Club news 3-9-14

Xi Nu Phi

Members of Xi Nu Phi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met Feb. 18 at the home of Tammy Hahs. Kathy Kiefner, vice president, conducted the meeting.

A thank-you note was received from Hahs. Scrapbook items were turned in to Sandy Ross. A discussion was held about the state convention to be held in Cape Girardeau in 2015.

It was announced that the chapter Valentine queen this year is Hahs. She was crowned by Ross.

The program was presented by Hahs on "Peter Pan."

Members from the chapter participated in Share Night at Culver's Restaurant Feb. 25. Members helped with serving food and clean up. Culver's will donate a percentage of the proceeds to the Amen Center in Delta.

The 2012-2013 scrapbook was presented to Renee Hesselrode, president.

The chapter will help at the Special Olympics event April 12. Cindy Propst will get more information.

The chapter will help serve a "whacky dinner" for the Lambda Omicron chapter Saturday at the home of Susan Benton.

The program was presented by Sue Harris about jelly bellies.

The next meeting will be hosted by Ross March 18, and election of officers will be held.

Grace United Methodist Women

Grace United Methodist Women met March 1 with 13 members present. Barb Miller, president, called the meeting to order which began with Mary Ann Pensel giving the prayer concerns for the month.

Focus for the monthy is The Peace Valley Center in the Philippines, the Good Neighbor Settlement in Brownsville, Texas, and a women's group in Palestine which uses solar hydration processing herbs to sell which gives women opportunities. All are sponsored by UMW.

The minutes were read and approved. Correspondence from Epworth and FISH, thanking the group for Christmas contributions, was read. Jean Wetzel presented the treasurer's report. Circle chair report was given by Crystal Laiben of the Devout Daisies group. She reported they were unable to do the gift wrapping fundraiser at Barnes and Noble in December because of weather conditions. However, they have some new ideas in the making.

The New Year salad luncheon, which was originally the Christmas salad luncheon, was discussed. Everyone felt that it was a success with 30 in attendance.

Special memberships were presented to Meredith Pobst by Margaret Zieba and Marge Hildebrand by Pat Scheel. Brenda Neumeyer from Zion United Methodist Church, who is our shepherdess, did the installation of officers. Mary Jane Statler presented a memorial service for the nine members who had died and Helen Ueleke recognized six new members. Entertainment was then presented by Meredith and Justin Pobst. Discussion centered on doing the same thing in December or trying something different. Brunch was suggested and following a discussion, Probst moved the club do brunch, seconded by Zieba.

Green pledges will be distributed in April.

Casserole making and selling continues to go well. Zieba asked the group if UMW would pay to have the stove professionally cleaned. Probst moved that it be done.

A new project, the Alliance Stamp Ministry, was presented by Miller. This involves saving used stamps which is a money-making project that provides Sunday school literature for children in Central and South America. The project was approved by a motion.

Miller told of a new four session study called "The Power of a Whisper/Hearing God -- Having the Guts to Respond." It was decided to make this a church wide study. Since this falls under Adelaide Parsons committee, she will be responsible for selecting times and presenting it to the church.

The Southeast District spring meeting will be March 29 in Hayti, Mo.

As had been previously discussed, it was voted to give the secretary an additional gift of $50 for her work in printing the program books. Pensel moved to do this and Zieba seconded it.

Following the meeting Pensel gave a very inspiring program for Prayer and Self Denial Day. The motto is Sound Foundations -- Sound Missions, with the emphasis on building properties for UMW work and deaconesses pensions. She incorporated an activity involving friendship and how UMW provides faith, hope, and love in many communities. Two she brought to our attention was the Friendly Center in Toledo, Ohio, and MaDonnell Center in Houma, La.

Following the program a simple soup luncheon was provided by the Devout Daisies.

-- From staff reports