Club news 3/28/07

VFW Post Ladies Auxiliary

The Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 3838 met March 8 for their monthly meeting.

Committee reports were given including the chaplain's report, Americanism, Buddy Poppy and community activities.

Other reports given were:

Hospital -- Brenda Turner, chairwoman, thanked those who have been helping with bingo.

Legislative -- U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and U.S. Sens .Claire McCaskill and Kit Bond support clearing up the problems at Walter Reed hospital and other facilities. It was suggested that a note of thanks be sent for their support. Also, it was asked to contact Missouri legislators to support a bill calling for 1/8-cent sales tax, with the revenue going to Missouri veterans homes.

Membership -- The auxiliary is at 96 percent, and help is needed to contact those who have not paid 2007 dues and to recruit new members.

The auxiliary is offering a low-impact aerobic class at 4 p.m. and a high-impact class at 7 p.m. every Monday. The class is free to members.

The district meeting will be April 15 at the post in Doniphan, Mo.

The year-end department reports meeting will be at 7 p.m. April 11 at the post. Refreshments for the April 12 meeting will be a covered dish with the Auxiliary furnishing the meat. The meeting will start at 7 p.m.

Young Americans 4-H

The Young Americans 4-H Club met March 15 at Grace United Methodist Church, with 19 members, 17 adults and a guest present. Clint Heuer presided over the meeting and Tricia Kirchdoerfer and Rebecca Ray led the pledges. Belinda Strack led a song, and Tori Schweer led the games. Taylor Bowers and Brittney Showmaker were welcomed into the club as new members.

The breads, cake decorating, crochet, horse bowl and horse judging project groups reported meetings. Prizes for club banner designs were given to Ian Cameron, Lydia Cameron, Claire Illers, Tyler Kirchdoerfer, Nathan Schneider, Zachary Schneider, Gary Schweer, Belinda Strack and Julia Weber. Tricia Kirchdoerfer reported on attending the 4-H Teen Conference.

For the program, Fred Brown discussed personal safety tips, Tricia Kirchdoerfer demonstrated how to make hot taco dip, and Hunter Rubel gave an illustrated talk on types of beef.

The April meeting will be the local achievement meeting. Before then, the club will have a food stand fund-raiser, and the horse judging project group will attend the state competition.

St. Mary CCW

The St. Mary Cathedral Council of Catholic Women met March 15 in the Monsignor Huels room with Diane Schaefer, president, presiding.

Hazel Blank, legislative commission chairwoman, distributed information on proposed amendments to the Missouri Constitution and a Web site for information on Missouri Health Net, which will replace Medicaid. An organization meeting was held at Cape Girardeau Public Library on global warming. She attended a workshop on community organization in West Plains, Mo., and the Church Women United World Day of Prayer.

Sister Lucille Zerr, SSND, community commission chairwoman, reported that students at Notre Dame Regional High School and St. Mary Cathedral School collected more than 800 items to fill her car for the Food Pantry.

Dolores Gibbar reported three bereavement dinners were served.

Final plans for the community garage/bake sale, which was held Saturday, were discussed.

A project board will made for display at the Spring Assembly to be held April 27 and 28 in Springfield, Mo. Information is available for those interested in attending the assembly.

All officers will continue to serve another term.

The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. April 19 in the Monsignor Huels room.

Cape County FCE

The Cape Girardeau County FCE first quarterly meeting was held March 1 at the Cape Girardeau County Extension Education Center in Jackson. Linda Sebaugh, president, presided at the meeting, and Shirley Cracraft presented the devotional.

Council members voted to cancel the blood drive this year. The group discussed countywide projects, and several suggestions were presented.

Mary Klaproth, chairwoman of the tour committee, gave a report on the planned tours of the year. They are: a trip to Springfield, Ill., June 22 and 23; the Muny Opera in St. Louis to see "Hello Dolly" July 10; and Draffenville, Ky., to see the Kentucky Opry Sept. 8.

JoAnn Hahs gave a report from the scholarship committee.

The spring district meeting will be April 26 at St. Benedict's Catholic Church in Doniphan, Mo. Cost for the lunch and registration is $10.

Oak Ridge FCE

The Oak Ridge Homemakers FCE met March 20 at the home of Billie Criddle. Jean Rehak, president, presided over the meeting. Lee Anderson gave a devotion. Eleven members were present.

Rehak told where members could send expired coupons to be used by service members.

Nelda Crader and Carole Jo Byrd gave a detailed report on the recent FCE Council meeting.

Members volunteering to attend and serve at the Jackson Manor birthday party will be Jackie Rutherford, Crader and Byrd. Betty Dellinger and Rehak will work bingo at the Missouri Veterans Home.

During new business, Ruby Hitt discussed the telephone credit that everyone could apply for from the Internal Revenue Service. Crader read and discussed the recent application she had made for the Heart of FCE Award.

Three members will attend the SEMO District FCE meeting April 26 in Doniphan, Mo.

Future tours were discussed and a new tour to the a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game was mentioned for May.

The club's project for the month was the food pantry in Jackson. Value of contributions brought to the meeting was $72. Crader volunteered to deliver the merchandise to the pantry.

Dellinger gave a program on Family Choice Media. She also distributed handouts.

Presbyterian Women

The Presbyterian Women of Jackson Presbyterian Church met for their regular quarterly meeting. The meeting was called to order by Shirley Hutton, moderator, by reading the meditation, "How Long Is a New Year?"

Eight members from the Esther-Hannah Circle and eight members of the Perdue-Lear Circle were present.

Copies of the minutes of the last meeting were distributed and approved as written. Molly Lowes gave the treasurer's report.

A motion was made by Jonell McNeely and seconded by Jean Kurre to send $200 to Presbyterian Children's Services in Farmington, Mo. The motion passed. It was specified that these funds are to be used for refurbishing rooms at the Farmington facility.

Alene Friese, search chairwoman, announced candidates for the election of officers to be held in May: Carolyn Thompson, moderator; Kurre, vice moderator; Ruth Tinnin, secretary; Jonell McNeely, Church Women United; Fran Reid, missions; Mona Hamilton, together in service; and Mary Belle Mackey, historian.

A motion was made by Mary Morton and seconded by Susan Venable to accept this slate of officers for the coming year. The motion passed.

McNeely, Church Women United representative, thanked those present who had helped with the recent World Day of Prayer at the church. An offering of $318 was taken to be given to the World Day of Prayer USA committee. The next board meeting will be April 13 at St. Mary Cathedral in Cape Girardeau. The May Fellowship Day will be May 4 at Maple United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau. The annual blood drive will be Marh 26, 28 and 29 at the Red Cross facility on Mount Auburn Road.

Reid, mission chairwoman, reported that the recent collection for Tools of Hope and Blanket Sunday brought in $676. The birthday offering will be taken in May.

Mona Hamilton, together in service chairwoman, reported that Safehouse for Women is in need of paper products. She asked that each member bring towels and toilet tissue to the next meeting in May. It will be decided how much money to contribute to the Safehouse at the May meeting.

Hamilton recommended the club contribute to the upcoming Medical Mission trip to Jamaica, which will include three members of the church. Morton made the motion to send $200 from the Unified budget to buy medical supplies to take with them. McNeely seconded the motion, and it was passed.

Thompson, travel coordinator, told of an upcoming trip to the River Heritage Museum in Cape Girardeau. She will let the group know when an appointment has been secured.

The Giddings/Lovejoy Presbytery Presbyterian Women spring gathering will be April 21 at First United Presbyterian Church in Belleville, Ill. Reservations are to be made by April 14.

The program for the morning consisted of a presentation by Kurre on "2006 Church History," which was prepared and summarized by Chris Pagano.

The next quarterly meeting will be May 18 at the church. New officers will be installed at that time. All officers, committees and circle chairs will be asked to give a summary of accomplishments from June through May.

After the meeting was closed, lunch was held at Delmonico's restaurant.

-- From staff reports