Friends of the Library
Friends of the Library met Jan. 21 with the following board members present: Starr Cure, Jessica Duncan, Judy Hoakison, Bunny Norton, Kay Raymond, Julie Schieffer, Ann Coulter, David Hargrove, Sarah King and Jane King.
Coulter and Hargrove mentioned the St. Patrick’s dinner and auction to be held March 16. Hargrove encouraged members to be active on Facebook and the use of FOL Facebook page to spark some joy. The Valentine cookie bouquet information is on the LED sign. The board of trustees wants more programming this year and would appreciate help from FOL. On March 9, Jennie Hargrove will present a program called Instant Pot Boot Camp.
It was approved to pay two bills for the summer reading programs.
People can order Valentine cookie bouquets by calling the library at 641-782-2277 or by sending in the order form published in the Creston News Advertiser.
National Library Week is April 7-13. The theme is “Libraries = Strong Communities.” The UCDA coffee will be April 12 at the library.
The next meeting will be 6 p.m. Feb. 18 at the library.
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Elzevir
GFWC/Iowa Elzevir Reading Circle held their 125th anniversary luncheon 12:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, in the home of Terry Ammon. In 1893, Elzevir was organized and became Federated 125 years ago.
Following a delicious meal, Delores Doench spoke about the United Charitable Association transitional house that is being remodeled in Lenox to hopefully open in the spring. There have been no government funds used in acquiring the land or building, nor will there be in operating the house. The board has set up necessary requirements and conditions to help women that might be in need of help. Their motto is “Give a hand up, not a hand out.” Doench would be willing to speak to other groups about this worthwhile project. Many donated items from members were given to her to help her cause.
The president then opened the meeting. Roll call was answered with members telling what they had learned about the above project. The secretary’s report was read and approved. The treasurer reported money had been given to the Christmas basket fund.
The January News and Notes from GFWC were passed around. Members were reminded to respond to Bancroft by Jan. 31, if planning to attend their anniversary party Feb. 4.
Thank you notes from Peg Anderson and Sharon Snodgrass of the Historical Village were read, thanking us for decorating and hosting the kitchen in the Mary Edaburn house during the Christmas holiday. Members turned in their volunteer hours. Barb Thomsen made a motion to pack a purse or bag to be donated to an organization as a fundraiser at the April meeting. Ammon seconded it, and the motion passed.
Ammon was thanked for hosting the delicious meal and meeting. In closing, all recited Mary Stewart’s “Club Collect.” The next meeting will be Feb. 8 at Carol Brentnall’s with Jean Davis giving the program.
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PEO
The regular business meeting of Chapter AZ was held Jan. 15 at Carroll Family Chiropractic with Linda Carroll as hostess and Kay Kinsella as co-hostess. Eighteen members responded to roll call.
Joan Gordon led members in PEO bingo.
The next regular meeting will be Feb. 5 in the MAP Conference Room at GRMC. The next birthday luncheon will be noon Jan. 31 at Kelly’s Flowers and Cafe. The October 2019 social will be held at the Icarian Village – more info to come.
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Ladies Literary Circle
Twenty members of the Ladies Literary Circle were welcomed into the home of Connie Purdum for its Jan. 11 meeting. In the absence of the president, Vice President Bailey Poolman called the meeting to order. Following the secretary’s and treasurer’s reports, two correspondences were read from Historical Village representatives thanking the circle for participating in the “Christmas in the Village” event. Also, changes in future programs were announced.
Program chairman Connie Rhine introduced Poolman, who was the featured reviewer.
In his newest book, “Underground Airlines,” author Ben H. Winters has the narrator of the novel, who goes by the name Victor, track down runaway slaves in a version of the United States in which the Civil War never occurred and Southern states continue to support the ownership of human beings. One thing that makes Victor a particularly effective operative is that he is black himself and an escaped slave. Hired by the United States government to track down a fugitive slave named Jackdaw, this assignment creates ripples all over the country.
The story starts in the middle of the action. Victor is investigating a slave’s escape from a textile plant in the South. This plant is in a southern state where slavery is still legal in current times. Victor receives intelligence that Jackdaw is in Indianapolis, and so begins Victor’s unlikely journey from Indiana to the slave states, from the murder of those important to his assignment to a conspiracy that affects more than three million modern-day slaves.
As Poolman explained the plot, circle members were tempted to nitpick on the details regarding names and dates that have been cemented in our history. Poolman then proceeded to explain that Winters has written an alternate history, which means the author took key events in our country’s history and then blended them into 21st century events.
The underground railroad is about the history of American slavery, and the connections between that history and contemporary racism. “Underground Airlines” is a thought-provoking read which begs the question, “Just how far have we come in the treatment of our fellow man since the birth of our United States?”
Jan. 25 is the next meeting date. Linda Hartsock is hostess with July Gile reviewing, “The Children’s Blizzard.”
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Bancroft History Assembly
GFWC/IOWA Bancroft History Assembly met Jan. 21 in the D.V. Richardson room at Greater Regional Health. After the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call was answered by one life member and six regular members.
The treasurer’s report and minutes were approved.
It was reported the Adventures in Reading project totaled 269 books read, which included the Bible, magazines and newspapers. Sandy Oswald read the most books and Debbie Macomber was the most popular author.
Linda Huffman, from Chautauqua, will be interviewing students for scholarships Jan. 22.
Oswald sent cards to those who were absent at the last meeting.
Volunteer hours were handed in at this meeting.
The 124th anniversary party will be held 1:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4, at St. Johns United Church of Christ in the parish hall. David Hargrove, director of Gibson Memorial Library, will be the guest speaker. His topic will be George Bancroft and the American Historical Professional.
After the Club Collect was recited, the meeting was adjourned.
Oswald presented the program about Charlotte Emerson Brown, who was co-founder of GFWC and was the first president from 1890 through 1894. The organization flourished under her leadership.