March 29, 2024

Club news

Creston Lions Club

Creston Lions Club met 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, at the Pizza Ranch. Mike Duckworth, president, opened the meeting leading in the Pledge of Allegiance. Delmer Brown gave the invocation. Dean Brant introduced District Governor Elect Chris Anderson of Audubon.

Following the meal, Anderson presented information about current happenings in Lions clubs in Iowa and elsewhere. The Creston Lions Club was chartered 65 years ago on April 18, 1952. A thank you was read from the Lions State Office for the Creston club’s 65 years of service.

The Great Plains Lions Leadership Institute will take place July 21-23 in Maryville, Missouri, at Northwest Missouri State University. The Lions Clubs of Iowa State Convention will be June 1-3 in Cedar Rapids. The Iowa Lions 9SW District, which includes Creston, will hold their annual convention Nov. 12 in Exira.

Lions International was founded 100 years ago and the centennial celebration will take place June 30-July 4 in Chicago, Illinois. Iowa Lions have endorsed Past Council Chair Ardie Klemish of Adair for international director.

Guest Paige Busch was introduced. She represented youth leadership and is a freshman in high school. She gave information about Meals from the Heartland. Teams are being organized to prepare meals April 19 at SWCC. Workers and funds are needed. Creston Lions made a monetary donation and several members volunteered to form one team to work for one hour on the 19th. Duckworth presented two awards for 30-year memberships. Recipients are Ralph Dillinger and Brant.

The secretary’s and treasurer’s reports were given and approved. A donation was approved for First United Methodist Church for the use of their building for the Spud Supper in February. A request for assistance with a hearing aid was discussed. Officers for 2017-18 were elected and will be installed at the June 6 meeting.

The next meeting will be May 2 at the Pizza Ranch.

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The Book Club

The March meeting of the Book Club was held at Velma Riegel’s. The meeting began with the February minutes and roll call.

Retta Ripperger presented an interesting book review on “Walden” by Henry David Thoreau, who was born July 12, 1817, in Concord, Massachusetts. He was a graduate of Harvard College. His book “Walden” is considered a classic. He cut down trees and made his own 10-by-15-foot cabin with a fireplace. He also dug a 6-by-6-foot cellar that was 7 feet high. His garden was 2 1/2 acres near Walden pond. Thoreau loved nature and did a lot of research. He wrote about it in his book.

Thoreau had friends, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Horace Greely, but he mostly liked to be alone. His book tells how much people depend on nature. He went out in a rain storm to count tree rings which led to his death from bronchitis May 6, 1862, at the age of 44. He was never married and was buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord, Massachusetts.

Books read by the group were:

“Walden” by Henry David Thoreau, “Falling into Place” by Hattie Khan Kauffman, “My Not so Perfect Life” by Sophie Kinsella, “Belly Diet” by Travis Slock, M.D., “Rushing Water” by Danielle Steel, “Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett, “In Times Like These” by Gail Kittleson, “The Award” by Danielle Steel and periodicals.

The meeting was closed and Riegel served delightful refreshments and fellowship was enjoyed.

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GFWC/Iowa Bancroft History Assembly

GFWC/Iowa Bancroft History Assembly met April 3 in the D.V. Richardson room at Greater Regional Medical Center. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and 10 members answered roll call – three life members and seven active members.

The minutes were approved as read and the treasurer’s report was placed on file for audit. Members appreciated the email reminder for the meeting sent by Beth Perry. Thank you notes were received from Creston Area Food Pantry and SWCC.

President JoAnn Nurnberg reminded the group that installation of officers will occur at the next meeting. She also reviewed upcoming important dates. Peg Anderson, southwest district director, reported the state convention to be held April 20-22 in Pella will be at the Americ Inn. Reservations are due April 11. Marisue Lewis is planning on attending.

The Club Collect was recited and the meeting adjourned.

The program was the history of religion and education in Iowa given by Kay Raymond. Peg Anderson served as hostess.

The next meeting will be a brunch at 9:30 a.m. May 9 in the home of Kay Ritter.

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Union County Genealogical Society

President Jane Briley presided over the March 27 meeting of Union County Genealogical Society. Eleven members answered roll call to the question “What artifact should you have kept, but didn’t?” A motion for approval of the agenda was made by Calvin and seconded by Lynn. Motion carried. The minutes of the previous meeting were read. They were approved after a motion by Elaine and a second by Saundra. Lynn gave the treasurer’s report showing a balance of $1,132.20 and 22 paid society memberships. She summarized the first quarter treasurer’s activity in a handout which was made available to each member. Tessa made the motion to accept the report and Terry seconded the motion. Motion carried. A $4 bill for printing from SWCC was presented. Elaine made the motion to pay the bill. Jackie seconded the motion. Motion carried. A research query was received. Terry offered to do the needed research. Correspondence was passed.

Roger and Saundra reported on the society’s new website. They expressed optimism that it will become operational in July. They are currently entering information on Union County cemetery burials and asked for assistance with the project. Tessa volunteered to help. Members were reminded of the society’s inventory of books. Plans are for the society to open a PayPal account which will facilitate purchase of these books and also membership payment.

Saundra reminded the group of the upcoming spring conference April 8 hosted by Iowa State Genealogical Society. The title of the conference is “Returning to Your Roots.”

Briley gave an interesting and informative program on family artifacts that should be kept. Among items discussed were clothing, address books, funeral cards, applications for lineage societies, baby shoes and toys. She displayed several of her genealogical effects which had special personal meaning to her. She had a handout for each member with suggestions of what to save, what to skim and trash and what to trash. A one box archive to be passed on to future generations was discussed as was donating family items to a library, museum or historical society.

Lynn made the motion for adjournment. Tessa seconded the motion.

Calvin gave the five minute tidbit on the states section of the genealogy room. He explained the books in this section are arranged alphabetically according to state. He pointed out several general interest books which could be of assistance to genealogists. The book “State Census Records” by Ann S. Lainhart lists all of the censuses done by each state and the information collected on each census. “Ancestry’s Red Book” is a source book to American states, counties and towns.

The next meeting will be at 6 p.m. April 24 at Gibson Memorial Library. The program will be “Tour Our New Website.” The five minute tidbit will be given by Jackie on the military section of the genealogy room.

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Ladies Lakeshore Auxiliary

Ladies Lakeshore Auxiliary met April 5.

Canasta winners were Linda Clark, first; Maxine May, second; and Joy Seley, third.

Rose Blakesley won the door prize.

Sharon Gile will host cards and chatter Wednesday, April 12.

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Kiwanis

The weekly Kiwanis meeting was 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, at the Windrow meeting room with 23 members and one guest. President Chris Eaton presided, Korina Loudon gave the prayer and Jim Nelson was the finemaster.

The program was given by Becky Riley from the Appalachian Service Project. She discussed the history of the group and how many families the project and Creston ASP group have helped since the beginning. There will be more than 50 people from Creston attending the week long mission work trip this summer.

The club welcomed two new members at the meeting, Jennifer Bruce and Jeremy Odem.