Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry has named new officers and two new members to the board of directors to take office on Jan. 1, 2014.

During Outreach’s annual meeting, president Joe Epley, a retired public relations executive, and treasurer Betty Ramsey, publisher of the Tryon Daily Bulletin, were reelected for another one-year term in their leadership positions.

Newly elected officers for 2014 were Mike Ashworth, a senior vice president with Wells Fargo Advisors, as vice president, and Ambrose Mills, chair of the Polk County Economic and Tourism Commission, as board secretary.

Dent Davis, pastor of Tryon Presbyterian Church and Dave Scherping, who heads technology and accountability for Polk County Schools, were new members elected to three-year-terms on the board of directors. Reelected for another term on the board were attorney Chris Greensfelder and retired banker Stacy Lindsay.  Greensfelder has served as secretary of the organization for the past two years.

The 12-member board of directors serve three-year staggered terms in classes of four. Directors may serve two consecutive three-year terms. The officers are elected from the board.

Rotating off the board at the end of 2013 are Jim Murphy and former Outreach president Connie Lomax. Their service to Outreach was praised by president Epley as he presented both with a plaque expressing appreciation for their tremendous contributions as leaders in the effort to help those less fortunate have a better life.

Epley also complemented the board and staff for a positive year in meeting the challenges of serving 40 percent more requests for assistance than in 2012. Some of the year’s highlights included the significant expansion of the pantry, staff and volunteer reorganization and naming the facility in honor of Eloise Thwing, a founder and executive director of Outreach for 20 years.

Outreach is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1991.  The organization’s mission is to provide compassionate assistance to Polk County residents who are unable to provide for their basic life needs.  For more information on Outreach, please visit www.tboutreach.org or call 828-894-2988.

-article submitted by Wendy Thomas