Club news 9-1-13

Church Women United

Church Women United held its annual Awareness Luncheon Aug. 23 at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson. There were 38 members and guests present.

Co-leader Shirley Patterson welcomed everyone, and opened with prayer. Dolly Jewel then introduced Dortha Strack, this year's Human Rights Award recipient. She has been active with 4-H for 50 years, youth gardening programs, Kage Homemakers Club for 60 years, many of which she served as president, Sunday school teacher at Grace United Methodist Church, as well as Sunday bell ringer for 32 years there, and involved with the community garden at Grace.

Dortha Strack, left, received the 2013 Human Rights Award for her outstanding service to the local community from Dolly Jewel at the recent Church Women United Awareness Luncheon held Aug. 23 at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson. (Submitted photo)

Every year CWU puts together various kits to be sent to the Festival of Sharing in Sedalia, Mo. Some of them will remain in Missouri and others will be stored for nationwide distribution when the need arises. This year the emphasis is on school kits, kits for the women's prisons in Vandalia and Chillicothe, Mo., and family food packs. There was prayer and a dedication of these kits.

Barb Miller introduced Carmen Shadron who spoke on the human trafficking situation in Missouri, as well as nationwide. She is very active in raising awareness and funds, especially for the International Crisis Aid, based in St. Louis, where a Heartland Safe House has been established for young victims. There are currently 23 girls living there. Funds are raised by selling bracelets made of beverage tabs.

Shirley Hollowell from the Amen Center was then introduced by Carolyn Downs. The Amen Center is located in the old Delta Grade School, and is there for those down on their luck and needing a place to stay. They hear the word of God, and work toward the goal of employment and structure in their lives. Members brought paper products for the center. Any and all donations are gratefully accepted.

Jewel then discussed the upcoming Quilt-R's Market to be held 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 28 at Centenary United Methodist Church. Quilters are reserving space to sell their UFOs, excess fabric, patterns, books, notions, etc. Lunch will be served, and there will be a bake sale. It is the same weekend as the Quilt Tour 2013 in Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

Jonell McNeely provided music and prayer as a freewill offering was accepted for the CWU annual scholarship fund.

Lamplighters FCE

Lamplighters FCE members held the August meeting at the home of Jo Ann Hahs with 11 members in attendance. President Jackie Kurre conducted the meeting. "Charles Schulz's Philosophy" and "Plain Old Oyster" were the devotional thoughts given by the hostess.

Reports were given about the "Apron Ladies" leading the pledges at the Oak Ridge PTO meeting and the work done on the weighted autism items at the last meeting. It was also brought to the club's attention that pictures from the past year are needed by Friday for the county's tri-fold being made for the Missouri Association for Family and Community Education (MAFCE) meeting to be held Sept.18 to 20 at Capital Plaza in Jefferson City.

Membership forms for 2014 were completed and dues were paid. Karen McLane, Sharon Bogenpohl, and Bev Meyer were appointed to have a slate of officers by the next meeting. Verla Mangels will have the devotional for the quarterly council meeting to be held Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. at the University of Missouri Extension Center in Jackson. The international meal committee, Roberta Allen, Karen Eakers, Kurre, and Bogenpohl, were reminded of the upcoming October international meal. Mangels and Hahs were appointed to plan a club activity for FCE week in October.

Two programs were presented: the first on autism and its signs, diagnosis, treatments, facts, and help for parents and siblings was given by Hahs, and Allen gave interesting information about disposal of medicines and chemicals in a program entitled "Don't Just Throw It Away."

The next meeting will be Sept. 19 at the home of Teresa Hinkebein. Kurre will give the program on the "New Health Plan."

Oak Ridge Homemakers FCE Club met with Jamie Jones, parent liaison, from Jefferson Elementary School in Cape Girardeau on Aug. 27, for a special project and took items the school needed. Those attending the presentation were, from left, Betty Dellinger, Peggy Barks, Jamie Jones, Lee Anderson and Barbara Barks. (Submitted photo)

-- From staff reports