CAMERON TOPS COMMUNITY BETTERMENT AWARDS

October 24, 2016

Twenty-one communities and 10 community leaders were honored at the Missouri Community Betterment (MCB) conference in Columbia. The 53^rd annual conference included speakers from the Missouri Department of Tourism, Missouri Department of Economic Development, USDA, and Regional Planning Commissions and had keynotes from Author and Syndicated Radio Host, Les Norman and Kevin Laue, the 1^st player missing a limb to play NCAA Division 1 basketball. Missouri Community Betterment assists communities in their efforts to improve their quality of life through community and economic development efforts. Nearly 225 volunteers, community leaders and youth from across the state were in attendance.

The community of Cameron won the Gene Speichinger Community of the year award.  This award recognizes the outstanding community amongst the 21 communities entered in this year's Awards program. MCB judges and Board members were impressed with their outstanding community involvement and how strategic planning was evident in all projects.  Their projects had a wide impact on the community for its citizens of all ages.

 “The Missouri Community Betterment Board congratulates all the volunteers from our communities all throughout the state,” MCB President Brett Dinkins said. “These dedicated individuals and their collaborative community and economic development efforts continue to make Missouri’s rural communities a place people want to call home.

The Monday evening Awards Banquet is an integral part of the MCB program, which is administered by the Missouri Community Betterment Educational Fund. MCBEF is a not-for-profit organization made up of businesses, public utilities, community representatives, federal and state agencies and individuals. From 2008-2015 MCB communities poured more than $420,859,704.22 back into their local economies through their community development projects.

Gene Speichinger Community of the Year Award: Cameron	J.C. Smith  Youth Group of the Year Award: Steelville
Community Awards	Youth Groups
Category I First Place: Mayview Second Place: Galena Third Place: Caledonia Fourth Place: Allendale Fifth Place:  Annapolis Category II First Place: Albany Second Place:  Reeds Spring Third Place:  Mansfield Fourth Place: Steelville Fifth Place:  Green City Certificate of Merit:  Lowry City Category III First Place: St. James Second Place: Houston Third Place: Louisiana Fourth Place: Fayette Fifth Place:  Malden Category IV First Place: Cameron Second Place: Perryville Third Place: Lamar Fourth Place: Salem Fifth Place:  Trenton	Category I First Place: Galena Second Place: Caledonia Category II First Place:  Steelville Second Place:  Mansfield Category III First Place: Louisiana Second Place:  Houston Category IV First Place:  Lamar Second Place: Perryville
Leadership Awards
Adult Leadership Award Jackie Allenbrand – Albany Artie Howell – Annapolis Barbara McDaniel – Lamar Patricia Bolton – Louisiana Alex Sellers – Salem	Youth Leadership Award Blayre Messner – Albany Makayla Koch – Houston Noah Shaw – Lamar Dawson Miller – Louisiana Makayla Cahill – Salem