Club News

Jackson Noon Optimist

The Jackson Noon Optimist recently held their quarterly fellowship meeting at the home of Stanley and LaDonia Beggs. The Beggs' home, which LaDonia affectionately calls their "Ancestral Old Home Place," has long been a landmark along Highway 72 West in Jackson where it has nestled in rolling hills later dotted with apple orchards since 1902 and has long been the center of a busy industry of everything from raising 11 varieties of apples to the annual pumpkin patch and Fall Festival with its showcase of apple butter cooking the old-fashioned way in copper kettles over an open fire.

While Stanley and his two brothers grew up in this home with its lovely fireplaces, turns and landings and stately columns. he and LaDonia have made it their home since shortly after their own marriage in 1955 when they began raising their own addition of three brothers. The Jackson Noon Optimist's most recent meeting just added their own list of community service planning to a long list activities whose origin have found their first stirrings of discussion around the gracious table and hearth of this noteworthy home and family.

Presbyterian Women

The first 2010 quarterly meeting of the women of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson was called to order by moderator Anne Smith. Susan Venable accompanied as we sang "This is My Father's World." The Presbyterian Purpose was read in unison. There were 16 present: six from the Esther/Hannah Circle, four from the Perdue/Lear Circle and six guests.

The minutes of the last quarterly meeting were read and accepted.

Shirley Hutton, treasurer, handed out copies of the treasurer's report and went over it.

Correspondence since the last meeting was read by Ruth Tinnin, secretary. It consisted of three thank-you notes from Nancy Gillard for her Christmas gift and for a birthday card from Becky Slinkard. Also a nice note from Claire and David Umbeck thanking the Presbyterian Women for help at their wedding reception.

Committee reports:

Jonell McNeely, CWU representative, reported that they had met Jan. 15 at the Abbey Road Christian Church. They reported that 112 health kits and layettes had been sent to Haiti via the Dominican Republic. This year's project will be school kits, which are to be turned in at our September meeting. The first meeting of the new year to be held today at Maple Methodist Church on Cape Rock Drive in Cape Girardeau.

Fran Reid, mission chairman, reported that the "Blanket the world in love" drive will be held in February. The special collection in our church to be taken Feb. 14.

Mona Hamilton, Together in Service committee chairman, reported that she, her husband, Homer Hamilton, and our minister, the Rev. Grant Gillard had delivered 175 pairs of shoes from our congregation to the Dexter, Mo., church which was combined with their efforts and were to be sent to South America as a result of a plea from a local soldier returning from service. Hamilton made a motion to send $100 out of her new budget to Church World Service and $50 to the Red Cross in answer to the many pleas received from these organizations following the earthquake in Haiti. Mary Morton seconded and the motion passed.

The program was Susan Burney and Will, her three legged support dog from the St. Louis area. Several present purchased the book she had written about him and a donation was given to the organization she volunteers with.

A sandwich and salad lunch prepared by the ladies of the Esther-Hannah Circle.

Beta Sigma Phi

The second meeting of 2010 was held at the home of Cathy Pancoast.

Our Christmas program was an auction party, including the husbands. We raised over $130 for a special project, thanks to the men trying to outbid each other for the gifts.

We are planning a Valentine Day remembrance for some of the older members of sorority in the Cape Girardeau area which will be a progressive dinner including the husbands.

Scrapbook committee has been occupied putting together the final pages of the 2009 scrapbook to be presented to Kathy Kiefner, president for 2009.

Cape Girardeau CWU

The Cape Girardeau Area Church Women United met on Jan. 24 at Maple United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau. Shirley Patterson, co-leader, opened the special celebration, Hospitality Day, with prayer. Refreshments were served by the women of the church. Joyce King, co-leader welcomed the group to the meeting. The minutes were read and approved. Martha Sanderson, treasurer, went over the 2010 budget reviewing some of the changes that had been made.

King reviewed the schedule for the coming year and reported that the local project for Festival of Sharing will be school kits. She noted that Crayola brand crayons are the choice of crayons for the kits.

Debra Tracy installed the new officers for the coming year which include, King and Patterson, co-leaders; Carol Simon, recording secretary; Sanderson, treasurer; and Helen Lohmeier, corresponding secretary. Dr. Deb Thornton gave the prayer for the new officers.

Louise Duncan thanked the group on behalf of the Cape Area Family Resource Center for the Christmas gift bags given to the ladies who meet each Thursday at the center. She requested prayers for the center.

Patterson reported CWU will be accepting applications for the human rights award that will be named at World Community Day in November. This year the emphasis will be on the disabled, those who work with disabled, those who are disabled or are a care giver for a disabled person. Applications are available and should to be turned in by June.

King announced that Joe Trower died Jan. 18. He was instrumental in starting the quilt auction at Festival of Sharing over 25 years ago. She also told the group that health kits donated to Church World Service had been distributed by helicopter in Haiti.

Blanket information was distributed by Dolly Jewel. Individual churches collect offering for blankets for Church World Service that are distributed to areas that have devastating situations. The blankets have many uses including warmth, shelter, carrying items etc. She had posters, envelopes and fliers for the churches to use.

CWU State Assembly will be March 19 and 20 at the Rickman Center in Jefferson City, Mo., with deadline for application March 10.

King thanked the women from Maple United Methodist Church for having the group and for the delicious refreshments served. Prayer concerns and praise were voiced by members and Tracy closed the meeting with prayer.

Nancy Hunter NSDAR

The Nancy Hunter Chapter NSDAR met Jan. 27, in the Penzel Conference Room at Cape Girardeau Public Library. DAR member, Sheila Holloway gave the program on Tamassee DAR School in North Carolina and Groves Cottage sponsored by local Missouri DAR where they live if they are neglected or abused. She showed a DVD with the children participating and benefits gained when students live there with house father and mother.

Ruth Lang, regent, led the group in the opening rituals. She announced the death of three of our members, Katherine Lamkin, Ernestine Wright and Mary Young.

Dorothy Points, Lang and Holloway were nominated to go to state conference April 30 to May 2.

Points, treasurer, gave the treasury report and Catherine Allison, secretary, read the minutes from last meeting. Both were accepted.

New member Helen Ruth Towns attended this meeting and was welcomed by members.

It was noted that the Cape Girardeau Public Library will hold a Genealogy workshop at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 8.

Schools have been contacted, asking for students to participate in Good Citizens awards with them reading their essays on thoughts of patriotic duties, to be held at 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 24 in Hirsch Community Room, Cape Girardeau Public Library. Parents and principals are to be invited to attend.

New McKendree UMW

The New McKendree United Methodist Women met Tuesday in church fellowship hall. The meeting was opened by Mary Klaproth, president, leading members in the reciting of the UMW Purpose. The minutes of the November meeting were read by Gale King, secretary, and approved. The treasurer's report was given by Marilyn Fronabarger and approved.

Betty Henry moved that the proceeds from the turkey and dressing dinner that was held recently be given to World Service Apportionments. It was seconded by Julie Combs and the motion carried.

Edith Eggers, secretary of program resources, announced that there were several new books in the church library.

Pat Lynn, spiritual growth chairperson, spoke to congratulate Lucy Kunz, Amy Williamson and their school prayer group on their project of making and selling bracelets to make money to aid Haitian children.

Klaproth announced that she was going to the Legislative Day Event on March 2 and 3 in Jefferson City, Mo. Elwanda Corbin, Sue Jones, Shirley Patterson and Combs will be attending the event with also. The unit approved travel expenses for the trip.

Klaproth reported that members of the unit have made prayer shawls and baby blankets. The blankets and shawls will be taken to St. Louis at the Quadrennial United Methodist meeting to be given to the Methodist General Board of Global Ministries for distribution to the needy. The unit approved paying postage for mailing the shawls and blankets from St. Louis, if necessary.

Wilma Wilcoxon gave a report on the meal served following the memorial service for Lisa Crites Stricker. Wilma Summers, Naomi Hartle, Eula Limbaugh, Laura Jo Smith and Wilcoxon each baked cakes for the meal.

June Engel reported on plans to serve a chicken and dumpling dinner to make money for Haitian relief. It will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 14. Amy Cook moved that the unit prepare the meal and that the money be routed through the United Methodist Relief fund, Smith seconded the motion and it passed. The meal will be open to the public and the price will be $7 for adults, $4 for children ages 6 to 12 and children 5 and under are free.

Wilcoxson moved that the unit pay for flowers on the altar on United Methodist Women's Sunday, seconded by Summers. The motion passed. The unit will also sponsor the radio broadcast for that day.

The Spring District meeting will be on March 20 at the New Salem United Methodist Church in Daisy, Mo. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. Reservations must be in by March 13. The church van is reserved for all who need a ride.

The United Methodist men will have a fish fry on Feb. 20. UMW members will furnish cakes.

The president announced that the UMW Spring Fling Tea will be at 2 p.m. on April 17. Jean Seers will be the featured speaker.

The Wesleyan Circle won the attendance ribbon for having the highest percentage of their members present.

Henry moved that the March UMW monthly meeting be rescheduled for March 9. This was seconded by Elwanda Corbin and the motion passed.

Pat Lynn gave a program on Spiritual Growth.

The meeting closed with a reading from the Prayer Calendar and by singing the Table Prayer. Stone soup was served for lunch.

-- From staff reports