Union County Genealogical Society
Eleven members of Union County Genealogical Society met Monday, June 25, at Gibson Memorial Library. President Tessa Hull called the meeting to order at 6 p.m.
The website committee reported cemetery records from 28 Union County cemeteries have been submitted for inclusion in the society’s webpage. Work is continuing on the three largest Union County cemeteries, Calvary, Graceland and Greenlawn. It was reported several of the website addresses listed on our website did not appear operational. Hull and Saundra Leininger will determine if the links or the addresses are the problems.
The programming committee reported the first Saturday workshop for July will be held July 7. Theresa Liewer will present the program on naturalization records. The program will be held in the genealogy room at the library and will run from noon until 3 p.m. Discussion was held on having an open house at the library on the first Saturday in December. It would be designed to acquaint members of the community with the library’s genealogy collection, and to assist them in searching for their roots.
Leininger reported on the Southwest Iowa Genealogy Conference which was held June 2. Those in attendance agreed the speaker had provided valuable information in organizing and documenting genealogical research. Feedback was presented and discussion was held on possible ways to improve future conferences.
Kathy presented information on pioneer certificates the society has issued in the past. The society expressed interest in the project. She will review and update information, and present it at the next meeting. Kathy also encouraged members to check out the blogs on www.familysearch.org for timely information on genealogy related topics.
The next lunch and learn will be a surprise topic and will be held 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 18, in the genealogy room at the library.
Kathy explained the beginnings of our organization and Leininger shared information from the society’s fall 1979 newsletter.
The meeting was adjourned at 7 p.m.
Following adjournment, Jane Briley presented the program on preparing entries for the genealogy and history department for the Union County Fair. She passed out fair books listing the rules, check-in time, entry fee, judging time and release time. She also handed out guidelines for what information to include on the fair card. Members discussed the genealogy and history projects they planned to enter in the fair.
There will not be a meeting in July due to the fair. The next meeting will be Monday, Aug. 27. Brenda DeVore will present the program on the history of the Mormon Trail.
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DWF Executive Committee
The DWF Executive Committee met 2 p.m. Thursday, June 21, at First Christian Church Disciples of Christ.
There were 10 members in attendance. Pat Fils opened the meeting with all members reciting the DWF prayer.
Treasurer’s report was given and approved.
There was no old business.
New business was the installation of the new officers given by Alice Bowers of the Mary Circle. The new officers are Fils, president; Rhonda Vogel, vice president; Twila Brant, secretary; and Barb Jennings, treasurer.
The DWF Executive Committee will not meet during the summer. The next meeting will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, at the church.
Refreshments were served by Bowers and Joyce Burkhead. The officers were presented a little gift from the Mary Circle.
The meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.
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PEO
The regular business meeting of Chapter AZ was 5:30 p.m. June 19 in the home of Mindy Dresback with Sharon Bennett serving as co-hostess. Seventeen members responded to roll call.
If anyone would like to help with the international convention in Des Moines in 2019, there are job descriptions on the website at www.peoiowa2019.org. Jody Emerson was installed as vice president. Carol Brentnall gave the program on the convention.
The next regular meeting will be held Sept. 18 in the MAP Conference Room of GRMC with Jody Emerson as hostess and Kay Raymond serving as co-hostess. The June birthday luncheon will be noon June 28 at Adams Street Espresso. There will be a summer luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 13 with Chapter L.G. RSVP to Susan Finehout.
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Afton Federated Garden Club
As reported by Bev Rowe, Iowa District Garden Club meeting was June 4 in Indianola. Ten members from Afton Federated Garden Club attended. The club made the unique centerpieces for each table out of old garden and landscaping books. They were later given as door prizes at the end of the day. After a business meeting, the morning speaker was Jim White of Grinnell Florists. He demonstrated several beautiful table decorations with flowers, stressing whatever you have on hand will work. He then donated them as door prizes. A great lunch was served, and members had time to visit and shop for plants and baked goods. The afternoon program was “Return of the Bald Eagle” with slides by Ty Smedes. President Shirley Wallace attended the Iowa Federated state meeting June 21-22 in Mason City.
Afton Federated Garden Club met June 6 at Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr, where Wallace told members about the plantings and trees the Master Gardeners (of which she is a member) had chosen for the hospital grounds. Wallace designed the metal sculptures that are placed around the area. Next, Kim Wheehler gave the group a tour of her beautiful yard and beautifully restored home, which included a bedroom with a penny floor. The group went to Walnut Creek Farms Greenhouse to see how they raise tobacco – a very work-intensive project. Members had a delicious lunch at Jamie’s Coffee House north of the square. Next, the group visited the Dragoon Trace Nature Center, a Ringgold County Conservation Park. The last stop was Ramsey Farm in Lesanville – about four miles east of Mount Ayr. Innkeeper Deb Weaver and her daughter gave the club a tour of Pavilion event center built in 2000. The tour included Uncle George’s barn, built in 1928, the chicken house, brooderhouse, Aunt Jennie’s house with a cave that had a fireplace in it, the Carriage House, the Lesan Heritage House, the country school house, the church, Axtel House and Heritage Hall. Three of the houses can be rented. Members thanked Ginny Quick for planning the 2018 tour.
The next meeting will be 1:30 p.m. July 13 at Afton Community Center. Hostess will be Gwen Sandeman, program by Wallace and Karen VanBuskirkon Garden Art.
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Ladies Lakeshore Auxiliary
Ladies Lakeshore Auxiliary met June 27.
Canasta winners were Janet Kessler, first; Joy Seeley, second; and Sharon Gile, third.
Cheri Lilly won the door prize.
Sherry and Penni will host cards and chatter Wednesday, July 11.