Kiwanis
The weekly Kiwanis meeting was held 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, at the Windrow meeting room with 23 members present. President Terry Freeman presided, Ed Ritter gave the prayer and Kelly Richards was the finemaster.
The fresh Christmas wreath fundraiser has ended. This is a big fundraiser for the club and members have turned in their order forms and money. Delivery of the wreaths will be right before Thanksgiving.
The program was given by David Hargrove, director of the Creston library. He discussed the fundraising going on now to match a $250,000 Dekko grant before April 2019. He also discussed the history of two Union County law officers being killed in the line of duty almost 100 years ago.
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Ladies Literary Circle
For the Oct. 26 Ladies Literary meeting, 16 members assembled at the home of Dee Ann Stults with Vanita Moberg as co-hostess. Following the approval of the last meeting’s minutes and the treasurer’s report, President Stephani Finley directed a discussion regarding the decorating of the Edaburn House dining room for the Christmas holidays. Judith Gile and Linda Hartsock are in charge of this activity. New business revolved around a make-up date for the cancelled Oct. 12 meeting. The program committee will give a recommendation at the next meeting on Nov. 9, which will be hosted by Judy Woods. At the conclusion of the meeting, members were encouraged to watch PBS’s “The Great American Read,” which presents the most popular novels as voted by readers.
Vianne, Mauriac, Mademoiselle Rossignol, Carriveau and Poitiers are French words hard for English-only speaking individuals to say. Woods, the circle’s presenter, had no problem pronouncing French words, nor did she have trouble giving word translations. Having visited France several times plus having been a French teacher for a number of years, “The Nightingale” by Kristen Hannah was a natural draw for Woods to review.
Woods started the review by reading some poignant lines, one being, “If I have learned anything in this long life of mine, it is this: In love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are.”
Through the voice of the narrator, the reader is confronted with a number of conflicts brought about from the Nazi occupation of France during WWII. The relationship between two sisters shows how war changes the way victims love their country and its people, how their love influences their actions and how love affects their personal life choices. The two young women went beyond expectations to resist the Germans by saving Jewish children and giving aid to downed Allied pilots. Their heroism did come with everyday deprivations and immeasurable fear in the very presence of evil.
For those who resist reading historical stories and for those who resist reading fiction, do give this historical fiction book a try. It covers the whole gamut of emotions and a broad range of themes. Whether the title, “The Nightingale,” applies to the historical figure, Florence Nightingale, or the nightingale bird that sings the most beautiful in the dark of night, this book should be put on your book-to-read list.
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Beta Sigma Phi
Iowa Alpha Sigma Master Chapter met Thursday evening, Oct. 25, at the home of Martha McAuley. Prior to the business meeting, President Loretta Kelly assisted by Marilyn Larimore and Dorothy Eyberg, conducted the ceremony to advance McAuley to master degree status. All chapter members are now at the master level.
The business meeting began with the opening ritual, and roll call was answered with plans for Thanksgiving. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved; there were no formal communications, but Larimore had received a call from Homestead thanking members for assisting patients with pumpkin painting. Patricia Fils gave the treasurer’s report; one bill was presented and approved for payment.
Larimore announced the November meeting will be a couples outing. Members and guests will meet 6 p.m. Nov. 8 at the Roadside Cafe in Arispe. There were no other committee reports.
Norma Putnam gave the program beginning with an update on banned trans fats, stating that it is important to continue reading labels until January 2020, because foods produced before the June 2018 cutoff are still working their way through the system and were given an extension. Her primary talk, “When Feet Take a Pounding,” discussed various foot ailments and what can be done to alleviate the discomfort they cause. She closed by reading a humorous anecdote about Halloween mischief performed by a three-generation trio who got caught in the act but still considered their antics a lot of fun.
Following the closing ritual and Mizpah, the group enjoyed delicious refreshments and visiting.
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Afton Federated Garden Club
Afton Federated Garden Club met at Afton Community Center in Afton for its annual fall luncheon. Members met at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 12 to set up for the luncheon. President Shirley Wallace held a brief meeting. Sign up sheets for program and hostess months for 2019 were passed around. The club had 18 members and 22 guests attend the luncheon.
After a delicious lunch, Wallace introduced the guest speaker, Judy Hayes of Diamond H Elderberry Farm at Grant City, Missouri. Hayes told the group that she and her husband, Wayne, live on a farm north of Grant City, Missouri, but due to health reasons, she had to give up farming several years ago. Hayes used imported elderberry juice as a health aid, then decided to grow her own. She grows four different types of elderberries on four acres of land – they plan to add another patch for the 2019 season. She sells her juice, which she bottles at a commercial plant in Independence, Missouri, and her own home-made jelly (elderberry, wild raspberry and wild blackberry) and three blends of tea as a cottage business at craft shows in Missouri.
Afterwards, the club shared a dessert bar and drew for door prizes. Wallace thanked everyone for joining the event.
The next meeting will be 1:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at Afton Community Center. Kathy Tapken will have the program on water quality. Hostesses will be Iris Smith and Judy Weese.
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CARSPA
Creston Area Retired School Personnel Association (CARSPA) met Tuesday, Oct. 9, at the Del Richardson Conference Room at Greater Regional Health in Creston. After enjoying an 8:30 a.m. breakfast, 13 adults listened to Dr. Jill Tussey’s presentation on her experiences as an educator, primarily as a professor with Buena Vista University’s education/literacy department in Creston.
BV’s classes are face-to-face and more frequently virtual for its students. It uses computerized teacher assessment to evaluate future educators. This assessment is accomplished by the combined efforts of classroom teachers, administrators and college professors.
Tussey also spoke about the importance of game-based learning in the classroom, such as social, collaborative and motivational needs of the students. The information found in assigned reading is used as content of the games, such as Jeopardy and Kahoots. Student engagement is very important.
A business meeting followed. Michael Fitzgerald’s presentation in September was reviewed. Proposed IPERS changes will be watched for by members.
The final articles of CARSPAs Constitution were considered for revision. Planning for the May 9, 2019, district meeting in Creston was briefly discussed regarding speakers and members’ duties.
No meetings will occur in November and December, due to the holidays. At the Jan. 8 meeting, Beth Perry will speak about common historical roots of the Amish and Mennonites.
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Ladies Lakeshore Auxiliary
Ladies Lakeshore Auxiliary met Oct. 31.
Canasta winners were Linda Clark, first; Mary Kline, second; and Connie Kerrigan, third.
Cheri Lillie won the door prize.
Clark will host cards and chatter Wednesday, Nov. 7.
