GFWC Progressive Chautauqua
GFWC Progressive Chautauqua study club met for its opening meeting Sept. 27 at Summit House with leader Connie Edsall and co-hostesses Linda Hughes and Sandy Oswald. Club dues were collected and program books were distributed.
The meeting was opened by Edsall and members were led in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call was taken with 15 members in attendance. The new theme is “BEE all you can be with GFWC.” The treasurer’s report was submitted, minutes of the prior meeting were read, and both were approved. Oswald read correspondence that had been received. After discussion, the treasurer was directed to send a $100 check to the endowment fund in honor of Vaughn Seckington’s service and longevity with the club. This contribution included the shoe and book money collected to date.
Due to health reasons, Oswald resigned her position as secretary. After discussion, the members voted to have Linda Hughes become secretary and Beverly Butler take over the treasurer duties. Hughes and Butler both accepted the new positions.
Edsall announced the district convention will be Oct. 14 in Creston and Pat Butcher has been busy with plans for it. A sign-up sheet was circulated and members were asked to be helpers and sign up to make and bring a salad or rolls for the convention.
The club discussed donations for domestic violence and collected $92 for the Crisis Intervention Center. Jerri Henderson will use the funds to purchase gas cards.
Betty Wallace reported that even after a late start, the blood mobile had 84 donors. Mary Morris is the “caller” and stated she had called Vaughn and Polly to tell them about today’s meeting. Pat Butcher told the club about the Empowerment of Wounded Women Warriors and a discussion followed regarding what the club could contribute. This will be discussed at the next meeting. Butcher, Federation District Scholarship chairperson, spoke. Kay Ritter, greeting cards chair, reported that she hadn’t sent any cards recently but someone had temporarily taken that job. Hughes, reading chair, distributed a new book list and a reporting form for the books read.
Joyce Anderson reported the Oct. 11 meeting will be a field trip and members are to meet 10 a.m. at Maple Street Linguistics for a tour of Creston.
Edsall led the members in “A Collect for Club Women” in unison and the meeting was adjourned.
The refreshment area was festively decorated with bee napkins, fall cut-outs and accents. Delicious cakes were served by Edsall, Hughes and Judy Weese.
Afton Federated Garden Club
Members of Afton Federated Garden Club met 11 a.m. Sept. 9 at the Afton City Park shelter for their annual September picnic and meeting. The club purchased chicken and everyone brought a covered dish with hostesses Marilyn Larimore and Gwen Sandeman bringing dessert for after the meeting. Since the weather was so nice, they had the meeting in the shelter house. President Shirley called the meeting to order with all repeating the Pledge of Allegiance and Club Collect. Roll call was answered by 10 members.
The minutes were read and corrected. After corrections, Sandeman made the motion to approve the corrected version. Audrey McDowell seconded the motion. Shirley gave the treasurer’s report as Bev Rowe was unable to attend. Larimore presented a bill and Bev Rowe will mail her the check.
Donna Thomas sent birthday cards to Polly McCoy and Iris Smith.
Shirley shared McCoy’s horticulture report as she was unable to attend. It told about the Candle Cactus and its uses in the landscape and shared tips from Iowa State University about care of peonies and clematis.
Judy Weese and Shirley shared a newsletter about Olive Kerns sent by her nephew. Olive is now 95 and looks very well.
The annual fall luncheon will be 11:30 a.m. Oct. 14 at the Lorimor Community Center. Shirley has sent out invitations. The guest speaker will be Teresa Minard from Clarinda. She will speak on “Aprons” and everyone is asked to wear or bring an apron for the apron contest.
Shirley showed the club placemats she had made for the luncheon to see if they needed to be finished differently. Donna Thomas made the motion and Sandeman seconded it to leave the mats as they were.
Larimore volunteered to make the guest tags, Iris Smith will sit at the sign-in table, Joan Johnson is in charge of door prizes; Ginny Quick is furnishing small aprons for table favors, Quick and Shirley will decide on prizes for the apron contest and Loretta Kelly will check on plates and napkins. Each member signed up for foods they plan to bring and decided to serve coffee, tea and water for beverages. They will meet at 10 a.m. in Lorimor to set up for the luncheon. If necessary, they will have a short business meeting. Music for the luncheon will be a CD that Karen VanBuskirk shared with Shirley.
Shirley earned first place on her “refurbished garden art” project and second place on a drawing at the Des Moines Botanical Center Art Show.
Shirley shared a brochure from the new Lego show at Reiman Gardens in Ames she and Karen VanBuskirk attended.
They discussed the zinnia – the flower of the month for September. Shirley passed out print-outs of the marigold for November.
Larimore made and Thomas seconded a motion to adjourn. Everyone recited the Conservation Pledge.
Joan Johnson gave a presentation on Land Conservation or as she called it, “Dirt.” She had an issue of the April 1911 Successful Farming magazine and read excerpts from an article about rebuilding worn out soil. It said rotating crops wasn’t the answer, instead planting and plowing under a cover crop would produce the best results. The article mentioned legumes as a good cover crop. She read that when the timber lands in the corn belt – Iowa, Indiana and Illinois – were first farmed, the land produced 100 bushels per acre of corn. Continual use reduced that to 30 bushels per acre. Joan also shared some 2016 ideas for building up worn-out soil and tips from Jerry Baker on improving garden soil. Johnson brought a newly started coal “flower garden” to share and passed out directions on how to grow them.
Sandeman and Lorimor served three different kinds of bars for dessert.
The next meeting will be the annual “Fall Luncheon” in Lorimor. Members are to meet at 10 a.m. with lunch being served at 11:30 a.m. The program will follow.
Crest Area for Life
Crest Area for Life met 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the Holy Spirit Hall. Eight members were in attendance.
President Meg Crawford opened up the meeting with the right to life prayers. Terry Madison read the secretary’s report from August and June Huewe gave the treasurer’s report. Both were approved.
Velma Riegei sent 14 baby congratulatory cards.
Crawford gave the political report. It is important to vote in the Nov. 8 election.
Under old business, Rich and Terry Madison gave a report on the trapshoot fundraiser that was held Sept. 24 at High Lakes Outdoor Alliance shooting range.
Under new business, Pat Pokorny made a motion, seconded by Betty Baker, to give a donation to the LC clinic for diapers. It was approved. The money will come out of the special fund.
The annual meeting will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25. The business meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. and election of officers will be held. The nominating committee is Riegei, Crawford and Baker. Crawford will get the newsletter out. The speaker will be Merry Merritt of Iowa Right to Life. She will speak on assisted suicide.
Terry Madison made a motion, seconded by Riegel, to give an honorarium to Merritt. It was approved.
The group will put ads in the Creston and Afton papers. The Life Chain was from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, in Des Moines.
The next meeting will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, at the Holy Spirit Hall.
Rich Madison made a motion, seconded by Steve Hunt, to adjourn.
Ladies Lakeshore Auxiliary
Ladies Lakeshore Auxiliary met Oct. 5.
Canasta winners were Barb Bills, first; Wanda Nash, second; and Sharon Gile, third.
Barb Vietz won the door prize.
Connie Bailey will host cards and chatter Wednesday, Oct. 12.
Catholic Daughters
Court Joan of Arc No. 428 met Sept 13. The committee for the month was the officers. Pizza was served. Regent Retta Ripperger opened the meeting with a prayer and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
The minutes of the last meeting were read. Virginia Aguilar made the motion to approve. Barb Thomsen seconded. Motion was carried. Teresa Pudenz gave the treasurer’s report. Thomsen made the motion to approve. Pat Pokorny seconded. Motion was carried. Ripperger had a bill for Marsha Mohr to attend the fall workshop. No other bills were presented.
Betty Baker reported no cards had been sent. Kay is still trying to resolve the discrepancy in membership numbers with the state and national courts. Mohr shared with court what she learned at the fall workshop. The call tree was passed around so members could make any corrections or additions.
Sharon Skarda, Mohr, Pudenz and Ripperger attended Anna Baxter Day in West Bend. The day started with Mass followed by a luncheon and entertainment. The Grotto was very impressive.
There is a Catholic Daughters of America (CD of A) retreat Oct. 7-9 in Cedar Falls. Let Ripperger know if anyone is interested in going. Oct. 16 is National Catholic Daughters. Sunday, Oct. 2, is Respect Life Sunday. Aguilar spoke on the Christ Our Life Conference and encouraged the club to attend.
A motion was made by Pokorny and seconded by Aguilar to put aside half of all bake sale funds to pay for registrations and other expenses for special things that our members attend. Motion was carried.
For the program, Ripperger, Mohr, Baker and Jean Miller reported on the National CD of A convention they attended in July.
Janet Brown won the door prize. The group recited the membership prayer to close the meeting. Meeting was adjourned.
Creston Lions
Creston Lions met 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Pizza Ranch. Mike Duckworth, president, opened the meeting and led in the Pledge of Allegiance. Delmer Brown gave the invocation, followed by a moment of silence in memory of long-time Lion member Bob McCoy.
Paul Fuller, secretary, reviewed the minutes of the Sept. 6 meeting, which were approved. He announced Al Pokorny agreed to be a member of the board of directors. The treasurer’s report was reviewed by Tom Braymen. The new budget was presented and approved.
Recent projects were discussed. Lion members, assisted by Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, held the annual pork chop dinner, which was served Sept. 15 and was successful. Eight Lion members worked Sept. 17 for Candy Day. The support of the community is greatly appreciated for the fundraising efforts. The “Lions Spud Supper” will be held in February 2017.
The Lions Club received a request for purchasing eyeglasses for a person who needed financial assistance. The request was granted. Braymen reported 147 preschool children have been screened this year in the KIDSIGHT program. Several pairs of used eyeglasses were turned in at this meeting.
The Iowa Lions Mid-Winter Conference will be held Jan. 5-7, 2017, in Des Moines. Members are encouraged to attend. Roger Turk won the drawing. The next meeting will be Nov. 1.
Elzevir Reading Circle
Elzevir Reading Circle held its first meeting of the 2016-17 year Friday, Sept. 9, at the home of Angela Pullen. At 1:30 p.m., President Linda Topliff opened the meeting with the quote “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right!” by Henry Ford.
Members answered roll call by telling of something special they did during the summer. Minutes from the May meeting were read and approved. Treasurer’s report was given and approved.
Federated club news included information regarding Script gift cards, domestic violence and March of Dimes. Terry Ammon shared plans for the upcoming GFWC Iowa SW District Convention to be held Friday, Oct. 14, at Salem Lutheran Church. Decorations along the Iowa theme of “BEE All You Can Be With GFWC” are almost completed. Cost for the day is $12. The three Creston clubs will host the event.
Mary Stewart’s Club Collect was recited. Mary Burg moved to adjourn meeting. Barb Thomsen seconded and motion passed.
Program was reading of the Constitution and By-Laws of Elzevir Reading Circle by Topliff.
Hostess Pullen served refreshments. Next meeting will be held during the Oct. 14 GFWC SW District Convention.
Beta Kappa Chapter
Beta Kappa Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma International met the morning of Oct. 1 at Orient United Methodist Church with nine members and one guest present. During roll call, members shared memories of their favorite teachers.
Diane Burgmaier shared a letter from past Upsilon State President Peggy Rupe, thanking members for the cards and best wishes as she receives chemotherapy. Also shared was an invitation for the Area 6 brunch with Upsilon State President Pam Wittkamp 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center. Cost is $10.50 and firm reservations need to be made with Julie Derby by Oct. 19. The chapter is responsible for the table decorations, so several members will meet at 9:15 a.m. to set up. Thanks to all who helped make the nut cups.
Since it is time to revise the chapter rules, the members discussed changes to three areas that will be voted on at a later meeting. New program books were passed out to the members. Ideas for the next project were discussed, but it was decided to table any decision until the next meeting.
Derby has accepted a position on the state Achievement Award Committee. Members were reminded nominations for new members need to be presented at the December meeting. It was announced the winter newsletter will be online only. Let Derby know if a hard copy is needed.
Deb Bauer was presented with the chapter’s Educational Excellence Award for all her dedication to teaching through the years. Mary Brown was also presented the award at Orient-Macksburg’s award assembly last spring. The 2016-17 chapter officers were installed at the June meeting. Laura Bennett was also initiated as a new member.
The program centered on a video titled “Any Kid Anywhere: Sex Trafficking Survivor Stories.” The rest of the meeting was spent filling cookie trays for the teachers at local area schools, including Winterset, Earlham, Orient-Macksburg and Nodaway Valley.
The next meeting will be 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the home of Karen Tussey. The program is about Amish basket making.
Kiwanis
The weekly Kiwanis meeting was held 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the Windrow meeting room with 22 members and two guests. President Chris Eaton presided, Jim Morris gave the prayer and Craig Mittag was the finemaster.
The annual fresh evergreen decorated wreaths and sprays sale for the holiday season has started. There will be two sizes of decorated wreaths and one balsam spray for sale this year. All members have order sheets. More details and photos can be found on the Kiwanis Club of Creston, Iowa, Facebook page.
The club will hold its annual children’s winter coat distribution from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct 24, at Creston First United Methodist Church, 400 N. Elm St., in Creston.
The induction ceremony for the new year beginning Oct. 1 was held with District Governor Bob Dunaway. All the new officers and board of directors were announced.
The program was given by Kayla Luther from Creston High School, who the Creston Kiwanis sponsored, about the Hugh O’Brian Leadership Conference held at Drake University. She spoke about all the great activities she participated in and friendships gained.