THE DUANE MILLER MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT BENEFITING

THE BETHEL-GUIDRY COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP, SEPTEMBER 30 AT THE RIDGES COUNTRY CLUB IN HAYESVILLE, NC

Second Press release - Many generous people live in our beautiful mountain region, and their bountiful support for local youth has an upcoming opportunity to shine. The mission of this year’s Duane Miller Golf Tournament on September 30th is to support educational opportunities for area students through the Bethel-Guidry Scholarship.

The tournament will be held at the Ridges Golf Club and hosted by Good Shepherd Episcopal Church of Hayesville. The event brings together a number of people who have made significant contributions of time, treasure and talent to many great causes. In this case, it is the youth of our area in pursuit of higher education who benefit.

The Bethel-Guidry Scholarship will be receiving funds raised through the golf tournament. These proceeds will enable a worthy student from either Towns County, Georgia or Clay County, North Carolina to obtain a college education.

Members of the community are welcomed to help in the success of this worthy cause. Participation in the Duane Miller Memorial Golf Tournament is open to anyone who wishes to enjoy a day of golf. The tournament will be held September 30th from 11:00 a.m. through the evening, with lunches, contests, receptions and a dinner. Individual golf participation starts at $100 with sponsorships and corresponding benefits from $100 to $500.

The generosity of Duane Miller in our region is legendary. Standing beside the memory of this great man are a husband and wife team who have contributed an enormous amount of love and guidance to area youth: Georgia Bethel and Turner Guidry.

Golf Tournament Co-Chairman Kanute Rarey says, “Since retiring to Hayesville four years ago, my wife Kathy and I have seen first-hand the work of Turner and Georgia through our church and in the community. Their commitment to young people and children is exemplary. Their long term positive contribution to the communities of Clay, Cherokee and Towns Counties will make a life time of difference and is truly unmeasurable."

           In September of 2015, Good Shepherd established the scholarship fund in Georgia and Turner’s honor as they retired from their pubic school careers.  The first recipient, Hunter Reaux of Clay County High School, was announced the next spring. Reaux was able to attend Clemson University where he continues to study engineering. Incidentally, Duane Miller had been his mentor in high school.

           The 2017 recipient was Courtney Giles from Towns County High School. Giles is attending Young Harris College studying Early Childhood Education.

           The Bethel-Guidry Scholarship makes $500 available to the recipient during the first year of college, with $500 per year over the next three consecutive years available for a potential of $2,000.

           Recipients are identified by local school systems, and academic excellence is important. However, other factors apply.

           Good Shepherd Episcopal Church’s Rector Father Bill Breedlove says, “The Bethel-Guidry Scholarship recognizes exemplary service to others and expects recipients to continue that. The Scholarship is an investment in people who have shown the heart of a servant like that shown by the two scholarships’ name sakes and Duane Miller. These are folks who made the world a better place by their service and generosity. The Scholarship seeks to recognize and support that same ethos in our young people.”

           Sanford Freeman, a Bethel-Guidry Scholarship Committee member, supports Fr. Breedlove’s thoughts, saying, “As the Bethel-Guidry Scholarship Committee reviews applications each year, it is ‘service’ by the applicant that must stand out. Although the student applicant must be successful academically, that is not the primary factor.  It is for service to the community and an understanding of the importance of making a contribution of service throughout life that is the most important factor. We selected Courtney Giles from Towns County as the 2017 scholarship recipient specially for these qualities.”

One of the goals of the Scholarship Committee is to grow the Scholarship to the point where it can stand alone in supporting the award of 4 scholarships a year. Participants in the Golf Tournament can help insure that this goal be obtained.

           Georgia Bethel reflects on her own and her husband’s thoughts about the Scholarship. She says, “After being a part of this community and the public schools in Clay County for many years, my family and I have been blessed by so many wonderful surprises and gifts. It is with overwhelming gratitude to our church for creating the scholarship, in our names, that Turner and I encourage contributing to this worthy cause. We hope that it will assist in building a strong place for families to grow and prosper. Because our children are future leaders, each and every one deserves the opportunity to further their education.  I believe in the children in our schools and communities and the Bethel-Guidry Scholarship is a step toward making that happen.”

           For more information about the Scholarship, the Golf Tournament, or Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, please visit www.goodshepherdhayesville.org or contact Kanute Rarey at kanuaterarey@gmail.com

First Press Release - Host organization Good Shepherd Episcopal Church of Hayesville, NC invites the area community to participate in the Duane Miller Memorial Golf Tournament to be held at Hayesville's The Ridges Country Club on September 30.  Activities begin at 11:00 a.m. with a golfer’s lunch and continue into the evening with a reception at 5:00 p.m. and dinner open to the community at 6:30 p.m.

An automotive engineer and executive whose career included time with Pontiac, Nissan and Volkswagen, Duane Miller was a man of character and faith, with a strong belief in the value of helping others.  Since moving to Hiawassee, Georgia, twenty years ago, Duane and his wife Jean have been loyal supporters of many charitable causes in the area.

Good Shepherd's priest Fr. Bill Breedlove says that the tournament "will be an occasion to recognize the legacy of service and charitable giving established by Duane and Jean, and to continue that legacy by raising funds to support local charities.  Good Shepherd Episcopal Church is honored to serve as tournament host."  

This year, tournament proceeds will benefit the Bethel-Guidry College Scholarship Fund.  This scholarship, a favorite of Duane’s, is awarded to a Towns or Clay county student who has demonstrated exceptional character and service to their community. This $2000 scholarship is named for Georgia Bethel and Turner Guidry who together served in the public school system and the community for more than sixty years.

The tournament fee registration is $100 for an individual golfer and includes lunch and dinner.  Golf is by shotgun start, best ball, 18-hole scramble with a variety of prizes awarded for putting, hole-in-one, longest drive, closest to pin, and lowest gross team score.  Golfers who wish to bring a companion to the dinner can purchase extra dinner tickets for only $30.

Those who are not golfers are invited to participate as event support volunteers.  Tournament co-chairman Kanute Rarey says “Great events depend on good people pitching in and working together to do a great job. Our volunteers do lots of simple tasks that add up to all the critical elements getting done for the tournament. Most jobs require no golf experience. We love our volunteers.” Co-chairman Jim Redmond added “This is a day of fun and a worthwhile community-wide effort. Those community folks who are interested in volunteering may call or email us at the contact information listed in this article.”

You may also support the tournament as a donor or sponsor.  Co-chairman, Jim Redmond emphasized that "Small and large sponsors are welcomed, with sponsorships starting at the $100 level up to $500." 

Kanute and Jim invite your sponsorship inquiries at the contact information below.  All donations and sponsorships are tax-deductible.  Make your check payable to “Good Shepherd Episcopal Church,” noting Miller Golf Tournament in the memo. Send it to Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 677, Hayesville, NC 28904. 

For more information about sponsorship opportunities and benefits, contact tournament co-chairmen Kanute Rarey at 502-525-7272 kanuterarey@gmail.com and Jim Redmond 248-425-0307 or drjor@frontier.com.