Afton Federated Garden Club
Members of the Afton Federated Garden Club met 1 p.m. May 14 at the Butterfly Garden in Afton to clean it up and see what was needed to upgrade the garden. Members planted the roses in memory of Olive Kerns and Doris Porter.
Afterwards members met at the Afton Community Center for the regular meeting. President Shirley Wallace called the meeting to order at 1:40 p.m. with 15 members repeating the Pledge of Allegiance to our American flag and do the Club Collect.
Minutes of the April meeting were read by Monica Huddleson. Bev Rowe made a motion to accept the minutes seconded by Sandy Rollings. Iris Smith gave the Kathy Tapken’s treasurers report. Loretta Kelly made a motion to accept the report, seconded by Judy Weese.
The 2021 District Garden Club meeting will be held Monday, June 14 at the Federated Church in Pella. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with the meeting starting at 9:15 a.m. Afton club is in charge of name tags and the registration table; Jenny Quick and Monica Huddleson volunteered to sit at the registration table. President Shirley will lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
President Shirley shared that we have received a check from the stimulus grant money she applied for. Part of it will be used to upgrade the butterfly garden. Marilyn Larimore and Gwen Sandeman are in charge of purchasing the plants (President Shirley had already purchased the “in memory” roses). Thank you, Shirley, for writing the grant. Members really appreciate your time and effort.
President Shirley is going to write a letter to the Afton City Hall to see if it would be possible for the club to have a book case at the Afton Community Center to store the club’s books of evidence which would make them more accessible to members.
President Shirley contacted the Union County Fair Board and the fair will be back to normal for 2021. The “bucket project” suggested by the extension office last year will be held. Afton club will provide a five-gallon bucket and soil to each of the Union County 4-H clubs to be planted for display at the fair. Beth McGrath and Bonnie Morris are in charge of finding out details to be presented at the next meeting.
Judy Weese shared that club member, Judy Harmon, has moved to Homestead Assisted Living in Creston.
Fun fact: An article from the Afton Star Enterprise newspaper from 50 years ago told about AFGC member Gladys Kiburtz presenting a Garden Club program in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Detroit, Michigan.
The annual Garden Club Tour will be Sunday, June 27. Members will attend the Adel garden tour and luncheon.
Due to there being so much unfinished business, the club will have a regular meeting and program June 11 at 1:30 p.m. at Afton Community Center. Hostesses will be Dixie Shinkle and Monica Huddleson. Monica Huddleson will give the program on cover crops.
Sandy Rollings made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Bev Rowe. All repeated the Conservation Pledge. Iris Smith and Judy Weese served an assortment of prepackaged treats and bottled water and lemonade.
June 6 to 12 is National Garden Day.
PEO Chapter CA
President Rana Crees called to order the PEO Chapter CA meeting at 7 p.m. on June 7. Eleven members were present for the virtual meeting via Zoom. Minutes were read by Secretary Marcia Gross and Treasurer Gini Herr reported on financials. Amy Kading presented an interesting program on the PEO convention she attended. Chapter members discussed how to move forward with meetings. It was decided that the July 19 meeting would be a hybrid with Marilyn Nickel volunteering to have a meeting at her home and also sending an invitation to members who would prefer to attend via Zoom. With no further business, meeting was adjourned.
Creston Lions
Creston Lions met 6:30 p.m. June 7 at Pizza Ranch. The meeting opened with an invocation given by Stew Stewart. Following the meal, President Jo Duckworth presided over the business meeting.
Minutes of the May meeting were presented by secretary Susan Weight and treasurer Tom Braymen gave his report. Both reports were approved. Designated budgeted items are up to date.
Jerry Katzer gave information about the upcoming BBQ Bash set for July 3 in uptown Creston sponsored by the local Lions, Rotary and Kiwanis service clubs. Club members have tickets available for sale. Members signed up to work shifts for the bash.
Ralph Dillinger, chairperson for the Bingo Committee, requested volunteers for the annual bingo game scheduled for the 4th of July at McKinley Park. Members can work at 2 p.m. to help set up for the event, and help run the games in shifts at 3, 5 or 7 p.m.
Five new awards insignia will be attached to the Lions Club banner by Alice Brown. The banner is displayed at various events. Duckworth presented the Diamond Centennial Award to Braymen.
For many years Lions Clubs around the world have collected used eyeglasses and hearing aids which are refurbished and given to the needy. There are collection containers in Creston at the following locations: WalMart Vision Center, Re-Run Store, Memorial Room at the Depot, the north entry area of the lower level of Creston United Methodist Church and at Southern Prairie, 1201 W. Townline St.
The next meeting of Creston Lions will be 6:30 p.m. July 6 at Pizza Ranch. The Directors will meet 5:30 p.m. June 29 at Stewart’s office.
Kiwanis
The weekly Kiwanis meeting was 12:05 p.m. June 8 at Pizza Ranch with 14 members and two guests. President Lori Harvey presided, Dennis Carter led the prayer and Justin Cole was the finemaster.
On June 4, the club helped and fundraised at the Elks for their Friday after Five. Members of the club collected the $5 entrance fees that night and over $500 was raised for the club.
Creston Kiwanis will also be helping with the BBQ Bash 4 to 7 p.m. July 3 in downtown Creston (by the caboose) with the other service clubs which will be held during The KSIB car show. Hamburgers, hotdogs and tenderloins with chips and a drink will be served. Kiwanis members have tickets to sell now for $6 each. If any business wants to be a sponsor at the event they need to purchase a $60 book of tickets and let event organizers know before June 17.
Kiwanis Club is putting up flags, helping organize the parade for the 4th of July and having a vehicle with the club’s banner in the parade.
The club is also helping with the cook shack at the Union County Fair, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 23, more members are needed to help.
The program was given by Creston City Administrator, Mike Taylor. He updated the club on the activities of the different city departments. He also discussed the hiring of new police and fire department personnel.
Creston Kiwanis is meeting weekly moving forward, New members are always welcome.
CARSPA
Creston Area Retired School Personnel Association (CARSPA) held its meeting 8:30 June 8 in the Creston Plaza Apartments’ meeting room. Peg Lewis provided snacks.
Six members and one guest enjoyed a genetic presentation by Clint Williams, SWCC professor of biology and environmental sciences. Members now better understand how our DNA provides a blueprint for our physical characteristics. It also shows each of us if we might be more susceptible to certain diseases. In about 2003 scientists cracked the DNA code.
Diane Burgmaier, co-chairman, conducted the business meeting. Charlotte Roberts read the minutes of the May meeting. A couple amendments were made thereto. Peg Lewis presented a treasurer’s report. $15 state dues and $3 local dues for our next fiscal year must be paid by each member by our October meeting. Diane asked every member to turn in volunteer hours by the August meeting. Members are encouraged to attend the State Annual Meeting and Conference on October 6 and 7 at Honey Creek Resort on Lake Rathbun. Members were reminded that AMBA has Delta Dental Plan, Vision Plan, and Short Term Care Plan (among others) available for members and spouses.
The next meeting will be July 13 with program and location yet to be determined. There will be no August meeting.
Retired school personnel in our area are welcome to join CARSPA. Call Diane Burgmaier at 641-337-5771 or Deb Lilly at 641-743-2004 for more information.