COLONIAL DAMES
The Margaret Smith Vivion Chapter of the Colonial Dames of the XVII Century met April 27. President Eleanor Edmondson called the meeting to order, Chaplain Carolyn Weatherby gave the opening ritual prayer and Registrar Ginger Marler led the pledges to the flags. Secretary Pat Tausch read the minutes from the last meeting, held in November of last year.
Marler gave the treasurer’s report. Chapter dues will be going up due to the increase in the cost of management at National. Edmondson showed members a copy of the new COA book, which can be found in the Winter 2017 edition of the REVIEW. It is spiral bound, has many colorful pages and has copies of how to fill out COA applications. An immediate concern in Texas is that only four people have applied to fill the 12 positions for State Officers for the 2019-2021 year. More than 200 members have passed away this term, and more than 200 chapter members have resigned due to health and age problems.
Tommie Arnold presented a program on Thomas Jefferson and reviewed the book “The Jefferson Lies,” by David Barton. Many of the problems Jefferson faced in and out of office remind American Patriots today of the lies and political correctness that President Donald Trump is currently facing. As the old adage says, “History always repeats itself.”
FORUM
The Odessa Forum met April 20 at Westminster Presbyterian Church hosted by the Juliet Fine Arts Society. President Sheryl Jones called the meeting to order and Judy Calloway gave the invocation. Following lunch, Jeaux White with the J. Conrad Dunagan Library at UTPB gave a presentation on the library, informing the club of their archiving project and showing several exhibits from the library. Karen Winters lead the pledges and read the Collect. The roll call included 11 organizations. Calloway gave the treasurer’s report and offered to step in as the 2018-2019 treasurer, due to the recent passing of the club’s former treasurer, Priscilla Hyson. Members agreed to make a memorial donation in Hyson’s honor to the mission program at Crescent Park Baptist Church, a program Hyson had been involved in for many years.
Jones reminded all clubs that annual dues are due. Committee reports were given and club representatives made announcements about their clubs’ upcoming activities. Brenda Norman, Chairman of the Law Enforcement and Fire Protection Appreciation Day, thanked members for their participation in the event on March 2. It was a huge success. Joan Heard, Chair of the Yearbook Committee, asked for current information for the 2018-2019 yearbook.
Margie Smith installed new officers: Sheryl Jones, president; Karen Winters, first vice president and pictorial historian; Joan Heard, second vice president; Candy McDougal, third vice president; Judy Calloway, treasurer; Juanita Pyfer, corresponding secretary and reporter; Brenda Norman, recording secretary; Barbara Hogan, parliamentarian.
The next meeting has been scheduled in September at Westminster Presbyterian Church.
