Club news 4-17-16

Cape Girardeau County FCE

The Cape Girardeau County FCE All Clubs Day was held on March 28 at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Jackson. Hostesses for the meeting were the members of the Oak Ridge Homemakers Club. Decorations followed the spring theme.

The meeting was called to order by Barbara Barks, president of the Cape County FCE club. The devotion on sowing and harvesting seeds was given by Judie Herbst of the Kage FCE Club. Pledges to the United States and Missouri State flags were led by Herbst. Mary Klaproth, recording secretary, conducted the roll call. The following numbers show the number for each club: Cheerful Country Doers, three; Kage, 10; Lamplighters, two; Oak Ridge Homemakers, nine members and two guests; Town and Country, nine; Members-at-large, two; FCE Consultant Mary Gosche, one; and five guests from the essay contest. Total in attendance was 43. Minutes of the previous meeting were read by Klaproth and the treasurer's report was given by Jean Rehak. Both were approved.

The president called members' attention to upcoming events, particularly encouraging members to attend the next district meeting at Doniphan, Missouri, on April 21. Klaproth announced that Cape County FCE members were sending 5,050 dolls to senators, representatives and other dignitaries in Jefferson City, Missouri, with Klaproth and Barks on April 6, which was Child Advocacy Day. The 2015 winner of the scholarship, Josh Walther from Fruitland, thanked the group for his scholarship. He will graduate from Southeast Missouri State University in December.

Darlene McClain introduced Tracey Tripp, a registered dietitian who works with Aging Matters, who spoke on a "Diabetic Empowerment Education Program." She gave many tips on meal management for the diabetic.

The council's local essay winner, Lily Huff, read her winning essay on "Fairness." She also placed first in the district and now goes to state. The third-place winner, Linda Davis, also read her essay.

A buffet lunch was served. The afternoon session began with a discussion of whether or not the council should pay guest speakers $25 that we pay to volunteers if they are also being paid by the organization they work for. A motion was made by Agnes Wachter and seconded by Rehak that speakers who are not being compensated be given the honorarium, and we could use the rest for materials for weighted blankets. Motion carried.

McClain introduced the afternoon speaker, Kelly Pujol, from the Easter Seal Center, who gave an extremely interesting program on how music can be used with the autistic child. She expressed her gratitude for the blankets we have given to the Easter Seals. She said the "pressured" weight of the blanket seemed to have a calming effect on the children.

Herbst presented pins based on the number of years of membership. These included Dorothy Lichtenegger, 60; Verla Mangels, 55; Billie Criddle, 50; Barbara Schaffner, 45; Melva Floyd, 40; Marilyn Retherford, 20; Nelda Crader, 15; Sarah Ross, five; and the Kage club, 70.

Gosche presented a slideshow as a review of activities of different clubs during 2015. After reciting the Club Collect, door prizes were awarded and the meeting was adjourned.