Club news 12/11/11

John Guild DAR

The John Guild Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution sponsored the Junior American Citizens contest at Delta Elementary School. Participants competed in the creative expression category, which included poems and shorts stories. All entries has the theme "preserving America's past."

The winners were: fourth grade, first place, Logan Rhodes; fifth grade, first place, Macey Smith; and sixth grade, first place, Sarrena Tanner. An awards assembly was held to present the winners with award certificates and first place cash prizes. Laverne Nothdurft, Junior American Citizens chairwoman, made the presentations, and Revolutionary War impersonator Patsy Johnson dressed and talked as Henry and Mary Knox, gunner trainer of Washington's army and his wife.

Junior American Citizens encourages good citizenship, service to God, home and country, respect for the American flag, history, government and respect for one's self.

Southeast B&G Chapter of MAA

The Southeast Black & Gold Chapter of the Missouri Alumni Association met Dec. 5 at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Jackson. Present were four board members, Tom Frasher, Roger Guyot, Melody Hagans and Larry Simon, and a guest, Richard Proffer.

Guyot gave the treasurer's report. The chapter account values were unchanged from last month.

Simon gave a short report on the current Salvation Army bell-ringing activity. All 20 two-hour shifts are covered. The chapter will be ringing through Friday at Kmart in Cape Girardeau.

The high school recruiting trips were discussed. Simon visited with 20 students at Sikeston High School on Nov. 8. He provided cookies and spoke about MU and the MAA scholarship. He invited all seniors who will be attending MU to the chapter's student picnic on June 14. Frasher will schedule a visit with Perryville High students.

The need to place new people on the chapter board was discussed. Simon suggested two chapter members for consideration as board members.

Simon reported on the diversity project. The chapter will treat the Big Brothers Big Sisters group to a showing of "Rango" at 6 p.m. May 2 at Cape West 14 Cine. Simon will apply for an MAA diversity grant to help cover the cost of this project. (Last year, the project cost $600 for 100 tickets).

The chapter Founder's Day event, which will be held Feb. 9 at Dexter Bar-B-Que in Cape Girardeau, was discussed. State Rep. Donna Lichtenegger will be the guest speaker and will talk about the state's funding process for MU. Gena Scott, the MU director of university scholarships, will be in attendance and will say a few words about MU scholarships.

The group discussed the need to obtain items for the annual silent auction. Proffer volunteered to donate a mosaic MU wine cooler. This same type of item sold for $75 at a recent auction. It was decided that in addition to the auction there will be a bake sale at the event and there will be a free dessert bar for guests. Any auction item purchased with chapter funds will have a minimum bid equal to the cost for the item. Simon will enter Founder's Day as an event on mizzoualumni.org.

The student picnic was briefly discussed. It is tentatively scheduled for June 14 at shelter 4 at Cape County Park North. The chapter will again ask the Knights of Columbus Council 11205 to provide the food.

Frasher suggested and it was agreed that the chapter again purchase and donate two tickets for some worthy people to attend the Dec. 26 Independence Bowl football game. Frasher will follow up on this. The possibility of having a watch party for the bowl game was also discussed. Frasher will ask a fellow chapter member if he will organize the watch party.

The need to pick a candidate for an award nomination was discussed. There are several awards to choose from. This is a Column's requirement that the chapter must satisfy to achieve Capstone Status.

A thank-you card, complete with personal notes and signatures, was received from the Extension Center staff recognizing the chapter for the work done at the center, such as cleaning up the flower beds and painting the columns at the building's front entry. This was the chapter's Homecoming Day of Service Project.

The next meeting will be at 6 p.m. Jan. 2 at the MU Extension Center in Jackson.

The Cape Girardeau County FCE Council recently installed officers for 2012 at the December FCE County Council meeting. They were installed by Mary Gosche, FCE consultant. Pictured from left are, Gosche; JoAnn Hahs of Lamplighters FCE Club, president; Judie Herbst of Kage FCE Club, vice president; Mary Klaproth, Town and Country FCE Club, recording secretary; Sue Jones of Town and Country FCE Club, corresponding secretary; and Jeannie Rehak of Oak Ridge FCE Club, treasurer. Barbara Barks of Oak Ridge FCE Club, public relations officer, was not present. The officers will assume their duties in January. (Submitted photo)

-- From staff reports