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GFWC Progressive Chautauqua Study Club
The GFWC/Iowa Progressive Chautauqua Circle Study Club met 1:30 p.m. Nov. 27 at the home of Carolyn Biere. President Joyce Anderson called the meeting to order and the members recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Gerri Henderson presented the devotions, which were readings on anger and forgiveness.
For the program, Biere talked about their trip to China and Thailand. She presented the trip, which included tours and school visits, in an entertaining fashion from the viewpoint of their traveling companion, “Flat Stanley.”
Roll was called, with the 15 members and life members present responding to the question of where they would like to travel in the United States.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.
The following committee reports were presented:
Bloodmobile – Betty Wallace reported the goal was reached and the next bloodmobile will be Feb. 4.
Community involvement – Judy Weese distributed the volunteer forms to be completed for the December meeting.
Caller – Mary Morris – no information to report.
Legislative issues – Peg Anderson – no report at this time.
Scholarship – Pat Butcher and Linda Huffman – no report at this time.
Greeting cards – Wallace – none sent recently.
Safety – Sandy Oswald – no report at this time.
Reading – Linda Hughes – bring your reading lists next meeting, listed alphabetically by author.
Pat Butcher reported on four awards received by the club in the Southwest District. Weese was thanked for her excellent work in reporting the volunteer hours.
Henderson requested the members bring sample toiletries to donate to the crisis center.
Anderson reported the Union County Historical room has been decorated. Sign up to host in the room. Volunteers were directed to go in the bank entrance to go up to the room and to dress warm.
Members reported they enjoyed a nice trip to Winterset.
Members were reminded the Crest Area Theatre’s next production will be “Ho, Ho, Ho,” at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, at SWCC, and admission is $10 per person.
The next meeting will be the Christmas Party to be held 12:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at Summit House.
The collect was read in unison and the meeting adjourned at 1:50 p.m.
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Afton Federated Garden Club
Members of the Afton Federated Garden Club met Friday, Nov. 9, at the Afton Community Center. President Shirley Wallace called the meeting to order at 1:35 p.m. with members repeating the Pledge of Allegiance and club collect. Roll call was answered by 14 members, including two new members – Bonnie Morris and Dixie Shinkle.
Minutes of the October fall luncheon were read by Monica Huddleson. Bev Rowe made a motion to accept minutes as read. Ginny Quick seconded the motion.
Kathy Tapken gave the treasurer’s report. Membership dues were paid by those present. Motion was made by Joan Johnson and seconded by Iris Smith to accept the report. Wallace presented a bill for burlap for place mats. A motion to pay the bill was made by Audrey McDowell and seconded by Quick.
Judy Weese updated phone numbers for the 2019 program book.
Doris Porter is about the same and has the same address as last year. The club hasn’t heard from Olive Kerns yet.
Wallace shared with members the Wallace Center is having a holiday boutique Nov. 15-17. Afton exchange will be at the school Dec. 1 and also Leon is having a craft show.
Wallace thanked everyone for her birthday card. She also thanked the club for the “get well’ card for her husband, Wendell, and gave an update on his progress.
Wallace shared a thank you card from Bev Anderson from the Bevington Garden Club. Mike Boldon sent a thank you card and newspaper clipping from the Clark County Master Gardeners. Tapken shared a thank you from the Greenfield Garden Club.
Huddleson shared swamp milkweed seeds donated by Dave Johnson with those who wanted them.
The District Federated Garden Club meeting will be June 3, 2019, at the Pleasant Hill Church. Members are responsible for the Pledge of Allegiance and plant sale.
Judy Harman made and Weese seconded a motion to increase the club’s donation to the landscape and horticulture scholarship funds.
The 2019 Union County Fair will be July 18-24. The group will set up for the floriculture show on the 19th. Kid’s day activities are planned. The judge will be Sandy Grossman.
Wallace shared that a new invasive species has been found in Marion County called the mile-a-minute plant.
Polly McCoy gave a horticulture report on pruning bayberry shrubs. She said you can prune them in late winter or before new growth starts in the spring.
The club Christmas Party will be Dec. 7 at 209 Broadway Restaurant in Diagonal. Members will meet at 11 a.m., and will have a grab bag gift exchange. Each member is asked to bring a donation for the Afton Food Pantry.
Wallace told the club about Penny Pines, which is a way for clubs or individuals to share in the costs of replanting replacement trees to a damaged area, whether by fire or other natural catastrophes.
It was decided to wait until March to clean up, fertilize and mulch the butterfly garden.
Tapken made a motion, seconded by McDowell, to adjourn the meeting at 3:25 p.m. Members repeated the conservation pledge.
Tapken gave a very interesting and informative program on water quality. She told that water is a colorless, transparent, odorless liquid. There are two main sources of water: surface water, which is in lakes, rivers and reservoirs, and groundwater, which is stored in openings in rocks called aquifers and has to be pumped to the earth’s surface for use. Tapken told that people get their water from a private well or from a community water system. She said about 15 percent of people use wells, cisterns or spring water, but the majority get their water from a community water system. Tapken said 97 percent of the earth’s water is salt water. Of the remaining 3 percent, about 70 percent is frozen in glaciers and ice caps. An average person uses 80-100 gallons of water each day, with flushing the toilet the largest use. Tapken said a person can go for more than three weeks without food, but can only live about three days without water.
Delicious refreshments were served by Iris Smith and Weese. The next meeting will be the Christmas meeting at 11 a.m. at 209 Broadway Restaurant in Diagonal. Bring a donation for Afton Food Pantry. The club will have a grab bag gift exchange after lunch.
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Book Club
The Book Club met Nov. 12 at the Edaburn House in the Historical Village in McKinley Park.
Roll call was taken with seven members in attendance.
Books read since the last meeting were, “The Book Club” by Mary Monroe, “Keep Moving” by Dick Van Dyke, “Kit Kat and Lucy” by Lonnie DuPont, “The Way of Nile C. Kinnick Jr.” by Mark Wilson, “A Warrior of the People” by Joe Starita, “The Reluctant Widow” and “Faro’s Daughter,” both by Georgette Heyer, “The Summer I Dared” by Barbara Delinski, “The Orphan Train” by Christina Baker Kline, “Vengeance is Mine” by Wm W. Johnstone, “The Turquoise Table” by Kristin Schell, “The Raider” by Monica McCarthy, “Reflections Through the Window” by Ron Sharp, “Remember Me?” by Sophie Kinsella, “The Disappeared” by C.J. Box, “It Had to be You” by Linda Windsor, “Cane River” by Lalita Tademy and “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed.
A short meeting was held so members could decorate the parlor in the house for the Christmas open houses to be held in December.
Meg passed around a card for Carolyn Derrick, who Is moving. She also passed a sign-up sheet to host the open houses to be held in the Edaburn house.
Refreshments were served by Pat Pokorny and the club members went upstairs to decorate the parlor.
The next meeting will be at noon Dec. 3 at the home of Barb Thomsen. She and Dorothy McNaught will furnish soup, while other members volunteered to bring salad, relish, dessert or rolls. The program will be sharing Christmas memories or literature. Members are to bring a gift wrapped book to exchange.
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Ladies Lakeshore Auxiliary
Ladies Lakeshore Auxiliary met Nov. 28.
Canasta winners were Connie Bailey, first; Connie Kerrigan, second; and Gwen Sandeman, third.
Cheri Lilly won the door prize.
Next cards and chatter will be Wednesday, Dec. 5, for the Christmas party.