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Love, Hugs and I hope to see you in Blue on Friday -
Rach

First let me start this off with - I had this whole post finished and was ready to print it...and you guessed it - I somehow deleted it.  Life happens I guess, so here is take two.

So - I decided to take Monday off in celebration of President's Day...OK - maybe it just got busy and I am getting to the blog now.  I want to share with you a joke I heard yesterday on the radio - I couldn't stop laughing after I heard it and I had an even harder time getting through the joke without laughing while retelling it.  (Joe would be so proud of this one.)

Why do cherry trees smell?

Because George Washington cut one :).

We are still accepting family nominations for the 2012 Team Vogel vs Cancer Fundraiser.  If you or a family you know are dealing with cancer (and in the Winona area), please take a moment to nominate yourself, or the family.  You can select the link on the homepage (top of page) or use the link below.

2012 Team Vogel vs Cancer Family Nomination Page
 We will be accepting nominations through April 1, 2012.

Thursday, April 26th, 2012
Joe's Birthday Brew Review
Coming try our first annual beer tasting event to honor Joe's birthday.  
(More details to come soon)

Saturday, August 18th, 2012
Dancing with the Winona Stars
Team Vogel will be lacing up there shoes / stretching...  Well - we will be preforming as one of the groups.  
(Details on tryouts will be coming soon :).)

Well - signing off for a second time here tonight and yes - I have been saving every other sentence. 

 Hoping everyone is doing well.

Love and Hugs - Rach

All scores are with the handicap added in.  Brad and Dave drew a card and figured the handicap off game 1.  I am not much of a bowler - so if you have any questions on this one - we will have to direct them to Brad :).

I want to share with you the fabulous speech Kristin Biesanz put together and shared with the Cotter Community when awarded the first Joe Vogel "Pay it Foraward" Scholarship...
Hello Cotter students, facility, staff and parents.  My name is Kristin Biesanz and I am a Cotter High School class of 1996 graduate.  Joining me onstage are my fellow members of the Joe Vogel Pay it Forward Scholarship committee: Rachel Vogel and Katie Fream, class of '96.  I also want to recognize Angela Vogel Daley as well as Megan Sadowski (both Cotter class of '94) for their work on this committee as well.

Today we are here to present the winner of the first annual Joe Vogel Pay it Forward scholarship.This scholarship was created by Joe’s family, friends, and co-workers at Frito Lay Inc.  It will be awarded annually to a Cotter Student who upholds and lives the spirit of “Pay it Forward”.   

Katie and myself were classmates and friends of Joe's from kindergarden on, all the way through the WACS system, and ultimately graduating with him in 1996.  So many in the class of ‘96 remember Joe for his huge smile, great sense of humor and - later in life -  his amazing efforts to raise money for cancer stricken families and cancer research.  Although fighting his own battle, at the forefront of his mind were others, their financial burdens and making sure they knew that people really cared.  Through Joe Vogel TEAM VOGEL was born, and is currently 300+ strong.  I know personally witnessing and being a part of the Team Vogel vs. Cancer Fundraisers, I was in absolute awe of Joe.  Little did we know, all of those years through kindergarden, grade school, middle school and high school……. there was a HERO among us.  This scholarship that we are presenting today is a wonderful way to keep Joe's legacy alive and encourage Cotter students to follow in his footsteps of simply helping others….of giving rather than receiving.

This Scholarship will be available annually to all Cotter students grades 7-12.  The scholarship award will be $500 towards Cotter tuition.  Scholarship applicants were asked to submit a one page essay, a letter of recommendation from a teacher, and one letter of recommendation from a community member all attesting to the student’s efforts to “Pay it Forward.” 

I can speak for all of the committee members when I say the selection of this years winner was a very difficult choice.  It is hard to put into words how impressed we were with each and every applicant and the many examples and stories they shared about how they strive to pay if forward each and every day.  Whether it be reaching out to another student who may be a bit more reserved, involvement in the Cross Cultural Ministry Project, or this awesome group we read about called "Parmies" - we were truly in awe of how much these young adults have already figured out at such a young age.  The applicants referred to paying it forward as when you do something good when no one is watching, when you help somebody that nobody else might even notice.  One applicant quoted Audrey Hepburn as saying: "You were given two hands; one to help yourself and one to help someone else."  We thank each and every one of you who applied this year.  The committee and I would like to challenge those of you who did not apply to consider doing so next year.  Keep these ideas and quotes in the forefront of your thoughts and actions because it can help everyone of us to pay it forward each and every day.  Who's life can YOU positively affect today?  What is YOUR legacy going to be?

Without further ado, I would like to ask Katie Fream to come forward to announce the winner of this years scholarship:

(Katie)  The winner of the 2012 Joe Vogel Pay it Forward scholarship is: Monica Weltzien.

Alright - this has been a lengthy post here - but so many moments...pictures that truly reflect Team Vogel.

Before I sign off here - I want to formally announce...I am going to be a big sister in about 1 hour :)  Mom and Dad are on their way to pick up my new sisters.  THEY ARE GETTING PUPPIES!!!!!!!!!  I can't wait to share them with you next week. 

Love and hugs - Rach

Before I get to the 2nd Annual Team Vogel vs Cancer Bowling Results - I received a letter this weekend that I want to share with all of you…

Dear Madison,

Thank you for your words of kindness – it is truly hard to find the right words to express what this meant to me.  You are an amazing young lady and YOU ARE MY HERO.  You are able to see the big picture in life and what is truly important.  Thank you for helping me BELIEVE and inspiring me to continue to “Pay It Forward” everyday.

I believe in you.

Love - Rachel

...and the Team Vogel vs Cancer Bowling Results...
Last year - finishing in 1st place ... The Pin Heads

The Pin Heads finished last year with a score of 2,258.
and the 2012 Team Vogel vs Cancer Bowling Champs are…

The Spare Shooters – Finishing with a score of 2772

Scott Schultz, Nikki Lyon, Geoff Schewe and Jenelle O’Donnell

All team results and photos will be posted next week on the blog.  I am sure there were many memorable moments captured by Keelie.  (Hoping she got a picture of Bea releasing the ball in the wrong direction…)

Before signing off here – I want to take a moment to thank a couple people…

Brad Bartelson – Thank you for everything.  The bowling tournament was a huge success and a blast.  Your organization and set-up…AMAZING.  Your dad (Mr. Kim) said it best, “Joe is smiling down.”  Thank you Thank you!

Westgate Bowl and Wellingtons – Thank you to all the staff…Thank you Dave for making sure the bowling ran smooth, to all the staff who kept us hydrated, and Julie…Thank you for embracing Team Vogel and having us.

And I want to thank the event photographer – Keelie.  Although, I haven’t seen the pictures yet - I know they will be perfect and I can’t wait to post them next week.  Thank you for sharing your time and talents with us again.

To all who came out to roll the rock (trying out my new bowling terms) – Thank you.  Thank you for making Team Vogel … Team Vogel.

Love and Hugs –

Rach

One more thing…We awarded the 1st Joe Vogel “Pay it Forward” Scholarship on Thursday afternoon to a deserving student at Cotter.  I will post the winner with the bowling wrap up next week.  Stay tuned…