Tony Padrucco, President of the Friends of the Bullard Community Library, announces that the group has filed Articles of Incorporation and been officially recognized by the IRS as a nonprofit organization.

The Friends have functioned for several years as a committee of the Library Board. To simplify record keeping and give the Friends independent status, they are now "standing alone."

The application process began during the tenure of Mary Jane Diekman, former president, now decreased, and took over a year.

Monica Klein, assisted by Jane Purtle and Andie Rathbone, facilitated the process.

The group was also aided by S. Scott Parel, a pro-bono attorney in Dallas.

As part of their ongoing effort to underwrite operating expenses of the library, the Friends plan to raise $18,000 in 2007-08.

The membership campaign will kick off on Sept. 1.

Last year they contributed over $17,000 to the library's budget.

Now that the group has achieved non-profit status, they will hold their first official annual meeting on Sept. 27, 2007, at the First United Methodist Church in Bullard.

The program will begin at 7 p.m. and feature Sheriff J.B. Smith discussing the writing and publication of his crime novel. The public is invited.

The Friends solicit the support of all the community.

Golfers are invited to the Second Annual Golf Tournament to be held Sept. 17 at Eagle's Bluff Country Club.

Entry forms are available at the library or online at the library website.

Padrucco said that new members are always welcome at planning meetings each second Wednesday of the month, 10 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Bullard.