Club news 3/15/06

Alpha Mu Master

The Alpha Mu Master Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met at the home of Marsha Parrish. Margaret Little, president, presided over the meeting.

Members brought items for Project Hope, the chapter's monthly service project.

A report was presented by members that attended the all-chapter Valentine dinner and dance held at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Jackson Feb. 10.

Information was received for the 2006 Beta Sigma Phi Missouri State Convention to be held at the University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center in Springfield, Mo., Oct. 6 through 8. The theme will be "Get your kicks on Route 66." Several members of the chapter will attend.

March functions were discussed.The Spring Dance presentation at Southeast Missouri State University and a production of the Fox Theater in St. Louis were considerated.

Ruth Moreland and Parrish presented the program "The Lord's Prayer and the Beatitudes."

The pledge ritual was conducted for new member Dixie Jones.

The next meeting will be at the home of Mary Schwab.

American Legion Post 158

The Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158 met Feb. 14 with John Hopkins, second vice commander, presiding. The Rev. R.L. Robinson was introduced as a new member by transfer from the Chaffee VFW. Norman Trucker, a member of Post 158 who had not attended a meeting in several years, was also introduced.

David Hitt, director of the county emergency management office, gave a program on emergency preparedness.

Richard Aguilar gave the financial report and P.M. Kurre reported membership at 622 with 53 members not paid for 2006.

Bill Poe announced that Homecomers will be the last week in July. He also announced that the American Legion birthday banquet will be held Thursday and made a motion that $500 be appropriated for this purpose. The motion was seconded and passed. He then followed the motion with another motion that $350 be provided for the banquet hospitality room. This motion was also seconded and passed.

Jack Latimer announced the following donations to the Post: Joy Friedrich donated a bedside commode and wheel chair; Ester Schaefer family donated two walkers; and Eugene Wilson donated a bedside commode. Also, Jim Nelson reported on contributions made to the memorial scholarship fund. They were from Marjorie Grindstaff, Harlan and Dorothy Siebert, Evelyn M. Moore and Jim and Evelyn Nelson in memory of Verna Lee Nitsch; from Don and Judy Starzinger in memory of George Schweer; from Harold and Betty Landgraf in memory of Gene Cunningham; and from Mary O'Laughlin and Jim and Evelyn Nelson in memory of Tom O'Laughlin.

Mike Strack reported flags were provided to several locations. Keith Seabaugh reported on visitations and sympathy cards sent to families of members who died in the past year.

David Ludwig discussed meeting with the school for the music student of the month awards. Dick Decker gave the baseball report for Ken Koehler and he made a motion to provide $4,440 for this year's baseball teams. The motion was seconded and passed.

Strack made a motion for the second vote to use $20,000 to buy neighborning property and an additional $1,000 for first right of refusal plus legal fees. The motion was seconded and passed.

Aguilar made a motion for a second vote to continue to provide $100 each month to the USO at St. Louis' Lambert Field for another year. This motion was also seconded and passed.

-- From staff reports

Lamplighters FCE

The Lamplighters FCE Club met Feb. 18 at Oak Ridge Baptist Church fellowship hall for a Valentine celebration. Husbands were invited to the event. Linda Freeman, Bev Meyer and JoAnn Hahs decorated the hall for the event.

Hahs, president, presided. After a potluck supper, activities featured the "Woman to woman" theme of the year. A guest, Margaret Friese, gave a massage to all members who requested one.

Terry and Bev Meyer were crowned king and queen.

The bylaws were voted on and accepted. Another batch of "clothes protectors" was donated to the Missouri Veteran's Home on Feb. 14 and old-time tunes were sung for the residents.

The next meeting will be Thursday.

Oak Ridge FCE

The Oak Ridge FCE Club met at the Elks' Lodge lower meeting room for the February meeting. Betty Dellinger was hostess. Marilyn Retherford lead the singing and games.

Retherford reported the winners of the Cape Girardeau County Art and Essay Contest were from Cape Girardeau schools, St. Mary Cathedral School and St. Vincent de Paul School. Their work will be forwarded to the SEMO District Contest.

Nelda Crader, Jean Rehak, Billie Criddle, Lee Anderson and Dellinger will be attending the FCE leader training for Cape Girardeau County FCE Clubs on Monday.

Members who will receive membership pins at the All Clubs Day on March 27 will be Retherford for 10 years; Criddle for 40 years and Ruby Hitt for 55 years.

Jackson Manor birthday party volunteers for March are Jackie Rutherford, Byrd, and Criddle.

A flag protocol and etiquette program was given.

Xi Nu Phi

The Xi Nu Phi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met on March 7 at the home of Debbie Balsano. She gave a program on cake decorating.

An upcoming trip to the flea market in Nashville, Tenn., on March 24 through 26 was discussed.

A scrapbook displaying 2004-2005 chapter activities was presented to Balsano, past president.

The next meeting will be March 21 at the home of Sheryl Smith.

Town & Country FCE

The Town & Country FCE Club met March 9 at the home of Doris Wilkinson. Mary Klaproth, vice president, presided over the business meeting.

Plans were finalized to deliver bingo prizes to the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau on March 20. Members were reminded of leader training sessions to be held on March 20 at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Jackson.

The "Tune Out Violence" campaign was discussed and members were asked to turn in their pledge sheets along with their quilt ticket money by March 27.

Linda Thompson received notification that Town & Country FCE has been nominated as the United Way Volunteer Group of the Year for their volunteer work with Cottonwood Treatment Center. The club is invited to a luncheon to be held april 20.

Klaproth reported she has completed and mailed the Cape Girardeau County FCE International and Public Policy Reports to the state chairpersons.

Darlene McCain and Klaproth gave highlights of the recent County FCE Council Meeting held on March 2. It was announced that All Clubs Day will be on March 27 with registration at 9:30 a.m. and the meeting starting at 10 a.m.

The Southeast District FCE Meeting will be held April 27 with registration deadline on April 17. Cape Girardeau County FCE Clubs will host the event which will be held at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Jackson.

McCain brought up the Relay for Life campaign to be held on April 28 and 29. The club has made tentative plans to donate money to light several luminaries. Members also discussed plans for Cottonwood Treatment Center for Easter.

Members brought items for the Jackson Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry. Club out will be at 6:30 p.m. on March 23 at Olive Garden in Cape Girardeau.

The next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on March 30 at the home of Sue Jones. It will be the international dinner and program on Switzerland.

New McKendree UMW

The United Methodist Women of New McKendree United Methodist Church met on March 7 with Marilyn Fronabarger presiding. Shirley Patterson, a member of Wesleyan Circle, introduced the speaker for the program, Joyce McIntosh. She is school nurse Orchard Elementary School in the Jackson R-2 School District.

Various chairpersons gave reports including Patterson who had just returned from the Legislative Event in Jefferson City, Mo. She also announced that she will be attending the Quadrennial Assembly in Anaheim, Calif., on May 6 through 9.

Jan Burk volunteered to deliver personal items that were donated for the March mission collection to the Women's Safe House in Cape Girardeau.

Angie Dunlap announced the formation of a new circle, Joy.net. 16 women have expressed interest in joining this circle and will correspond with each other via e-mail and occasionally get together for special events and fellowship.

Fronabarger announced the UMW Spring District meeting will be held March 25 at Perryville United Methodist Church. The deadline for reservations is Saturday. Anyone interested in attending should contact Tandy Wendel.

The next meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. on April 4 in the fellowship hall. The mission collection for April will be for the SEMO Alliance Against Violence.

Sedgewickville UMW

The Sedgewickville United Methodist Women met March 8. The meeting began with the distribution of the agenda, Southeast District UMW Calendar, secret pal and senior pal information sheets. Pete Shrum presided over the meeting. The minutes and treasurer's reports were read and approved. It was reported that the $200 donated by the UMW to the Food Pantry was used to purchase cans of fruit. It was reported that the Valentine's Day supper was held on Feb. 11 and a successful pancake supper was held on March 4.

Dates to remember are: Southeast District Spring UMW Meeting on March 25 in Perryville; a "Passion of the Christ" movie will be shown in the church fellowship hall for church and community at 3 p.m. on April 2; Maundy Thursday church service at Crossroads on April 13; Good Friday church services at Sedgewickville at 7 p.m. on April 14; and Easter Sunrise services on April 16 at Sedgewickville UMC.

Under unfinished business, two bids were received for the concrete for the basketball court, one each from Wayne Kiefner and Adam Hahs. Bids were given to the committee for review and to make a recommendation back to the UMW. New tables and chairs purchased by the UMW have been used and work good. The fellowship hall shutters have been purchased and a painted sign is being worked on by Kelly Crites and Sarah Stewart to decorate the fellowship hall.

Under new business, the chicken & dumpling and ham dinner was discussed. A day of May 6 was proposed and will be confirmed on the church calendar. The UMW rummage sale will be held April 29. It is open to the community and will coincide with a church work day.

The UMW then discussed the breakfast to be held after the Easter Sunrise service on April 16. A request from the Meadow Heights Alumni Banquet group for a donation for the school's library was discussed with a decision to donate $25.

Seven to eight members have indicated they will attend the District Meeting in Perryville.

Mary Lou Conrad shared information from the book, "The treasury of Easter celebrations."

The next meeting and Agape Meal will be held April 12.

-- From staff reports