March 28, 2024

Club news

Kiwanis

The weekly Kiwanis meeting was held 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, Oct 3, at the Windrow meeting room with 15 members and one guest. President Korina Loudon presided, Drew Henderson gave the prayer and Roger Lanning was the finemaster.

There was no program as Lt. Governor for Kiwanis District No. 13 Ron Peterson was there to install the new officers and board members. He also handed out perfect attendance certificates to several members for many years of service.

The club voted to have a food drive for Kiwanis one day in October. Collections will be taking place in the community with distribution to the local food banks.

The Kiwanis Club “Keep a Kid Warm” coat give-away will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct 26, at Creston First United Methodist Church, 400 N. Elm St. Advertising and help sign up will be taking place soon.

The Christmas wreath fundraising program is going on now with members selling wreaths and swags until Oct. 31 with delivery in November. Contact any member to purchase.

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Lions Club

Creston Lions Club met Oct. 3 at the Pizza Ranch. The meeting was opened by President Jerry Katzer leading in the Pledge of Allegiance. Delmer Brown gave the invocation.

Following the meal, Katzer introduced Gary Borcherding. He is on the Parks and Recreation Board for the city and is also a Lions Club member. He presented information about the responsibilities and accomplishments of the board. He thanked the Lions for their assistance with various projects. He stated this has been a good year for the board. The new bridge over the lake and the area around it are important improvements. Some recent projects at McKinley Park have been funded with monetary donations from several grants. There are several goals the Parks and Recreation Board have. These include improving the VFW Ball Field on Highway 34 and putting new arches at a location along McKinley Street. In past years, there were arches honoring WWI veterans. The areas in Creston the board is responsible for include Rainbow Park and all the ballfields located around Creston. Borcherding then answered questions.

Katzer presided over the business meeting. Brown made a report about the pork chop dinner, a fundraiser held in September, sponsored by Kiwanis, Rotary and Lions clubs. Seven members volunteered for the annual candy days project, which raises funds for Lions projects. Braymen also reported on the KidSight project which is a vision screening for preschool children. Two hundred forty-five children have been screened this fall. There were six referrals for further testing. Margo Fuller gave a report about new shirts being ordered by Lions members. Katzer presented a silver centennial pin to Mike Duckworth for his service as president 2016-17.

Pins were presented for years of membership to Fuller for 15 years, Brown for 20 years, Braymen for 45 years, Tom Henderson for 50 years and Roger Turk for 50 years.

Dean Brant gave his congratulations to the pin recipients and then presented information about a project that is receiving support from other Lions Clubs. It is called Tori’s Angels and it is a foundation helping kids with life-threatening medical challenges.

The annual Lions district meeting will be held in November in Exira. The club will make a gift basket available for raffle to those attending the meeting in Exira. The next meeting of Creston Lions will be 6:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Pizza Ranch.

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CARSPA

Creston Area Retired School Personnel Association (CARSPA) held its meeting Sept. 12 in the cafeteria near the Del Richardson Conference Room at Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston.

Following breakfast, 10 members enjoyed an informative presentation by Kathy Ralston, director of The Learning Center (TLC) of Southwest Iowa. This is a nonprofit organization in Creston that offers intervention services for students with learning difficulties in kindergarten through 12th-grade. They believe every child can learn. They provide every child with a positive learning atmosphere. Every student is assessed for placement. Various curriculum programs are utilized to assist students with basic curriculum for reading, math and learning processes. The staff often includes five to nine teachers who experience ongoing training and professional development.

A like learning center in Des Moines or larger cities usually charges $50 - $75 per hour for intervention services. TLC considers income and family size when determining their hourly rate and possible discounts. The average rate is $35 per hour. In addition to services for students, parental support programs and family enrichment programs are offered.

There are many generous donors in the form of businesses and individuals in the community who assist the organization. Everyone is very fortunate to have TLC in the community.

A business meeting followed. Members were reminded of the IRSPA annual meeting Oct. 4-5 in Cedar Falls. Members’ monetary contribution of $17 was collected and donated to TLC for the purchase of extra Kleenex tissues during the school year. The next meeting will be Oct. 10 featuring Tom Hawks with some other area veterans who have traveled on recent Honor Flights to Washington, D.C.

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GFWC/Iowa Progressive Chautauqua Circle

The GFWC/Iowa Progressive Chautauqua Circle Study Club met for their opening tea 1:30 p.m. Sept. 26 at the home of Joyce Anderson. The members paid their dues and visited.

The meeting was then called to order by President Anderson and the members recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Anderson then read an inspirational saying, “State of Mind.” Attendance was taken with the members responding with their favorite fall activity. The secretary read the minutes of the last meeting, which were approved. The treasurer’s report was given.

The members were encouraged to participate in the reading program at school, which starts in November, and to contact Chris Mansour, if interested. Ninety-five volunteers are needed.

The Southwest District meeting will be Oct. 20 in Adel at St. Johns, and someone was needed to do the invocation/welcome. Jerri Henderson volunteered.

It was announced the “Bee Pins” were available for sale for $5.

Linda Huffman explained the field trip to Atlantic, which will depart from Creston First United Methodist Church parking lot at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 24 with lunch at the S.F. Martin House. Members can visit the cake museum, Pickers Parlor, the Tinder Box, the Hitchcock House and shop.

The information for the books was reviewed, including the hostess assignments and contact information.

Pat Butcher gave the scholarship report. The scholarships were previously determined mainly on need. Now, the deciding factors are volunteering, achievement and financial need. She will put out posters. A new scholarship will be available for wounded female warriors or children of wounded warriors. Butcher also gave the report on the district meeting and that Bee aprons are available for $10.

The reading program was discussed and it was moved by Henderson, seconded by Sandy Oswald to discontinue using the book bag. The motion passed.

The “shoe” was passed around to contribute for those purchasing new shoes.

Anderson recommended a new book about 25 Iowa women who have become farmers, “Women and the Land”. The Creston Library will be ordering this book.

Treasurer Bev Butler reported dues had been collected from 14 members, with Sharon Skarda and Judy Woods left to pay dues. It was announced Kathy Tapken would not be continuing her membership.

The printing bill from Petznicks for $50 was submitted. Sharon Booth moved and Betty Wallace seconded the bill be paid. Motion carried.

Wallace reminded the members of the blood mobile coming on Nov. 6.

Huffman announced CAT will do a Christmas variety/one act play Dec. I-2 at the Performing Arts Center.

It was announced Henderson and Oswald will be attending the District Convention Oct. 10.

The members read the collect in unison. The meeting adjourned at 2:32 p.m.

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Ladies Lakeshore Auxiliary

Ladies Lakeshore Auxiliary met Oct. 4.

Canasta winners were Marilyn Larimore, first; Cheri Lilly, second; and Sharon Gile, third.

Maxine May won the door prize.

Linda Clark will host cards and chatter Wednesday, Oct. 11.

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Catholic Daughters

Court Joan of Arc No. 428 met in the church hall following Mass. A dinner of pizza, salad and desserts was served by the committee of Kay Kinsella, Anita Studer, Alice Reed, Carol McKee and Retta Ripperger. The guest speaker was First National Vice Regent Sherry Nilles. She spoke about the history and origin of Catholic Daughters.

The business meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer for world peace. One guest, Jean Gibbons, was present. Reed gave the treasurer’s report. Virginia Aguilar motioned to approve the report. Kris Kerrigan seconded it. The motion carried. The minutes of the May meeting were read. Pat Pokorny made the motion to approve them. Mary McElroy seconded it. They were approved. We received thank-you notes from Father Halbur and the Crisis Intervention and Advocacy Center.

Lois Nelson and Pokorny reported the Rerun has a lot of winter coats, Halloween costumes and homecoming dresses. More help is needed sorting Monday mornings and any time they are open.

Meg Crawford gave the Right to Life report. The group has updated billboards leading in and out of town, participated in the Fourth of July and county fair parades and had booths at the fair and Community Awareness Day at SWCC. Their membership drive is in October.

Ripperger has been communicating with national to get a copy of our charter. She received a list of members in 1919.

On Oct. 17, the Abortion Dialogue Academy will be giving a presentation from 6 to 8 p.m. in the church hall. Members will be putting up flyers to advertise it. The information will also be sent to other churches. The academy would like to have an idea of how many will be attending. People may RSVP to Virginia Aguilar at 641-340-2745.

A bake sale was held Sept. 29 at the two smaller Bunn-O-Matic plants in Creston and one in Afton.

Meg Crawford, Jane Collins and Joanne Gibson have agreed to serve on the financial review committee. Aguilar gave an update on the Christ Our Life conference to be held in September 2018,

Pokorny won the door prize, which she donated back to the charity cup. The group recited the membership prayer to close the meeting. Aguilar made the motion to adjourn. Jean Miller seconded it. The meeting adjourned.

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PEO

The regular business meeting of Chapter AZ was held 5:30 p.m. Oct. 3 at First Presbyterian Church with Connie Purdum as hostess and Sandy McNichols as co-hostess. Jessica Duncan was initiated. Christy Nielsen gave a program on bullet journaling.

A social meeting will be held 6 p.m. Oct. 17 at Create Creston for a painting class. The cost is $30 per person. RSVP by Saturday, Oct. 7, to Christy if planning to attend.

The next regular meeting will be held Nov. 7 at the home of Sharon Bennett with Kay Raymond as co-hostess and Judy Woods with the program. Note this is a change from the yearbook schedule.