The First Tee of West Virginia, Raleigh and Fayette County Chapter held the“First Tee Coal Miners Hall of Fame Classic” last Friday &Saturday at the White Oak Country Club in Oak  Hill, WV.

WVCA Board member Robert Worley, President of Baylor Mining in Beckley was this year’s inductee intothe First Tee of West Virginia’s Coal Miners Hall of Fame.

The tournament was designed to recognize an individual who had dedicated mostof his or her life to promote and work in the coal industry in WV whilesimultaneously giving back to the community and exhibiting the core values ofthe First Tee.

Congratulations Bob, Great Job!

The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) has named Robert M.“Mike” Duncan as president and CEO, effective September 10.

Mike brings wide experience in energy policy and business to ACCCE. Working with elected officials at every level and in all political parties, hehas served as board member and chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority;assistant director of the Office of Public Liaison in The White House; chairmanof the American Crossroads 527 committee; and chairman of the RepublicanNational Committee, just to name a few of his roles.

Mike will succeed Stephen L. Miller, who is retiring after 17 years service toACCCE.

Many of our members have been award sponsors for the YouthEnvironmental Program sponsored by DEP and we hope that you will continue thissponsorship.  The program provides its participants with soundenvironmental education information through publications, programs, workshops,camps, conferences, webpage and Facebook page and incentives for youth groupparticipation in the program.

This year, the youth groups recycled 11,964 pounds of aluminum and 143,749pounds of paper.  They planted 3,280 trees; 1,400 of those were throughthe half-priced seedlings program.  The youth groups also cleaned 125miles of roadways, 65 community areas including school campuses, and 11 riversand streams.  As a result, they collected 2,699 bags of trash.  KeepAmerica Beautiful, Inc. calculates the average weight per bag of trash at 20pounds, which means these youth groups removed 53,980 pounds (27 tons) oflitter in addition to 68 tires.  Their total volunteer hours were25,255.  The Independent Sector calculates the 2011 value of a voluteerhour at $21.79, meaning the effort put forth by these youth groups are worthmore than $550,300.

As you can see the DEP Youth Environmental Program is a good solid program thatcan always use our support.

The Charleston-based firm of Arnett & Foster announced on August 1that it will merge with Toothman Rice, LLC a Clarksburg based company to form a new CPAfirm.  The new firm name will be Arnett Foster Toothman PLLC and willbecome one of the top 150 largest accounting firms in the United States. The new company will encompass six offices located in two states:  Charleston, Bridgeport, Morgantown, Buckhannon and Lewisburg,WV and Columbus, OH.

More than 2,000 gather to hear energy message.

BEALLSVILLE, Ohio - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney believes a strong coal industry is key to a strong America.

During a campaign rally Tuesday at American Energy Corp.'s Century Mine, Romney said his administration's energy policy would differ from that of President Barack Obama. Romney said his administration would include coal, natural gas, oil, renewables and nuclear as part of an all-in energy portfolio.

"We have 250 years of coal, why in the heck wouldn't we use it?" Romney told a crowd of more than 2,000 coal miners and their families.