By Kyle Netzel
First Person Reporter
Monroe Boy Scout
The Eagle Scout Award is the highest rank a Boy Scout can achieve. In 1912, awarding this title began as a sort of "super merit badge" for Scouts who earned 21 other merit badges, five of them required (First Aid and/or Lifesaving are now among those required). Over time there have been some changes to qualifying for this badge, but the most important has been for "the Scout to plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community."
After acquiring the Eagle Scout Project Workbook, Kyle Netzel decided he wanted to provide some assistance to the Green County Humane Society. In spring 2007, he began by meeting with the Humane Society Board to question them about different projects they would like to see completed for their organization. He then reviewed these and discussed them with the Scout Master for Troop 101, Ed Rabotski, and Billie Reynolds, who is the Eagle Advancement Coordinator. Kyle decided to provide signage for the Green County Humane Society.
Kyle began by seeking Green County Humane Society Board approval, writing a project description, project details, seeking advice and approval from Dave Powers, Monroe building inspector, taking pictures of the site and brainstorming on ways to find funding for the project. This information was then added to the Eagle Scout Project Workbook and approved by Billie Reynolds and Tonya Kelly, a representative of the Humane Society.
Kyle then sought the help of Monroe Sign Design's owner Larry Kranig. Kyle presented Mr. Kranig with a sample of the Green County Humane Society's letterhead. Mr. Kranig loaded this information into his computer and provided a cost estimate for the 6'-by-8' color sign that was to include changeable letterhead and full installation of the sign. Kyle used this information and data to develop a budget.
Finding funding became the next task. In the fall of 2007, Kyle learned of a possible grant being offered by the KT Community Foundation. This organization provides financial grants to teammates or family members of DaVita Inc. for materials, equipment, tools and supplies necessary to complete community projects.
The DaVita community is a unique place where "we care for our patients, each other and our world." Kent Thiry, CEO of DaVita Dialysis, has been very active in establishing programs and foundations that provide for educational opportunities, community betterment and advancement of "those around us." In 2008 DaVita Inc. was the only health care Fortune 500 Company to be selected for the WorldBlu List of Most Democratic Workplaces. Obtaining this grant for the building of this sign is proof of how DaVita assists in caring for its communities.
Kyle submitted the first application to the KT Community Foundation in early November 2007. It included a budget, project description, project details and pictures of the site, hours and dates of time already devoted to this project. To complete this task he spent time with Larry Kranig of Monroe Sign Design, Sherry Brown, Stephanie Johnson, Rick Tulis and Jacki Netzel of DaVita Dialysis. Likewise, Cynthia Collins, director of marketing for Team Music City of DaVita Dialysis, became his contact at DaVita. This first application was for $5,170.
Unfortunately the first application was rejected. The KT Community Foundation was interested in seeing additional community involvement and less money being used. For Kyle, most of December 2007 was devoted to revising and rewriting this grant for the KT Foundation. He realigned the budget and found ways to involve more Scouts and employees currently working at Monroe's DaVita Dialysis. On Dec. 26, 2007, a second application was submitted with a request of $2,770.
Congratulations! On Jan. 31, 2008, Kyle received notification from the KT Community Foundation that he had won a grant for $2,770. In February 2008, Kyle began working on creating the sign for the Green County Humane Society. He began by meeting with Mr. Kranig of Monroe Sign Design. Mr. Kranig showed Kyle how the sign is created by loading the information into a computer and then carving it out to meet specifications.
From this time forward and throughout the summer of 2008, Kyle went to Monroe Sign Design to paint on the sign. He along with Dan Becker, Jacob Koch and Lucas Koch (other Troop 101 scouts) worked in between soccer scrimmages, vacations and busy times at the Monroe Sign to complete this portion of the sign.
For the "planting" of the Green County Humane Society's new sign Digger's Hotline, Sager Fencing, Monroe Sign Design, Humane Society Board members (Paul Barrett is the board's president) and DaVita employees all had to be coordinated and fit into their respective "jobs" in order to get the sign in the ground.
What a process this has been! The utmost thanks must be given to Monroe Sign Design for allowing the project to stay in their building while being completed and sharing their "art" with Kyle. In addition, their knowledge and leadership in showing and advising Kyle on who needed to be contacted and at what stage of the project this needed to be done, was irreplaceable. A huge thank you also goes to the KT Community Foundation, for without their funding this project might not have happened. Likewise, those DaVita employees who helped Kyle with ideas and what might work here in Monroe. A thank you to the Boy Scout leaders and volunteers who advised Kyle on what paperwork needed to be completed, reviewed the paperwork and gave encouragement to get the project completed; also to the other Scouts who helped with painting and planting.
Finally, thank you to the Green County Humane Society for your patience and willingness to wait for the completion of this project. It is Kyle's hope that because of this sign, area animals will be placed quicker, and larger community awareness will be created for the Green County Humane Society.
First Person Reporter
Monroe Boy Scout
The Eagle Scout Award is the highest rank a Boy Scout can achieve. In 1912, awarding this title began as a sort of "super merit badge" for Scouts who earned 21 other merit badges, five of them required (First Aid and/or Lifesaving are now among those required). Over time there have been some changes to qualifying for this badge, but the most important has been for "the Scout to plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community."
After acquiring the Eagle Scout Project Workbook, Kyle Netzel decided he wanted to provide some assistance to the Green County Humane Society. In spring 2007, he began by meeting with the Humane Society Board to question them about different projects they would like to see completed for their organization. He then reviewed these and discussed them with the Scout Master for Troop 101, Ed Rabotski, and Billie Reynolds, who is the Eagle Advancement Coordinator. Kyle decided to provide signage for the Green County Humane Society.
Kyle began by seeking Green County Humane Society Board approval, writing a project description, project details, seeking advice and approval from Dave Powers, Monroe building inspector, taking pictures of the site and brainstorming on ways to find funding for the project. This information was then added to the Eagle Scout Project Workbook and approved by Billie Reynolds and Tonya Kelly, a representative of the Humane Society.
Kyle then sought the help of Monroe Sign Design's owner Larry Kranig. Kyle presented Mr. Kranig with a sample of the Green County Humane Society's letterhead. Mr. Kranig loaded this information into his computer and provided a cost estimate for the 6'-by-8' color sign that was to include changeable letterhead and full installation of the sign. Kyle used this information and data to develop a budget.
Finding funding became the next task. In the fall of 2007, Kyle learned of a possible grant being offered by the KT Community Foundation. This organization provides financial grants to teammates or family members of DaVita Inc. for materials, equipment, tools and supplies necessary to complete community projects.
The DaVita community is a unique place where "we care for our patients, each other and our world." Kent Thiry, CEO of DaVita Dialysis, has been very active in establishing programs and foundations that provide for educational opportunities, community betterment and advancement of "those around us." In 2008 DaVita Inc. was the only health care Fortune 500 Company to be selected for the WorldBlu List of Most Democratic Workplaces. Obtaining this grant for the building of this sign is proof of how DaVita assists in caring for its communities.
Kyle submitted the first application to the KT Community Foundation in early November 2007. It included a budget, project description, project details and pictures of the site, hours and dates of time already devoted to this project. To complete this task he spent time with Larry Kranig of Monroe Sign Design, Sherry Brown, Stephanie Johnson, Rick Tulis and Jacki Netzel of DaVita Dialysis. Likewise, Cynthia Collins, director of marketing for Team Music City of DaVita Dialysis, became his contact at DaVita. This first application was for $5,170.
Unfortunately the first application was rejected. The KT Community Foundation was interested in seeing additional community involvement and less money being used. For Kyle, most of December 2007 was devoted to revising and rewriting this grant for the KT Foundation. He realigned the budget and found ways to involve more Scouts and employees currently working at Monroe's DaVita Dialysis. On Dec. 26, 2007, a second application was submitted with a request of $2,770.
Congratulations! On Jan. 31, 2008, Kyle received notification from the KT Community Foundation that he had won a grant for $2,770. In February 2008, Kyle began working on creating the sign for the Green County Humane Society. He began by meeting with Mr. Kranig of Monroe Sign Design. Mr. Kranig showed Kyle how the sign is created by loading the information into a computer and then carving it out to meet specifications.
From this time forward and throughout the summer of 2008, Kyle went to Monroe Sign Design to paint on the sign. He along with Dan Becker, Jacob Koch and Lucas Koch (other Troop 101 scouts) worked in between soccer scrimmages, vacations and busy times at the Monroe Sign to complete this portion of the sign.
For the "planting" of the Green County Humane Society's new sign Digger's Hotline, Sager Fencing, Monroe Sign Design, Humane Society Board members (Paul Barrett is the board's president) and DaVita employees all had to be coordinated and fit into their respective "jobs" in order to get the sign in the ground.
What a process this has been! The utmost thanks must be given to Monroe Sign Design for allowing the project to stay in their building while being completed and sharing their "art" with Kyle. In addition, their knowledge and leadership in showing and advising Kyle on who needed to be contacted and at what stage of the project this needed to be done, was irreplaceable. A huge thank you also goes to the KT Community Foundation, for without their funding this project might not have happened. Likewise, those DaVita employees who helped Kyle with ideas and what might work here in Monroe. A thank you to the Boy Scout leaders and volunteers who advised Kyle on what paperwork needed to be completed, reviewed the paperwork and gave encouragement to get the project completed; also to the other Scouts who helped with painting and planting.
Finally, thank you to the Green County Humane Society for your patience and willingness to wait for the completion of this project. It is Kyle's hope that because of this sign, area animals will be placed quicker, and larger community awareness will be created for the Green County Humane Society.