Club news 4/2/03

Editor's note: Please submit your club news information either typed or printed. It is sometimes very difficult to make out people's names. Please use members' first and last names instead of formal titles. For instance, Jane Smith, not Mrs. John Smith. Thank you.

Lamplighters FCE

The Lamplighters FCE met March 20 at the home of Gayla Volz. A devotional was given by Verla Mangels.

The by-laws were read by president Linda Sebaugh, and were accepted as read.

A letter from the Country Women's Council thanked the club for a donation for a tap stand in Cameroon. A report was given on the district council meeting.

Mangels gave a program on homeland security. Tips on safety and survival were shared on natural and other types of disasters.

JoAnn Hahs gave a program on the benefits of volunteerism to the community as well as to the volunteer.

Alpha Mu Master

The Alpha Mu Master Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met at the home of Carol Calvin on March 24.

Thank you notes were read from Calvin and Cape Girardeau Firefighters No. 1084. The social committee announced the chapter progressive dinner will be held June 22. It was announced that the Founders Day Banquet will be held April 24 at Centenary United Methodist Church Family Life Center beginning at 5:30 p.m. A vote was taken for woman of the year, which will be announced at the Founders Day Banquet.

The following officers were elected: Marsha Parrish, president; Judie Herbst, vice president; Mary Schwab, recording secretary; Marilyn Schwab, corresponding secretary; Bernie Gardner, treasurer; Calvin, extension officer; and Joyce Hays, city council representative.

Calvin presented several readings on grandmothers, using both the Internet and the book, "Too Wise to Want to Be Young Again."

The next meeting will be at the home of Vicki McKinney at 6:30 p.m. on April 14.

St. Mary CCW

The St. Mary Council of Catholic Women met March 20 in St. Mary School cafeteria.

President Judy Stricker welcomed five new members: C.C. Boos, Barb Beel, Susan Essner, Mary Millering, and Mary Buxton.

Gabriela Kuntz presented the program on her native country of Peru. A short film on Machu Picchu was viewed. She provided a native drink made from purple corn and had several Peruvian recipes for those interested.

The January, May, July and September circles will conduct a bake sale Tuesday. White elephant items will also be available.

Hand towels and wash cloths were collected for the health kits. Individual items or the entire kit can be donated.

Family Commission reported that the Cemetery for the Innocents is being moved south from its present location.

The next meeting will be April 10 in Maria Haus.

Frutiland 4-H

The March meeting of the Fruitland 4-H Club was held March 4 at the VIP building in Fruitland. Matt Bollinger presided over the meeting and Dustin Estes gave the treasurer's report. There were 19 members present with one leader and 20 parents and other guests present.

Jordan McCollum of KFVS-TV gave the group an informative presentation about different types of weather and answered questions from the members.

The Relay for Life was discussed once again and the group is coming closer to deciding a theme for this year. In addition to this, the group also decided to donate $25 to the organization "Kids Helping Kids."

The meeting was wrapped up with a leprechaun game.

Exchange Club

The Exchange Club of Cape Girardeau met March 18 at Port Cape Girardeau.

Larry Simon introduced Chris Burgoyne and Quentin DeCota as the program for the evening. Burgoyne told of the Knights Templar in Jerusalem. The Knights donate to the Ronald McDonald House. DeCota told of the need for children's books by various churches as well as Boys and Girls Clubs. Anyone can donate books to the different churches and books also can be dropped off at the Lighting Center on North Kingshighway.

The Day in the Park program is scheduled for April 19.

FCE All Clubs Day

Cape Girardeau County Family and Community Education All Clubs Day was held March 24 at the Extension Education Center in Jackson. Town and Country FCE hosted the meeting by providing nametags, registration, refreshments and decorations. 43 members and six visitors were present.

President Ruth Pohlmann presided at the morning session. Marjorie Reisenbichler gave the devotion titled "In Times Like This." It was announced that three auction gifts and centerpieces will be donated for the Spring Southeast Missouri District Meeting in Poplar Bluff on May 2.

Mary Klaproth reported that the "Tune Out Violence" campaign was a success. Signatures to tune out violence on television Saturday were collected March 21 at Wal-Mart stores and Save-A-Lot. Individual members will continue to seek signatures until the Saturday deadline. These signatures are sent to influence Congress and the television networks to reduce violence on television. Individuals are encouraged to make a conscious effort to avoid watching or listening to violent television, music, video games or radio programming Saturday.

A tour to The Muny in St. Louis to see "South Pacific" is planned for Aug. 5; a tour to Ozark Folk Center in Mount View, Ark., on July 11 and 12; a tour of Alton, Ill., to the Lewis and Clark Museum and a 3 1/2 hour boat ride on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers is planned for Oct. 18. The Christmas tour to Branson, Mo., is scheduled for Nov. 14 through 16.

The morning program was "Health Care Directives and Durable Power of Attorney" by Lew Polivick, deputy director of Legal Services of Southeast Missouri, Inc. He spoke on estate planning, living trusts, wills and the need for durable power of attorney.

Two hundred and fifty essays titled "What a Family Means to Me," a contest for fourth-grade students, were received and the winner was Taylor Thompson of Cape Girardeau. He was introduced by Marilyn Retherford and read his essay.

June Engel, a cook at New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson, catered the luncheon.

The afternoon program was conducted by Nelda Crader, president elect of Cape County FCE. The Pledge of Allegiance was given and the club collect was recited. Shirley Cracraft introduced the afternoon speaker, Carol Reimann, alias Mrs. Sparkles, an educator who taught school in the Cape Girardeau Public Schools for 33 years and was Missouri Teacher of the Year in 1998. She spoke on "Dream Your Dreams."

Membership recognition and pins were presented by Jeannie Rehak and Gayla Volz. Ten-year pins went to Shirley Cracraft and Margaret Pfeiffer; 20-year pin went to Inez Statler; 25-year pin went to Nelda Starzinger; 30-year pins went to Karen McLane and Lois Seabaugh; 35-year pins went to Jobyna Daume, Sue Jones, Mary Klaproth, Darlene McCain, Margie W. Reisenbichler, June Landgraf, Jeanette Wichern and Margie E. Reisenbichler; 40-year pin went to Mary Lou Talley; 45-year pin went to Marjorie Swan; and 50-year pins went to Dortha Strack and Carole Jo Byrd.

Mary Gosche, human development specialist, announced the Club of the Year awards. 1st place went to Kage FCE; 2nd place went to Oak Ridge; 3rd place went to Town and Country; and honorable mentions went to Progressive, Wonderworkers and Lamplighters.

Cookbooks were given to highest bidder in a silent auction. Byrd lead the group in singing and door prizes were awarded.

-- From staff reports