THE FRANKLIN MINT AND TONY ORLANDO:
A UNIQUE MARRIAGE OF TWO ICONS

TONY ORLANDO JOINS THE FRANKLIN MINT AS A PARTNER AND VICE CHAIRMAN

NEW YORK – June 16, 2011 – Tony Orlando, one of the most beloved and iconic American Entertainers for the past 50 years, has joined forces as a Partner and Vice Chairman with The Franklin Mint, the most trusted brand in the world for Gifts, Heirlooms and Personalized Collectibles.

“No one speaks to America with more passion and credibility than Tony Orlando. He brings a product development and marketing sensibility crafted through his accomplishments. Tony will lead The Franklin Mint’s vigorous efforts to embrace new branding in film, television and music, incorporating all digital and traditional platforms. We are honored to welcome Tony to The Franklin Mint as our Partner, and to our Leadership Team,” said Mr. Robert H. Book, Chairman of the Franklin Mint.

Orlando has also been set for a major role in the next Adam Sandler movie, I HATE YOU DAD!. The film is currently shooting in Cape Cod.

Tony Orlando’s career started at sixteen in 1961. Tony’s commitment to America’s veterans began in 1973 when “Yellow Ribbon” became the anthem for our military. For over three decades Tony was the Vice President of the Muscular Dystrophy Association and hosted the New York portion of the MDA Telethon for his friend,

“The Franklin Mint empowers Americans to share in some of the country’s most poignant moments. I have been a Franklin Mint collector since I was a child. The company has touched America’s heart with its integrity, creativity and quality,” said Tony Orlando. “I am going to work very hard with my Franklin Mint partners, and I will continue to perform around the country and the world. I’m most excited about my newest journey with The Franklin Mint.”

Under Tony Orlando’s leadership The Franklin Mint is planning to introduce the Yellow Ribbon Medal of Freedom, Wounded Warrior Sculpture, the Yellow Ribbon of Freedom Sculpture and several more products that honor the men and women of the United States military.

About The Franklin Mint

An American icon, The Franklin Mint was founded in 1964 and is known worldwide for its innovative design, meticulous attention to detail and creation of the highest-quality gifts, heirlooms, and collectibles in the world. The Franklin Mint’s peerless archives contain over 12,000 products, including Limited Edition fine art sculptures, heirloom dolls, fine commemorative coins, designer jewelry, precision die-cast models and historic reproductions.

http://www.franklinmint.com/TonyOrlando

http://www.franklinmint.com/tonyorlando_video

The inaugural Chris Waller Memorial Scholarship was recently awarded to 2011 C of O graduate Adam Bulkeley. The scholarship is in the memory of Academic All-American and All-Conference basketball player Chris Waller.

“It is an honor to receive the scholarship. [Al] Waller called to let me know that I had received the scholarship; it really meant a lot,” Bulkeley said. “The money will be put toward tuition and books for the University of Arkansas.”

The Chris Waller Memorial Scholarship was established by Al and Marty Waller, parents of Chris Waller, in memory of their son who they lost in a car accident in December 2010. Chris graduated from Branson High School and attended College of the Ozarks from 1997-2001, where he majored in mathematics.

The scholarship is given to a College of the Ozarks graduate who possesses outstanding character and who wants to further his/her education. The money for the scholarship comes from interest off of the memorial endowment established in Chris’s memory.

“It is a pleasure to give the very first scholarship to Adam,” said Al Waller. “When looking at the criteria for the scholarship, he met three of the things that we were looking for. He had exceptional character, he lived in the Branson area, and he is going to continue his studies at the University of Arkansas.”

Titanic Museum Attractions Will Send 12 People on 11-Day
“Back to Titanic” Trips to Belfast, Ireland

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. and BRANSON, Mo. – June 13, 2011 – To commemorate Titanic’s Irish heritage, Titanic Museum Attractions in Branson, Mo. and Pigeon Forge, Tenn. will give away six 11-day trips for two to Belfast beginning today. The 12 winners of the “Back to Titanic 100th Year ‘Tour Ireland’ Sweepstakes” will go to Belfast where they will visit the birthplace of the world’s best-known, most luxurious ocean liner.
Winners receive airfare to and from Ireland, ground transportation, and hotel accommodations. The Back to Titanic 100th Anniversary Tour begins in Belfast, where winners will learn the history behind the world’s most famous ocean liner. Their journey continues in Dublin where they’ll take advantage of everything the beautiful city has to offer. They’ll also have a special presentation by Rory Golden which will include the first-ever images of the discovered Titanic wreck and the impact Titanic has had on society. Winners will experience many breathtaking areas of Ireland with guided tours and exclusive events taking place in Belfast, Dublin, Cobh and Kilkenny offered only to these travelers!

To enter the “Back to Titanic 100th Year ‘Tour Ireland’ Sweepstakes,” simply visit www.TitanicAttraction.com and click on the sweepstakes banner to register. Each person entering the sweepstakes may enter one time per day between June 13, 2011 and Feb. 1, 2012. The winner will be drawn in early February 2012.

In May 1911, the RMS Titanic slid down Slipway No. 3 at the Queen’s Yard of Harland & Wolff and settled on the waters of the Victoria Channel in Belfast, Ireland while more than 100,000 people looked on. At the time, she was the largest movable manmade object on the face of the planet. In the coming months, RMS Titanic would complete numerous successful sea trials with Irish workers and crew members on board.
The following April, when Titanic set sail on her maiden voyage, the world watched as the A-List celebrities of the day – the Astors, the Strauses and Guggenheims – boarded alongside everyday working-class people. Four days later, after striking an iceberg on her starboard side, those same diverse passengers would carry out amazing acts of generosity, kindness and heroism as well as unthinkable acts of cowardice as they struggled for their lives in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912.

It has been 99 years since a lookout in the crow’s nest shouted, “Iceberg right ahead!” For the twelve months leading up to April 15, 2012, when it will have been a century since the RMS Titanic was lost, Titanic Museum Attractions will pay respect to and honor those 2,208 passengers and crew members with an ongoing series of special events, activities and ceremonies.

As the whole world remembers the world’s most famous luxury liner, Titanic Museum Attractions will continue to open the door to the past in it’s one-of-a-kind way – letting “passengers” experience what it was like to walk the hallways, parlors, cabins and Grand Staircase of the Titanic while surrounded by more than 400 artifacts directly from the ship and its passengers. As visitors touch a real iceberg, walk the Grand Staircase and third class hallways, reach their hands into 28-degree water, and try to stand on the sloping decks, they learn what it was like on the RMS Titanic by experiencing it first-hand.

Each and every day, Titanic Museum Attractions provides a gateway to 1912, where First Class Maids and a variety of Officers and crew members bring the stories of the fabled ship and its fascinating passengers to life by retelling their stories in vivid, dramatic detail. The priceless artifacts throughout the museum shed additional light on the lives of those passengers and crew members when guests see the actual belongings of those on board and artifacts that sailed on Titanic’s maiden voyage.

The Titanic Museum Attractions in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. and Branson, Mo. opens daily at 9 a.m. Reservations are strongly suggested (many days sell out entirely). Or, passengers may purchase tickets online at www.TitanicAttraction.com or by phone at 800-381-7670. For more information and details about the “Back to Titanic 100th Year ‘Tour Ireland’ Sweepstakes” visit www.TitanicAttraction.com.

Andy Williams To Be Honored At Judy Garland Festival

BRANSON, MO—June 2011—Andy Williams is the special guest for the 36th Annual Judy Garland Festival Thursday, June 16 to Saturday, June 16 to Saturday, June 18, 2011, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

Festival highlights include a gala dinner honoring the legendary Andy Williams, a party for the “Wizard of Oz” Munchkin Karl Slover, a local production of “Meet Me in St. Louis” by the Grand Rapids Players, and a show of Judy’s gowns for collector Michael Siewert. Mr. Williams will be signing his memoir “Moon River and Me” in the afternoon and then be given the Lifetime Achievement Award Friday evening.

Festival headquarters are at the Judy Garland Museum and historic family home and adjacent Children’s Discovery Museum in Grand Rapids, the northern Minnesota resort town where Judy’s family lived when she was a little girl. The Judy Garland Museum has the world’s largest collection of Judy Garland memorabilia.

For schedule and ticket information go to www.judygarlandmuseum.com or call 800-664-5839 or 218-327-9276.

Can’t Sit Still – Help for Joplin

For many of us who have seen the devastation in Joplin and felt horrible for them, here is an opportunity to convert our feelings to actions.
Saturday, the RivR is taking a large group to help people dig out and get their homes in a livable condition. We have people who have gone on a scouting mission and now we need all hands on deck. Obviously there is no way to be sure of exactly what we will do on Saturday, but there are whole neighborhoods that are damaged but not destroyed. Our goal will be to assist residents in clearing debris and getting their homes in a condition so they can stay in them. This seems to be one of the greatest needs right now.

When:
Meet at the RivR @ 5:45 A.M. on Saturday.
Meet at 65 & 160 @ 6:20 A.M.
(It is really important that we travel together. We will be taking buses. Traffic is a huge problem in Joplin and we don’t want to compound their problems even more. So jump in with us.)

Who:
People who care a lot and are flexible enough to do whatever will help.
Skill is not a requirement – desire is.
This trip is for teens going into 9th grade – adults. (not advisable for younger kids)

What to bring:
Lunch
Change of clothes (optional – in case of rain)
Light tools – hammer, prybar, etc. (not necessary, but maybe helpful)
Work Gloves
Chainsaw – (again, not necessary, but we don’t know what we will need)
Heavy Machinery – tractors and trailers – (if you want to consider this, we will put
you in touch with appropriate people to help plan it’s use)

Return:
We will quit work around 5:00. We will stop in Springfield for a quick dinner on the way home.
Thanks for adjusting your plans and joining us on this really important trip. We have to continue care for others in significant ways. Please let us know if you are planning to go. Call the church office at 417-546-7487 and tell Lynn or send an email to [email protected]. The sooner you can let us know, the better we can plan the trip.

Our promise is that we will do everything possible to accomplish as much as we can. We won’t waste your time. Pray for the people in Joplin. Pray for the trip. Help us love with our hands, not just our thoughts.

Join the relief effort for Joplin tornado victims
Choose from a number of ways to reach out to our
Missouri neighbors and businesses

Following the devastating storms in southwest Missouri on Sunday evening, your immediate action is requested to assist in the Joplin recovery efforts. Many members of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry have already contributed to this recovery, but vital resources are still in need. Donate money, items or your time through a variety of organizations that are on the ground serving in the Joplin area.

Monetary Donations
Joplin-native Sen. Ron Richard is encouraging Missouri businesses that are looking to help to call the donation desk at the State Emergency Management Agency command center in Joplin at 573.526.9364. The line is being used to coordinate large shipments of supplies and monetary donations from individual and corporate donors.

You can help immediately by texting the word “Redcross” to 90999 or by donating online on the American Red Cross website by clicking here. Donations will go toward the purchase of medical supplies, food and other basic necessities that families are in desperate need of right now.

Recovery Items
A number of items are also in demand, specifically bottled water, non-perishable food, can openers, toiletries, clothing (please have boxed and labeled), work gloves, and construction-grade trash bags. To locate a fundraiser near you, please visit the Joplin, Mo.,Tornado Recovery Facebook page.

Blood Donations
The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks has issued a Code Red Alert for Type “O Negative” blood. Please consider making a blood donation at a center near you, if you are able.

Volunteer Your Time
Officials are asking for volunteers with medical skills to register at the Show-Me Response website or by calling 417-832-9500. All others are asked to wait 3 to 5 days to sign up by calling 800.427.4626 or 211.
If you have relatives or friends in the Joplin area that you have not been able to contact, please visit the Red Cross’s Safe and Well registry. Authorities are asking that you keep the phone lines clear by using text messaging and social networks on the Internet.

And to keep up-to-date on the latest news and aid requests, visit the KY3 News website.
Thanks in advance for stepping up to support Joplin as the community recovers from the tragic natural disaster. Please contact the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s office if you need further assistance as to how to make a contribution: 573.634.3511.

As most are aware, our friends and neighbors in Joplin, located about 100 miles from Branson, were devastated by a Category F5 Tornado on Sunday May 22. Although the horrific storms did not affect the Branson area physically, the impact of what has happened to our friends and neighbors in Joplin is heavy on our hearts, thoughts and prayers.

In addition, however, they need assistance and help in rebuilding their community and recovering their personal lives from the total devastation they have faced. The information on this page is intended to provide guidance on how you can assist in that effort in a manner that will get the most help to those that need it as quickly as possible.

JOPLIN, MO TORNADO INFORMATION

The outpouring of support from Hollister and Branson citizens and businesses continues. See below for opportunities and drop off sites in Hollister and the surrounding areas:

HOLLISTER DROP SITES:

• MEMCO, INC in Hollister (off the intersection of Hwy 65 & Hwy 86) have cleared out space in their warehouse, donated use of trucks and have coordinated to make deliveries to Convoy of Hope in Springfield. If you cannot make it to Memco, you may also drop off at the Hollister Area Chamber of Commerce Office inside the Taney County Airport behind Herrman Lumber. Contact Kim Crosby at Memco for additional information (417-297-0611). The following items have been approved and are needed:

Blankets (new or gently used/clean)
Pillows (new or gently used/clean)
Towels (new or gently used/clean)
Clothing & shoes (only NEW items accepted)
Socks and work gloves
Non-Perishable Foods
Pre-packaged (ready-to-eat) snacks
Bottled Water
Personal Care Items
Toiletry Items (shampoo, soap, etc.)
Baby Care Items (diapers, wipes, etc)
Laundry Detergent
Cleaning Supplies
Trash Bags (large, sturdy)
Paper Products
First Aid Supplies
Pet Food & Pet Supplies

• COUNTRY MART in Hollister. Customers who wish to participate may have $1, $3 or $5 added to their total at checkout. All 48 Pyramid Foods Stores will be participating in this program. The money raised will be given to the American Red Cross Greater Ozarks Chapter, specifically designated for relief in Joplin. For more information, please visit www.countrymartgrocery.com

• ARROWHEAD BUILDING SUPPLY in Hollister is collecting non-perishable food items to aid families in Joplin. Please drop off food items or first aid items to help get these families through this devastating time… Thank you for your support and contact us with any questions-

Hollister Location
181 Hollister Pointe Drive (Behind Lowe’s on Birch Rd)
Hollister MO. 65672
417-690-4733

Additional Contact Information:

Red Cross of the Greater Ozarks www.redcross-ozarks.org

United Way Dial 2-1-1 (seeking volunteers and donations) If the number is not operational, please call 800-427-4626.

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks www.cbco.org or 800-280-5337 (all types needed)

To check on loved ones, view the “Safe and Sound” registry of the Red Cross at www.safeandsound.org

Follow on Facebook – “Joplin, Mo Tornado Recovery” – find the page at http://www.facebook.com/joplinmo?ref=ts&sk=wall#!/joplinmo

Branson/Lakes Area Website – Online Directory of Resources http://www.explorebranson.com/spring/2011-tornado-donations.php

BRANSON, Mo., – Highway 165/265 across Table Rock Dam will reopen at 6 a.m. Friday, May 20.  The road was scheduled to reopen May 18 but extra time is needed to complete the repairs on the downstream embankment of the dam.

Repairs were necessary because recent heavy rains have caused surface “skin” slides of topsoil that covers the embankment.  The dam is sound, but the slides needed to be repaired.
Officials at the Army Corps of Engineers Table Rock Project Office said they regret any inconvenience this extension may cause, and they ask for public cooperation until the work is complete.  The officials ask travelers to plan alternate routes and allow extra time to reach their destinations.The closure is being coordinated with emergency services and law enforcement agencies.

For more information about Table Rock Lake, visit the website at www.swl.usace.army.mil/parks/tablerock or contact Lake Manager Greg Oller at (417) 334-4101 ext. 3006.

COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS GRADUATES RECORD NUMBER OF STUDENTS AT ITS 104TH COMMENCEMENT

At the 104th College of the Ozarks Commencement, a record number of 338 students received their bachelor’s degrees.

Among the bachelor candidates was the second class to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the College’s nationally-accredited Armstrong-McDonald School of Nursing. Two ROTC cadets, Austin Truelove and Brent Turpin, were commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the United States Army.

The College also awarded three honorary degrees in recognition of outstanding achievement and greater distinction in professional and civic leadership.

In honor of her public service to Missouri and the nation, the College presented United States Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson (Missouri, 8th District) a Doctor of Public Service.

Dean of the College Dr. Marilyn C. Graves received a Doctor of Laws for her 40 years of dedicated service to College of the Ozarks.

Vice President Dr. Howell W. Keeter, too, was awarded a Doctor of Laws for his 40 years of dedicated service to College of the Ozarks.

Congresswoman Emerson, the first Republican woman to represent Missouri in Congress, gave the Commencement address. She shared with students the importance of preparation and hard work for leadership in the 21st century.

Commencement was held the afternoon of May 8.

College of the Ozarks is a fully-accredited, four-year Christian liberal arts college where students work campus jobs for their college education, allowing them the opportunity to graduate debt free.

COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS ACADEMIC DEAN RECEIVES DOCTOR OF LAWS IN HONOR OF 40 YEARS OF SERVICE

For her 40 years of dedicated service to College of the Ozarks, Dean of the College Dr. Marilyn C. Graves received an honorary Doctor of Laws at the 104th Commencement, held May 8.
It is customary and proper for institutions of higher education to confer honorary degrees to recognize outstanding achievement, public service and leadership.
Dr. Graves began working at the College in 1970. Since that time, she has been a professor, coach, division chair, and now Dean.
Dr. Graves started the women’s basketball and volleyball teams and served as their first coach. She also has been instrumental in the administration and organization of the annual NAIA Men’s Division II Championship hosted by the College annually.
This past fall, the College announced that the new practice gymnasium of the athletic complex would be named for her.
College of the Ozarks is a fully-accredited, four-year Christian liberal arts college where students work campus jobs for their college education, allowing them the opportunity to graduate debt free.