Minutes of Meeting for December 14, 2017
1. Call to Order: Bill E. led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and singing God Bless America. Bill told a good joke from Craig and turned the meeting over to Barb and Susan.
2. Hostesses: Barb L. and Susan D. Barb counted 52 folks in attendance today.
3. Vice-President: Debbi S.: Debbi reports we still have 117 members.
4. Secretary: Kristi G.: There was a motion to approve the minutes for the December 7th meeting, it was seconded, the motion carried, and the minutes were approved.
5. Treasurer: Walt R.: Walt reports we still have a total of $744.60 in the bank. He received thank you letters from the Houston food bank, The Gospel Rescue Mission and Unifaith. Walt also thanked everyone for the toys brought in for the kids. The count we got before we left was 60 gifts and 14 gift cards! You are all such generous, loving people!
Please folks, let’s try to remember to put our money in the pot for coffee “and”. It’s $2.00 for a cup of coffee which includes all refills; $1.00 for sweets. Thanks much.
6. Coordinators’ Reports:
a. Sunshine: Dorie Z.: Mary T. feels like she’s dating her doctor, she sees him so often but she is feeling better. Dorie talked to Gladys P. and says she sounds great and she was going for another MRI today. She still needs two separate heart valve repairs made but she just doesn’t know when those procedures will take place. Sandy started her cardiac rehab and she’s showing everybody else there how it’s done, she’s doing so well. Alice R. continues to get better. Elaine H., is still not feeling very well. Let’s try to remember to send cards and/or phone calls and most importantly – prayers! They work people.
b. Historian: Magda Q.: Magda thanked Richard and Val for the lovely open house they had on Monday as well as the guided tour of the Christmas lights. They were all so pretty and it really kinda got you in the Christmas spirit. The only thing better that night was Val’s homemade chicken soup - it was delicious! Magda thanked everyone for all the tabs and hopes to break a record this year. These tabs are for the Ronald McDonald House, another very worthy charity. Dorie and Steve K. brought her a very large bag all the way from Pennsylvania! These can tabs are coming from all over the world literally, wherever our members travel, they remember to bring tabs back with them - pretty neat! Magda then introduced Margaret M. who we come to find out is the niece of the man who wrote the story and song of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” back in 1939! She had an original copy of the story. I don’t think there’s not one of us who doesn’t know that song and story. Her uncle, who at that time worked for Montgomery Ward, was asked by his boss to write some little something about Christmas that they could market to the children and he came up with Rudolph. Wish I could come up with a winner like that! 😊 Very cool Margaret!!! This personal history thing that Magda thought of is really a lot of fun!
c. Philanthropy: John Z.: No report.
d. Hiking: Jim A. and Jorge A.: No report.
e. Activities: Joyce G.:
f. Birthdays: Bill introduced Walt R. who was the only “birthday person” in attendance today. Walt told a little bit about himself and his lovely wife Joanne and besides his birthday, they are married for 58 years! That is quite an accomplishment.
7. Group Concerns/Good of the Group
ü Rich R. is going to continue the “White Elephant Raffle” once a month in order to raise more money for the coffee fund. This is a great way to get rid of those “treasures” you no longer want/need and to pass them on to one of our group who does need/want more “treasures” 😊. Seriously, it’s a big help toward paying for our coffee and biscuits that our host Clint so generously supplies, along with the accommodations of course.
ü Barbara R. had the occasion to go to the Continental Ranch office and saw that they have a Christmas tree with names on it for folks who need a little extra help at this time of the year. If you get a chance, drop by and pick a name and maybe you can help a family out this year.
ü Rose M. is still taking nominations for our Member of the Year. This is not necessarily someone on the board – it is more geared toward someone who went above and beyond this past year.
ü They still need Bingo players over at North Forty RV Park on Orange Grove just east of Thornydale. Sounds like a fun way to spend a Wednesday night. Be there at 6:30 and the games start at 7:00 PM. Only costs a buck and they have free coffee, tea and biscuits.
ü Julie S. reminded us that she saves all the fronts of our Christmas/Holiday cards and actually any greeting card fronts. She sends these to St. Jude Hospital and the children utilize them there so please save all your card fronts and give them to Julie when you are done with them. Thanks so much for doing this Julie, it’s for a great cause.
8. Thought for the Day: Sandy P. In Sandy’s absence, Debbi S. told us a really nice thought and a really cute joke.
9. Adjournment: Bill E. The meeting ended at 10:12 AM.
