Club news 4/25/07

Arnsberg 4-H

The Arnsberg 4-H Club met April 12 at Trinity Lutheran Church hall in Friedheim. Eighteen members, six leaders and a guest were present. Ethan Seyer, president, presided over the meeting. Michaela Oehl and Kelly Hahs led the songs, and Hunter Seyer led the pledges.

The club banner and 60-year club T-shirts were discussed. It was announced that local achievement will be at 1 p.m. June 24.

The following project meetings were held: Dustin Oehl had computers, poultry and goat meetings; Michaela Oehl had a computer meeting; Jake and Madison LeGrand had a self-determined meeting; Ethan Seyer, Hunter Seyer, Kyle Rohde, Dustin Oehl, Amanda Lappe and Chelsea Seyer went to the 4-H Livestock Judging Workshop in Columbia, Mo.; Tyler Lappe went to the 4-H Livestock Judging Contest in Columbia; Ethan Seyer, Hunter Seyer, Kyle Rohde, Cody Hahs, Amanda Lappe and Chelsea Seyer went to 4-H Livestock Judging at Flickerwood Arena; Tyler Lappe, Dustin Oehl and Chelsa Seyer went to County Meat Identification Contest at Fruitland Dressed Meat; and Tyler Lape, Dustin Oehl, Ethan Seyer and Chelsea Seyer had meat identification meetings.

140th National Guard

Members of the 140th National Guard planning committee met April 11 at Delmonico's restaurant. Red Clifton, president, presided over the meeting. Catherine Allison, secretary, read the minutes, and John Lorberg, treasurer, gave the treasury report. Dub Suedekum made a motion to the approve these reports, and Bill Blaylock seconded the motion.

The reunion held in March was reported to be one of the best. Clifton has seven names to be put on the deceased list.

Suedekum reported the memorial history plaque is the next priority for the committee. He will check with the park board to see what is allowed. He will request Don Koehler's help in getting the concrete pedestal under the memorial covered with something appropriate, and Liley's Monument Company will be asked to suggest something.

Blaylock reported on the granite benches he has been working on to donate to VFW Post 3838. He had the one given in the name of 140th National Guard Headquarters Company finished and installed. He lacks one name to finish service company and is starting the two benches to donate to Cape Gir-ardeau County Park North by the military flag and memorials. These will be names of any 140th National Guard members who want to donate $100 in honor and memory of any family member to put on the bench. Clifton said he has four names for a bench for Company E of Jackson to install at the Jackson City Park.

Election of officers was held. They are: Clifton, president; Leon Dickerson, vice president; John Long, treasurer; Blaylock, secretary; and Allison, historian.

The next board meeting will be June 12.

Cape Girardeau Lions Club

The Cape Girardeau Evening Lions Club met April 17 with Brad Baker, CEO of Mid-South Lions Sight and Hearing Service, as guest speaker. Mid-South has treated indigent patients from Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri and western Kentucky in an effort to preserve and restore their sight and hearing. They have examined and treated thousands of patients at no charge.

Another guest was district governor-elect Willard Haynes. He talked about the possible redistricting of the Missouri clubs, which will be decided by delegates voting at the state convention in St. Charles, Mo.

Oak Ridge FCE

The Oak Ridge Homemakers FCE met April 17 at the Elks Lodge in Jackson. Eight members were present.

The recent All Clubs Day in conjunction with the county commission meeting was discussed.

Items of interest were the annual conference Sept. 19 through 21 in Sedalia, Mo. In the future, the conference will be held at different state sites.

Booths for the SEMO District Fair will have no competition and awards will be given to each club participating.

The Food Pantry donation of the club for last month was announced as being heartily accepted.

Four members served refreshments for the Jackson Manor birthday party April 1. Two members assisted with bingo at the Missouri Veterans Home last month.

The club's reading buddies are functioning well with members exchanging books and magazines and recommending articles of interest.

The district spring meeting will be held in Doniphan, Mo., with Jean Rehak, Nelda Crader and Marilyn Retherford attending. National Day of the Family will be observed by the club by purchasing and presenting a book to Riverside Regional Library.

Next month the meeting will include making plans for the international meal to be held in the home of Carole Jo Byrd in June.

The Oak Ridge club received third place for 2006 club work and the preparation of a yearbook describing accomplishments by club members. Members were told that the Green Bear Organization had received their grant and were again in operation. This group works with the SEMO NASV.

VFW Post 3838 Auxiliary

VFW Post 3838 Auxiliary met April 12 with Cheila Allen, president, presiding. Twenty-one members were in attendance.

New members were presented: Diane Holzum, Stephanie Cobb and Carol Smith. Transfer members from the canceled Charleston, Mo., auxiliary are Karen Davidson, Erin Staples, Alberta Wilmuth, Donna Grissom, Tina Borders, Betty Brown, Barbara Norman, Pansy Phillips, Teri Wilmuth, Marilyn Baker, Mary C. David, Ovaline Davis and Joyce Wailly.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The treasurer's report was given.

Communications included department general orders No. 8, a copy of a letter from Allen to the Post commander, a letter of thanks from Saxony Lutheran High School for a donation, a letter from the VFW Foundation, a letter from district membership chairwoman Glenneta Vogelsang, notes of thanks from Henst and Harold Meyr families, a letter of request for assistance from Notre Dame Project Prom and a letter from the ALS in the Military asking for participation in their walk May 5.

Committee reports were given including the chaplain's report, veterans and family support, Americanism and Buddy Poppy.

• Cancer report: Members are to bring bottles of anything for the blind drawing (wine, ketchup, shampoo, etc.) at the department convention. Raffle or sale items will be needed for the department cancer booth. Booklets of information on various cancers were displayed for the members to take home.
• Hospital report: Brenda Turner, chairwoman, thanked those who have been helping with bingo. The next bingo will be Saturday and help will be needed. Also, there are some unscrupulous home care agencies who are offering plans for home health care for veterans that are costly and illegal. Rep. JoAnn Emerson's office has had complaints on this. Members should be careful and understand fully any program presented on this subject.

The state is offering a certificate and medallion for Vietnam veterans. Forms are available. A Missouri license plate is now available to those who have lost a loved one in war.

In a recent report, more than 93 percent of PAC-endorsed candidates voted favorably on veterans issues.

The organization needs 16 more for 100 percent. The transfer the group took in will not count toward this year's quota. Help is needed to contact those members who have not paid for 2007 and to recruit new members.

An Easter egg hunt was held with 25 in attendance.

Many compliments were received on the bowling banquet served April 10. The aerobic classes are successful and all are invited to participate. Classes are at 4 and 7 p.m. Mondays at the post. A list of delegates for the district convention has been prepared.

An audit report was given by Judy Thrower. A motion was made and seconded to accept this report.

Officers were elected for 2007-2008. They are: Allen, president; Judy Biester, senior vice president; Wanda Blankenship, junior vice president; Deborah Griffin, treasurer; Carolyn Moore, chaplain; Retha Popp, conductress; Carolyn Burton, guard; and Sandy Goodheart, three-year trustee.

A motion was made by Griffin to donate $25 each to MAP and UnMet needs program. It was seconded, and the motion carried. Vogelsang made a motion to donate $150 to Pennies from Heaven cancer program. It was seconded, and the motion carried. Thrower made a motion to join Joint Veterans Council and pay the $60 fee. It was seconded, and the motion carried.

The group is allowed to send 22 delegates and 22 alternates to the department convention in addition to those who have their own vote.

Thrower gave the trustee report and reported that the bills are in order and moved they be paid. This was seconded, and the motion carried.

Griffin and Allen reported on the visit with the national president in Kansas City, Mo. Vogelsang reported on the Mid-Year National Conference in San Francisco, which she and Griffin attended.

Refreshments for the May 10 meeting will be a covered dish with the auxiliary furnishing the meat. This meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

Town & Country FCE

The Town & Country FCE Club met Thursday at the home of Carolyn Thompson with nine members present. President Mary Klaproth presided.

Thank-you notes were read from Safehouse for Women, Dan and Sue Jones, and the MFCE. A special thank you was given from Klaproth to all members for a wonderful year in 2006 and for receiving the FCE Club of the Year award at All Clubs Day. Special recognition certificates were given to each member.

Information was given on the March 26 visit to Cottonwood Treatment Center. Easter bags were delivered and the Easter Bunny made a visit.

The club also delivered bingo prizes to the Lutheran Home on April 4.

Discussions were also had on the following: FCE scholarship program; SEMO District Fair booth with Darlene McCain as chairwoman; party for Parkview State School and a grant for playground equipment for the school; Day of the Family to be held May 15 for which Lois Seabaugh will deliver Golden Books to the newborns at Southeast Missouri Hospital; food items for the Food Pantry in May; and the national meeting to be held Aug. 10 through 12 in Omaha, Neb.

Lois Seabaugh gave the program on family choice media.

Linda Thompson passed out recipes for the international dinner, which will be held at 6:30 p.m. May 10 at the home of Sue Jones. Linda Thompson, Klaproth and Carolyn Thompson will give the program on Finland. This will be the monthly meeting.

American Legion Post 158

The Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158 met March 13 with Dick Decker, commander, presiding. The minutes of the meeting were approved as written.

Larry Koehler gave the financial report. P.M. Kurre reported that there are 617 members with 64 have not yet paid.

A big thank you was given to the Ladies Auxiliary for all the hard work they put into cleaning and painting the hall.

Byron Fluegge gave the trustee's report. The estimate on the blinds for the dining area is being looked into. Fluegge made a motion to give $11,000 to remodel the bathrooms to make them handicapped accessibility and getting new fixtures. The motion was seconded and passed. This was the first vote.

Bill Poe mentioned that Homecomers will be July 24 through 28.

Jim Nelson reported on contributions of the memorial scholarship fund: In memory of Terry Reedy by Wanda Abbott and family and the post club room; in memory of Ron Obermann by Ella Mae Hoeller; in memory of Burton and Paul Short, Albert Bertling, Rusby Adams by Norman Short.

Keith Seabaugh reported on visitation. Also, the district meeting will be held May 20 at post 158.

David Ludwig talked about the interview of the boys state individuals. He made a motion to give three seniors $400 each for scholarships. The motion was seconded and passed.

Virgil Whitner gave the house report, and Bill Sullivan gave the club room report. Leonard Adams gave the dance report.

Kenny Koehler gave the financial report of the baseball teams. He made a motion to sponsor and give $6,660 to the three baseball teams. The motion was seconded and passed. This was the second vote.

Decker announced that the department summer convention will be held July 2 through 15 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City, Mo. Housing request needs to be in by June 11. The cost for a hotel room is $68 plus tax per night.

-- From staff reports