Club news 11-2-14

Beta Sigma Phi Missouri Torchbearer Iota Chapter

The Torchbearer Iota Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met at the home of Dixie Jones with 12 members present. Linda Belote, Bernie Gardner and Joyce Hays were unable to attend. Carole Rhodes was a guest. Vice-president Dixie Jones presided.

An invitation was presented for the all-chapter "Fall Celebration." The celebration will be hosted by Epsilon Epsilon Chapter and will be held at River Ridge Winery in Commerce from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday. The cost per person will include a complimentary wine tasting. The RSVP date was Oct. 24. The Exemplar/Preceptor all-chapter dinner usually held in November has been replaced with this celebration.

A couples/guests Christmas Dinner will be held at the Cape Girardeau Country Club on Dec. 6.

Gwen Nussbaum collected items for the chapter's participation in "Operation Komando." Boxes will be filled for men and women in the armed services. The first boxes will go to a local engineering group. Suggested items include hand sanitizer, toothpaste, playing cards, cookies, crackers, batteries, books, etc. The only chocolate that can be sent are M&M's. Items can be brought to the meetings each month.

Members were reminded that early registrations would be appreciated for the 2015 Beta Sigma Phi Missouri State Convention to be held in Cape Girardeau in October 2015. Members of the chapter on the convention committee are Carole Calvin, Bernie Gardner and Judie Herbst.

The program "BSP Missouri State Convention 2014" held in St. Louis recently was presented by Bobbie Woodard, Carole Calvin and Judie Herbst. They presented the program wearing the Mary Poppins costumes they wore in St. Louis for the "bid" for the 2015 Convention. They also will wear the costumes to the 2015 Convention when the "Mary Poppins" theme will be used for the Sunday morning event, during which Torchbearer Iota Chapter will be the host chapter.

Southeast Missouri FCE

The Fall meeting of the Southeast Missouri District of Family, Community and Education (FCE) was held Oct. 22 at the Sedgewickville United Methodist Church in Sedgewickville, Missouri. The theme of the meeting was "Harvest Time," and was reflected in the decorations, door prizes and table favors. Bollinger County clubs were hosts of the meeting.

Approximately 45 members were present from the five counties in the district, which consists of Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Perry and Ripley counties. President Jo Ann Hahs called the meeting to order.

Hahs introduced special attendees, including current and past presidents of the county clubs, the Southeast Missouri District and members of the State FCE Board.

Thought for the day was presented by Lois Fritsche from the Farrar, Missouri, club in Perry County.

Roll call showed the following number of members from each county: Bollinger nine, Butler five, Cape Girardeau 19, Perry four and Ripley four.

Special recognition was given to Lynn Maples from Ripley County, who will become president of the National FCE organization in 2015. It was also announced that the 2015 National FCE Convention will be held in Blue Springs, Missouri, with Missouri helping the Kansas state hostesses with the convention. Also, Ruby Hittof Oak Ridge Homemakers received a certificate recognizing her support of FCE during the 63 years she has been a member, naming her the recipient of the state title "Heart of FCE." She also was recognized at the state convention.

Hahs honored the harvest of members by presenting special aprons symbolizing qualities of women exemplified by FCE members to Hitt; Lynn Maples, new National FCE president; and Edna Crain of Butler County, the incoming State FCE president. Crain was not present.

During the business meeting, members were reminded of Child Advocacy Day on April 1, 2015; National Conference in July 2015; State Convention from Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2015; 2015 Spring District meeting in Cape Girardeau County; and Fall District meeting in Perry County. Other business: New Hearthfires were announced, American Income Life was approved as insurance carrier for members, grant applications are due Friday, essay/art contest rules were reviewed and it was announced that the new District Director for 2015 is Hahs.

After a short break enabling the members to bid on items in the silent auction conducted by Butler County, the morning program was presented by Grant Gillard from Jackson. His topic was harvest of bees -- keeping the bees and keeping the faith. He shared a review of questions he is frequently asked about beekeeping.

Lunch was served by the Bollinger County clubs and provided by Busy Betty's.

The afternoon program was presented by Alice Long, a florist who discussed flower arranging and demonstrated many good tips and techniques for constructing arrangements. The final production was presented to Hitt.

Butler County did suvey showing attendees how many different talents they were exhibiting in their own lives and reminded that we all have various talents.

Nancy Hunter Chapter NSDAR

The Nancy Hunter Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution met on Oct. 22 at the Cape River Heritage Museum. Charlotte Slinkard, regent, and Kay Hamblin, chaplain, opened the meeting.

The NSDAR president general's October message to the chapters was read by Carol Cannon.

October is "DAR Founder's Month" and a short history of the four founders was given by the regent. Sue LeBruyere, secretary, read the minutes of the September meeting. Ruth Lang, treasurer, gave the financial report and noted that dues are now being collected for next year. Registrar Catherine Allison reported that two new applications are being sent to NSDAR. Librarian LaFern Stiver will select a book to be donated to the Cape Girardeau Public Library in memory of chapter member Martha Jane Beggs Adams.

The chapter will host the Southeast Missouri District Meeting to be held in Cape Girardeau in September 2015. Members were encouraged to send recipes to be included in the Roslyn Heights Cookbook. The cookbook will showcase Roslyn Heights, the Missouri State DAR headquarters in Boonville, Missouri. Proceeds will benefit the maintenance fund.

The program, a tour of the museum's "Gone Girl and Cape's Historic Theaters" exhibit, was followed by an interactive dialogue where everyone related a personal memory or experience at the movies.

Guests were Jan McClanahan, Penelope Bender, Donna Grantham and Pam Spradling.

The next regular meeting will be Nov. 19 at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. Joe Sullivan, former editor of the Southeast Missourian, will be the speaker.

-- From staff reports