March 29, 2024

Club news

Union County Genealogy Society

The May 21 meeting of Union County Genealogy Society was brought to order at 6 p.m. by vice president Jane Briley at Gibson Memorial Library.

Several letters asking for help on research were presented. It was noted this year's programs are listed on the UCGS website at www.unioncgs.org. A copy of the book, "Barns in Iowa," was donated to the library by the author Carlene Kingery.

Plans were finalized for the Southwest Iowa Genealogy Conference which will be from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. June 2 at the O’Riley Center. Saundra Leininger will be on Grapevine and KMA to discuss the conference. She has sent out press releases to all area newspapers.

Research for the cemetery walk should be completed, typed and sent to Tessa Hull by June 1.

The next Lunch and Learn will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, in the genealogy room at the public library. The topic will be on general websites. There is no charge to attend and everyone is invited to bring a lunch.

The Union County Fair will be July 19-24. Genealogy entries need to be registered Thursday evening or early Friday morning.

The next meeting will be 6 p.m. June 26 at the library. The roll call will be “What will you be exhibiting at the fair?”

Tom Hawks gave an informational presentation on the Office of Veterans Affairs and the its holdings. Hawks is currently working on updating the records for every Union County veteran. If anyone has information on an ancestor or knows of someone who is a Union County veteran, contact Hawks so he can make sure their information is included. He would also like death certificates and pictures of each veteran. He plans to photograph veteran’s headstones in the future and asked for assistance with this project. Anyone able to help with this project is encouraged to call him at 641-782-8714 (home) or 641-344-8213 (cell).

Hawks also discussed the honor flights which he has been involved in, and about raising money to help fund the flights. The actual cost is about $750 per person which includes motel, meals and transportation. Union County is responsible for paying $120 per person.

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Catholic Daughters

The Catholic Daughters of the Americas met Tuesday, May 8, in Holy Spirit Hall after 6 p.m. Mass. Dinner was served by the committee of Jean Gibbons, Teresa Pudenz, Connie Purdum and Dora Coen. David Hargrove, director of Gibson Memorial Library, presented the program, “All the Marbles – Oil Men, Old Maids and Creston Civic Pride in the Summer of 1930.” The group had two guests, Cassie Holcomb and Kathryn Linck, sister of Betty Bradley.

The treasurer’s report was read and approved. One bill was approved for payment. Betty Baker reported she sent several cards this month. Pat Pokorny reported the ReRun has been very busy and they need more help, especially at the checkout counter. The court has started a Baby Bottle Campaign to collect donations for the Life Care Clinic.

Gibbons gave the nominating report. The following slate of officers was presented: Regent, Teresa Weis; Vice-Regent, Carolyn Downing; Recording Secretary, Gibbons; Financial Secretary, Janet Brown; Treasurer, Alice Reed. Kris Kerrigan made the motion to approve and Pudenz seconded. Motion carried.

Members have been asked to host the graduation reception May 20. Volunteering to help were Reed, Kay Kinsella, Baker, Carol McKee and Weis. Retta had information about the CD of A National Convention to be held July 17-22 tn Sioux Falls. The door prize was won by Reed, which she donated back to the court. The membership prayer was read to close the meeting. Pudenz made the motion to adjourn. Kay Raymond seconded. Meeting adjourned.

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P.E.O.

Carol Brentnall, delegate from Chapter AZ, attended the 126th annual Convention of Iowa State Chapter P.E.O. Sisterhood held June 2-3 in Des Moines. With the theme “Make A Difference,” Pat Shipley, Chapter CH, Villisca, presided over 800 delegates and visitors. Twenty-one chapters from central Iowa served as the hostess group for the convention. This committee was headed by Peggy Steinbronn, HX, Des Moines; Dotta Hassman, MS, Des Moines; and Linda Murphy, HX, Des Moines.

Attendees participated in workshops and heard from recipients of P.E.O.’s six philanthropies and Iowa P.E.O. Project Fund Inc. The convention concluded with the installation of the 2018-19 executive board officers headed by president Kate Raun, OR, Norwalk; vice president, Bev Templeton, FN, Garner; organizer, Sue Aanes, EV, New London: treasurer, Carol Goldsmith, CB, Ida Grove; and secretary, Carrie Wilkinson, OP, Cedar Rapids.

P.E.O. is a philanthropic organization where women celebrate the advancement of women; educate women through scholarships, grants, awards, loans and stewardship of Cottey College; and motivate each other to achieve their highest aspirations. There are approximately 6,000 chapters in the United States and Canada with nearly 250,000 members. lowa is the second largest state chapter with 380 chapters and more than 16,000 members.

P.E.O. is one of the pioneer societies for women and was founded Jan. 21, 1869, by seven young women at Iowa Wesleyan University in Mount Pleasant. Originally a small campus friendship society, P.E.O. soon blossomed to include women off-campus. The P.E.O. Sisterhood is passionate about its mission: promoting educational opportunities for women. The sisterhood proudly makes a difference in women’s lives with six international philanthropies: P.E.O. Educational Loan Fund; P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship Fund; P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education; P.E.O. Scholar Awards; P.E.O. STAR Scholarship, and the ownership of Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri. The International headquarters of the P.E.O. Sisterhood is in Des Moines.

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Kiwanis

The weekly Kiwanis meeting was held 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, June 5, at the Windrow meeting room with 20 members and one guest. President Korina Loudon presided, Sam Beaty gave the prayer and Roger Lanning was the finemaster.

Two new members, David Hargrove and Scott Coen, were introduced at the meeting.

The program was given by Ray “Bubba” Sorensen, painter and designer of the Adair County Freedom Rock. He talked about this being the 20th year of the rock along Highway 25 with the ashes of deceased vets mixed with the paint. He uses a special rock paint that is very expensive so the colors don’t fade. He has completed 71 rocks altogether with more planned for every county in Iowa, except one so far. He is also planning to do one in every state as a way to honor all veterans.

The club is hosting Open Table in June, and members will be signing up to serve soon. Members were also reminded of the Fourth of July activities the club helps with.

The 2018 layperson of the year was also voted on, and will be awarded at a future meeting.

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Salem Lutheran Women

Salem Lutheran Women of The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America met June 3 after church in the sanctuary. President Carolyn Biere called the meeting to order. Minutes of the last meeting and Lydia Cluster meeting were read by Secretary Joyce Anderson. Claudia Peppers gave the treasurer’s report of the spring sale and cluster meeting. Biere was named delegate to the Women of the Western Iowa Synod Convention June 23 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Atlantic. Registration forms were handed out and people were encouraged to attend since it was so close this year. It was voted to send money as an in-kind offering for Lila Mae’s House in Sioux City, a shelter for women seeking a safe place from sex trafficking, and it’s the theme at convention. The group voted to send a quilt for the fundraising event at the convention.

The next meeting will be in the fall when members decide which charities will receive the money from the spring sale, which was supported community-wide. There will be a fall retreat Oct. 6 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Sioux City.

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Creston United Methodist Women

The Creston United Methodist Women Executive Committee met 9 a.m. Friday, May 4, in Fellowship Hall with 10 officers present. Ann Driskell presided, the UMW Purpose was recited and joys and concerns were shared. Beth Perry had devotions by reading “Come Let Us Worship,” from Native American litanies and closed with a prayer. Correspondence was read, and the minutes of the April executive were approved as corrected. The treasurer’s report was given and approved. Bobi Woodin, reporting for education and interpretation, attended the mission study in Lamoni. Velma Riegel, reporting for program resources, told the group Betty Lou Shea has read 20 books since last June. Riegel also told about a book on Korea.

UMW will be conducting the worship service June 10. Terry Ammon reviewed the program, “Lessons from the Pearl,” that she had put together for the service. Changes were discussed for guest night. In new business, officers received memorial money from the Kay Ritter family and will decide in the fall what to use it for. Thanks to three ladies, the kitchen has been cleaned. The May Bible verse of Psalm 133:1 was recited together and the meeting adjourned.

The unit meeting convened at 10 a.m. with Driskell presiding. A short business meeting was conducted, recapping what was done at executive. Minutes of the March unit meeting were read and approved. The treasurer’s report was given and approved.

The meeting was then turned over to Susan Weight, who then led a mission study on Native Americans.

These people have been studied since 1520. Many evil acts have been committed against Native Americans, for which the church has apologized. There are three mission conferences in the United States. Weight had videos on each of these conferences. The conferences are Alaska United Methodist Conference, Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference and Red Bird Mission.

In Alaska, the women’s missionary society helped with the funding for reindeer. Also in Alaska, there are 30 churches serving 536,000 square miles. Members did a quiz on Indian history. Perry shared some letters and articles on the Nebraska Indians.

Evening Circle met 7 p.m. Thursday, May 17, in Fellowship Hall with Rosalie Denton presiding. Roll call was answered by nine members, and minutes of the April meeting were read.

Business from executive was presented and discussed. Woodin gave a response moment about a missionary from Massachusetts. Jane Briley had the program entitled, “Sacred Space of Nurturing.”

Morning Circle met 9:30 a.m. Friday, May 18, in Fellowship Hall with Lois Jay as hostess.

Weight presided with roll call being answered by eight members. Perry had devotions and the program entitled, “Sacred Space of Nurturing.”

Iowa Mission U is July 15-17 in Marshalltown. The next executive meeting is 9 a.m. Aug. 30

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Ladies Lakeshore Auxiliary

Ladies Lakeshore Auxiliary met June 6.

Canasta winners were Janet Kessler, first; Barb Bills, second; and Rose Blakesley, third.

Bills won the door prize.

Connie Bailey will host cards and chatter Wednesday, June 13.