories and are looking to add more stories, memorabilia and artifacts from local veterans. The Museum is located at 410 E Elm St., O’Fallon, Mo 63366, the website is stcharlescountyveteransmuseum.com and the phone number is 636-294-2657.
On Jan 31st, Mayor Kathy Schweikert visited the LSL Ambassadors to provide an update on the” state of the city”. She pointed out that LSL started as a residential lake community in 1966. It was later incorporated as a city in 1975, and today has over 16,000 residents, 700+ businesses and continues to add new housing starts and new businesses. Currently about 170 new residences are under construction in at least three new subdivisions. The major employers in the city continue to grow adding more employees, and new businesses are adding to job growth. NISC plans to add a new building and new employees, including software engineers. The Meadows continues to partner with the city in providing sponsorship and a space for community activities. RetailNEXT, a contest-based selection process with national reach, has been started as a way of attracting new start-up businesses to the Meadows. The city continues to add new park space including a 2 acre space in the Meadows and a property owned for some time but without access. It has been called the “No Name” park and straddles Peruque Creek in a low lying area and will provide a passive, natural setting and over three miles of trails. Transportation improvements include continued phased improvements to Lake St Louis Blvd and the start of the I-70 LSL Blvd roundabout in 2021. Some new businesses being added or in the permitting process include Clementine’s in the Meadows, Imo’s, a hatchet throwing venue, an Urgent Care in South Ridge (near Aldi’s) and a Dollar General replacing the video store.
St Charles County Veterans Museum----Remembering those who served
Jim Higgins visited the Ambassadors this week to tell us about Ralph Barrale’s quest for funds, space for parks and street names, among other ways, to honor veterans in St Charles County. This museum came about after many years of effort by Ralph Barrale seeking ways to honor and remember the veterans of St Charles County. Its one year anniversary is next week. Also, Ralph’s 100th birthday would have been this month. The museum is open on Thursday and Friday from 10-6 PM and from 10-4 PM on Saturday. It is open to all and also welcomes groups, such as school class tours, high school leadership groups and senior citizen groups. Currently the museum needs volunteers, and one urgent need is for teachers who can help explain the stories of our veterans to kindergarten or elementary students. Recently, a high school leadership group volunteered to help out at the museum and asked what tasks they could be assigned. They were given a “clean and learn” task, i.e. they were to clean for an hour and then to spend an hour reading the stories of the stories of the veterans displayed there. Afterward, they were asked what they learned and it was very informative to them. It pointed out that their education doesn’t provide information about people’s lives and what they have accomplished. Few adults and even fewer students have much knowledge of WWII and the Vietnam War, so this is a good way to find out about our local veterans contributions to history and to get a personal insight into how they lived and what obstacles they had to overcome. The special highlight of this museum is to tell the story of the St Charles County veterans so that their lives are not forgotten. They currently have about 250 veterans stories and are looking to add more stories, memorabilia and artifacts from local veterans. The Museum is located at 410 E Elm St., O’Fallon, Mo 63366, the website is stcharlescountyveteransmuseum.com and the phone number is 636-294-2657.
PRIMERO AGUA
On Jan 17, 2020 Jay Quattlebaum of Primero Agua, described the operation of the 501(c)3 charitable foundation which he helped found in 2010. Their mission is to provide sustainable clean water to poor people in Honduras. To ensure long term local support, a sister group -El Agua Tu Prioridad- was founded to gain Honduran collaboration. The work in drilling wells and maintaining them is sustainable because the work is done by a team of US/Honduran working together on each project. Those trained by the US team are quite capable and operate year around, while the US portion of the team returns home to obtain equipment, material and financial support.
Current projects are centered near Pimienta de Cortes, a small city of 18,000. Honduras is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with a population of 8.2 million. Nearly 63% of them are extremely poor living on less than $1 a day. Over 1 million lack access to an improved source of clean water. Unclean water results in parasites and diarrhea. Children often carry 1000 or more parasites in their bodies. In 2012, the local medical clinic reported 239 cases of diarrhea in children under 15 and 114 adult cases or 333 total. In 2013, after Primero Agua finished installing an improved water system, the total was only 35 cases, a reduction of 80%.
In December 2016, Primero was able to obtain a much larger and newer drill. They can now drill anywhere in Honduras up to 400 feet deep to obtain clean water sources for communities of up to 300+ people rather than the 30-40 people they were able to serve before. This improved drill was obtained after a capital campaign to raise $170,000. Primero has an annual WinetoWater fundraiser locally at Lake Creek Winery in Marthasville. More info is available at www.primeroagua.org.
On Jan 17, 2020 Jay Quattlebaum of Primero Agua, described the operation of the 501(c)3 charitable foundation which he helped found in 2010. Their mission is to provide sustainable clean water to poor people in Honduras. To ensure long term local support, a sister group -El Agua Tu Prioridad- was founded to gain Honduran collaboration. The work in drilling wells and maintaining them is sustainable because the work is done by a team of US/Honduran working together on each project. Those trained by the US team are quite capable and operate year around, while the US portion of the team returns home to obtain equipment, material and financial support.
Current projects are centered near Pimienta de Cortes, a small city of 18,000. Honduras is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with a population of 8.2 million. Nearly 63% of them are extremely poor living on less than $1 a day. Over 1 million lack access to an improved source of clean water. Unclean water results in parasites and diarrhea. Children often carry 1000 or more parasites in their bodies. In 2012, the local medical clinic reported 239 cases of diarrhea in children under 15 and 114 adult cases or 333 total. In 2013, after Primero Agua finished installing an improved water system, the total was only 35 cases, a reduction of 80%.
In December 2016, Primero was able to obtain a much larger and newer drill. They can now drill anywhere in Honduras up to 400 feet deep to obtain clean water sources for communities of up to 300+ people rather than the 30-40 people they were able to serve before. This improved drill was obtained after a capital campaign to raise $170,000. Primero has an annual WinetoWater fundraiser locally at Lake Creek Winery in Marthasville. More info is available at www.primeroagua.org.
Greentree Elementary Choir Performs
Another fantastic Christmas vocal performance by the Greentree Elementary Choir at Friday meeting of the Lake St Louis Ambassadors. This performance was enjoyed by the Ambassadors, parents and friends.
CROSSROADS CLINIC VISITS AMBASSADORS
On 10 January the Crossroads Clinic Coordinator, Cheryl Moellenhoff, and Dr Peter Montgomery, Board President, explained the operations of the Clinic which is located in the First Bank building at 10714 Veterans Memorial Parkway in Lake St Louis. Their mission is to care for people in our community who are between the ages of 18-64 who have no medical insurance. It is staffed by 65 volunteers and is open Tuesday and Thursday each week. It serves western St Charles County, and Warren, Lincoln and Montgomery counties. Seventy (70) % of those served work, but work part time or for small companies without insurance. Dr Montgomery and Dr Wepprich work there and Dr Graven has done spinal surgery for their patients. Currently they have a need for more volunteers, especially RNs, LPNs and CNAs. Clinic staff members work with clients to get free or low cost medicine by contacting pharmacies via the web, filling out forms and having a doctor review it for submission. Pharmacies do their own screening and few such submittals are refused.
Others in the community also support the Clinic. SSM ( St Joseph West Hospital) screens their patients for insurance and recommends the Clinic to them. They also support them with operating rooms when available. Local pharmacies, YMCA, local churches and businesses, and individuals also provide needed support. Find out more at their website at www.crossroadsclinicvim.org
On 10 January the Crossroads Clinic Coordinator, Cheryl Moellenhoff, and Dr Peter Montgomery, Board President, explained the operations of the Clinic which is located in the First Bank building at 10714 Veterans Memorial Parkway in Lake St Louis. Their mission is to care for people in our community who are between the ages of 18-64 who have no medical insurance. It is staffed by 65 volunteers and is open Tuesday and Thursday each week. It serves western St Charles County, and Warren, Lincoln and Montgomery counties. Seventy (70) % of those served work, but work part time or for small companies without insurance. Dr Montgomery and Dr Wepprich work there and Dr Graven has done spinal surgery for their patients. Currently they have a need for more volunteers, especially RNs, LPNs and CNAs. Clinic staff members work with clients to get free or low cost medicine by contacting pharmacies via the web, filling out forms and having a doctor review it for submission. Pharmacies do their own screening and few such submittals are refused.
Others in the community also support the Clinic. SSM ( St Joseph West Hospital) screens their patients for insurance and recommends the Clinic to them. They also support them with operating rooms when available. Local pharmacies, YMCA, local churches and businesses, and individuals also provide needed support. Find out more at their website at www.crossroadsclinicvim.org
Janet Quinn of Lake St Louis Senior Helpers spoke to the Ambassadors about services provided by their staff members. First, Senior Helpers is a National franchise which has three franchises in the St Louis area and the one in Lake St Louis is owned by Don and Donna Johnson. They provide in-home, non-medical care giving including toileting, cooking, cleaning, and companionship.
They do health fairs in the community at YMCAs, senior residences, churches, etc. They work with Hospice groups and provide life alerts to their clients. Most employees are CNAs but a few are RNs if that care is required. Fees run $35/ hour for one hour but usually a 3 hr minimum is required which runs about $22/hr. For 24 hr service, fees could be as low as $9-$10/hr. They help Veterans coordinate with the VA and get funding for veteran care initiated. Driving services can be provided on a mileage basis, at $0.50/ mile or your car can be used at a different rate. Their employees are bonded and insured. They offer a free in-home assessment of your loved one’s needs to match caregivers to their needs.
For more info call 636-200-6176 or go to https://www.seniorhelpers.com/mo/lake-st-louis.
They do health fairs in the community at YMCAs, senior residences, churches, etc. They work with Hospice groups and provide life alerts to their clients. Most employees are CNAs but a few are RNs if that care is required. Fees run $35/ hour for one hour but usually a 3 hr minimum is required which runs about $22/hr. For 24 hr service, fees could be as low as $9-$10/hr. They help Veterans coordinate with the VA and get funding for veteran care initiated. Driving services can be provided on a mileage basis, at $0.50/ mile or your car can be used at a different rate. Their employees are bonded and insured. They offer a free in-home assessment of your loved one’s needs to match caregivers to their needs.
For more info call 636-200-6176 or go to https://www.seniorhelpers.com/mo/lake-st-louis.
Ambassadors Learn about Senior Helpers
The County Police Chief Speaks
St. Charles County Police Chief David Todd was the guest speaker at the 11/22 Ambassadors meeting. He talked at length about how the police departments across St. Charles County are working closely together to serve the residents of the county. He is strongly supported by his boss county Executive Steve Ehlmann. He stressed over and over how important it is to lock your home and cars if they are left out on the street. The robberies and home invasions are now common occurrences in St. Charles county so there is no good argument for making it easy for them. While crime is increasing, he has had to cut his budget by $300,000 this year and there will be no increase in the number of police officers next year. This partially due to the decrease in sales tax collections because more people are shopping online. When you see a police officer, no matter what logo is on his uniform, thank him or her for their service. There job is getting harder every day.
Our next meeting will be December 6th. The speaker will be Janet Quinn, Senior Helpers.
Our next meeting will be December 6th. The speaker will be Janet Quinn, Senior Helpers.
Green Tree Elementary School Choir Holiday Concert
The annual holiday concert by the Green Tree Elementary School Choir occurs on December 20, Friday morning, 7am, at the Lake Saint Louis Ambassadors Meeting, LSLCA Clubhouse, 100 Cognac Court. The public is invited for this festive event. The choir is led by Julie Albertson, Music Educator and Choral Director at the school. Refreshments will be provided, including Bob Evans Restaurant breakfast breads. And, we are expecting a visit again from someone who lives near the North Pole!
The annual holiday concert by the Green Tree Elementary School Choir occurs on December 20, Friday morning, 7am, at the Lake Saint Louis Ambassadors Meeting, LSLCA Clubhouse, 100 Cognac Court. The public is invited for this festive event. The choir is led by Julie Albertson, Music Educator and Choral Director at the school. Refreshments will be provided, including Bob Evans Restaurant breakfast breads. And, we are expecting a visit again from someone who lives near the North Pole!
The Ambassadors Learn About The Lighthouse for the Blind
The Ambassadors speakers on Friday, November 15, 2019 were Angie Yorke, Program Manager and Brian Houser, Director of Sales & Marketing from The Lighthouse for the Blind.
Brian presented an interesting and informative overview of the businesses owned and operated by the Lighthouse all of which produce revenue in support of the various programs offer to vison impaired individuals. The Lighthouse employs over 100 people, 95% of whom are visually impaired, producing a variety of products sold to the US government as well as to the commercial market. Today the Lighthouse holds over 20 US Government contracts covering over 200 products. The current product mix includes Aerosol Cleaners, Bio-based Cleaners, Liquid Cleaners, Office Cleaners, Maintenance Products, Repellent, Paints and Coatings, Medical Products, and the first Green Seal Certified Environmentally Preferred Cleaners.
Angie Yorke, Program Manager, provided information on the many programs offered by the Lighthouse. Each of the sixteen programs are designed to train and encourage visually impaired individuals to live and work independently. Angie, pointed out that employees of the Lighthouse were required to find their own way to work, report to work on time and do their assigned job. Anyone not meeting these requirements is subject to disciplinary action or dismissal. The Lighthouse functions as a business, not a workshop.
Additional information of the products and programs offered by The Lighthouse for the Blind is available at www.lhbindustries.com.
Brian presented an interesting and informative overview of the businesses owned and operated by the Lighthouse all of which produce revenue in support of the various programs offer to vison impaired individuals. The Lighthouse employs over 100 people, 95% of whom are visually impaired, producing a variety of products sold to the US government as well as to the commercial market. Today the Lighthouse holds over 20 US Government contracts covering over 200 products. The current product mix includes Aerosol Cleaners, Bio-based Cleaners, Liquid Cleaners, Office Cleaners, Maintenance Products, Repellent, Paints and Coatings, Medical Products, and the first Green Seal Certified Environmentally Preferred Cleaners.
Angie Yorke, Program Manager, provided information on the many programs offered by the Lighthouse. Each of the sixteen programs are designed to train and encourage visually impaired individuals to live and work independently. Angie, pointed out that employees of the Lighthouse were required to find their own way to work, report to work on time and do their assigned job. Anyone not meeting these requirements is subject to disciplinary action or dismissal. The Lighthouse functions as a business, not a workshop.
Additional information of the products and programs offered by The Lighthouse for the Blind is available at www.lhbindustries.com.
The Ambassadors Learn About Pavement Options
Jesse Jonas, licensed Professional Engineer (PE) was our speaker this week. He is a civil engineering graduate of Univ of Mo -Rolla, was employed for 12 years at MoDot, 5 years at St LouisCounty DOT and at Horner & Shifrin, a local contractor. He is now employed by Concrete Council of St Louis. He discussed the strengths and shortcomings of concrete and asphalt paving and roadways. Primarily, asphalt is flexible and concrete is rigid, and the load transferred to the road base differently. It takes a much thicker asphalt layer to achieve the same performance as concrete. For all roads the proper preparation of the soil base must come first to insure that the traffic loads are transferred so that roadway integrity can be maintained over time. Also, proper drainage must be provided and maintained to maintain integrity of the road base. Currently, life cycle cost is becoming a deciding factor in MoDot’s contractor selection process on new road jobs. Often people in Missouri tend to favor asphalt roadways for their smoothness. However, they are usually overlooking the fact that most of our roadbeds were originally prepared for concrete roads and that asphalt roads now in use are likely to be an overlay on a concrete road.
The Ambassadors Get an Update on Our City Streets
City of Lake St Louis Director of Public Works Derek Koestel and Terry Rigdon, Project Manager, visited our Ambassadors meeting on Nov 1st. Derek discussed the issue of “Pavement Management” as it relates to maintaining the city streets. Lake St Louis has 170 lane miles of streets to maintain which includes both asphalt pavement and concrete pavement. Pavement management is a process of planning the maintenance and repair of a network of roadways in order to optimize the pavement conditions over the entire network. This provides the best outcome for a given funding level, the lowest cost for a given condition target, and it will forecast conditions for different levels of funding.
The city previously used a “Worst First” approach where the streets were rated each year as to condition. Then small problems were repaired by patching and overlay was used to fix major problems of failing streets or sections. Typically this results in spending large amounts of money reconstructing a few miles and allows most of the streets to degrade without any attention. The new approach evaluates streets every two years using automated data gathering vans funded by the county and loads the data into software provided also by the county. Each street can be evaluated and a long term plan developed to maintain each street. Combining these results provide data for planning the best approach for pavement maintenance and helps develop a budget to predict the associated costs. The city is now using a 5 year plan and will update it using the new data gathering system. This method will result in a longer useful life for city streets and help control costs of maintenance.
The planned Round-A-Bout at Lake St Louis Blvd and I-70 is now planned for 2021. A simulation of traffic flow on it is now available for review on the city’s Facebook page.
The city previously used a “Worst First” approach where the streets were rated each year as to condition. Then small problems were repaired by patching and overlay was used to fix major problems of failing streets or sections. Typically this results in spending large amounts of money reconstructing a few miles and allows most of the streets to degrade without any attention. The new approach evaluates streets every two years using automated data gathering vans funded by the county and loads the data into software provided also by the county. Each street can be evaluated and a long term plan developed to maintain each street. Combining these results provide data for planning the best approach for pavement maintenance and helps develop a budget to predict the associated costs. The city is now using a 5 year plan and will update it using the new data gathering system. This method will result in a longer useful life for city streets and help control costs of maintenance.
The planned Round-A-Bout at Lake St Louis Blvd and I-70 is now planned for 2021. A simulation of traffic flow on it is now available for review on the city’s Facebook page.
The Ambassadors Learn a Little About Spelunking
This week we were pleased to host Jim Ruedin, a member of a local caving grotto in Missouri. Grottos are local groups who are part of the National Speleological Society, the national organization of people interested in caving exploration, conservation and protection. Jim spoke on organized caving rather that the unplanned, spur of the moment cave adventures we may have experienced during our youth or in the course of some other outdoor adventure.
Most people know Missouri is called the Cave State and think it is because we have the most caves. Actually, Missouri has some 7300 caves which is second to Tennessee (10,000). What earned Missouri this name is the fact that it has the most “Tourist Caves”. What makes a cave a cave? It must be capable of being entered by a person and one must be able to get out by daylight. About 100 new caves are found every year. Caves in Missouri typically have lots of big rooms, rock formations of various colors and there is lots of caves with water whether they are large or small. Most caves in the Midwest are lateral or horizontal caves and have been carved out over time by water flow.
Today, caving adventurers need to be organized to get the best possible experiences. Public-owned caves usually require permission for entry and private landowners by and large don’t welcome cavers unless permission is obtained. The National Speleological Society is the National organization of cavers and local “grottos” or groups are organized in various states. The NSS has lots of subcommittees(see website) which highlights the various interests of cavers. Some are geographical, some research oriented and others focus on educational, safety, and special projects. In the Midwest, cavers monitor, restore, build gates and gather data about caves, then coordinate with National Park Service, Dept of Conservation and National Forest Service. Data gathering is used to map caves and enter them into GIS databases, to count critters, helping to count and track bat populations and monitoring visitors. More information can be found on Facebook and the NSS website.
Most people know Missouri is called the Cave State and think it is because we have the most caves. Actually, Missouri has some 7300 caves which is second to Tennessee (10,000). What earned Missouri this name is the fact that it has the most “Tourist Caves”. What makes a cave a cave? It must be capable of being entered by a person and one must be able to get out by daylight. About 100 new caves are found every year. Caves in Missouri typically have lots of big rooms, rock formations of various colors and there is lots of caves with water whether they are large or small. Most caves in the Midwest are lateral or horizontal caves and have been carved out over time by water flow.
Today, caving adventurers need to be organized to get the best possible experiences. Public-owned caves usually require permission for entry and private landowners by and large don’t welcome cavers unless permission is obtained. The National Speleological Society is the National organization of cavers and local “grottos” or groups are organized in various states. The NSS has lots of subcommittees(see website) which highlights the various interests of cavers. Some are geographical, some research oriented and others focus on educational, safety, and special projects. In the Midwest, cavers monitor, restore, build gates and gather data about caves, then coordinate with National Park Service, Dept of Conservation and National Forest Service. Data gathering is used to map caves and enter them into GIS databases, to count critters, helping to count and track bat populations and monitoring visitors. More information can be found on Facebook and the NSS website.
The Ambassadors Hear About Medicare Enrollment
On Friday 10/4 the Ambassadors were addressed by one their own, Kathy Otey. Kathy works at Circle of Advisors Securus. The Circle of Advisors is made of of Insurance agents, tax advisors, attorneys, and money managers/brokers. Kathy’s area of expertise is Insurance. Specifically Insurance for seniors. She talked to us about Insurance for seniors, her area of expertise. Her message was way to complex to explain. If you are a senior you need to consult with your insurance broker/agent about potential changes coming with the new enrollment period this year. You can’t make informed decisions on your own unless you are in the business. The Circle of Advisors are there to help if you don’t already have someone. They can be reached at (800) 720-4252 or their website (www.circleofadvisors.com).
Join us on 10/11 to hear from Mark Hollander, Vision St. Charles.
Join us on 10/11 to hear from Mark Hollander, Vision St. Charles.
On 10/18 our speakers were Bart Humphries and Chase Baute who are with Circle of Advisors Securus in Cottleville. The firm is basically a financial planning firm with a different twist to their approach in helping you plan for your future. They have gathered under one roof a team or circle of advisors which covers every aspect of helping you plan for your future. The circle includes tax planners, insurance agents, stock brokers, and financial professionals from several different fields. Some of the fields include: retirement planning, estate planning, annuities, long term care insurance, life insurance, Medicare supplements, Medicaid/Crisis planning, and VA and funeral plans. Attorneys and bankers are also included.
Upon review of this list and the fact that we see those around us facing some issues in these areas regularly, its easy to see that each of us can benefit from a review of our situation as to where we are today. Securus offers a thorough review of your situation today, due to the availability of so many advisors under one roof, and offers an educational approach to help you plan for what you want your future to be.
Bart has presented this type of information at educational seminars and to community organizations in the area.
Upon review of this list and the fact that we see those around us facing some issues in these areas regularly, its easy to see that each of us can benefit from a review of our situation as to where we are today. Securus offers a thorough review of your situation today, due to the availability of so many advisors under one roof, and offers an educational approach to help you plan for what you want your future to be.
Bart has presented this type of information at educational seminars and to community organizations in the area.
The Ambassadors heard about the St. Charles County Police Depts. Cyber Crime Task Force.
On Friday 9/27 the Ambassadors got a real treat. Sgt Brigid Oldani came to our meeting to speak about her responsibilities in the St. Charles County Police Department. She is the Supervisor for the Department's Cyber Crime Task Force. Sgt. Oldani has been a law enforcement officer for 29 years, beginning her career with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Sgt. Oldani is also the unit's K-9 handler. She and her K-9 partner Bonnie specialize in Electronic Storage Device (ESD) detection. They are one of twenty-four K-9 Teams in the United States with this unique training. What made her visit special is that she brought Bonnie with her and we were treated to a demonstration of Bonnie’s skill after our meeting. Sgt Oldani had hidden several SIM cards and other electronics in the CA lobby and Bonnie found them all.
Join us next week to hear from one of us, Kathy Otey speak about Medicare updates for 2020.
Join us next week to hear from one of us, Kathy Otey speak about Medicare updates for 2020.
What is the Retirement Red Zone?
Tim Neer from Prudential Life Insurance came to our meeting on Friday 9/20 to speak about the Retirement Red Zone. The football analogy refers to the years leading up to retirement. He spoke about the choices people face when deciding how to position their assets to insure they will be able to enjoy their retirement years with financial security. It is a complex problem. For example should you take Social Security early at age 62 or wait until you can collect the maximum monthly benefit at full retirement age. Should you put some of your money in an annuity that will guarantee you a fixed amount per month for life. Will that be enough to allow you to enjoy your retirement years given the cost of living will continue to go up. Needless to say, you may want to consult a financial advisor before you do anything.
Join us on 9/27 when Sgt Brigid Oldani and her drug dog Bonnie will be our guest. I am told that there may be a demonstration of how Bonnie ‘dies her job’.
Join us on 9/27 when Sgt Brigid Oldani and her drug dog Bonnie will be our guest. I am told that there may be a demonstration of how Bonnie ‘dies her job’.
Dr. Cain Gives the Ambassadors an Update on WISD
Dr. Curtis Cain, Wentzville School District Superintendent, was our guest speaker this week. He has been the WSD Superintendent for 5+ years and the district has been growing at a rapid pace each year he’s been here. WSD has shown progress in student performance and has a continuing tradition of professional awards to teachers. The district has 17,378 students this year, an increase of 580 over last year, and has 2565 staff members. Students test scores for last year were in the top 11% of Missouri schools. The school district is the ninth largest in the state for the 2019-2020 school year, up from 12th largest year. WSD has been the fastest growing district in MO since 2001 and the current growth rate is expected to last for the next ten years, and to have 22,000+ students in 2028.
Changes for this school year are a NEW CFO for the District, 113 new teachers (selected from 3300 applicants) as well as the 580 students who will be new to the district this year. The District has also selected a logo, a banner shaped like a square on top of a downward pointing triangle with WSD emblazoned in it. This year’s highlights were a student with a Perfect ACT score of 36, several AP scholars who received recognition and several award winning educators. One teacher, Lisa Waltenberger, was named a finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. (This is the highest award a math and science teacher can get)(WSD now has 8 teachers getting this award in the last 8 years); Tammy Braun, THS school counselor has been named Secondary School Counselor of the year by the Mo School Counselor Association; Sam Hardesty Knoll has been named to be part of the 2020 class of Midwest Education Technology Conference Spotlight Educators. WSD now has 4 of these educators recognized by METC for integrating technology into the classroom.
Challenges for WSD include opening a new elementary school in 2020 and a new high school in 2021. New school boundaries are being studied now with public forums held to receive input from families affected and recommendations for the new boundaries. The continued growth rate is projected to last for the next ten years and WSD has to plan for the continuous growth in student numbers, staff retention and recruitment to maintain an adequate number of teachers, and continued addition of more new buildings in the very near future.
Changes for this school year are a NEW CFO for the District, 113 new teachers (selected from 3300 applicants) as well as the 580 students who will be new to the district this year. The District has also selected a logo, a banner shaped like a square on top of a downward pointing triangle with WSD emblazoned in it. This year’s highlights were a student with a Perfect ACT score of 36, several AP scholars who received recognition and several award winning educators. One teacher, Lisa Waltenberger, was named a finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. (This is the highest award a math and science teacher can get)(WSD now has 8 teachers getting this award in the last 8 years); Tammy Braun, THS school counselor has been named Secondary School Counselor of the year by the Mo School Counselor Association; Sam Hardesty Knoll has been named to be part of the 2020 class of Midwest Education Technology Conference Spotlight Educators. WSD now has 4 of these educators recognized by METC for integrating technology into the classroom.
Challenges for WSD include opening a new elementary school in 2020 and a new high school in 2021. New school boundaries are being studied now with public forums held to receive input from families affected and recommendations for the new boundaries. The continued growth rate is projected to last for the next ten years and WSD has to plan for the continuous growth in student numbers, staff retention and recruitment to maintain an adequate number of teachers, and continued addition of more new buildings in the very near future.
The Ambassadors Get an Update on SSM Health.
Lisle Wescott, President at SSM Health St. Joseph Hospitals - St. Charles, Lake St. Louis Wentzville joined us on Friday 9/6 to give us an update since her last visit 2 years ago. A lot has changed. The SSM system has expanded to include many neighborhood clinics and tele-medicine which brings affordable healthcare closer to the client without mounting high hospital bills. Another exciting thing they are doing is within 30-45 days they will begin to rollout a Health Plan beginning with the employees and also a limited number of offerings on the Medical Exchange. The focus has clearly shifted from treatment to prevention. The biggest challenge is attracting and retaining employees due to salary pressures.
Our speaker on 9/13 will be Dr. Curtis Cain, Superintendent Wentzville School District. Join us to see what is happening with our schools.
Our speaker on 9/13 will be Dr. Curtis Cain, Superintendent Wentzville School District. Join us to see what is happening with our schools.
On Friday 8/23, Lake St. Louis Mayor Kathy Schweikert came to our meeting with her periodic update on the city. She fielded several questions about the development underway in the Meadows and shared growth statistics comparing Lake St. Louis with the other cities in St. Charles County.. We are third behind O'Fallon and Wentzville in residential starts. The four largest employers in Lake St. Louis are SSM Health St. Joseph, MTM. Walmart, and XISC.
Following the Mayor's comments, LSL Police Chief Chris DiGiuseppi commented about the increase of car and home burglaries. His department is launching a campaign highlight the importance of locking your cars and removing anything of value (guns, purses, wallets, etc.). Also, lock your home. The incidents usually occur between 2 and 5 AM. Don't make it easy for them. He also announced an upcoming Open House at the Police Department. The event is September 14 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Try to attend.
Our next meeting will be September 6th. The speaker will be Lisle Wescott, President of SSM Hospitals St. Charles Market. Again, all are welcome to attend.
Following the Mayor's comments, LSL Police Chief Chris DiGiuseppi commented about the increase of car and home burglaries. His department is launching a campaign highlight the importance of locking your cars and removing anything of value (guns, purses, wallets, etc.). Also, lock your home. The incidents usually occur between 2 and 5 AM. Don't make it easy for them. He also announced an upcoming Open House at the Police Department. The event is September 14 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Try to attend.
Our next meeting will be September 6th. The speaker will be Lisle Wescott, President of SSM Hospitals St. Charles Market. Again, all are welcome to attend.
The Ambassadors Get a City Update
Ryan Graham, Director of St. Charles County Parks visited with us again to give us an update on the county park system. We found out that one of his priorities is to build greenways to connect county parks. The newest park that is the Veterans Tribute Park to be located at 1031 Kisker Rd.. It offers a wide range of activities. Learn more about this exciting park and all the rest on the county park website (https://www.sccmo.org/1984/Veterans-Tribute-Park).
Join us August 23rd to get an update on the state of our city from Mayor Kathy Schweikert.
Join us August 23rd to get an update on the state of our city from Mayor Kathy Schweikert.
The Ambassadors Hear About Family Heritage
Kathleen Payton came to our 8/9 meeting to introduce us to a supplemental health insurance product offered by Faimily Heritage. they sell three types of policies: Cancer Care Plus, Accident, and Cardia Care Plus. All three pay the policy holder directly. They are 25 year term policies that return premiums paid when the term is up. Learn more sat www.failyheritagelife.com or contact Kathleen by email at kathleen.heartlandfhi@gmail.com.
About the Ozzie Smith IMAC Regeneration Center
On Friday 8/2, the Ambassadors received an overview of the Ozzie Smith IMAC Regeneration Center. Turns out that Ozzie Smith himself has benefited from this joint treatment instead of surgery to repair damage in his shoulder. The treatment uses the patients own blood to extract healing platelets and plasma that are interjected directly in the problem area. The centers staff includes physical therapist's, chiropractors, and orthopedic surgeons. They collaborate to insure you get the right help and if they determine they can't help you, they will say so. Learn more on their website OzzieSmithCeenter.com.
Pictured is Paula Mogley, Marketing Manager and Dr. Jason Brame, DC who just joined the center in Chesterfield having moved from Kentucky.
Next weeks speaker will be Kathleen Payton from Family Heritage Life. Join us if you can.
Pictured is Paula Mogley, Marketing Manager and Dr. Jason Brame, DC who just joined the center in Chesterfield having moved from Kentucky.
Next weeks speaker will be Kathleen Payton from Family Heritage Life. Join us if you can.
We Get an Update on County Roads and Transportation
On Friday 7/26 Amanda Brauer, PE, PTOE Roads and Traffic Manager for St. Charles County gave us an overview of what her department is responsible for and what they have accomplished. They are funded by a 1/2 Cent sales tax fund and Gateway Green Light. You should reference https://www.sccmo.org/218/Transportation-Sales-Tax-and-TIP-Info for details about how this money is being used. She also oversees a department that controls all traffic lights in the county. All the lights are connected to a single system making it possible to change timing to get the best overall traffic movement. Since the inception of the 1/2 cent tax provided $650 million dollars of County funding to construct just under $1.3 billion in transportation improvements.
Join us on 8/2 to hear from Ozzie Smith as he talks about IMAC Regenerative Medicine.
Join us on 8/2 to hear from Ozzie Smith as he talks about IMAC Regenerative Medicine.
The Ambassadors Hear About the Classical Academy de Lafayette
On Friday 7/19, the Ambassadors welcomed Katy McKinney to our meeting and heard about a private school she founded and leads in O'Fallon. They provide a classical education for K-8 kids. Their process is centered on the four classical virtues of Prudence (Having sound judgment and making sound choices), Temperance (Mastering ourselves for the sake and happiness of those around us), Justice (Treating others with respect and taking responsibility for their well-being) and Fortitude (Having the courage to face challenges and obstacles). Students are taught basics that are sadly absent in our public schools. Math tables; cursive writing; phonics; and the list goes on. They are taught how to learn, not how to take a test. To learn more about The Classical Academy de Lafayette visit their website https://cadlafayette.com. If you are interested in enrolling your children they are happy for you to stop by for a tour. They are located at 79 Hubble Dr. Suite 110, O'Fallon, MO.
Join us next week to hear from Amanda Brauer speak about Roads and Traffic
Join us next week to hear from Amanda Brauer speak about Roads and Traffic
The Ambassadors get a Market Update
On Friday 7/12/19 fellow Ambassador and wealth management consultant, Louis Wray spoke to us about the financial markets past and present. He gave us an optimistic outlook saying that as market cycles go, we are in the early stages of this one. Not the later stage as most might think because the market has been steadily rising for such a long period of time. This is based on opinions put forth by leading analysts. Of course, geopolitical events often influence market trends.
Join us next week to hear from another interesting speaker and fellowship.
Join us next week to hear from another interesting speaker and fellowship.
We Hear About the SCC Department of Corrections.
On Friday 6/28, Dan Keen, SCC Director of the Department of Corrections came to our meeting and gave us an education about his department. He has been on the job for a year now after relocation from Pennsylvania. He relayed a ton of statistics about the history of the Department that would be impossible to include in my limited space but here is an overview.
- Established at a cost of $22 million in 1989 when 52 prisoners were moved from the jail.
- The original capacity was 220 inmates with offenses ranging from low-level misdemeanors to alcohol and drug-related charges
Fast forward to today and after multiple improvements and expansions, there is now capacity for 528 inmates.
His daily challenge is to utilize this space while keeping inmates that are fighting in isolation. This means they use a two-person cell for one inmate, thus reducing total capacity to a Functional Capacity of 343. Since 2008, the Average Daily Population (ADP) has never been at or below Functional Capacity. The main reason for this is that inmates that normally would be sentenced elsewhere are being housed in county jails.
Learn more about the SCCDC by visiting their website (https://www.sccmo.org/183/Corrections) and joins us on July 12 when Louie Wray will give his Market Outlook.
- Established at a cost of $22 million in 1989 when 52 prisoners were moved from the jail.
- The original capacity was 220 inmates with offenses ranging from low-level misdemeanors to alcohol and drug-related charges
Fast forward to today and after multiple improvements and expansions, there is now capacity for 528 inmates.
His daily challenge is to utilize this space while keeping inmates that are fighting in isolation. This means they use a two-person cell for one inmate, thus reducing total capacity to a Functional Capacity of 343. Since 2008, the Average Daily Population (ADP) has never been at or below Functional Capacity. The main reason for this is that inmates that normally would be sentenced elsewhere are being housed in county jails.
Learn more about the SCCDC by visiting their website (https://www.sccmo.org/183/Corrections) and joins us on July 12 when Louie Wray will give his Market Outlook.
We Hear About the Eastern Missouri Police Academy.
Following that, Dr. Tom Lesser pictured with LSL Police Chief Chris DiGiuseppi on the right gave us a fascinating talk about his passion. That passion being heading up the Eastern Missouri Police Academy which is housed in the Meadows of Lake St. Louis.. The facility that has been built out in the Meadows is very 'state of the art' in that they are the first to implement a virtual classroom. That means that students do not have to make the trip to Lake St. Louis to attend and graduate. The impressive statistic he gave us is that over 95% of the graduates are recruited before they graduate. Some as far away as Wyoming because they teach students how to have a career, not just a job when they graduate. Anyone is invited to stop by the Academy for a tour. Their Facebook page is https://business.facebook.com/EasternMissouriPoliceAcademy/
Join us next week to hear from Dan Keen, SCC Director of the Department of Corrections.
Join us next week to hear from Dan Keen, SCC Director of the Department of Corrections.
The Ambassadors Welcome Their Scholarship Winners for 2019!
The Ambassadors welcomed our two scholarship winners at our 6/21 meeting and found out what they are going to pursue after high school. Pictured left to right are Gabriel Scalise with his mother Jill who will attend Maryville University to study psychology and Jennifer Lammen and her mother Erin who will attend St. Charles Community College to study health care. Congratulations to you both.
The Ambassadors Hear About Community Development
On Friday 6/14, the Ambassadors welcomed Michael Hurlbert, Director of Community Development for St. Charles County. Mr, Hurlbert, pictured with Molly Dempsey, Community Activities Director, came to St. Charles County from the city of O'Fallon and provides the leadership the county needs to promote economic development and lifestyle improvement. In his first year, he conducted a staff level review of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) for opportunities to streamline the department, reorganized the departments website, and developed a Master Plan through the year 2030. That plan is interactive and on the new website (On Friday 6/14, the Ambassadors welcomed Michael Hurlbert, Director of Community Development for St. Charles County. Mr, Hurlbert, pictured with Molly Dempsey, Community Activities Director, came to St. Charles County from the city of O'Fallon and provides the leadership the county needs to promote economic development and lifestyle improvement. In his first year, he conducted a staff level review of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) for opportunities to streamline the department, reorganized the departments website, and developed a Master Plan through the year 2030. That plan is interactive and on the new website (www.sccmo.org/203/Community-Development). Please take a look.
He talked about trends in housing starts year over year and they are down for single family homes but up for multi-family housing, almost doubling from 2017 to 2018. Commercial permits are also up but likely heavily influenced by Amazon, FedEx, and the Wentzville Logistics Center. St. Charles County remains the fastest growing county in Missouri.
Join us next week to hear from Tom Leasor from the Police Academy.
t). Please take a look.
He talked about trends in housing starts year over year and they are down for single family homes but up for multi-family housing, almost doubling from 2017 to 2018. Commercial permits are also up but likely heavily influenced by Amazon, FedEx, and the Wentzville Logistics Center. St. Charles County remains the fastest growing county in Missouri.
Join us next week to hear from Tom Leasor from the Police Academy.
He talked about trends in housing starts year over year and they are down for single family homes but up for multi-family housing, almost doubling from 2017 to 2018. Commercial permits are also up but likely heavily influenced by Amazon, FedEx, and the Wentzville Logistics Center. St. Charles County remains the fastest growing county in Missouri.
Join us next week to hear from Tom Leasor from the Police Academy.
t). Please take a look.
He talked about trends in housing starts year over year and they are down for single family homes but up for multi-family housing, almost doubling from 2017 to 2018. Commercial permits are also up but likely heavily influenced by Amazon, FedEx, and the Wentzville Logistics Center. St. Charles County remains the fastest growing county in Missouri.
Join us next week to hear from Tom Leasor from the Police Academy.
The Ambassadors Hear About Community Strong
During our 6/7 meeting, the Ambassadors welcomed Carissa Figgins who talked about an organization she leads that is working to improve health and wellbeing of all residents in St. Charles County with the goal of reducing/eliminating obesity, diabetes, and related health issues. This is being done by promoting a more active lifestyle by getting people who may have developed 'bad habits' back on the path to good health and a long life. The organization 'Community Strong' came about through the combined efforts of the hospitals in the county who recognized the need to jointly fund this group for the greater good of county residents. What to they do? They offer a verity of activities throughout the year to give people the opportunity to get out, get active, meet people and generally have a good time.
Visit their website (www.communitystrongscc.org) and register. Take advantage of this fantastic opportunity you are being offered.
Visit their website (www.communitystrongscc.org) and register. Take advantage of this fantastic opportunity you are being offered.
The Ambassadors Hear About First Step Back Home.
The Ambassadors welcomed Paul and Lana Kruse to our meeting on 5/31/19 to speak about 'First Step back Home'. FSBH is a 501-c3 organization established in 2005 to address homeless crisis in St. Charles, Lincoln, and Warren counties. They realized the enormity of the homeless problem in American and wanted to do something about it. Since the beginning, they have assisted more than 8000 needy with a 50% success rate. They begin by moving them off the streets to a motel, help them find a job and get them a bicycle or a car if they need it. A hot meal is provided every night by various church or civic groups. They kindly welcome donations to help them fund their efforts and in fact have received more than $2,000,000 from 800 entities since the beginning. The assistance they provide is not cheap so they always need more. Visit their website (firststepbackhome.net) for more details.
Join us on 6/7 to hear from Carissa Figgins, Community Strong.
Join us on 6/7 to hear from Carissa Figgins, Community Strong.
The Ambassadors Hear About Comfort Keepers
The Lake St Louis Ambassadors Club hosted Fred Henry at our meeting Friday 5/17. Fred came to speak about his St. Louis franchise, Comfort Keepers. He opened by talking about Alzheimers Disease. There is a world wide organization working to discover the cause of this affliction. There are places in the world where it docent exist and then there is the United States where there is a new case discovered every 65 seconds. They are trying to find out why.
Regarding Comfort Keepers, as you might expect they provide assistance for those in need wherever they live, even in nursing homes. You can learn much more about Comfort Keepers on their website. Go to www.comfortkeeperstl.com.
Our next meeting will be on Friday May 31 at 7 AM in the CA Clubhouse. Join us for breakfast and companionship and to hear from Lana Kruse, First Step Back Home.
Regarding Comfort Keepers, as you might expect they provide assistance for those in need wherever they live, even in nursing homes. You can learn much more about Comfort Keepers on their website. Go to www.comfortkeeperstl.com.
Our next meeting will be on Friday May 31 at 7 AM in the CA Clubhouse. Join us for breakfast and companionship and to hear from Lana Kruse, First Step Back Home.
The Ambassadors Hear about the Wentzville/Lake St. Louis Optimist Club
The Wentzville/Lake St. Louis Optimist Club is reborn. Retired Wentzville School District teachers Ed Jurotich and Peg Scholl came to our meeting on 5/10 to tell us what they do to support the youth in St. Charles County. Their main fund-raiser each year is the annual turkey trot. Ed being a former cross country coach at Holt High School works with the current coaching staff at Holt to put this event on. This year they tried a spring event which brought out 37 runners. Not bad for a first time event The money raised funds a $500 scholarship at each of the three WSD High Schools. In addition, they provide assistance to multiple Wentzville Police Department initiatives each year. They meet the 2nd and 4th Mondays each month in the Wentzville Schnucks.
Contact Ed Jurotich at via email at ed2x2is4@aol.com if you would like to join this great organization.
Join us next week to hear from Fred Henry speak about Comfort Keepers.
Contact Ed Jurotich at via email at ed2x2is4@aol.com if you would like to join this great organization.
Join us next week to hear from Fred Henry speak about Comfort Keepers.
The Ambassadors Get an Update on the State of the County
Friday 5/2/19 was the occasion of our annual visit from St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann. Steve spoke on several topics from county parks to the new Emergency Operations Center. The EOC houses the Department of Emergency Communications, the Division of Emergency Management, and the Information Systems Data Center. These entities were formerly scattered around the county in facilities lacking proper security and space. He spoke about the state of our highways and the need for the county and cities to contribute funds to assist MODOT with the maintenance of the state highway system. He urged all to speak to their state representatives about this so that local funds can be used to take care of our own roads.
Join us next week to hear from Peg Scholl, Wentzville/LSL Optimist Club.
Join us next week to hear from Peg Scholl, Wentzville/LSL Optimist Club.
There is a Food Pantry at Chapel on the Lake, Lake St. Louis
On Friday 4/26, the Ambassadors hosted Stacy Wills and Willian Hack who's faith based ministry is the operation of a food pantry located in Chapel on the Lake in Lake St. Louis. Theirs is a small pantry that serves up to 50 families per week. They do not receive grants or other government assistance but rely on food drives and food drives and cash donations to stock their shelves. They will serve anyone in need. They have been the recipients of food gathered by food drives at Wentzville Holt High School and Greentree Elementary in Lake St. Louis. They are hoping other area schools will participate in the future. They do not facilities to accept perishable food items such as produce so if you have an urge to support them, any shelf stable would be welcome.
Come to our meeting any Friday to hear about your community and listen to an interesting speaker. Our next speaker on May 3rd will be SSC Executive, Steve Ehlman.
Come to our meeting any Friday to hear about your community and listen to an interesting speaker. Our next speaker on May 3rd will be SSC Executive, Steve Ehlman.
The Ambassadors Hear from the Clergy
This Friday (Good Friday) the Ambassadors welcomed clergy from four local churches and one other. They are the Reverend Keith Spaugh from the Chapel on the Lake, Reverend Bob Thompson from the First Baptist Church, , Senior Paster Roy Christell form Living Lord Lutheran Church, and Decon Bernie Buckman from St. Patricks Catholic Church and Reverend Troy Merseal from United Methodist in Washington, MO. They all reflected on what Good Friday means to them and how all in attendance might take something out of their combined remarks to improve their lives.
Join us next Friday April 26 to hear from Stacy Will, Chapel of the Lake food pantry.
Join us next Friday April 26 to hear from Stacy Will, Chapel of the Lake food pantry.
The Ambassadors Get an Insite Into Security
On Friday 4/12, the Ambassadors hosted Scott Biondo, Founder Biondo Security Company. His company provides physical security for any they of client that needs it. They begin with consulting services to assess procedures already in place within a company. He related a few examples of things that should not happen. One example is when a company is going to fire/lay off an employee. They send him an email to report to HR or his boss for his/her termination. Commen sense would say that you don't give an employee advance warning that you are going to do that. That opens the door for untoward results. If given warning, an individual might react with negative intentions. Bottom line, keep your intentions to yourself. Visit Scott's website to learn more about this important service. http://scottbiondo.com/security-consulting-intelligence/
If you can, don't miss next weeks meeting on Good Friday. We will be graced with four clergy from St. Patricks, Lake St. Louis Baptist, Living Lord Lutheran, and Chapel on the Lake to deliver their message on Good Friday.
If you can, don't miss next weeks meeting on Good Friday. We will be graced with four clergy from St. Patricks, Lake St. Louis Baptist, Living Lord Lutheran, and Chapel on the Lake to deliver their message on Good Friday.
The Ambassadors Learn About Radon Gas
The Ambassadors heard from Cherie Summa today and learned a lot about Radon. It is a quiet killer. Radon originates from deep underground and seeps into homes through cracks in the earth. It causes lung cancer. It is not detectable by smell. The EPA has established measurements on the amount of Radon that is considered safe. The only way to know if an unsafe level of Radon is in your home is to have a professional measure it. If an unsafe level of Radon is detected, there is a way to mitigate the problem so that it is dispersed into the atmosphere. If your home has not been tested, contact Cherie through http://www.stlradon.com or any other professional Radon testing service.
Join us next week on Friday at 7:00 AM to hear from Scott Biondo, Founder Biondo Security Company
Join us next week on Friday at 7:00 AM to hear from Scott Biondo, Founder Biondo Security Company
The Ambassadors Learn About Digital Citizenship
The Lake St. Louis Ambassadors hosted Miss Missouri, Katelyn Lewis to hear about her social initiative, Digital Citizenship. While pursuing an accounting degree at Missouri Baptist, she is very actively delivering her message to students in middle and high school and anyone else that will listen on the dangers of using social media platforms. You can't take back anything you post on Facebook, Twitter, and all the rest, and you can't control how it is forwarded. It will follow you into your adult years and may compromise your ability to get into your college of choice or get a job.
Join us next week to year from Cherie Summa as she talks about Radon Gas.
Join us next week to year from Cherie Summa as she talks about Radon Gas.
The Ambassadors Learn About Bone Density
On 3/22 the Ambassadors welcomed Mike Baue to our meeting to learn about bone health. Mike owns a business in O'Fallon caked OsteoStrong. They offer a unique therapy aimed at strengthening both bone and muscle called Osteogenic Loading. This is a method for "triggering bone density and overall strength improvements by applying force through the length of the bone". As we grow older bone density tends to decline making them brittle and more easily breakable. The therapy offered at OsteoStrong has been shown to restore bone density and increase strength while taking as little as 7 minutes/week. Learn more about this at www.osteostrong.me/research. Mike can be contacted at 636-238-8696. They are located at 44 Crossroads Plaza, O'Fallon, MO.
Join us next week to hear from Miss Missouri, Katelyn Lewis as she talks about Digital Citizenship.
Join us next week to hear from Miss Missouri, Katelyn Lewis as she talks about Digital Citizenship.
The Ambassadors Get an Update on the City
Lake St. Louis city administrator Paul Markworth came to the Ambassadors meeting on 2/1 to discuss what is going on in our great city. There are a number of projects underway ranging from planning for a new city park yet to be named to early planning for a business park to be located south of Lake St. Louis Boulevard and west of I-64/40. Sales tax revenue continues to increase topping off at $5.1 million in 2018. In short the state of the city is good.
The Ambassadors Learn How the Lake St. Louis Fireworks Show is Produced
Gateway Fireworks came to our meeting on 1/25 to give us an inside look at how the Lake St. Louis fireworks show is produced. It is more than a guy with a bic lighter. Many hours are spent choreographing the music with the shells. The show is all computer controlled from beginning to end. Our 2018 show was ranked among communities of our size in the top 10 nationwide by the national pyrotechnics association. We are looking forward to a great show this year which will include some new and very unique displays. Pictured on the left from Gateway are Joh Weiter, Tom Dunsworth, and Brian Paglusch.
The Ambassadors Learn How to Write a Book
On 1/18, the Ambassadors found out that everyone has a story and they should tell it in the form of a book. That is what Nancy Erickson, The book Professor who spoke at our meeting taught us. She is a professor at Lindenwood University and has developed a process everyone can use to wright and publish a book to preserve their individual life lesson and hopefully change someones life in the process. Nancy will coach you along the way and publish your book when it is ready.. You can learn more by visiting
www.thebookprofessor.com.
Be sure to mark your calendar for our meeting on 1/25 where Gateway Fireworks will come with a video of last July's fireworks show.
www.thebookprofessor.com.
Be sure to mark your calendar for our meeting on 1/25 where Gateway Fireworks will come with a video of last July's fireworks show.
The Ambassadors Hear from Volunteers In Medicine
On Friday 1/11/19, the Ambassadors welcomed the staff of Volunteers In Medicine (VIM). Pictured from left to right are Mary Fischer, Kathy James, Sharon Pivin, Cheryl Moellenhoff, Dr. Peter Montgomery and Ambassadors president Bill Kral. VIM provides medical care to those without insurance and are living below 150% of the federal poverty level. Doctors and nurses volunteer their services and area hospitals donate lab services and whatever tests the patient needs. The VIM holds a fund raiser on Valentines Day to help defer some of their expenses. They are open Tuesday and Thursday each week and appointments are required. They are located in the First Banks building in Lake St. Louis and serve the counties of St. Charles, Lincoln, Warren, Montgomery and Pike.
Join us on Friday 1/18 to hear Nancy Erickson, The book Professor.
Join us on Friday 1/18 to hear Nancy Erickson, The book Professor.
The Ambassadors Hear from a Addiction Counselor
On Friday 12/14, the Ambassadors were visited by Darrel St. Aubin, LPC. Darrel spoke about the broad subject of addiction and in particular is organization called ARCA (Assisted Recovery Centers of America). We learned that when the use of a drug such as alcohol begins to affect your lifestyle and/or relationships, you are addicted. You may be one of the individuals ARCA is setup to help. They use group therapy, individual therapy, and medication to ease both the urge to use and help soften the process of withdrawal. You can learn more about ARCA at www.arcamidwest.com or call Darrel at 636-541-9874.
Next week we will be blessed with a visit from the Green Tree Elementary Children's Choir for our annual Christmas show. Anyone that wishes to come is invited. We will begin at 7:00 AM next Friday 12/21.
Next week we will be blessed with a visit from the Green Tree Elementary Children's Choir for our annual Christmas show. Anyone that wishes to come is invited. We will begin at 7:00 AM next Friday 12/21.
The Green Tree Elementary Choir Annual Christmas Show
On Friday 12/21, the Lake St. Louis Ambassadors along with a crowd estimated to be between 75 and 100 guests were serenaded by the Green Tree Elementary Children's Choir led by Choir Director Julie Albertson in our annual Christmas Event. It seems like it just gets better each year. Visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/lsl.ambassadors.71 to watch and hear a sample of what you missed if you didn't attend.
The Ambassadors wish all a very Blessed and Merry Christmas and a Happy and safe New Year.
Our next meeting will be on January 11, 2019. Our speaker will be Cheryl Moellenhoff, Crossroads Clinic.
The Ambassadors wish all a very Blessed and Merry Christmas and a Happy and safe New Year.
Our next meeting will be on January 11, 2019. Our speaker will be Cheryl Moellenhoff, Crossroads Clinic.
The Ambassadors Hear from Parks and Recreation
Darren Noelken and Chris White came to our meeting on 12/7 to give us an update on Lake St. Louis Parks and Recreation. Darren told us that the City of Lake St. Louis has negotiated an agreement with O'Fallon that allows citizens of Lake St. Louis O'Fallon resident rates at the Renaud Spirit Center. He spoke about the new park that will be developed in stages adjacent to the new McBride development off Orf road. And about the new surface recently installed on Zachary’s Playground. This park is rated#1 in the nation among All Access Playgrounds. More information about Lake St. Louis parks can be found on the city website, www.lakesaintlouis.com.
The Lake St. Louis Ambassadorsrs hosted one of our own for our 11/9 meeting. Al Beamer, owner of The Cottages of Lake St. Louis, spoke about Alzheimer and Dementia. in this vary interesting presentation he explained how Dementia progresses and gave some inside into what is going on in the brain as that happens. There is no cure for Dementia only treatments that slow the progression of this ailment which affects 1 in 4 of us beyond the age of 85. Al is available to speak to groups to further the understanding of Dementia and what caregivers need to know as they provide for their loved ones. You may contact Al through the Cottages of Lake St. Louis.
Join us next week to hear Craig Phillips talk about GPS for the blind
Join us next week to hear Craig Phillips talk about GPS for the blind
The Ambassadors Hear About Dementia & Alzheimers
Over 40 people attended the Ambassadors meeting on 11/2. We haven't kept records on attendance but believe this is the most attended meeting in recent history. Those that came heard Dennis Frede, manager of our local Schnucks Market talk about a wide range of subjects from the purchase of many Shop & Save stores to who makes the products sold under the Schnucks label. Dennis announced that he will be leaving the Lake St. Louis store effective Monday 11/5 to take over a store on Woods Mill Pkwy. He introduced his successor, Joe Kampelman. Joe is pictured to Dennis's left. Make sure you welcome him the next time you buy groceries.
Join us next Friday to hear LSL Ambassador Al Beamer speak about Alzheimer and Dementia.
Join us next Friday to hear LSL Ambassador Al Beamer speak about Alzheimer and Dementia.
The Ambassadors Hear About BJC Community Outreach
The Ambassadors gathered on Friday 10/26 for general fellowship and to hear from Kristin Williams, Community Outreach – BJC. Kristin talked about the non-profit organization detailing a number of initiatives they have underway to provide assistance and/or preventative health care to individuals in St. Charles County. Examples are pet therapy, music therapy, massage therapy and transportation for those in need. Their goal is to shorten hospital stays or eliminate them entirely. They hold two major fund raisers each year, a gala and a golf tournament but welcome donations of money or time from anyone.
Come to our meeting next week to hear from Dennis Frede, manager of our local Schnucks grocery store.
The Ambassadors Hear About Criminal Justice Reform.
Shannon Norman, local attorney and owner of Shannon Norman Law, advocates for Criminal Justice reform in St. Charles County and Missouri, including geriatric parole, private probation standards, and funding for treatment courts. Last year, she secured the release of a client, Judy Henderson, after 37 years of incarceration, based on evidence that she did not commit the crime and did not receive fair representation at trial. Judy's story is long and intricate, and was featured on "The Real Story with Maria Elena Salinas" on the Investigation Discovery channel back in July. Judy currently lives with her family in Kansas City and often travels to St. Louis for various speaking engagements. For more information about Shannon or her criminal justice reform efforts, visit her law firm's website and/or FB page. (Thank you Ms. Norman for providing this summary)
Visit our meeting on 10/26 to hear Kristin Williams, Community Outreach – BJC
Visit our meeting on 10/26 to hear Kristin Williams, Community Outreach – BJC
The Ambassadors Hear From the Newstime Publisher
Jeff Peyton, publisher of Newstime spoke at our 1/5 meeting. Jeff is a 30 year plus veteran of Publishing and communications. He moved back to our area this year joining Lakeway Publishers of Missouri where he assumed the role of Publisher of the Lincoln County journal, the Troy Area Press, and Newstime.
He spoke of the challenges of producing a free newspaper that is circulated in Lake St. Louis and Wentzville with a distribution of just under 18,000 while relying on only advertising to cover costs. 100% of the homes in Lake St. Louis receive the paper with the balance goes to Wentzville. He is always looking for ways to improve Newstime and solicited input from those in attendance. Most of the discussion centered around including more local content but that would require hiring a reporter which in the absence of subscription fees would drive up the cost of advertising.
Look for a new website by the end of this year.
Join us next week to hear from Elisa Zieg of Sparrows Nest.
He spoke of the challenges of producing a free newspaper that is circulated in Lake St. Louis and Wentzville with a distribution of just under 18,000 while relying on only advertising to cover costs. 100% of the homes in Lake St. Louis receive the paper with the balance goes to Wentzville. He is always looking for ways to improve Newstime and solicited input from those in attendance. Most of the discussion centered around including more local content but that would require hiring a reporter which in the absence of subscription fees would drive up the cost of advertising.
Look for a new website by the end of this year.
Join us next week to hear from Elisa Zieg of Sparrows Nest.
The Ambassadors Hear About the Sparrows Nest
Elisa Zieg, Executive Director of the Sparrows Nest came to our meeting on 10/12 to tell us about her organization. The Sparrows Nest, located off Highway K in O'Fallon provides a safe haven for woman under the age of 20 who are pregnant and have no other place to live. They provide transportation, food, shelter, clothing, educational fees, counseling, and more as these women, some as young as 14, have their babies and build a life for themselves.
Find out more about this outstanding community organization and learn what you can do to support them at their website (thesparrowsneststl.org)
Join us next week to hear from Attorney Shannon Norman.
Success in International Business
Lake St. Louis resident Professor Betty Vining came to our meeting to share her expertise about International Business. She talked about how to recognize and deal with differences in cultures when doing business internationally. Some cultures are much more reserved than us in the United States while others are much more expressive. Some are much more corrupt than we are if you can believe that. The key to doing business successfully around the world is to make the effort to understand these differences and adapt to them.
Our speaker on 10/5 will be Newstime publisher Jeff Peyton.
Our speaker on 10/5 will be Newstime publisher Jeff Peyton.
The Ambassadors Get Privacy Tips From the BBB
Matt Flinner from the Better Business Bureau came to our meeting on 9/7 to talk about protecting your personal information to avoid identity theft. He stressed the importance of doing your homework before allowing anyone into your home to make repairs or improvements. Check them out with the BBB is a first good step. Social media can also be helpful. In addition, be careful when using ATM's. Try to pull the card reader housing off. The skimmers you hear about can easily be removed. He also recommends shredding any paperwork you are throwing out if it contains any personal information.
Join us next week to hear from Chris Hunt & Ina McCaine Obenland of the SSC Emergency Department.
Join us next week to hear from Chris Hunt & Ina McCaine Obenland of the SSC Emergency Department.
We hear from the Manager of the LSL Walgreens
On 8/24, the Ambassadors heard from Jon Ward who is the manager of the Lake St. Louis Walgreens. Jon focused his remarks on various vaccines available in his pharmacy and how important it is to get the shots as we age. When ask about competition from online pharmacies, he said all they can do in continue to provide outstanding customer service.. They also offer two day free shipping on products ordered through their website.
There will be no meeting on 8/31 due to labor day. Join us the following Friday to hear from Matthew Flinner of the BBB talk about Preventing Identity Theft.
There will be no meeting on 8/31 due to labor day. Join us the following Friday to hear from Matthew Flinner of the BBB talk about Preventing Identity Theft.
The Ambassadors Hear about Commercial Real Estate
Tom Palitzsch of the Thomas Realty Group came to our meeting on 8/17 and spoke about the history of Lake St. Louis through the lens of commercial real estate development. He talked about how the Walmart site was chosen over a site in Winghaven. Residential building permits after having steadily increased year over year since 2008 are beginning to slow down. Regardless, the St. Charles County unemployment rate is very low and the county leads the metropolitan area in new home construction. Lake St. Louis is almost out of space for additional residential development but a focus on more commercial development like restaurants, grocery stores, and other retail will draw people from southern Wentzville and western O'Fallon resulting in increased tax income. MODOT also will be improving the current highway N from the Hawk Ridge shopping area west to highway T making it a four lane road.
Join us on August 24th to hear from on Ward, LSL Walgreens store Manager.
Join us on August 24th to hear from on Ward, LSL Walgreens store Manager.
We Hear About Heaging Loss and Remedies
Mary Stodden, pictured left, came to our meeting on 8/10 along with Kimberly Schaccht to speak about hearing loss and the various remedies available today. Kimberly is a Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) Reporter. She 'captioned' Mary's talk to demonstrate how captioning is done. Mary, of the Hearing Loss Association of America, St. Louis Chapter, spoke at length about hearing aids and cochlear implants and how they work. We learned that most public venues like movie theaters and live theaters have one of many technologies available that electronically connect with cochlear implants to block all sound but the movie or play. Some outdoor theaters like the MUNY have similar systems in place.
Join us next week to hear from Realtor, Tom Palitzsch.
Join us next week to hear from Realtor, Tom Palitzsch.
The Ambassadors Hear About Golf Course MGMT.
Our speaker on 8/3 was Don Humphrey, LSLCA Golf Superintendent. Don talked about what it takes to keep grass healthy in our St. Louis environment which is in a geographical band separating cooler and warmer climates. He talked about when to irrigate your lawns and when to apply chemicals. Surprisingly, he recommended to not use fertilizer during the hot summer months, rather apply it in the spring and fall. Grass is under as much stress during our hot months as it can handle. Regarding golf courses, he stressed that the 15,000 in existence nationwide benefit our environment much more than most people think. They provide habitat for native wildlife and natural landscape that helps in the exchange CO2 and Oxygen in the atmosphere.
Join us next week for breakfast, fellowship, and to hear Mary Stodden talk about hearing loss.
Join us next week for breakfast, fellowship, and to hear Mary Stodden talk about hearing loss.
The St. Charles Ambulance Districts Visits
Kyle Gains and Kelly Cope of the St. Charles County Ambulance District (SSCAD) pictured left to right with Anna Broeder Alt came to our meeting on 7/27 to update us on the district and tell us why there is a proposition on our August 7 ballot for a 10 year bond issue the district needs. Several new ambulance houses will be required growth particularly in western St. Charles County in order for SSCAD to continue their award winning service to our communities. They were recently named the best district in Missouri. A bond issue passed in 2002 will soon expire and the new one will provide continuing financial support as required. Other projects that will be funded over the lifetime of the bond are:
- 25 new ambulances
- 27 ambulance remounts due to aging of the fleet
- 11 transfer ambulances
- 2 surge ambulances (used as backups)
- 1 critical care transport ambulance
- Various vehicles, equipment replacements, and
- Sadly, BULLET PROOF VESTS needed to keep responders safe.
Ambassadors Get an Update From Two Police Chiefs
We had two speakers on 7/20. Chief Chris DeGiuseppi on the right gave us an overview of the Lake St. Louis police department covering how they police our community with 31 patrol officers. They divide the city into 3 sectors and assign officers to each one. If there are no issues in their sectors the officers devote their time to building relationships and other community services. Our other speaker was former police chief, Mike Force. He spoke about Proposition U which will be on our ballot August 7th. A vote for it will instate a 2% USE Tax 100% of which will go to the LSL Police Department. The funds which are estimated to be around $400,000 per year will provide for additional resources mainly in dispatch where they are grossly under staffed. Chief Force urges you to vote YES on Prop U.
Our speaker next week is Kyle Gaines, Comm. Dir. SCC Ambulance District.
Our speaker next week is Kyle Gaines, Comm. Dir. SCC Ambulance District.
The Ambassadors Learn More About Medicare
Kathy Otey of Insurance Advisors, L.L.C. came to our meeting on 7/13 to speak about how complex Medicare is and how important it is for those approaching eligibility to consult with an expert before enrolling in a Medicare plan. When picking a plan, you need to consider your medications, the doctor('s) you want to see and whether you want to pay a deductible for services or not. It requires the help of an expert. Contact Kathy by email at insuranceadvisors1323@gmail.com.
The Ambassadors Hear About Direct Primary Care
Dr. Jennifer Allen, M.D. came to our meeting to talk about her practice in Hermann, MO. Called New Freedom Family Medicine, it is one of a growing type of practice called Direct Primary Care. It is a membership practice where you pay a fairly low monthly fee and are able to receive care from her as often as you need it. Prescription drugs are dispensed in her office at cost as well as low cost labs. After hours and weekend visits urgent care, and home visits when needed are also services that differentiates this type of care from the traditional primary care doctor. More details about this type of practice can be found at www.newfreedomfamilymed.com.
There is no meeting on July 6.
There is no meeting on July 6.
An Update from Wings of Hope
Mike McCombs from Wings of Hope came to our meeting to talk about the charitable work his organization does all over the world. Wings of Hope's focus is medical transport but they also provide onsite medical care in the most remote and poorest parts of the world. Mike has traveled extensively to Equador and as far as Myanmar where he just does what needs doing.
Please join us on 7/6 to hear from Dr Allen of New Freedom Family Medicine.
Please join us on 7/6 to hear from Dr Allen of New Freedom Family Medicine.
The Ambassadors Hear About the Barathaven Special Care Center
Katy Rice Shannahan, Community Resource Director at the Barathaven Alzheimer's Special Care Center came to our meeting on 6/15 to speak about their services. Some startling facts are that in 2018 there are 5.7 million Americans living with Alzheimer's and that number is expected to grow to 14 million by 2050. Barathaven offers a living environment for Alzheimer's that is tailored to the needs of each individual under their care. The center is owned by JEA Senior Living who has facilities thought the U.S. You can learn more www.jeaseniorliving.com.
Join us next week Mike McCombs of Wings of Hope.
Join us next week Mike McCombs of Wings of Hope.
Carolyn Lott came to our meeting on 6/8 to deliver a fascinating account of the early history of our area that lead to St. Charles being established as our states first capital. She covered our areas transition from the early 1800's when France owned much of this area and gave it to Spain. Spain didn't have much interest and eventually gave it back to France. She told us how then President Jefferson took note of this and sent a two man delegation to France to explore acquiring New Orleans which lead to what is now called the Louisiana Purchase. Through a sequence of events she so elequently relayed we became a state. Ms. Lott is a guide at our first capital located on 1st Street in St. Charles and is a treasure trove of local history. You are encouraged to take a tour and speak with her personally.
Join us next week to hear Katy Shannahan speak about Barathaven.
Join us next week to hear Katy Shannahan speak about Barathaven.
Ambassadors Learn About our First State Capital
Nick Kohlberg from St. Charles County Emergency Preparedness came to our meeting on June 1st to stress the importance of family planning for emergencies. Do you have a plan? What if the New Madrid fault suddenly comes alive and the much anticipated earth quake strikes our area? Do you have a plan? What if a major tornado strikes your neighborhood? Do you have a plan? Waiting for a disaster to strike or affect you isn't the right time to create a plan. Do it in advance. Go to www.dhss.mo.gov and click the Disaster & Emergency Planning tab. You will find a wealth of information there.
Join us next week on Friday morning and hear Sue Love talk about the First Missouri State Capital.
Join us next week on Friday morning and hear Sue Love talk about the First Missouri State Capital.
A Return Visit With R. Dean Chrisco
Author R. Dean Chrisco returned to the Ambassadors to speak about the events that led to the American Civil War and parallels that exist in the United States today. He is the author of two books, 'Where Didd My Country Go?' and 'Taking My Country Back'. Mr. Chrisco is a fascinating speaker to hear. He is very well versed in history and paints a compelling argument that our country is in a civil war now. He retraced events that proceeded the American Civil War that occurred as much as 10 years before armed combat broke out between the northern and southern states. We all hope to have him speak again in the future. Stay tuned to the LSL Ambassadors Facebook page or our website www.lslambassadors.com.
There will be no meeting next Friday 5/25. Join us the following Friday to hear Nick Kohlberg speak on Emergency Preparedness. Have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend.
There will be no meeting next Friday 5/25. Join us the following Friday to hear Nick Kohlberg speak on Emergency Preparedness. Have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend.
The Ambassadors Hear From the County Executive
County Executive Steve Ehlmann came to our meeting on 5/11 and gave us an abbreviated version of his yearly State of the County report. He conveyed a lot of information focusing on road improvements and crime. St. Charles County continues to attract new businesses which translates to jobs and population growth. County government works hard to enhance the infrastructure so that it is ready when these businesses arrive.
Join us next week as Dean Sharp shares interesting facts about the American Civil War.
Join us next week as Dean Sharp shares interesting facts about the American Civil War.
The Ambassa\dors Hear About County Parks
Ryan Graham, Director of St. Charles County Parks came to our meeting on 5/4 and gave us an overview if this system. His department was formed in the early 1990's and is funded completely by a St. Charles County Use Tax. Items sold in the county that are manufactured outside the county and have a value exceeding $2000 are subject to this tax. With a staff or 57, they manage around 5000 acres of park land and have a long range plan to grow that to 1000 acres. They operate totally in the black meaning they do not borrow funds to expand the system. The next park to open will be call Veterans Tribute Park, located in the Kisker Road and Pitman Road area and will be around 100 acres in size. More details can be found on their website - http://www.sccmo.org/232/Parks-Recreation.
Join us next week to hear from St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann.
Join us next week to hear from St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann.
The Ambassadors Hear About The Wellness Connection
Dr. Jason Hamed, of The Chiropractic Wellness Connection spoke at our meeting on 4/27 about how stress and the effect it has on general wellness. His message is that we all have stress in our lives, some more than others. That stress can lead to what is known as subluxations, the chiropractic term for when the bones in your spine get out of alignment. When that happens, nerves become compressed and bodily functions will be compromised. You may experience pain, numbness, or loss of control. An example is that if nerves that control your stomach are compressed or interfered with more than likely, stomach problems will result. For more information visit www.connectwithwellness.com.
Join us May 4th to hear Ryan Graham, St. Charles County Parks Director.
Join us May 4th to hear Ryan Graham, St. Charles County Parks Director.
Connecting Students with Mentors
The Ambassadors heard from Dr. Karen Hill, Director-Professional & Program Development for the Wentzville School District. Dr. Hill addressed curriculum, instruction and assessment in the district. The district is highly pro-active in keeping the curriculum current and the instruction methods relevant to make sure the students are prepared for the standardized assessments. All this is good but the methods used to achieve the above are worth note. They connect students with business by mentors or actual job situations to help them develop the intra-personnel skills they will need later in life. If you are interested in becoming a mentor or have business needs that a student might fill, contact Dr. Hill. Her email is karenhill@wsdr4.org. Her phone number is 636-332-3751 ext, 22349.
Join us next week to hear Dr. Jason talk about the Wellness Connection.
Join us next week to hear Dr. Jason talk about the Wellness Connection.
The Ambassadors Hear from the St. Charles County Police Chief
The first Police Chief of St. Charles County came to our meeting on 4/13 and delivered very interesting talk about his department. In 2015, a new county wide police force was commissioned by splitting the county sheriff organization to create the St Charles County Police and a redefined County Sheriff organization. The County Sheriff which is an elected position will be responsible for the court system and prisoner transport. The new County Police Chief handles all crime fighting activities. David Todd as police chief of St. Charles County brings a very impressive resume with experience in multiple police departments in the St. Louis area and laser focused to protect and serve the citizens of St. Charles County. His department works in lock step with all of the city police forces to maximize the use of all of his resources and they are many. We should all feel good that Chief David Todd is at the helm of the St. Charles County Police.
Don't miss the chance to hear our own Dr. Hill speak on connecting students with mentors next week.
Don't miss the chance to hear our own Dr. Hill speak on connecting students with mentors next week.
The Ambassadors Get a Real Estate Update
Former Ambassador Darrel Hollinger of Hollinger Success Realty and Morgan Jerabek from First Bank came to our meeting on 4/6 and spoke about the state of real estate. Darrel gave an overview of sales across MARIS system wide and then focused on just the Lake St. Louis market. MARIS is our local multiple listing service used be almost all brokers in the St. Louis area. Darrel then talked about the tax record used by real estate agents when they list or sell a home and by the counter assessor to determine your property tax.
Join us next week to hear a talk by the first police chief of St. Charles County.
Join us next week to hear a talk by the first police chief of St. Charles County.
The Ambassadors Hear from the Clergy
On Good Friday, the Ambassadors were visited by representatives of four local churches. The Reverend Keith Spaugh from the Chapel on the Lake, Reverend Bob Thompson from the First Baptist Church, , Senior Paster Roy Christell form Living Lord Lutheran Church, and Decon Bernie Buckman from St. Patricks Catholic Church. These four local legends come to us each year and always have an inspirational message about this important holiday. Even though they represent four different denominations, Reverend Thompson summed it up very well when he said if everyone got along as well as the four of them, the world would be a better place.
Join us next week to hear Darrel Hollinger & Morgan Jerabek's thoughts about the real estate market.
Join us next week to hear Darrel Hollinger & Morgan Jerabek's thoughts about the real estate market.
The Ambassadors Hear About OsteoStrong
Mike Baue. owner of OsteoStrong in O'Fallon, MO came to our meeting on 3/23 and spoke about the inevitable onset of osteoporosis's as we reach 50 years of age and one way to potentially slow that process. Women are 20% more likely to develop this condition but everyone suffers bone loss as they age. It is natural. Unfortunately, muscle loss occurs at the same time leading to loss of balance and a higher likelihood bone fractures and breaks. You can take pills to slow this but as everyone knows, there are side effects to the use of any drug. Mr. Baue at OsteoStrong has been in business and is located in the Crossroads Plaza in O'Fallon. Visit www.osteostrong.me for more information.
Join us next week for our very special Good Friday meeting to hear a message from The Four Horsemen.
Join us next week for our very special Good Friday meeting to hear a message from The Four Horsemen.
We Hear About the Career Explorations Alliance
Dawn Thornton spoke to the Ambassadors about the Career Explorations Alliance. This group brings high school juniors and seniors together with mentors from a very wide spectrum of businesses to give these students either 'on the job' exposure or one on one counseling with a professional in their areas of interest. They are seeking mentors for their Career Week (April 9-13 / April 16-18) Visit their website (www.careerexplorationsalliance.com) to learn more and/or sign up to participate.
Join us next week when we hear from Michael Baue on Osteoporosis.
Join us next week when we hear from Michael Baue on Osteoporosis.
Rich Chrismer, Director of Elections for St. Charles County Visits
On Friday 3/9, our scheduled speaker Michele Cohen had to reschedule her presentation due to conflicts. We instead heard from Rich Chrismer, Director of Elections for St. Charles County. Rich addressed a number of topics ranging from petitions to voter registration and participation in elections. His main points were to read petitions you are ask to sign before making a decision to participate. They should be short enough to read and focused on one topic. Secondly, there is no such thing as a 'wasted vote'. Everyones vote does count. History is littered with examples of when one vote was the difference on major issues. Examples are the 19th Amendment (decided in Tennessee by one vote) and the election of a guy named Adolf Hitler as Chancellor of Germany in the 1930's. Don't ever think your vote is not important.
Join us next week to hear Dawn Thornton, DECA.
Join us next week to hear Dawn Thornton, DECA.
The Ambassadors Hear About a Petition for a Stronger Missouri
Cheryl Hibbeler, pictured here with Dr Del Meuller, spoke at our March 2nd meeting about an effort underway to gain 200,000+ signatures on a petition for a Stronger Missouri. This petition would place a measure on our November 2018 ballot that would limit all campaign contributions for state representatives to $2,500 and state senators to $2,000. It would also address flaws in state gerrymandering processes, making them non partisan in nature. Regarding campaign contributions, there is already controls on individual contributions at these levels but those same restrictions do not apply to PAC's and other 'big money' donors. The clear objective is to level the playing field when it comes to political contributions. If you would like to volunteer to work on this effort or just sigh the petition, contact Cheryl at 66-293-4988. She is one of a larger groups donating their time and resources to give Missouri voters a real voice. Her efforts are strictly non-partisan so why not sign so it can be put to a vote in November?
Join us next week to hear Michele Cohen, Mgr. Performance Food Service.
Join us next week to hear Michele Cohen, Mgr. Performance Food Service.
The Ambassadors Hear About Proposition E
Dr. Curtis Cain, Superintendent of the Wentzville School District came to our 2/23 meeting with an update on the state of the District. Growth continues to put heavy demand on capacity as there are 77 new housing plats currently on file. To keep pace with this extraordinary growth, the district will place Proposition E on Aprils ballot. It will fund a new comprehensive high school, a new elementary school, additions to Peine Ridge Elementary, Barfield Early Childhood and Pearce Hall plus a new gym at Holt High School. It takes 3 years to build a new High School if mother nature cooperates. It takes 18 months for a new elementary school.
The Ambassadors Get a Weather Lesson
The Ambassadors heard from John Fuller on 2/16. Mr. Fuller is Chief Meteorologist at KPLR Channel 11 in St. Louis. He spoke to us about various weather phenomena, specially tornados. He described the conditions that produce tornados and gave examples of past events in the St. Louis area as well as other parts of the country. Bottom line, a tornado is unpredictable, dangers, and deserve your upmost respect. Heed warnings. If directed, take shelter. Your life may depend on it. All those in attendance were educated and entertained.
Don't miss out next week. Come to our meeting and hear from Dr. Curtis Cain, Superintendent of Wentzville Schools. Dr. Curtis always has an eye opening presentation on the state of the Wentzville school district and future plans.
Don't miss out next week. Come to our meeting and hear from Dr. Curtis Cain, Superintendent of Wentzville Schools. Dr. Curtis always has an eye opening presentation on the state of the Wentzville school district and future plans.
St. Charles County Update
Scott Grachnik, Executive Director St. Charles County Workforce & Business Development came to our meeting with an report on the state of the workforce and other economic indicators in St. Charles County. St. Charles County is the fastest growing county in Missouri and the unemployment rate has dipped to 2.7% from as high as the mid 9's after the market decline in 2008. Within the county, Wentzville leads other cities in growth followed by O'Fallon. In total, the report painted a very good picture of the state of the county.
Join us next week for an interesting presentation by Meteorologist John Fuller.
Join us next week for an interesting presentation by Meteorologist John Fuller.
Ambassadors Get a City Update
Lake St. Louis Mayor Kathy Schweikert came to our meeting with her yearly update on the city. She revealed a number of projects either under way or coming up before the Planning and Zoning Commission for final approval P&Z recently approved the long range plan for the city. That will serve as a general guideline for future projects and insures that we move forward in a controlled way. More eminent developments will be sean in the general area around Aldis and Hawk Ridge Shops. Our meeting was well attended including several members of the community that took advantage or our standing invitation to participate.
Join us next week and hear from Scott Drachnik, Dir. of Workplace Development, SSC
Join us next week and hear from Scott Drachnik, Dir. of Workplace Development, SSC
The Ambassadors Hear About the Salvation Army
Former Wentzville Mayor Paul Lambi came to our meeting to speak to us about the Salvation Army (SA). He reviewed the fascinating history of the SA and talked about how they get the money necessary to provide the extensive services they offer. The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 in London, England and grown into a world wide organization.
Wherever there is a need, they show up. They are funded through private donations and the Tree of Lights campaign (they are the bell ringers you see around Christmas time). Private donations come in the form of Bonds, Funds, Stocks, and IRA Rollovers as well as Planned Giving via Wills and Gift Annuities and Airline Miles. The Gift Annuity looks like a very viable option for personal financial planning. If you are interested, visit their website (www.salvationarmyusa.org) for more information.
Join us on Jan. 19 to hear Jay Everett from Rottler Pest Control.
Wherever there is a need, they show up. They are funded through private donations and the Tree of Lights campaign (they are the bell ringers you see around Christmas time). Private donations come in the form of Bonds, Funds, Stocks, and IRA Rollovers as well as Planned Giving via Wills and Gift Annuities and Airline Miles. The Gift Annuity looks like a very viable option for personal financial planning. If you are interested, visit their website (www.salvationarmyusa.org) for more information.
Join us on Jan. 19 to hear Jay Everett from Rottler Pest Control.
Ambassadors Learn a Little About Our Local Juvenile Justice System
Newark Davis, Supervisor of Detention for St. Charles County, came to our meeting and gave us an inside look at our juvenile justice system in St. Charles County. His discussion was very detailed as he described the protocols put in place to provide equal treatment for those entering his jurisdiction. There is a very well defined point system where individuals are assigned points based on their crime and their history. Those with low point counts are not placed in detention but are sent back to their family. Those that are placed in detention receive various forms of services designed to enhance their self esteem, confidence and life skills.
Our speaker next week will be Lake St. Louis Mayor, Kathy Schweikert. She always has a lot to tell us about what is happening in our city. All are welcome to attend.
Our speaker next week will be Lake St. Louis Mayor, Kathy Schweikert. She always has a lot to tell us about what is happening in our city. All are welcome to attend.
The Ambassadors Hear from Rottler Pest & Lawn Solutions
Jason Everitt from Rottler Pest & Lawn Solutions spoke at the January 19, 2018, Lake Saint Louis Ambassadors Meeting. The company began in 1956 and now with 190 employees is the largest family-owned pest management company in Missouri. Jason talked about common pests that his company contends with in the greater St. Louis area, including raccoons, squirrels, mice, skunks, armadillos, moles, and bats. He said that they follow guidelines in the Missouri wildlife code and recommendations from veterinarians. He also talked about insect pests including bed bugs, beetles, ants, flies, spiders, termites, wasps, and hornets. Mr. Everitt is pictured with Ambassador Hank Fischer. The Ambassadors meet every Friday morning at 7 am for one hour at the Lake Saint Louis Community Association Clubhouse. Each meeting includes a Bob Evans Restaurant catered breakfast and a speaker of interest to the community. Perspective members are welcome to attend.
Senior Helpers Visit
The children from Green Tree Elementary put on their annual Christmas program for the Ambassadors and guests. It was, as always, a very good time. We enjoyed about 15 minutes of music followed by breakfast catered by Bob Evans. If you missed the show this year, do yourself a favor and plan to attend next Christmas.
Our next scheduled speaker will be Janet Quinn from Senior Helpers on January 5, 2018.
Our next scheduled speaker will be Janet Quinn from Senior Helpers on January 5, 2018.
Don Johnson, owner of our local Senior Helpers franchise and Janet Quinn spoke to us about preventing falls around the house. Besides strokes, falls are the biggest problem a lot of seniors face. Senior Helpers offer non-medical services for as little one hour to full-time. They start with a home visit where specific goals are identified and while there, they offer recommendations on what to do to help avoid falls. Things from hand-holds to either eliminating throw rugs or securing them with carpet tape. Visit their website (www.seniorhelpers.com/northstlouis to learn more and find out how to contact them.
Our next speaker is Paul Lambi from the Salvation Army.
Our next speaker is Paul Lambi from the Salvation Army.
Ambassadors Enjoy Our Annual Christmas Show
The Ambassadors Learn About Skin Cancer
Dr. Saadia Lakhany Raza, a Dermotologist spoke to us about skin cancer. She focused on the three most common forms. Ranked from most common to least they are Basel Cell, Squamous Cell, and Malanoma. She stressed the importance of paying attention to your skin and getting anything that looks different examined by either your primary care doctor or a dermotologist. Rather than trying to relay what to look for, I recommend you visit www.skincaner.org and read all about it.
Our next meeting on 12/22 will be our annual Christmas Program featuring the children's choir from Greentree Elementary. Please come and bring your neighbor. There may also be a visit from Santa. There is no meeting on 12/29.
Our next meeting on 12/22 will be our annual Christmas Program featuring the children's choir from Greentree Elementary. Please come and bring your neighbor. There may also be a visit from Santa. There is no meeting on 12/29.
The Ambassadors Learn About Manual Therapy
Dan Washeck, a fellowship trained manual therapist came to our meeting to talk about a new practice he and his wife Cindy opened in the Meadows. Cindy is also a fellowship trained manual therapist. Manual Therapy is a discipline that originated in Norway and has since been formally recognized in many countries in Europe. The question you may ask is what makes Manual Therapy different from Physical Therapy. He explained that the manual therapist will evaluate you to attempt to determine the root cause of your pain or disorder or pain rather than just give you a set of exercises to do at home. The latter may just make what ever is going on worse. Visit www.winghavenmanualpt.com to learn more about his practice.
Next week our speaker is Dr. Saadia Lakhany Raza, a Dermotologist. And, don't forget our Christmas program on December 22. The Green Tree Choir will preform your favorite Christmas music.
Next week our speaker is Dr. Saadia Lakhany Raza, a Dermotologist. And, don't forget our Christmas program on December 22. The Green Tree Choir will preform your favorite Christmas music.
The Ambassadors Get a Sewer Update
Dan Oberle and Ray Schroder came to our meeting on 12/1 to update us on the work underway on the sewers under our lakes. In summery, they are in very good shape. Dan and Ray have been instrumental in leading a group of residents opposed to an original proposal by Alliance to put several lift stations in the back yard of homes on both lakes. Their hard work and tenacity resulted in the work currently underway on both lakes to install 'man holes' on the lake bottom for use in the future should maintenance on the pipes be necessary.
Join us for our next meeting and hear from Physical Therapist Dan Washeck.
Join us for our next meeting and hear from Physical Therapist Dan Washeck.
The Ambassadors Hear from the Missouri USO
Vernon Preston and Michael Petudat (pictured left to right), both volunteers at the Missouri USO spoke to us about the role this organization plays in the central US. They have 4 permanent members and about 1200 volunteers to support their activities in Missouri, Illinois, Nebraska and Kansas. They have two mobile units that offer comfort and "a touch of home" at troop deployments and other military events. These mobile units are known as their "USO on the Go", and they are on the go supporting an average of 35 events each month. They are completely independent of the national USO and rely on contributions for funding. There are USO rooms in both terminals and Lambert International Airport. The Fort Leonard Wood USO provides snacks, computers, TV, and other recreational activities for troops receiving training at Fort Leonard Wood. Visit their website at www.usomissouri.org to learn more about this organization.
There is no meeting November 24. Join us on December 1 to get an update on the sewer projects underway on our lakes.
There is no meeting November 24. Join us on December 1 to get an update on the sewer projects underway on our lakes.
The Ambassadors Hear from Lowes
Lake St. Louis Lowe's Assistant Manager Judy Taylor came to our meeting 11/10 and gave us an update on the status of her store. While online retailers like Amazon are growing in popularity among shoppers, there remain a significant number who prefer 'brick and mortar' stores for their shopping experience. Profits are up year over year in the LSL Lowes while store visits continue to trail other area Lowes stores. This is because in Lake St. Louis, there is higher utilization of available professional services.
Join us next week to hear David Henroid of the USO.
Join us next week to hear David Henroid of the USO.
Tony Thorp from the Lakes of Missouri Volunteer Program came to our meeting on 11/3 to speak about water quality in the lakes of Missouri. Lake St. Louis and Lake St. Louise were among a number of lakes across the state that were sampled this year to collect data on water quality, The last sampling was done in 2012. The analysis is extremely detailed shows that both Lake St. Louis and Lake St. Louise are in good shape. Data is being compiled from the latest sampling but will take a few years before results are published.
Our speaker next week is Natalie Zaher, LSL Lowes Store Manager. Join us for fellowship and a catered breakfast.
Our speaker next week is Natalie Zaher, LSL Lowes Store Manager. Join us for fellowship and a catered breakfast.
The Ambassadors Hear from Former Police Chief of Ferguson.
The speaker at Ambassadors on 10/27 was Thomas Jackson, Former Police Chief of Ferguson, Missouri. Chief Jackson gave his first hand account of events of that day and the days and months that followed. He described how what appeared on both social media and the media did not tell the complete and in many ways the true story. He details what really happened in his book, Policing Ferguson Policing America published by Skyhorse Publishing. What he described should be a reality check for all of us. The days of reading the newspaper and watching local and national news have been overtaken by real time social media posts which are completely unverified. The lesson, read but verify before reposting.
Join is next week to hear from Tony Thorp of Lakes of Missouri speaking about water quality.
Join is next week to hear from Tony Thorp of Lakes of Missouri speaking about water quality.
On Friday 10/10, the county assessor for St. Charles County, Scott Shipmann attended our meeting and spoke about processes in place to establish your property taxes each year. Most of the items that appear on your tax statement are data driven. Things like the value of your car are looked up in the NADA book. The amount of your local taxes are established by the budget requirements of our school district, fire district, and other entities. The only 'soft' value is the estimate of the value of real estate. Those values are mostly market driven. Your home value will go up or down based on the market but as that happens, the tax rate is adjusted to fulfill the budget requirements mentioned above. He encourages you to challenge your assessed values by visiting his office. They want to get it right.
Join us next week to hear from former Ferguson Police Chief, Tom Jackson.
Join us next week to hear from former Ferguson Police Chief, Tom Jackson.
Ambassadors Hear About Cyber Crimes
LSL Ambassadors were visited by Lt. Mark O’Neil who leads the Cyber Crimes unit in St. Charles County. The title is deceptive because his authority extends to 11 counties surrounding the St. Louis metropolitan area. You might think the term cyber crime means computer hacking but his command is focused on how social media is used by predators for child pornography and child trafficking. His group of computer experts devote their lives to investigating these crimes. It is comforting to know we have these super qualified people working to protect our most vulnerable. It is hard to communicate the wide range of topics Lt. O'Neil discussed. I encourage you to come to our meetings so you can get this kind of information first hand and have a chance to ask questions.
Visit www.lslambassadors.com to see who will be presenting in our future meetings and feel free to join us. You will not only be feed, you will learn something about your community.
Visit www.lslambassadors.com to see who will be presenting in our future meetings and feel free to join us. You will not only be feed, you will learn something about your community.
Habitat for Humanity St. Charles County
On Friday 10/6, we heard about Habitat for Humanity of St. Charles County. Leah Crowe, Awareness & Appreciation Coordinator (pictured right) and Lori Kahoe, Engagement Manager gave us an overview of the organization they are passionate about. Habitat St. Charles Co has placed 77 families in homes since it's inception. In order to qualify for one of these homes, the family must pass an extensive application process and participate in its construction. The home is not free to them. They pay a 30 year mortgage just like everyone else. Habitat holds the mortgage at zero interest. Statistics show that these homes actually increase the property value of nearby homes. You are invited to visit the ReSTOR located on mid rivers drive adjacent to Value City Furniture. Sales of the donated inventory go to fund the construction new homes.
Join us on Friday 10/13 to hear a presentation on cyber crimes.
Join us on Friday 10/13 to hear a presentation on cyber crimes.
Ambassadors Get an Update on Boone's Farm
William Ray revisited us on 9/29 to update us on Boone's Village. Since his first visit, the owership has transitioned to the St. Charles Parks. He gave us a very interesting review of the history of this very significant part of the history of St. Charles County. While most believe this was Daniel Boone's home, it actually belonged to his son, Nathanel. Daniel did live in the home and eventually died there in 1820. Mr. Ray's presentation enlightened us all about the history of Daniel Boone. Those not in attendance missed a golden opportunity. All should think about attending the next Ambassadors meeting where you will hear about Habitat for Humanity. We meet at 7 AM on every Friday in the CA Clubhouse. All are welcome.
Update on the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
Jessica Berkemeir, Director Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) for St. Charles County visited us for an update on the ongoing efforts to implement a PDMP in our county. A number of other counties in Missouri have this program but Missouri is the only state in the Union that does not have a state wide PDMP. The reason it is important to have complete implementation is that if an addict can't get his or her supply in their resident county because of a PDMP, they can simply go to a county with out one. St. Louis County was the first in the state to implement in March 2016. Those counties with the program share data. If you feel Missouri should have a statewide program, contact your representatives in Jefferson City and let them know.
Our speaker on Friday is Meredith Rau, who will speak about Boone Village. All are welcome to join us for this event.
Our speaker on Friday is Meredith Rau, who will speak about Boone Village. All are welcome to join us for this event.
Our County Prosecutor Speaks About the Drug Problem
Tim Lohmar, St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney visited us on 9/8 and spoke about the pervasive problem we have with heroin use, not only in our county but across the nation. As the use of prescribed pain killer medication (opioids) has increased exponentially over the past 25 years, the 'street price' of that medication is more than 3 times that of heroin. So if people become addicted to pain killers by overusing them, they have an inexpensive alternative if they can't find a doctor that will not give them more. This is a very real problem in our community.
Join us on Friday 9/15 to hear a presentation from Clinton Gussgner, LSL Fire Chief.
Join us on Friday 9/15 to hear a presentation from Clinton Gussgner, LSL Fire Chief.
Ambassadors Hear About 911
Jeff Smith, Director of Emergency Communications for St. Charles County spoke at our meeting on August 25 about the county 911 system. His organization fields all 911 calls and dispatches them to the appropriate police or fire department based on questions the operator asks. They handle an average of 423 call per day in St. Charles county with a staff of 54 people and a $10 million budget. constant improvements are being made and soon we will be able to use text messaging instead of voice calls to get services. This would be very important for example if someone was hiding during a home invasion.
We meet every Friday at 7 AM in the CA clubhouse except on holiday weekends. All are welcome to attend our meetings and join our fine organization.
We meet every Friday at 7 AM in the CA clubhouse except on holiday weekends. All are welcome to attend our meetings and join our fine organization.
The Ambassadors Hear About Controling Invasive Plants
County Forester Danny Moncheski spoke at our 8/18 meeting about issues surrounding invasive plant species in general and in our community specifically. Examples of these plants include Bush Honeysuckles Amur Honeysuckles. Neither are native to our area and that is what makes them undesirable. They were brought in to provide wind breaks and privacy. They are a big enough problem that the city of Wildwood is developing a strategic plan detailing how they will be removed or controled city wide. More information can be found on the Missouri Department of Convervation website https://mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/problem-plant-control.
Our meetings are open and take place every Friday morning at 7 in the CA Clubhouse. Join us for an interesting speaker and catered breakfast.
Our meetings are open and take place every Friday morning at 7 in the CA Clubhouse. Join us for an interesting speaker and catered breakfast.
Ambassadors Hear About the O'Fallon YMCA
Andrew Davenport of the O'Fallon YMCA visited the Ambassadors on 7/21 and spoke to us about membership options and what the Y has to offer. If you are a member at the O'Fallon Y you can use any YMCA in America. When traveling, membership includes access to any of the 2,600 Y's located throughout the U.S.. If you are a senior and your health plan includes Silver Sneakers, your membership at the Y is free. Services offered include swimming, child care, fitness classes, and many more. You are allowed two free visits per year before you have to join. For those who live in western St. Charles County and points west, there are plans to break ground for a family YMCA in the Wentzville area in 2018.
Our speaker on Juy 28 will be Representative Justin Hill. All are welcome to attend.
Our speaker on Juy 28 will be Representative Justin Hill. All are welcome to attend.
The Ambassadors Get an Update from State Representative Justin Hill
Mr. Justin Hill, a representative of district 108 spoke to the Ambassadors. Mr. Hill brings years of experience in law enforcement to our state government. Topics of the discussion included the proposed perscription drug monitoring program (PDMP) and the state of interstate highways 70, 64, and 44. Missouri is the only state in the country that doesn't have a PDMP.
Join us August 4th to hear from City Administrator, Paul Markworth.
Join us August 4th to hear from City Administrator, Paul Markworth.
The Ambassadors Hear About the UM Extension
The Ambassadors welcomed Emily Barbee, University of Mo. Extension – Health and Nutrition to our 7/14 meeting to speak to us about the services offered by her organization. In summary, their mission is to serve Missouri by extending the research-based knowledge and problem-solving resources of the University of Missouri. They do this by helping people apply educational resources to their own needs, the management of change in the social, economic and political arenas, and developing programs that address peoples needs. In 2016 alone, the Extension fielded 6433 phone calls, 2039 walk-in's to connect people with resources or information they needed. The volunteer staff includes Master Gardners who volunteered 9066 hours.
Are they proving their worth? Last year, their budget was $84 million dollars with which they had a $945 million impact in Missouri. You can learn more about the extension and how you might get involved at http://extension.missouri.edu/stcharles.
Join us next week to hear from Lauren Kannady, O’Fallon YMCA Membership Director.
Are they proving their worth? Last year, their budget was $84 million dollars with which they had a $945 million impact in Missouri. You can learn more about the extension and how you might get involved at http://extension.missouri.edu/stcharles.
Join us next week to hear from Lauren Kannady, O’Fallon YMCA Membership Director.
The Ambassadors Get An Update on the Financial Markets
On 7/7 the Ambassadors heard from one of their own. Louis Wray came ot our meeting as the owner of Vine Wealth Management, an affilate of LPL Financial. He is pictured here with his daughter Leslie Robertson a Financial Advisor in his company. Louis was a long time financial advisor with a large firm here in St. Louis and recently started his own investment firm. His message to us was that in general, the financial outlook is good. As history has shown us, long term diversified investment in the stock market will yield positive returns. Having said that, as we age, investment strategy might change. That is why the services of a Financial Advisor are recommended.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday morning at 7 in the CA Ballroom. All are welcome to a meeting to see why they should join the group.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday morning at 7 in the CA Ballroom. All are welcome to a meeting to see why they should join the group.
Incoming Police Chief Discusses Identity Theft
We were pleased to welcome Lake St. Louis Police Captain Chris DiGiuseppi (pictured on the right) and Detective Rick Frauenfelder to our meeting on 6/23. He is the incoming Chief of Police in Lake St. Louis replacing retiring Chief Mike Force on August 11, 2017. Chris spoke to us about identity theft, a crime that sadly is all too common. He stressed the importance of removing valuables from your parked car and keeping it locked. He also talked about the importance of monitoring your credit. The easiest way is to utilize one of a number of credit watch services available on the internet. If you haven't been a victim of identity theft or had a credit card compromised, you are probably one of the lucky ones. Just take precautions, it's easy to become a victim.
We will not have a meeting June 30 due to Memorial Day.
We will not have a meeting June 30 due to Memorial Day.
The Ambassadors Hear from Author R. Dean Chrisco
Mr. Chrisco came to our meeting in place of Dean Sharp who had a last minute conflict. He spoke to us at length about the inherent dangers of changing history as taught in our schools. By comparison, a history book used in 1950 bears little in common with those used in our schools today. To get his message out, he has authored two books. They are 'Where Did My Country Go?' and 'Taking My Country Back'. He did not come to our meeting to sell his books, rather to get us thinking about his message. It is that our history has been rewritten as 're-manufactured, politically correct, phony, and deceptive' by those who are offended by what really happened.
Come join us at our next meeting Friday for another informative speaker and a Bob Evans catered breakfast.
Come join us at our next meeting Friday for another informative speaker and a Bob Evans catered breakfast.
Update on SSM St. Joseph Hospital West
Lisle Wescott , President of SSM St Joseph Hospital West attended our meeting on 6/9/17 as our guest speaker. She spoke about the many enhancements and changes that SSM St Joseph hospital West in Lake St Louis has seen since her last visit with the Ambassadors in 2015. The parking deck, endoscopy, outpatient services center and laboratory were completed in 2016. The patient tower floors 3 & 4, pharmacy, registration and elevator enhancements have been completed in 2017. Still to come in 2017 is 5th floor of the patient tower, roofing, and main floor corridors projects completed. SSM has 953 employees, who helped an astronomical amount of people. In 2016, SSM had 9149 acute admissions, 6228 surgeries, 961 births, 99737 outpatient visits, and 45717 emergency department visits. The hospital celebrated its 30th anniversary in December.
We meet every Friday at 7 AM in the CA Clubhouse for a catered breakfast (Bob Evans) and an informative speaker. Please join us and learn about our club.
We meet every Friday at 7 AM in the CA Clubhouse for a catered breakfast (Bob Evans) and an informative speaker. Please join us and learn about our club.
The Ambassadors Hear About the Gateway Green Light Initiative.
John Greitzu, Asst. Director Division of Administration for St. Charles County came to our meeting on June 2nd and delivered a talk about the Gateway Green Light (GGL) initiative. He explained where his department fits in with other departments overseeing our county roadways and how he is funded. His latest initiative is the GGL which links 360 traffic lights and all municipalities in one network to provide for optimization of traffic flow as conditions warrant. For example emergency vehicles are or will be equipped with transponders that interact with traffic lights to clear traffic out of their way when responding to emergencies.
More information can be found on www.sccmo.org/GatewayGreenLight.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7 AM for breakfast and an informative speaker. All are welcome to join us and become a member of our club.
More information can be found on www.sccmo.org/GatewayGreenLight.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7 AM for breakfast and an informative speaker. All are welcome to join us and become a member of our club.
Ambassadors Celebrate Our Two Scholarship Winners
On May 19, the Lake Saint Louis Ambassadors welcomed their two college scholarship winners to their Friday morning meeting. They are Alexandra Schulte and Taylor Whitehead, both seniors at Timberland High School. Pictured from left to right are Alexandra's parents Cory and Dedra Schulte, Alexandra, Taylor, and her mother Renee Klautzer. Alexandra plans to attend Missouri University of Science & Technology in Rolla and major in Structural and Civil Engineering. Taylor also will attend Missouri S&T and major in bio-sciences with a focus on genetic engineering. These outstanding students were selected from a field of 50 local applications. Club members wished them well and look forward to hearing from them again at a future meeting.
Ambassadors Get a St. Charles Co. Update
County Executive Steve Ehlmann made his yearly visit to the Ambassadors and reviewed the state of our county. His focus is now being placed on getting the prescription drug database implemented in order to help stem the rampant opined problem is killing so many Missourians. Another focus is on improving the I-70 corridor which is so vital to the economy in our county. There are a lot of other initiatives underway too numerous to mention here. Our meetings are so informative on a variety of topics, you should make an effort to attend. All are welcome at 7 AM each Friday in the CA Clubhouse with few exceptions. Check the speaker schedule on this page for more information.
There is a New Pharmacy in Lake St. Louis
Jennifer Carroll, Pharmacist/Owner of the Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy attended our meeting as a guest speaker and told about her new business venture in Lake St. Louis. The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy recently opened on highway N across from the QT on Summers Road. She spent time working as a pharmacist in a Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy in Troy where she learned how the business functioned and decided to venture off on her own. One very interesting service she offers is that they can dispense your medications in a bubble pack where pills are separated into morning, mid-day, evening, and bedtime dosages as prescribed. The Ambassadors meet every Friday morning at 7 AM in the CA ballroom for breakfast and an informative speaker. All are welcome to join us.
St. Charles Library District
Jennifer Jung from the St. Charles County Library District came to our meeting on 4/21 and gave us an overview of the services currently offered by our libraries. Services range from the traditional paper media like books, magazines, and newspapers to DVDs, video games, books and music on CD’s to telescopes and cake pans. Yes, CAKE PANS. Have you ever wanted a cake shaped like a dog or cat or a baseball bat? Your library may have one you can barrow. eBooks are also offered as well as digital streaming media. You should visit your local library to see for yourself the wide range of services that are FREE to you. Look at http://www.youranswerplace.org/home for more information.
The next Ambassadors meeting is April 28 where you can hear from Keith Stone of Cuiver River Electric. Stop in at 7 AM and join us.
The next Ambassadors meeting is April 28 where you can hear from Keith Stone of Cuiver River Electric. Stop in at 7 AM and join us.
The Ambassadors get an Easter Message
This Good Friday we were again privileged to host four clergy from Lake St. Louis to hear their message about the meaning of the Easter season. Once again we were reminded it is not about easter eggs as we were again grounded by their thoughtful and insightful words. Pictured from left to right they are Rev. Keith Spaugh from Chapel on the Lake, Rev. Roy Christell from Living Lord Lutheran Church, Rev. Bob Thompson from First Baptist Church, and Deacon Bernard Buckman from St. Patrick Catholic Church in Wentzville. The Ambassadors wish you all a Happy Easter.
Ambassadors Learn About Friendship Brewery
Brian Nolan, founder and operator of Friendship Brewery visited the Ambassadors on our last meeting. Brian talked about his background and the circumstances that led him to open his brewery. He graduated from Southeast Missouri State with a degree in architecture and spent several years working around the St. Louis area designing and building strip malls. When work slowed wth the financial slump in 2008 and he began thinking about a different way to make money. He had always liked to brew beer, so why not open a brewery? In 2010 he and a friend pooled their assets and bought a 100 year old building in Wentzville that had been an ice house in the early 1900’s and converted it into what is now Friendship Brewery located at 100 East Pitman in Wentzville. It is a Wentzville ‘destination’ for beer drinking and is complimented by a food served from a permanent food truck. Visit www.friendshipbrewco.com for more information.
The Police Chief Came Calling
Lake St. Louis Police Chief Mike Force spoke at our meeting on 3/31. His discussion covered a wide range of topics beginning with when he came to Lake St.Louis over 20 years ago. In those days, the Police department was not well received in the community. They were under staffed and under paid and morale was not good. He told us how he turned things around through gaining funding, recruiting and redirecting his officers to partnering with businesses and the community as a whole. Now nearly every statistic he tracks like speeding tickets and 911 calls are down year over year. He has two staff members trained in social media and is always trying to find was to use technology better. He encourages anyone with ideas to come forward and present them. Our police cannot do it alone. Community involvement makes us all safer. Our police department website is located under the Lake St. Louis City site - http://www.lakesaintlouis.com/. Look under City Departments. Look for them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lslpd/. Get involved.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday morning at 7 AM for breakfast and an interesting speaker. Stop in.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday morning at 7 AM for breakfast and an interesting speaker. Stop in.
The Ambassadors Hear About Mueller Furniture
Mark Mueller, owner and operator of Mueller Furniture located in The Meadows came to our regular Friday meeting and spoke about the new store. The Mueller family has been selling furniture for over 90 years so he comes to us with plenty of experience and knowledge. Their original location and warehouse is in Belleville, IL. This family business carries solid wood furniture as well as several well known brands. Visit their website for more background and information.
The Ambassadors meet in the CA clubhouse ballroom every Friday at 7 AM for breakfast, fellowship and an interesting speaker. Please join us.
The Ambassadors meet in the CA clubhouse ballroom every Friday at 7 AM for breakfast, fellowship and an interesting speaker. Please join us.
Ambassadors Learn About the O'Fallon Senior Center
Lynne Dacey visited the Ambassadors and spoke about services offered at the O'Fallon Senior Center. This Center is one of four in the St. Louis area that provides, among other things, Meals on Wheels to those seniors in need that cannot travel to the Senior Center. The Center serves as a place for companionship, social activities, and disability services. You can visit their website (www.agingmissouri.org) for more details and information on how to volunteer.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday morning at 7 AM for breakfast and an interesting speaker. Join us to find out more about our club.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday morning at 7 AM for breakfast and an interesting speaker. Join us to find out more about our club.
The Ambassadors Hear from Senior Helpers
Don Johnson and Janet Quinn visited us for our Friday meeting to discuss services available through Senior Helpers. Senior Helpers is a nation wide operation and Mr. Johnson owns the local franchise. They offer care services over a wide spectrum, from Alzheimer's & Dementia to a Wellness Watch. They will come in for as little as one hour to a 24 hour live-in and anything in between. They offer these services with fully vetted providers at very reasonable rates. Visit http://www.seniorhelpers.com for more information.
Joins us for our next meeting for a catered breakfast and hear Lynne Dacey, from the O’Fallon Senior Center describe their services.
Joins us for our next meeting for a catered breakfast and hear Lynne Dacey, from the O’Fallon Senior Center describe their services.
Ambassadors Get a MODOT Update
Derek Koestel of MODOT came to our meeting to update us on the plans for Exit 210 on I-70. As everyone in Lake St. Louis knows, that exit is very congested and difficult to negotiate especially during rush hour. Many options were considered by the traffic engineers at MODOT over the last few years and the solution they arrived at was a 'Round-a-Bout'. These configurations have proven to be a safe and efficient way of resolving the kind of congestion we experience all the time. The project is in the early planning stage and construction will begin in the 2021 time frame. For more information and to watch the progress, visit the MODOT website.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday in the CA Ballroom at 7 AM for breakfast and an informative speaker. All are welcome to attend.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday in the CA Ballroom at 7 AM for breakfast and an informative speaker. All are welcome to attend.
Update from Mayor Kathy Schweikart
On Friday 2/17, Lake St. Louis Mayor Kathy Schweikert gave the Ambassadors an update on the state of the city. Progress continues across all areas. New business are moving in, new neighborhoods are being built, and the resulting sales tax income is up roughly $600,000 in the past 3 years. Look for city road improvments to continue this year.. For specifics, look on the city website www.lakesaintlouis.com. The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7 AM and invite anyone interested in our group to attend as a guest.
The Ambassadors Hear About the Cottages
Cindy Marsh (Community Relations Director) and Al Beamer (CEO) of the Cottages of Lake St. Louis, spoke to us about the only skilled nursing option available in Lake St. Louis. The Cottages of Lake St. Louis is the only community of its kind in Missouri. What makes it different? Rather than a room one might get in an assisted living complex, the Cottages of Lake St. Louis offer a 'home style environment with skilled nursing care as required. Each cottage will consist of 10 private bedrooms with private bathrooms with a central dinning room, a family room, spa, and an open kitchen. This is a very unique facility. Visit www.cottagesSTL.com for more information.
A Local Couple Works to Support Refugees
Bill & Joan Dotson of Lake St Louis spoke to the Ambassadors about their efforts to support the refuges arriving in our country. After traveling all over the world looking for ways to help them, they found an organization right here in St. Louis doing just that. Oasis International has been working for over 10 years to provide education, furniture and clothing, and outreach to the St. Louis refugee population. We learned that there currently over 800,000 refugees in our country and they are here to escape their war torn homelands. Many are here after spending up to 15 years in refugee camps outside their native lands. They are here to provide a better life for their children. To learn more about Oasis International and to see how you can help, visit www.oasis4refugees.org.
The Ambassadors Hear About Potential Changes in the Financial Landscape
The Ambassadors welcomed Ms. Laura Boedges of Rogers Investment to speak about the current financial environment. A number of recent events will have potential significant affects on how you plan for your financial future. Among those she spoke about were unprecedented change in our national political landscape, regulatory changes, Brexit and the resulting uncertainty, and the Cubs winning the World Series. All are very concerning. She spoke about potential changes in national policies/regulations, tax reform and resulting market impacts. We had a very engaging conversation about all the above topics which you would have to be present to appreciate. The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7 AM in the CA clubhouse and welcome all are welcome to join us.
For our 12/16 meeting, the children's choir from Greentree Elementary entertained their parents, frends, and the Ambassadors. After the music, everyone enjoyed breakfast and social time.
The Ambassadors Hear from the Coast Guard
At our meeting on 12/2, we enjoyed a very informative presentation from U.S. Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Brandon Hansen. He is based in St. Louis and covers the central U.S. In the past, he has been all over the world in various capacities ranging from drug enforcement, boarder control, and marine patrols. The Coast Guard is a force smaller than the New York Police Department and is deployed world wide. In Missouri, he has jurisdiction over both Table Rock Lake and Lake of the Ozarks as both are federal waterways. They do a remarkable job with a decreasing budget.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7 AM in the clubhouse for breakfast and an informative speaker. All are welcome to join us.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7 AM in the clubhouse for breakfast and an informative speaker. All are welcome to join us.
The Ambassadors Hear About an Exciting Advance in Healthcare
Dr. Teresa House of Mercy Healthares Virtual Care Center, came to our meeting on Friday 11/18 and told us about the implementation of a Virtual Care Center within the Mercy Healthcare system. This exciting facility enables remote clinical healthcare. Mercy uses telemedicine to extend both primary and specialty care to patients in a variety of settings including physician offices, hospitals, and homes. This approach will greatly reduce visits to the ER as well as provide more immediate care to patients that may not have quick access to a healthcare facility.
The Ambassadors meet each Friday in the CA Clubhouse between 7 and 8 AM for breakfast and an interesting speaker. All are welcome to join us.
The Ambassadors meet each Friday in the CA Clubhouse between 7 and 8 AM for breakfast and an interesting speaker. All are welcome to join us.
The Ambassadors Hear About the LSL Compresensive Plan
Stephen Ibendahl of the consulting group i5Group is leading a team composed of a steering committee of community leaders and residents from across the city to develop a Comprehensive Plan for our city. Mr. Ibendahl came to our meeting on 10/7 to give the Ambassadors a peek inside the process being followed. Lake St. Louis has never had such a long range plan to guide its growth, so this is long overdue. The process is broken down into 4 phases, the first of which is Discovery and Awareness. All residents are encouraged to go to the city website (www.lakesaintlouis.com) and complete a short survey to provide input to this phase. This is probably the most important step. There will be an Open House at the end of each phase with the first scheduled for 10/18 at City Hall. Participate and let’s help the city move forward.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday morning at 7 AM for breakfast and an interesting speaker. All are welcome.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday morning at 7 AM for breakfast and an interesting speaker. All are welcome.
The Ambassadors Celebrate Volunteers in Medicine.
The Ambassadors were visited by some of the volunteers of the Crossroads Clinic Volunteers in Medicine. This amazing organization was the brainchild of Dr. Maimuna Baig. While maintaining a full time practice at SSM Health in Lake St. Louis, she recognized that many people in our area were going without medical care due to ‘cracks’ in system of healthcare insurance. She decided to do something about it and with dedication and a lot of hard work, Crossroads Clinic Volunteers in Medicine was born. She along with a number of nurses, doctors, and support staff provide medical care to those who fall 200% below the poverty level and do not have health insurance. Patients must reside in Western St. Charles, Lincoln, Warren or Montgomery Counties and that amounts to a LOT of people. They are always looking for volunteer help and you do not have to have a medical background. Call the clinic at 636-561-3133 to set-up an appointment or discuss possible services or to see if you can help.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday morning at 7 for an interesting speaker and breakfast in the Community Association Clubhouse. Please join us.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday morning at 7 for an interesting speaker and breakfast in the Community Association Clubhouse. Please join us.
Zack Clark Speaks About Christian Ministries
Zach Clark has a big vision to see Christian organizations raise one hundred billion cumulative dollars, fully funding them to fulfill their God-given visions in this generation. Living out this passion led to the launch of Development & Leadership Coaching, a non-traditional service approach helping leaders grow and build a culture of generosity.
Beginning at twenty years of age, Zach’s expertise and skills were honed as development and leadership consultant serving hundreds of Christian schools, churches and non-profit ministry organizations around the country. His experience in working with non-profit ministry boards and leaders enables him to have a broad and deep perspective on the strategies and up-to-date tactics required to be constantly improving and developing organizations.
From 2006-2013, Zach served as Director of Advancement at Westminster Christian Academy, one of our nation’s largest independent Christian schools, serving 990 students in grades 7-12, located in St. Louis. He built and supported a highly effective team, and was responsible for providing leadership to the overall advancement efforts of the school, including giving, communications, community and alumni relations, strategic plan implementation and a $70 million campus plan to support the vision and mission of Westminster.
Zach has a dynamic and energetic teaching style that makes him a much sought-after public speaker. He is a member of the John Maxwell Team, the world’s leading leadership development organization and is a John Maxwell Certified Coach, Trainer, and Speaker.
Beginning at twenty years of age, Zach’s expertise and skills were honed as development and leadership consultant serving hundreds of Christian schools, churches and non-profit ministry organizations around the country. His experience in working with non-profit ministry boards and leaders enables him to have a broad and deep perspective on the strategies and up-to-date tactics required to be constantly improving and developing organizations.
From 2006-2013, Zach served as Director of Advancement at Westminster Christian Academy, one of our nation’s largest independent Christian schools, serving 990 students in grades 7-12, located in St. Louis. He built and supported a highly effective team, and was responsible for providing leadership to the overall advancement efforts of the school, including giving, communications, community and alumni relations, strategic plan implementation and a $70 million campus plan to support the vision and mission of Westminster.
Zach has a dynamic and energetic teaching style that makes him a much sought-after public speaker. He is a member of the John Maxwell Team, the world’s leading leadership development organization and is a John Maxwell Certified Coach, Trainer, and Speaker.
The Ambassadors Hear About The Sparrows Nest
Left to right - Jim Redfield, Darrel Hollinger, Heather Kemper-Hussey, Steve Denney, Bill Kral, and Ray Rudy
The Ambassadors heard from the reigning Mrs. Missouri America Heather Kemper-Hussey, who told us about The Sparrows Nest Maternity Home, an organization established to help teenaged unwed mothers who have been abandoned. The home founded in 2014 is in St. Peters and “provides housing to pregnant and parenting teens 18 years old and younger experiencing homelessness in the St. Charles County area and beyond. Young women are welcomed to stay for the duration of their pregnancy as well as up to a year after their baby is born.
In addition, resources such as diapers, wipes, baby clothes, etc. are available through The Branch Resource Center.”
Many of us had no idea this place existed. They are doing wonderful work and welcome your help. For more information, visit www.thesparrowsnest.org.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday morning at 7 AM in the CA Clubhouse. Please join us for an hour of friendship, networking and an interesting presentation.
In addition, resources such as diapers, wipes, baby clothes, etc. are available through The Branch Resource Center.”
Many of us had no idea this place existed. They are doing wonderful work and welcome your help. For more information, visit www.thesparrowsnest.org.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday morning at 7 AM in the CA Clubhouse. Please join us for an hour of friendship, networking and an interesting presentation.
The Ambassadors Learn About Meditation
Cynthia Biggins came to the Ambassadors and spoke about her new business aimed at promoting meditation. She offers her services to individuals as well as groups. As we learned, meditation is a centuries old technique which can provide both Physical and Psychological benefits. As stated on her website, www.yesmeditation.com, the practice of meditation reduces anxiety and blood pressure. Enhances the immune system. Relieves muscle tension and stress. Decreases the aging process. Some psychological benefits of meditation are that it increases confidence and increases serotonin which influences moods and behavior. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression, headaches and insomnia. Visit her website to learn more and for contact information.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7 AM in the CA Clubhouse for a catered breakfast and an informative speaker. Please join us.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7 AM in the CA Clubhouse for a catered breakfast and an informative speaker. Please join us.
The Ambassador Hear How To Think Inside the Box
Claudia McMahon came to our meeting and spoke about her company, MarketTech. MarketTech provides consulting services to companies of any size and market segment to help them refocus their organization to maximize profits. Fundamental to their approach is the practice of utilizing existing assets and refining existing processes achieve the desired results. If new personnel are required, they help the company find the right people. To learn more about their approach read about just a few of their success stories visit http://markettechinc.com/.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday morning at 7 AM in the CA Clubhouse for breakfast and an informative speaker.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday morning at 7 AM in the CA Clubhouse for breakfast and an informative speaker.
The Ambassadors Learn About Network Marketing
Joseph Luckett spoke to the Ambassadors about his journey into the field of network marketing. He is a native of St. Charles, Missouri and still resides there with his wife Carol. He found success in Network Marketing at an early age falling in love with the model of building a group of leaders that are working towards a common goal. Joseph met his wife, ironically, during a Network Marketing meeting and they have been growing their Organo business side by side ever since.
Joseph has become the one to go for connecting others within his community. He has built a genuine network of entrepreneurs and an elite core that meet on a monthly basis to share testimonies, skill sets, and ideas on making their community great.
Joseph is a master at building genuine relationships and is sought after daily for his time. He has been PUBLISHED as being recognized as a Who's Who in St. Charles County and out of 31,779 business that exist in all of St. Louis as of 2015 to date Joseph was SELECTED by The Small Business Monthly as one of the "100 St. Louisians You Should Know To Succeed In Business" He is one to watch as he adds to his portfolio of businesses fulfilling the needs of entrepreneurs, expanding his reach through the entire St. Louis market and around the world.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday in the CA Clubhouse at 7 AM for a catered breakfast and an informative speaker. All are welcome to join us.
The Ambassadors Hear About the JDRF
Chandra Hussey, a volunteer at JDRF came to our meeting and talked to us about both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. JDRF is the leading organization funding T1D (Type 1 Diabetes). T1D is an autoimmune disease that typically presents early in life where Type 2 Diabetes usually develops later when for a variety of reasons the body is no longer able to produce enough insulin. In the United States alone, 29 million people have the disease and spend $1.9 billion on treatment. Research is ongoing to develop more effective treatments with the ultimate goal to find a permanent cure. Visit advocate.jdrf.org to learn more and find ways to be involved.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7 AM in the CA Clubhouse in Lake St. Louis for breakfast and an informative speaker. Meetings end promptly at 8 AM. Please join us next Friday.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7 AM in the CA Clubhouse in Lake St. Louis for breakfast and an informative speaker. Meetings end promptly at 8 AM. Please join us next Friday.
The Ambassadors Hear from an Associate Professor and Department Chair at SCC
Rex McKanry, Associate Professor and Chairman of the Department of Computer Science at St. Charles Community College spoke visited and gave us an overview the latest advances in his part of SCC. He has created some innovative programs in response to the growing demand for IT professionals in the St. Louis area. He has consulted with area colleges to determine what credits will be accepted there and then tailors course work at SCC according to where the student wants to continue their education. In addition, he has created a number of ‘Accelerated Certificates’ for those who want to get to work as soon as possible. Among them are ‘Certificate of Specialization in IT Project Management’, and the ‘Certificate of Specialization in Programming’. More are being developed. At a cost of $100 per credit hour, SCC is very good option for high school graduates.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7:00 AM for fellowship, a speaker that is always informative, and a catered breakfast. All are welcome so please join us.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7:00 AM for fellowship, a speaker that is always informative, and a catered breakfast. All are welcome so please join us.
The Ambassadors Get a GM Update
Rob Langille - IT Manager at GM came to our meeting on 7/15 with an update on the Wentzville GM plant. He reviewed the expansion and vehicles manufactured there. The latest expansion to manufacture the Chevy mid-sized pickup cost $113 million and all jobs created were filled by local workers. The plant covers 85 acres under roof. To put that in perspective, that is larger than Lake St. Louise (our small lake). A vehicle comes off the line every 72 seconds and takes 2 days to assemble.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7:00 AM for fellowship, a speaker that is always informative, and a catered breakfast. All are welcome so please join us.
Rob Langille - IT Manager at GM came to our meeting on 7/15 with an update on the Wentzville GM plant. He reviewed the expansion and vehicles manufactured there. The latest expansion to manufacture the Chevy mid-sized pickup cost $113 million and all jobs created were filled by local workers. The plant covers 85 acres under roof. To put that in perspective, that is larger than Lake St. Louise (our small lake). A vehicle comes off the line every 72 seconds and takes 2 days to assemble.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7:00 AM for fellowship, a speaker that is always informative, and a catered breakfast. All are welcome so please join us.
The Ambassadors Get a City Update
Mayor Kathy Schweikiert came to our meeting with a city update. She spoke about the real estate market boom with the addition of a pending development of a new neighborhood on the west side of the city that will include a park with walking trails. On the commercial side, the Shops of Hawk Ridge are nearly full now and several retailers have expressed interest in the Sports Authority building. The city is also going to hire a consultant to develop a new comprehensive city plan.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7:00 AM for fellowship, a speaker that is always informative, and a catered breakfast. All are welcome so please join us.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7:00 AM for fellowship, a speaker that is always informative, and a catered breakfast. All are welcome so please join us.
The Ambassadors here from Pastor BobThompson of the Lake St. Louis Baptist Church and the Lake St. Louis Fire Protection District
On Friday, 6/17, the Ambassadors were treated to another address from Pastor Bob Thompson. Pastor Emeritus of the Lake St. Louis Baptist Church. Pastor Bob talked about some of his experiences conducting over 1700 funerals. His stories were enlightening, sad, sometimes funny, and always educational. Before Pastor Bob talked, Interim Chief Clinton Gussner of the Lake St. Louis Fire Protection District, addressed the needs of the district and plans to manage expenses as he ask for support of the upcoming tax increase which will be on the ballot in August.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7 AM in the CA clubhouse for breakfast and informative presentations on a wide range of topics. All are welcome to join us to see if you would like to join.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7 AM in the CA clubhouse for breakfast and informative presentations on a wide range of topics. All are welcome to join us to see if you would like to join.
The Ambassadors Learn About a Free Caregiver Counceling Service
Former CA Board Member Ed Hickey and Erin Kelley of Memory Care Home Solutions spoke at our 6/10 meeting about the FREE services they provide in the St. Louis area. If you begin to notice a family member have trouble remembering things or becoming angry when attempting simple tasks, call this group. They will come to your home and provide counseling on how to best care for your loved one in your home. Their “FREE family training programs will give you the confidence to handle difficult situations, lower stress, and improve quality time at home for you and your loved one.”
You can reach them at (314) 645-6247 or on the web at www.memorycarehs.org.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7 AM in the CA clubhouse for breakfast and informative presentations on a wide range of topics. All are welcome to join us to see if you would like to join.
You can reach them at (314) 645-6247 or on the web at www.memorycarehs.org.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7 AM in the CA clubhouse for breakfast and informative presentations on a wide range of topics. All are welcome to join us to see if you would like to join.
The Ambassadors Learn About Breast Cancer
For their June 3 program, LSL Ambassadors heard a very complete and comprehensive \ resentation from Dr. Andrea Behr MD, a Breast Surgical Oncologist at SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital. Dr. Behr, born in St.Charles County received her medical degree from St. Louis Univ. in 2009 and went on to complete her residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY. Dr. Behr did her fellowship in breast surgical oncology at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Behr presented slides showing that mammograms pick up about 90% of cancer with about 5-10% call backs. She talked about the new 3D mammograms which give much more clear pictures and are increasingly being covered by insurance. Dr. Behr takes special interest
in breast diseases and consults with patients at higher risk such as those with a family history of breast cancer.
LSL Ambassadors meets every Friday morning at 7am for a catered breakfast, community news and a speaker of importancy to the community. Come Join us next Friday
in breast diseases and consults with patients at higher risk such as those with a family history of breast cancer.
LSL Ambassadors meets every Friday morning at 7am for a catered breakfast, community news and a speaker of importancy to the community. Come Join us next Friday
The Ambassadors Hear About St. Charles County Parks
In our May 20th meeting, we heard about the park system managed by St. Charles County. Nancy Gomer, Marketing Coordinator, gave us a very informative overview. There are 50 miles of trails in 17 parks, much of which has been created and are maintained by volunteer groups. The parks are passive recreational areas affording visitors a chance to connect with nature. The Daniel Boone home was recently donated to St. Charles county and is the most recent addition. A park located at Pitman Hill & Kisker Road is currently being developed and is expected to open late 2017 or early 2018. The park service provides educational outreach programs, guided hikes, and many unique facilities available for rent. Visit www.stccparks.org for more information.
LSL Ambassadors meet at 7AM every Friday at the Community Assn for a catered breakfast , community news and a speaker of local interest. The upcoming speaker schedule is at the right.
LSL Ambassadors meet at 7AM every Friday at the Community Assn for a catered breakfast , community news and a speaker of local interest. The upcoming speaker schedule is at the right.
The Ambassadors Learn About the Career Explorations Alliance
For their May 13 program, Lake St. Louis Ambassadors heard from Dawn Thornton, St. Charles Community College. Dawn is Program Manager for Career Explorations Alliance which works with local School Districts to bring
registered students from high school and college levels together with business and educational professionals. Career Explorations Alliance acts as counselor to match the student with the profession of his interest in a hands-on experience.
LSL Ambassadors meets at 7am every Friday at the Community Assn for a catered breakfast , community news and a speaker of local interest. The upcoming speaker schedule is at the right.
registered students from high school and college levels together with business and educational professionals. Career Explorations Alliance acts as counselor to match the student with the profession of his interest in a hands-on experience.
LSL Ambassadors meets at 7am every Friday at the Community Assn for a catered breakfast , community news and a speaker of local interest. The upcoming speaker schedule is at the right.
Ambassadors Hear About Changes at Lake Forest Country Club.
On Friday 3/6, the Ambassadors welcomed Patrick Daly who spoke to us about Lake Forest Country Club. The golf course at Lake Forest was recently ranked 5th in the St. Louis area. Mr. Daly is the new membership director at the club and is working hard to increase awareness and membership. The club now has new leadership and they have changed the fee structure to one that is ALL INCLUSIVE. That means that members no longer have extra fees tacked on such as cart fees, and ancillary charges. If golf is not your thing, they offer a variety of other activities and clubs for the enjoyment of the membership. If you live in the Lake St. Louis Community Association, you have golfing privileges at 85% of the normal fees. You are encouraged to stop by for a tour of the facilities.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7:00 AM in the CA Clubhouse. All are welcome at our meetings and to join. Se our speaker schedule on the right.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7:00 AM in the CA Clubhouse. All are welcome at our meetings and to join. Se our speaker schedule on the right.
Ambassadors Hear About Dealing with Challenges
A motivational speaker Michael Burke visited our meeting on 4/30 and spoke about challenges and how to deal with them. In particular, he spoke about his personal challenge of being afflicted with Cystic Fibrosis. After being informed as a child that he wouldn't live past his teen years he resolved to do what he could to make the most of his situation. We heard about how he competed in nine full marathons, an Iron Man, and multiple extreme activities all while undergoing treatments and taking 13,000 pills each year. He coaches runners for Fleet Foot and tells his story whenever and wherever he can. His mission is educate and inspire others to come to this knowledge quickly and eliminate the pitfalls of avoiding challenges. Visit www.michaelpatrickburke.com to learn more.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7AM in the CA Clubhouse and welcome anyone interested in our club to attend. See the upcoming speaker schedule on the right.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7AM in the CA Clubhouse and welcome anyone interested in our club to attend. See the upcoming speaker schedule on the right.
The Ambassadors Hear from the New CA General Manager
Our news General Manager, Brian Devoat who relocated from Gettiysburg, PA visited our meeting Friday April 22 and gave us a brief history lesson on the battle of Bettysburg. He took us through all three days of this historic event and discussed the strategies employed by many of the generals on both sides of the conflict.
Following that he shared what he has been doing since taking over his new job here in Lake St. Louis. He has focused on budget review, creating and filling new positions on his staff, and generally coming up to speed. We can look forward to positive changes in our bar and food service with a new menu that will contain healthy alternatives. The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7:00 AM in the CA clubhouse and invite anyone interested to join us.
Following that he shared what he has been doing since taking over his new job here in Lake St. Louis. He has focused on budget review, creating and filling new positions on his staff, and generally coming up to speed. We can look forward to positive changes in our bar and food service with a new menu that will contain healthy alternatives. The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7:00 AM in the CA clubhouse and invite anyone interested to join us.
A Judge and Prosecutor Visit the Ambassadors
At their April 15 meeting, LSL Ambassadors heard from Dennis Chassaniol, Presiding Judge of St. Charles County Municipal Court and Anthony Linson, Prosecuting Attorney of St. Charles County. As a Judge handling municipal cases in the Lake St. Louis area, Judge Chassaniol spoke about large increases in stealing and domestic battery and his goal to keep judgments fair and impartial. Attorney Linson spoke of probation's versus fines and the need for a more centralized judicial system. Lake St. Louis Ambassadors meet at the CA at 7 am every Friday for a catered breakfast, community news and a speaker of local interest. Upcoming programs will be on Lake Fores Country Club and St.Charles Community College. Come and join us.
Ambassadors Hear About Missionary Work
David Billings of the Heart and Hands of Christ came to our meeting on 4/8 and told us about this missionary group out of St. Joseph's Church in Josephville. The group has been working in various countries in central America for a number of years, most recently in Guatamala, the subject of his talk. We heard about their visit to a nursing home run by nuns and populated be the very poor. The residents rarely, if ever, have visitors and some of them simply wanted company. Other cases he told us about included a baby born with a cleft-pallet, a man with cataracts so bad he couldn't see, and many more. The child was so mall-nourished he was near death because his mother couldn't properly feed him. They happened to have special bottles someone had donated for their trip with which he was nourished back to health and then surgically treated. They provided transport to a hospital for free treatment for the blind man, and general comfort to all.
This presentation was typical of many we have at our meetings that are inspirational and informative. Come and join us. We meet every Friday morning between 7 and 8 in the Lake St. Louis Community Association clubhouse. All are welcome.
This presentation was typical of many we have at our meetings that are inspirational and informative. Come and join us. We meet every Friday morning between 7 and 8 in the Lake St. Louis Community Association clubhouse. All are welcome.
LAKE POINT LIVING FOR LAKE ST. LOUIS !
Future plans for Lutheran Senior Services $120 million senior living center were presented at the LSL Ambassadors April 1 meeting by fellow member Kelli Gould and Julie Jones, both LSS Senior Living Counselors. Kelli and Julie showed slides and outlined plans to break ground on the Lake St. Louis project in the spring of 2017 with 176 independent living apartments. Lutheran Senior Services
is developing senior living communities throughout the metro St. Louis area. For more information, check out their web site at www.lakepointeliving.org. The LSL Ambassadors meets every Friday at 7 AM at the CA for a catered breakfast, Ambassador community activities, and a speaker of local interest. Come join us ! Check on the right side of this page for an updated list of future speakers.
is developing senior living communities throughout the metro St. Louis area. For more information, check out their web site at www.lakepointeliving.org. The LSL Ambassadors meets every Friday at 7 AM at the CA for a catered breakfast, Ambassador community activities, and a speaker of local interest. Come join us ! Check on the right side of this page for an updated list of future speakers.
LOCAL PASTORS COMMEMORATE GOOD FRIDAY
For their March 25 speakers program, Lake St. Louis Ambassadors continued their annual Good Friday tradition by hearing inspirational words from four local pastors. From the left, Pastor Roy Christell, Living Lord Lutheran Church, Deacon Bernie Buckman, St. Patricks Catholic Church, Reverend Bob Thompson, First Baptist Church,, Reverend Bob Thompson, First Baptist Church, and Pastor Roy Christell, Living Lord Lutheran Church and Pastor Keith Spaugh, Church on the Lake.
Ambassadors meets at the Community Association at 7 am every Friday
for a catered breakfast, community news, and a speaker of local interest. Look on the right side of this page for a schedule of up-coming speakers.
Ambassadors meets at the Community Association at 7 am every Friday
for a catered breakfast, community news, and a speaker of local interest. Look on the right side of this page for a schedule of up-coming speakers.
Who Should Do My Next Root Canal?
When you need a root canal, your dentist will probably refer you to a specialist. At our Friday 3/18 meeting, the Ambassadors heard from Dr. Courtney Kanive about the dreaded root canal procedure. What we learned was that it doesn't have the be that way if you are treated by a dentist with a specialty in Endodonties. Endodontists perform a variety of procedures including endodontic therapy (commonly known as "root canal therapy"),endodontic retreatment, surgery, treating cracked teeth, and treating dental trauma. Dr. Kanive talked in general terms about what a root canal is and how it is done in her office using special microscopic instruments allowing her to see things your general dentist would have a difficult time finding.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday morning with the exception of some holidays at 7 AM in the Lake St. Louis clubhouse for an hour of comrade, breakfast, and a speaker. Meetings are adjourned by 8. Attend a meeting and see if you would like to join the Ambassadors.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday morning with the exception of some holidays at 7 AM in the Lake St. Louis clubhouse for an hour of comrade, breakfast, and a speaker. Meetings are adjourned by 8. Attend a meeting and see if you would like to join the Ambassadors.
We Hear About the New Expanded Sanctuary for the First Baptist Church
Lake St. Louis Ambassadors program for March 11 was presented by fellow ambassador George Humphries. George introduced Dr. Jim Wheeler, First Baptist Senior Pastor,
Dr. Keith Willis, Planning Director and Reverend Bob Thompson, Pastor Emeritus. Pastor Jim spoke of the decision to build the $4 million expansion dedicated to Exalt, Edify,
and Evangelize Jesus Christ and the Glory of GOD. Dr. Willis showed drawings of the new sanctuary which will have seating for 650 persons that can be expanded to an additional 250.
The new church will be opened within the next six weeks. Pastor Bob recalled how the church started in a pastor's home and how far they have come since the original building was
dedicated in 1996.
LSL Ambassadors meets every Friday at the Community Assn. at 7 am for a catered breakfast,community news, and a speaker of civic interest. Check out the upcoming speaker schedule on the right.
Dr. Keith Willis, Planning Director and Reverend Bob Thompson, Pastor Emeritus. Pastor Jim spoke of the decision to build the $4 million expansion dedicated to Exalt, Edify,
and Evangelize Jesus Christ and the Glory of GOD. Dr. Willis showed drawings of the new sanctuary which will have seating for 650 persons that can be expanded to an additional 250.
The new church will be opened within the next six weeks. Pastor Bob recalled how the church started in a pastor's home and how far they have come since the original building was
dedicated in 1996.
LSL Ambassadors meets every Friday at the Community Assn. at 7 am for a catered breakfast,community news, and a speaker of civic interest. Check out the upcoming speaker schedule on the right.
Ambassadors Hear from the Boy Scouts of America
The Ambassadors heard about local scouting from Brandon West, District Director of the Boy Scouts of America. Brandon discussed the various levels of scouting from Cub Scouts to Boy Scout to Venturing. The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in the the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Visit the Boy Scouts website for more information. Look forward to more Boy Scout activity in Lake St. Louis soon.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday morning at 7:00 at the Community Association for breakfast and a speaker. Visitors are always welcome. Upcoming speaker topics are displayed on the right.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday morning at 7:00 at the Community Association for breakfast and a speaker. Visitors are always welcome. Upcoming speaker topics are displayed on the right.
LSL Ambassadors Get A Taste Of Spring
For their Feb 26 program, LSL Ambassadors and their guests were given a most interesting and informative talk by John Miller of the Purple Martin Conservation Association.
John manages and cares for over 60 pairs of purple martins at Forest Park Golf Course in St. Louis. He showed samples of purple martin houses and slides
of purple martin feeding and management. Purple martins love housing by a lake and away from trees with an open flyway.
LSL Ambassadors meet at 7am every Friday at the Community Association for a catered breakfast , community news and a speaker of local interest. Upcoming programs
include Boy Scouts and new Baptist Church expansion. Come Join Us!
John manages and cares for over 60 pairs of purple martins at Forest Park Golf Course in St. Louis. He showed samples of purple martin houses and slides
of purple martin feeding and management. Purple martins love housing by a lake and away from trees with an open flyway.
LSL Ambassadors meet at 7am every Friday at the Community Association for a catered breakfast , community news and a speaker of local interest. Upcoming programs
include Boy Scouts and new Baptist Church expansion. Come Join Us!
The Ambassadors Hear About Fishing.
One of our own, John Dangoia spoke to the Ambassadors about fishing. He brought several examples of fishing reals and explained what each was best for and how to us them. He also talked about the various types of line and the advantages and disadvantages of each when going after a specific type of fish. At one point, he was ask where is the best place to catch fish. His reply was 'right here' as he hooked a finger in the corner of his mouth and pulled. In other words, a fisherman never tells.
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7:00 AM in the CA Clubhouse. Join us next week to see why you will want to joing our group. All meetings include a catered breakfast and a speaker. The speaker schedule can be viewed on our website (www.lslambassadors.com).
The Ambassadors meet every Friday at 7:00 AM in the CA Clubhouse. Join us next week to see why you will want to joing our group. All meetings include a catered breakfast and a speaker. The speaker schedule can be viewed on our website (www.lslambassadors.com).
The Ambassadors Get an Update from MODOT
The Ambassadors heard from Jim Wright of MODOT this week. Jim is the area engineer for St. Charles County area. He is responsible for 1023 lane miles which is the 7th highest in the state. Vehicle miles traveled in St. Charles County is 6,122,752 which is the 2nd highest in the state. Needless to say, he has a big job. The state of Missouri has 34,000 miles of roadway but is ranked 47th in the nation in revenue per mile. The flat fuel tax rate hasn’t increased in almost 20 years while people are driving more fuel-efficient vehicles which make fuel taxes a diminishing revenue source. As a result, MODOT has cut 20% from infrastructure saving almost $600 Million which has gone back into the improvement of our roads. He outlined some of the improvements planned thru 2017.
Here is a partial list of what is planned.
Here is a partial list of what is planned.
- I-64 Daniel Boone Bridge
- I -64 from Route 94 to the Missouri River, Asphalt Overlay
- I-70 from the Warren County line to Wentzville Parkway, Asphalt Overlay
- I-70 @ Fairgrounds Rd, I-70 @ 5th St. New interchanges
- Route 79 from the Lincoln County line to north of Salt River Road
- Route 94 from Route 47 to Route D, Shoulder Widening Project
- Route N from Roundtower to Weiss Road, New Pavement
- Route W from Route 61 to Route T, Asphalt Overlay
Financial Outlook for 2016
At their February 5th 7am meeting, Lake St. Louis Ambassadors heard from one of their members, Louis Wray, Investment Manager at Edward Jones who spoke on "Market Outlook and Opportunities".
Louis reminded us that the market has come a long way since 1987 when the DOW average was 2200. He showed slides on the slower growth in China and the volatility in oil prices. He presented an optimistic but cautious picture of the economy ahead with continued slower job growth and he expects two more rises in interest rates in this calendar year.
Lake St. Louis Ambassadors meets at the Comm.Assn. every Friday at 7 am for a catered breakfast and a speaker of community interest. Join the Ambassadors on Fridays.
Louis reminded us that the market has come a long way since 1987 when the DOW average was 2200. He showed slides on the slower growth in China and the volatility in oil prices. He presented an optimistic but cautious picture of the economy ahead with continued slower job growth and he expects two more rises in interest rates in this calendar year.
Lake St. Louis Ambassadors meets at the Comm.Assn. every Friday at 7 am for a catered breakfast and a speaker of community interest. Join the Ambassadors on Fridays.
The Ambassadors Get an Update from Habitat for Humanity of St. Charles County
The Ambassadors heard from the St. Charles County affiliate of Habitat for Humanity about their efforts to make home ownership a reality by building one home at a time. They have built over 70 homes so far and are currently searching for a qualified veteran individual or family to for the next one. Michelle Woods and Mike Covey gave us an overview of the process and it is important to know that these homes are not a gift. They are built by the future home owner and volunteers. Habitat holds the mortgage and the home owner is expected to pay off the mortgage just like anybody else. Currently the average price for a home built by Habitat for Humanity in St. Charles County is $120,000. If you know a veteran with a housing need, please let Michelle Woods know. She can be reached either at www.habitatstcharles.org or at 636-978-5712.
"LAKE ST. LOUIS NEIGHBORS" - NEW COMMUNITY MAGAZINE
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LSL AMBASSADORS January 22 speaker was Melissa Bailey, Publisher of Lake St. Louis Neighbors, who introduced a community magazine serving residents of Lake St. Louis, Dardenne Prairie, and O"Fallon. This new publication has a mission of bringing neighbors and businesses together with a family-friendly monthly magazine customized to meet the needs of each neighborhood. With a focus on small business, their first issue in December featured a story on the Palans Family of the Wharf Pharmacy. For more information contact Melissa at 636-485-0657 or email mbailey@bestversionmedia.com.
LSL Ambassadors meets at 7am every Friday at the Community Association for a caterted breakfast, community news and a featured speaker.
LSL AMBASSADORS January 22 speaker was Melissa Bailey, Publisher of Lake St. Louis Neighbors, who introduced a community magazine serving residents of Lake St. Louis, Dardenne Prairie, and O"Fallon. This new publication has a mission of bringing neighbors and businesses together with a family-friendly monthly magazine customized to meet the needs of each neighborhood. With a focus on small business, their first issue in December featured a story on the Palans Family of the Wharf Pharmacy. For more information contact Melissa at 636-485-0657 or email mbailey@bestversionmedia.com.
LSL Ambassadors meets at 7am every Friday at the Community Association for a caterted breakfast, community news and a featured speaker.
Ambassadors Learn About Luke's Legacy.
Luke’s Legacy is a non for profit organization founded by Angela Maue, the mother of a 7 year old boy killed by a drunk driver and Executive Director Laure Simon, a two time DWI offender. Laure talked about why the organization was formed, their goals and their challenges. Their goal is to eliminate drunk driving and educate the community, all by celebrating Luke’s life. Their main challenge is funding. Their current focus is spreading the word in the area schools. In addition, they are working with local police by providing refreshments at the DWI checkpoints. Learn more at www.lukes-legacy.org.
The Ambassadors Get a City 2016 Update
LSL Ambassadors kicked off their January 8 meeting with a 2015 State Of The City report from Mayor Kathy Schweikert. Mayor Kathy presented slides with an optimistic
picture showing population growth, new construction for single family and mulit-family homes, proposed expansions for businesses, churches, housing and parks.
LSL Ambassadors meets every Friday 7 am at the Community Association for a catered breakfast and a speaker of community interest.
picture showing population growth, new construction for single family and mulit-family homes, proposed expansions for businesses, churches, housing and parks.
LSL Ambassadors meets every Friday 7 am at the Community Association for a catered breakfast and a speaker of community interest.
The Ambassadors Hear From the St. Charles County Ambulance District
At their December 4 morning meeting, LSL Ambassadors heard from Kyle Gaines, Director of Community Relations of the St. Charles County Ambulance District. Kyle told the Ambassadors that the District responded to over 30,000 calls last year and covers an area of more than 585 square miles. They employ 156 paramedics who are certified in numerous aspects of advanced life saving care.
They have recently added three new ambulances to their fleet equipped with the latest technology that allows paramedics to be seated and belted while enroute to the hospital. District ambulances are able to send CPR results direct to hospital while enroute. Kyle described their File Of Life safety program for St. Charles County residents including medical history and Rapid Access for paramedics to respond quickly to 911 calls where they can get access to residents locked doors.
LSL Ambassadors meet at 7 am every Friday at the Community Association for a catered breakfast, and a speaker of interest to the Lake St. Louis community. Check our web site at www.lslambassadors.com
They have recently added three new ambulances to their fleet equipped with the latest technology that allows paramedics to be seated and belted while enroute to the hospital. District ambulances are able to send CPR results direct to hospital while enroute. Kyle described their File Of Life safety program for St. Charles County residents including medical history and Rapid Access for paramedics to respond quickly to 911 calls where they can get access to residents locked doors.
LSL Ambassadors meet at 7 am every Friday at the Community Association for a catered breakfast, and a speaker of interest to the Lake St. Louis community. Check our web site at www.lslambassadors.com
Does Your Health Affect Your Wealth?
YES!
This week the Ambassadors heard from Kevin Poe of First Brokerage America, a division of First Bank about how your health can affect your wealth. We learned about various investment options can be used to protect your wealth and provide for long term care that have grown out of recent changes to the federal tax laws. Pictured from left to right are Dan Sutton, Financial Consultant and Kevin Poe, Midwest Regional Sales Manager at First Brokerage America.
The LSL Ambassadors meet at 7 am every Friday for a catered breakfast, community news and an informative speaker. Please join us.
This week the Ambassadors heard from Kevin Poe of First Brokerage America, a division of First Bank about how your health can affect your wealth. We learned about various investment options can be used to protect your wealth and provide for long term care that have grown out of recent changes to the federal tax laws. Pictured from left to right are Dan Sutton, Financial Consultant and Kevin Poe, Midwest Regional Sales Manager at First Brokerage America.
The LSL Ambassadors meet at 7 am every Friday for a catered breakfast, community news and an informative speaker. Please join us.
The Ambassadors Learn About Senior Helpers
Lake St. Louis Ambassadors November 6 program presented Senior Helpers, a nationally franchised organization devoted to seniors. Their motto is "care and comfort at a moment's notice"
Owner, Don Johnson and Community Relations Coordinator, Janet Quinn gave the Ambassadors a "Bingo Card" of the non-medical services that Senior Helpers provides ranging from alzheimers care, hospice assistance, personal in-home care, 24 hour companion care and peace of mind services. Senior Helpers provides professionally trained caregivers whose backgrounds are thoroughly checked in advance. For more information, check their web site www.Senior Helpers.com LSL Ambassadors meets at 7 am every Friday for a catered breakfast, community news and an informative speaker. Upcoming Programs include " LSL Neighbors" and 'SCC Ambulance District"
Check our web site at www.lslambassadors.com
Owner, Don Johnson and Community Relations Coordinator, Janet Quinn gave the Ambassadors a "Bingo Card" of the non-medical services that Senior Helpers provides ranging from alzheimers care, hospice assistance, personal in-home care, 24 hour companion care and peace of mind services. Senior Helpers provides professionally trained caregivers whose backgrounds are thoroughly checked in advance. For more information, check their web site www.Senior Helpers.com LSL Ambassadors meets at 7 am every Friday for a catered breakfast, community news and an informative speaker. Upcoming Programs include " LSL Neighbors" and 'SCC Ambulance District"
Check our web site at www.lslambassadors.com
The Ambassadors get an Update from State Rep. Justin S. Hill.
Missouri State Representative Justin S. Hill representing Lake St. Louis was the speaker for the LSL Ambassadors October 30 program. Rep. Hill gave a comprehensive report on legislation passed and vetoed by the General Assembly in Jefferson City this past year. Rep. Hill is a member of the Health Insurance Committee and answered many questions on health benefits, taxes, drug controls, voter ID, highway funding, and what can be expected in new laws for 2016.
LSL Ambassadors meets at 7 am every Friday at the Community Association for a catered breakfast and a speaker of community interest. Upcoming topics include "Will Your Health Affect Your Wealth" and "Lake St. Louis Neighbors". Check out our web site at www.lslambassadors.com
LSL Ambassadors meets at 7 am every Friday at the Community Association for a catered breakfast and a speaker of community interest. Upcoming topics include "Will Your Health Affect Your Wealth" and "Lake St. Louis Neighbors". Check out our web site at www.lslambassadors.com
Ambassadors Learn About the Upper Grand Canyon
For their October 23 program, LSL Ambassadors heard from their ex-president Jim Redfield who accompanied by his son David told of their "Trip Of A Lifetime". Jim showed slides and video of their six day trip of hiking and river rafting along 88 miles of the Upper Grand Canyon. Their experience included camping out on the canyon floor and traveling on rubber boats through the Colorado River rapids to learn how the Grand Canyon was formed with its layers of rock in more than 3 billion years.
Lake St. Louis Ambassadors meets for a catered breakfast every Friday at 7 am at the Community Association for news of the city and an interesting speaker. Come and Join Us !
Lake St. Louis Ambassadors meets for a catered breakfast every Friday at 7 am at the Community Association for news of the city and an interesting speaker. Come and Join Us !
Ambassadors Get an Update on Real Estate Developments
Ambassadors hear about Real Estate Developments. Suzanne Matyiko, Broker/Realtor, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services presented a most comprehensive report on Real Estate Developments in St. Charles, Lincoln, and Warren Counties and the need for more buildable land. Suzanne showed a Statistical Market Analysis for real estate sales comparing original prices, sale prices and days on the market.
LSL Ambassadors meet at 7 am every Friday at the CA Clubhouse for a catered breakfast, news of the community and an informative speaker. Come Join Us ! Upcoming Speakers include a talk on Upper Grand Canyon Adventure and State Representative Justin Hill from Lake St. Louis
LSL Ambassadors meet at 7 am every Friday at the CA Clubhouse for a catered breakfast, news of the community and an informative speaker. Come Join Us ! Upcoming Speakers include a talk on Upper Grand Canyon Adventure and State Representative Justin Hill from Lake St. Louis
Ambassadors Hear from Roger Lowry of CHIC Lumber
Roger is a long time resident in Lake St. Louis and joined CHIC Lumber a year ago to bring his experience in kitchen remodeling and working with remodelers to their initiative to align with that industry going forward. We learned how, through good management, they survived the downturn in new home construction in the mid 2000's and are expanding their business today. They opened a new facility in Warrenton that even includes a Gun Shop! Watch for news of an open house at their new design center at I-70 and Hwy 79 on November 3 of this year.
LSL Ambassadors meet at 7 am every Friday at the CA Clubhouse for a catered breakfast, news of the community and an informative speaker. Come Join Us ! Upcoming Speakers include a talk on Upper Grand Canyon Adventure and State Representative Justin Hill from Lake St. Louis
LSL Ambassadors meet at 7 am every Friday at the CA Clubhouse for a catered breakfast, news of the community and an informative speaker. Come Join Us ! Upcoming Speakers include a talk on Upper Grand Canyon Adventure and State Representative Justin Hill from Lake St. Louis
LAKE ST. LOUIS AMBASSADORS ARE MOTIVATED AND ENTERTAINED
At their October 2 meeting, Lake St. Louis Ambassadors heard from Dr. Stanley Coker, Lindenwood University, Chairman of Management School of Business. Dr. Coker spoke on "How To Have Fun In Life - Be A Bit Weird" and how he teaches his students to " Deliver Happiness" a founding principle of shoe company Zappos Inc. and their Ten Core Values to
"Deliver WOW through Customer Service". LSL Ambassadors meet every Friday morning at 7am to enjoy a catered breakfast, an interesting program and how they can continue to
serve the Lake St. Louis community. Check us out at LSLAmbassadors.com and Come Join Us!
"Deliver WOW through Customer Service". LSL Ambassadors meet every Friday morning at 7am to enjoy a catered breakfast, an interesting program and how they can continue to
serve the Lake St. Louis community. Check us out at LSLAmbassadors.com and Come Join Us!
SSM ORTHOPEDICS PROGRAM FOR AMBASSADORS
At their September 18 morning meeting, Lake St. Louis Ambassadors heard from Dr. Thomas Satterly III, an orthopedic surgeon and total joint specialist for hips and knees.
Dr. Satterly presented slides on hip anatomy and described the latest surgical methods for hip replacement that would allow less trauma to the muscles and make for faster recovery.
He answered questions from the group.
LSL Ambassadors were given their work assignments for the next day-Sept 19-for the FALL FESTIVAL from Scott Ellis, Treasurer to insure a most successful event!
Dr. Satterly presented slides on hip anatomy and described the latest surgical methods for hip replacement that would allow less trauma to the muscles and make for faster recovery.
He answered questions from the group.
LSL Ambassadors were given their work assignments for the next day-Sept 19-for the FALL FESTIVAL from Scott Ellis, Treasurer to insure a most successful event!
The Ambassadors Learn How to Stay Young for the First 100 Years!
For their September 25 7am morning meeting, Lake St. Louis Ambassadors were challenged by Susan Houseman, Hawk Ridge Family Chiropractic on "How To Stay Young For The First 100 Years".
Susan presented slides showing the importance of improving skeletal health with chiropractic adjustments to achieve pain relief, stability and maintenance through preventable care.
Gary Turner, LSL Alderman Ward 1 updated the members on city plans for road improvements. Ambassadors Treasurer Scott Ellis reported on the well attended results of last weeks Fall Festival and the fine cooperation between all Lake St. Louis clubs.
Susan presented slides showing the importance of improving skeletal health with chiropractic adjustments to achieve pain relief, stability and maintenance through preventable care.
Gary Turner, LSL Alderman Ward 1 updated the members on city plans for road improvements. Ambassadors Treasurer Scott Ellis reported on the well attended results of last weeks Fall Festival and the fine cooperation between all Lake St. Louis clubs.
Ambassador Hear a Report on The State of the City
At their 7am August 28 meeting, Lake St. Louis Ambassadors were given up to date reports from Paul Markworth, Lake St. Louis City Administrator and John Pellerito, Third Ward Alderman about street and sidewalk improvements made possible by the sales tax. Paul Markworth showed slides of expanded housing as well as incoming new retail businesses. Plans for new church expansions and senior centers were also shown.
Ambassadors will be hosting the Lake St. Louis Fall Festival on Saturday September 19 with all other Lake St. Louis Clubs from 11 am to 10 pm at Windjammer Point and behind SSM Hospital West parking lot. SAVE THE DATE ! COME AND ENJOY THE FUN FOR KIDS & ADULTS !
Ambassadors will be hosting the Lake St. Louis Fall Festival on Saturday September 19 with all other Lake St. Louis Clubs from 11 am to 10 pm at Windjammer Point and behind SSM Hospital West parking lot. SAVE THE DATE ! COME AND ENJOY THE FUN FOR KIDS & ADULTS !
Ambassadors Get an Update on Volunteers In Medicine
Ambassadors of Lake St. Louis is a service club in the community. Crossroads Clinic/Volunteers In Medicine was the August 21 program for their 7 am meeting. One of their members, Bill Cullen, President of the clinic and Cheryl Mollenhoff, RN and board member explained that their clinic has been open five years and provides free basic healthcare for people who cannot afford health insurance. Located in the First Bank building, the clinic has four exam rooms and is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 am to 1 pm. Bill and Cheryl showed slides of their clinic and explained the clinic is staffed by Volunteer doctors and nurses. The clinic works with patients from the O'Fallon/Lake St Louis/Wentzville areas. Their volunteers work closely with local hospitals to provide referrals and what's right for the patient.
The Ambassadors Get Some Travel Tips from Classic Travel
Ambassadors of Lake St. Louis is a service club in the community. Members meet on Friday mornings at the LSL Community Association clubhouse. For their August 14 7 am breakfast, Ambassadors heard from Harry Yeakey, one of their members, and owner of Classic Travel and Cruises. Harry and Christy Althage, his lead agent presented a complete review of their full services including cruises, vacations, escorted tours and how they provide vacation planning services to each client. Classic Travel and Cruises is located at 1313 Lake St. Louis Blvd can be contacted at 636-625-8747.
LSL Ambassadors will be hosting the upcoming annual Fall Festival on Saturday September 19 from 8am to 10 pm at Windjammer Point and the SSM Hospital parking lot. Come and enjoy the activities, food and fun. Read more about it in Newstime !
LSL Ambassadors will be hosting the upcoming annual Fall Festival on Saturday September 19 from 8am to 10 pm at Windjammer Point and the SSM Hospital parking lot. Come and enjoy the activities, food and fun. Read more about it in Newstime !
ARIZONA ATTRACTS AMBASSADORS
For their July 24 program Lake St. Louis Ambassadors heard from Don Hammond, one of their own members. Don and Betty are retired but have a second home in Apache Junction, Arizona They are very active in Roadhaven Resort, a retirement community of over
1000 homes. An avid hiker, Don is Vice President of his Homeowners Association and he described the many clubs and activities open to seniors at Roadhaven. He showed interesting slides of unusual rock formations and hiking trails throughout Arizona. Come and join the Ambassadors each Friday at 7 am for a catered breakfast and a speaker of community interest. Check out our website at www.lslambassadors.com
1000 homes. An avid hiker, Don is Vice President of his Homeowners Association and he described the many clubs and activities open to seniors at Roadhaven. He showed interesting slides of unusual rock formations and hiking trails throughout Arizona. Come and join the Ambassadors each Friday at 7 am for a catered breakfast and a speaker of community interest. Check out our website at www.lslambassadors.com
Changes in Adult Education
Changes in Adult Education was the subject discussed by Dan Viele, Dean of Adult and Online Education from Maryville University at the July 17 meeting of Lake St. Louis Ambassadors.
With over 30 plus years in higher education, Dan was a former full professor at Webster University from 1998-2013. Dean Viele described how the adult education model is changing to more flexibility with students enrolling on line for a degree with less debt. He presented charts showing enrollment growth of 18% in part time students and 25% growth of students over age 35. He said that Maryville has added over 2000 students over the past five years. Maryville's challenge is to track their students taking courses online to ensure their knowledge of their chosen subjects. Come and join LSL Ambassadors every Friday at 7 am at the Community Association for a catered breakfast and a speaker of community interest. Upcoming speakers include Schnucks, Hucks Gas Station, and Volunteers In Medicine.
With over 30 plus years in higher education, Dan was a former full professor at Webster University from 1998-2013. Dean Viele described how the adult education model is changing to more flexibility with students enrolling on line for a degree with less debt. He presented charts showing enrollment growth of 18% in part time students and 25% growth of students over age 35. He said that Maryville has added over 2000 students over the past five years. Maryville's challenge is to track their students taking courses online to ensure their knowledge of their chosen subjects. Come and join LSL Ambassadors every Friday at 7 am at the Community Association for a catered breakfast and a speaker of community interest. Upcoming speakers include Schnucks, Hucks Gas Station, and Volunteers In Medicine.
Scott Ellis Presents Birds of Lake St. Louis part 2
At the June 12 meeting, member Scott Ellis continued his presentation from last month on Birdwatching in Lake Saint Louis. Club members had plenty of questions and comments for Scott. Friends and new members are welcome to attend Ambassadors meetings. More information about the club may be found at www.lslambassadors.com.
LSL AMBASSADORS HEAR FROM RIVER CITY RASCALS
On June 5, LSL AMBASSADORS welcomed Tim McConkey, Senior Account Executive, River City Rascals, our local minor league baseball team. The Rascals are one of 14 teams in the Frontier League and were formed in 1999. They perform at TRHughes ballpark in O'Fallon, MO. The players are mostly from college teams and range in age from 21 - 27 working toward recognition in more advanced leagues. Tim answered many questions about Rascals players and how the team has constant promotions aimed at bringing more families with children to their games. As an example, they will have Pete Rose appearing as a coach for their July 10 game. Last year their best night was "Super Hero Nite" that drew attendance of 4000 people.
Rascals will play a schedule of 105 games with Mondays off. Check out their web site at: www.rivercityrascals.com
Rascals will play a schedule of 105 games with Mondays off. Check out their web site at: www.rivercityrascals.com
Representatives of Therapeutic Horsemanship tell the Ambassadors about their TREE House Program
Lake St. Louis Ambassadors heard a most interesting and informative program about TREE House of Greater St. Louis from Sandra Huebner, Board of Directors and Nathan Harms, Director of Operations. Started in 1975 as Therapeutic Horsemanship , TREE House has become one of the most respected horseback riding centers in the U.S. TREE House serves children with developmental disabilities as well as military personnel with challenges such as post-traumatic Stress disorder. Their licensed therapists help children and adults reach individual goals by using horses to improve balance, flexibility, muscle strength and confidence. Their new name is a result of an expanded mission of therapies beyond horseback riding. Over 650 clients were served during the past year. TREE House depends heavily on the support of volunteers and financial contributions from the community to keep their programs running. Check out their web site, wwwthstl.org or call 636-332-4940. Ambassadors meet every Friday ay 7 am for a catered breakfast and a speaker of community interest. Upcoming programs include River City Rascals and Reverse Mortgages. Our web site is lslambassadors.com
Ambassadors Program Highlights Local Magazine
At their May 8 meeting, LSL Ambassadors enjoyed an informative talk by Bryan Cooper, Editor/Publisher of LSL Living Magazine. New to Lake St. Louis since February 2014, the "LIVING" or "LIFE" magazines are devoted to stories and photos of "Celebrating Amazing People" in local communities. N2Publishing is the market leader in regional magazines in 700 local markets. New magazines are planned in Whitmoor, Wing Haven, and Bear Creek. Check out their web site at www.lslliving@n2publishing.com
LSL Ambassadors Learn about Missouri Birds - Not Bees from Ambassadors Treasurer Scott Ellis
For their May 1 program, LSL Ambassadors heard from their Treasurer, Scott Ellis, former Truman State Dean of Biology, who gave an informative talk with slides on Missouri's diverse population of birds. Lake St. Louis is fortunate to have a large variety of both land and water birds around our lakes. Every Friday morning at 7 am the LSL Ambassadors meet for one hour for a catered breakfast and present a speaker of interest to the community. Upcoming speakers include Mayor Schweikert, Therapeutic Horsemanship, and the River City Rascals. Check out our website at www.lslambassadors.org
LSL Ambassadors See Tiger Boat Docks in Action
At their April 24 LSL Ambassadors meeting, former President Ray Rudy introduced Marv Davis, CEO of Tiger Docks Company. Based locally in O'Fallon MO, with a second factory in Honolulu, HI, Tiger Docks is a nationally known builder and fabricator of custom docks . Marv showed many photos and answered questions about Tiger's unique installations.
Started in his garage in 1995, Marv Davis has built Tiger Docks from a builder of individual docks with either wood or concrete panel decking to a specialist in large well designed docks for commercial and military facilities all over the U.S. and in Hawaii. Most fabrication is done in their O"Fallon plant with their own welding equipment. Tiger Docks also specializes in restoring seawalls as part of their complete service.
Started in his garage in 1995, Marv Davis has built Tiger Docks from a builder of individual docks with either wood or concrete panel decking to a specialist in large well designed docks for commercial and military facilities all over the U.S. and in Hawaii. Most fabrication is done in their O"Fallon plant with their own welding equipment. Tiger Docks also specializes in restoring seawalls as part of their complete service.
Ambassadors Learn about New Long Term Care Insurance Alternatives
At their April 17 7am meeting, Lake St. Louis Ambassadors heard from Tony Sandifer, President and Matthew Short, Financial Services, of Executive Financial Group with interesting options on their Asset-Care Long Term Care Insurance.
They stressed the importance of using a foundation of whole life insurance to provide guaranteed protection and cash value accumulation. Check out their web site at www.efgmo.com Each Friday, Lake St. Louis Ambassadors offer a worthwhile program of community interest and a catered breakfast. Come and Join Us at 7am !
They stressed the importance of using a foundation of whole life insurance to provide guaranteed protection and cash value accumulation. Check out their web site at www.efgmo.com Each Friday, Lake St. Louis Ambassadors offer a worthwhile program of community interest and a catered breakfast. Come and Join Us at 7am !
