Plains Woman's Club GFWC Montana

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You can read the minutes from the most current meetings on this page.
 
Minutes of September Meeting
                                                                        
September 23, 2011
 
            President Elect Virginia Fortner called the meeting to order at 12 noon.  After recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and the Collect, Virginia welcomed newest member Sharon Warner.
            Minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
            UnderMinute for the Federation, members were reminded that all members are welcomed and encouraged to attend the upcoming Fall Boards, which will be in Missoula October 7 & 8. This club has been assigned responsibility for collecting materials for a Christmas themed basket and for Friday night table decorations. Ellen Childress is creating centerpieces for that dinner. Debbi Kirschbaum will put the Christmas basket together. In addition, Virginia asked for a vote on whether to continue collecting pennies for the arts. After an affirmative vote, she passed a collection basket around the room. Mary Halling has agreed to create a permanent collection receptacle, which will be kept at the registration place at each meeting.
            Treasurer’s Report: Checking: $1791.48; Savings $10,541.37
Paid out: Shakespeare in the Parks $1,000; Printery $18.60; Valley Press $50, for Shakespeare in the Parks ad.  Deposits: Shakespeare in the parks donations $100; Dues $22.
 
Old Business & Committee Reports:   
            Highway Grant: Michele Furry reported that a bid package has been submitted but that it needs to be revised. Work on the landscaping will not start until next summer.
            Highway Clean-up: Five ladies met at 9 a.m. on meeting day and finished cleaning our stretch of highway. Among things they picked up were a dime, windshield wipers, a guardrail, and an unopened energy bar. Chair person Debbie Heckman awarded small personal hand sanitizers to Pat Farmer, Virginia Fortner, Teresa Garrison and Michele Farmer who were the morning road crew
            Sanders County Fair: Debbie Heckman reported that money from fair booths has not been distributed yet, but it looks as though it will be about the same amount as last year. Louise Lulack reported that the recycling project had netted three 33-gallon bags of recyclable plastic. She proposed putting out even more recycle cans at next year’s fair, and decorating them with something like a huge red bow so that they can be identified from a distance.
            Shakespeare: Chair Louise Lulack reported that 15 people helped with arrangements for Shakespeare in the Park, that there were 21 sponsors, and an audience of 155, slightly down from last year. She also reported that Shakespeare in the Schools has been scheduled for December 12, with the performance at 9 a.m. in the Assembly of God Church, and four workshops in the afternoon at the school.
            Cookies for Teachers: Pat farmer thanked those who brought an abundance of cookies for the teachers, and thanked Shirley King for making the rental business a collection site.
            Committee Assignments: Committee sign-up sheets were passed around to collect volunteers for the various committees. Teresa Garrison and Pat Farmer agreed to be co-chairs for the Christmas Party.
            Basket Raffle: A majority of those present voted to continue with the basket raffle, with proceeds from it  not especially assigned at this point. Debbie Kirschbaum will bring a basket to the October meeting.
 
New Business:

             

            Membership Party: Michele Furry distributed printed invitations to the October 24th Membership party, and asked each member to invite one or two people to attend. The theme for the party is Hats off to Women Everywhere. Sign-up sheets were circulated for help with the party.
            Dues: Virginia Fortner was the first one to pay the $22 dues for the new Woman’s Club year. Sharon Warner was second, and the first new member to pay dues. All those paying dues were issued a copy of the yearbook/directory, and a few corrections to telephone numbers were made. All of the $22 being collected is remitted to State and National GFWC, with no part retained as local dues. The possibility of assessing an additional amount for local dues was the subject of a preliminary discussion, with no decision.
            Artists in the Schools: Louise Lulack said that she has been talking to a percussion/dance group that might be brought to the school in February, March or April. Because we do not yet know how much money will come in from the fair, Mary Lou Hermes moved that the idea be tabled for the time being. It was seconded and passed.
            Bylaws Revision: It has been a number of years since the bylaws have been revised, and President Fern Johnson has asked for a committee to volunteer to bring them into compliance with what we actually do. Pat Farmer, Debbie Heckman, Michele Furry and Mary Lou Hermes agreed to be on a committee which will meet after the first of the year.
            Special Occasions: Members signed a get-well card for President Fern and a birthday card for Terri Henry. When someone mentioned that that very day was Sharon Warner’s birthday, the group sang “Happy Birthday” to her.
            The meeting was adjourned at 1:20 p.m. Following the meeting, Michele Furry sold garden produce out of the back of her car, all proceeds going to Woman’s Club.
 
 
  Those present were members Mary Lou Hermes, Virginia Fortner, Marlene Gerhartstein, Michele Furry, Pat Farmer, Debbie Heckman, Debbi Kirschbaum, Sharon Warner, Shirley King, Nora Verpoorten, Louise Lulack, and Teresa Garrison.
Lunch was provided by Mary Lou Hermes, Shirley King and Louise Lulack.
 
Minutes from July meeting
 
July 24, 2011  
 
            President Fern Johnson called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m.  After recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and the Collect, Fern welcomed guests Patty Johnson and Sharon Warner and invited those present to help themselves to the potluck feast.
            Minutes of the previous meeting were approved, when the meeting resumed.
            UnderMinute for the Federation, Fern distributed cancer memorial pages to be filled in with names of cancer victims or survivors. Each name is to be honored with contribution of $1 toward the Montana State project; the week of camp for cancer victims and their families.
            Treasurer’s Report: Checking $3,080.56 Money Market $10,537.63
Expenditures: Stamps, $26.40; Shakespeare in the Parks ad, fair book $40
Income: Bakes sales $198
 
Old Business & Committee Reports:   
           
            Relay for Life: Fund raising is still needed. An ideal is to raise $100 for each team member, with a team of 15 persons. The theme this year is “Seasons.” Booth decorations will feature the Christmas season.Sale of luminaries is the next fund-raising possibility. Some members took order forms for selling the luminaries. PWC has the work assignment of picking up the spent luminaries after the relay.
            Sanders County Fair: A Sign-up sheet was circulated for work shifts at the fair booth, which will be Bingo again this year because of a trade with a group whose under-age members would not be able to staff Bingo. Co-chairs Kay Nygaard and Debbie Heckman will be contacting members to get the schedule filled. A second sign-up sheet was for participation in the fair parade. Judy Stephens and Shirley King volunteered to clean up the Bingo area after the fair.
            Visit with County Commissioners: Several members attended a hearing with the County Commissioners and were given a chance to air their concerns regarding the concessions group’s control over beer sales. They were heard, but informed that the County Commissioners do not have authority over the Fair Board.
            Shakespeare in the Parks: Chair Louise Lulack sent a sign-up sheet around for volunteers to provide housing and food for the actors in August. She distributed posters for members to put up in Paradise, Hot Springs, Ronan, Thompson Falls and St. Regis.
            Landscaping Project: Michele showed some preliminary plans for the two areas to be landscaped and discussed the complexities of making the proper bid proposals. She said it will probably be late fall before work can actually begin.
 
New Business:
            Highway Clean-up: Weather permitting, the club will do highway clean-up beginning at 9 a.m. on the day of the September meeting, September 23. The regular meeting will follow at 11:30 at the Plains Methodist Church. Mary Lou Hermes, Shirley King, and Louise Lulack will provide lunch that day.
            Membership Party: The annual membership party will be October 24. Each year there has been a different theme for the party. In order to get new ideas for party themes, the group divided into three groups for three minutes of brainstorming. Results were shared and given to chair person Michelle Furry for a decision.
            New Signage: Teresa Garrison showed the group a computer generated poster she has been working on featuring a colorful pie chart that shows how our money is allocated each year.
             The business meeting was adjourned at 8:00. Following the meeting, Louise Lulack talked to the club about recycling in general, and in particular at the fair. She explained how to tell if a piece of plastic is recyclable, and shared a list of possibilities for other recycling, such as giving covered plastic containers such as cottage cheese comes in to the food bank.
 
  Those present were members Mary Lou Hermes, Fern Johnson, Lores Porter, Louise Lulack, Kay Nygaard, Virginia Fortner, Michele Furry, Judy Stephens, Shirley King, and guests Patty Johnson and Sharon Warner.
 
MINUTES FROM JUNE MEETING
 
June 22, 2011
 
            President Fern Johnson called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.  After recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and the Collect, Fern welcomed     guests Carolyn Tourjee, Jacquie Joner and Beverly Miller and invited those present to help themselves to the potluck feast.
            Minutes of the previous meeting were approved, when the meeting resumed.
            UnderMinute for the Federation, Fern distributed cancer memorial pages to be filled in with names of cancer victims or survivors. Each name is to be honored with contribution of $1 toward the Montana State project; the week of camp for cancer victims and their families. Second, attention was drawn to the club website, booted up on a laptop computer and carried around for all to see.
            Treasurer’s Report: Checking $3,006.10 Money Market $10,535.47
Expenditures: PHS Drama kids trip: $200; Gambles, lawn supplies $17.28; Colyer Oil, lawn mower & generator fuel, $16.78; Kind News, Paradise school, $44; McGowan’s, Plains Day food, $57.52; Plains Day vendor permit & space $20.
Income: Plains Day nacho & pickle sale: $167 gross. $89.48 profit.
   After a brief discussion about the type of account the club carries, Treasurer Debbie Heckman said she would check with the bank to see if the club is eligible for an account with free checking.
 
Old Business & Committee Reports:   
           
            Sanders County Fair: Debbie Heckman reported that the concessions group has signed a contract with the fair board. However, after the contract signing, the fair board sent an addendum letter regarding the beer booth with which the concession group does not agree. Arrangements were made for a group to go to a conference with the County Commissioners on Thursday, June 23.
            Plains Day: Our group sold nachos and pickles on sticks on Plains days, accounting in the Treasurer’s report. In addition, the schoolhouse was open from noon until 2 p.m. However, there was not enough interest to allow us to participate in the parade.
            Shakespeare in the Parks: Chair Louise Lulack sent a sign-up sheet around for volunteers to provide housing and food for the actors in August.
            Relay for Life: A series of food sales on Wednesdays from 4 – 7 p.m. in McGowan’s parking lot was planned for fund raising toward the Relay. Sign-up sheets were circulated for workers and bakers. There was adequate sign-up for the first of the sales, but not enough for the ensuing ones, which will be on July 6, 13, and 20.
            Landscaping Project: Michele reported a requirement for release of the money is that we advertise for bids in the local paper first. She discussed some of the plans in the works for the east end triangle, which includes some signage about the town.
 
New Business:
            Plastic re-cycling: Louise Lulack reported that she has been in contact with the fair board about re-cycling plastic items at the fair. She plans to consult with the county recycling officer and then contribute articles to the local newspapers about the urgency of plastic recycling before the fair. At the fair, she is arranging to have special collection barrels placed in strategic places, and she asked club members to support her in these efforts.
            Summer Meeting: The July meeting will be a 6 p.m. pot luck July 27 at the home of Teresa Garrison, on Lila Lane. The August meeting is scheduled for Debbie Heckman’s home.
             The business meeting was adjourned at 7:15. Following the meeting, Virginia Fortner presented a fascinating program about what it’s like to be a woman living in Saudi Arabia.
 
  Those present were members Mary Lou Hermes, Pat Farmer, Fern Johnson, Lores Porter, , Anita Haigh, Debbie Heckman, Louise Lulack, Kay Nygaard, Virginia Fortner, Michele Furry, Ann Lundmark, Ellen Childress, Thori Hodge, Isabelle Welch, Joan Davis, and guests Carolyn Tourjee, Jacquie Joner and Beverly Miller.
 

MINUTES FROM MAY MEETING

May 20, 2011
 
            President Fern Johnson called the meeting to order at 12 noon . After recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and the Collect, Fern welcomed guests Sabrina Palaniuk Ludka, guest of Lores Porter, and Jeanne Petersen, guest of Pat Farmer.
            Minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
            Under Minute for the Federation, Fern reported that 28 women from 9 clubs attended the recent Western District Convention. She also spoke about the GFWC Montana project, supporting a camp for cancer patients and their families. One fundraiser for this project is an opportunity to memorialize cancer victims or survivors by contributing $1 for each name we wish to be entered in a large memorial. In addition, our club will be putting together a craft kit to be used at the camp.
            Treasurer’s Report: Checking $3,284.68 Money Market $10,533.23
Expenditures: Post Office box rental: $56; Shelton King Memorial: $50; Western District Scholarship: $50; checks ordered: $105.75; Swimming pool fund: $417.
Income: Shakespeare in the Parks donations: $270. A total of $900 was made at the rummage sale.
Old Business & Committee Reports:   
            May Baskets: Chair Shirley King reported that seven members had helped to deliver plants on or near May Day.
            Sanders County Fair: Debbie Heckman reported that there is no definite news about the  concessions group’s contract with the fair board. It will be settled on June 5. It was also reported that we have been asked if we would swap booths at the fair with a group who have workers who are not 21 as required for running the Bingo booth. They would take the pie/coffee booth for which we are scheduled and we would take the Bingo again. Because there was not a quorum in attendance, no vote was taken, but the consensus was that the trade would be beneficial to us.
            Plains Day: Our group will sell nachos and pickles on sticks on Plains days. The committee will purchase supplies from McGowans, in particular because McGowan’s has been generous in supporting our projects with donations of supplies and money. Members sampled pickles from a jar Shirley King brought to the meeting and declared them good enough to sell.
The club will enter a float in the Plains day parade, with the theme “Shotgun Wedding.”
            Shakespeare in the Parks: Chair Louise Lulack reported that she had given a mistaken title for the August performance. The play will be Much Ado About Nothing.
New Business:
            High School Drama  Terry Henry, High School Drama coach, asked if the club would make a contribution toward her Troup’s June trip to national Thespian Festival, where they have been invited to perform their one act play. After a discussion, Mary Lou Hermes moved, and it was seconded that the club give $200. The vote was affirmative. However, a quorum not being present, the vote could not be official.
            Summer Meetings  Summer meetings will be pot luck meetings at 6 p.m., on Wednesday evenings. The first will be at Mary Lou Hermes’ home, the July meeting at Teresa Garrison’s and the August meeting at Debbi Kirschbaum’s.
           
             The business meeting was adjourned at 1:16. Following the meeting, members cleaned inside and outside the old schoolhouse.         
  Members present were Mary Lou Hermes, Pat Farmer, Fern Johnson, Lores Porter, Shirley King, Anita Haigh, Debbie Heckman, Louise Lulack.Teresa Garrison, and Terri Henry. 

Dates for the Summer
Plains Day: June 4
June meeting: June 22, 6 p.m., potluck, my house - 25 Swan Lane, which is a mile east of Paradise
Baroque Festival, Quinn's July 16-21
July meeting: July 27, Teresa Garrison's house
Relay for Life: August 5/6
Shakespeare in the Parks (Much Ado About Nothing) August 26
Sanders County Fair Sept 1-4

 
Minutes from April PWC Meeting

April 29, 2011
 
            President Fern Johnson called the meeting to order at 12 noon . After recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and the Collect, Fern welcomed guest Sharron Warner.
            Minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
            UnderMinute for the Federation, Fern announced the death of Ella Rivenes, a past GFWC president. We are asked to send $50 from our club as a memorial donation to help support the Montana Woman Magazine in her name. Debbie Kirschbaum moved we donate the $50. Motion seconded and carried.
            Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer’s Report: Checking $3,656.33 Money Market $10,531.07
Expenditures: Trade Fair $10; Rummage sale ads $8, Ledger, $16, Valley Press; Sunshine gift: $15 Income: Rummage Sale: $965.75 Shakespeare in the Parks Donations $795. Action at the meeting included adding $50 to the Shelton King Memorial Fund and $50 to the GFWC Western District scholarship fund.
 
Old Business & Committee Reports: 
            Trade Fair: Chair Shirley King, Anita Haigh, and Louise Lulack worked our booth. A basket with body products was given away. A list of about 10 women, who may be interested in our club, was acquired.
            Rummage Sale: Chair Pat Farmer reported it was a big success and thanked everyone for the great help. We all had fun with this project! The pool fund will get a check after all expenses come back. The club will keep $500.
            Highway Clean-up: Five members met to work on our miles, 84-88. We tried two different days, as the weather was BAD – Shirley King, Pat Farmer, Judy Stephens, Kay Nygaard and Debbie Heckman helped.
            May Baskets: Chair Shirley King brought all the plants for us to see. There were at least 15 pots with different plants and each had a slip of mint included. They were decorated with cute signs, “From the Plains Woman’s Club.” Some members took plants to help deliver on Sunday, May 1.
 
New Business:
            Relay for Life: Chair Debbi K. suggested our club sell a food item during Plains Day to earn cash for the team. We will need to have several bake sales this summer also. It was suggested we sell Nachos at Plains Day. A committee was formed to address this idea and get us signed up. Debbie Heckman, Pat Farmer, Teresa Garrison and Debbi Kirschbaum volunteered.
            Sanders County Fair: Debbie Heckman reported about contract negotiations between the Sanders County Fair Concessions Group (our food booths) and the Fair board. The 3 options from the Fair Board are not acceptable and the Concessions Group has their own contract option ideas. This will be discussed Sunday, May 1 at the Concessions Group meeting along with two of the Fair Board members, Bruce Icenoggle and Chris Mcguigan. Other Fair information was discussed as Teresa Garrison and Debbie Heckman had attended the Fair Board meeting last week. There is a proposed budget for the fair, which shows a loss already of $35,000+! It seems at the end of the 2011 fiscal year (June 30th), there will still be a loss. Does this mean the 2010 fair has not been paid for? More questions popped up: Fair Manager’s wages going up 69% higher? Building expenses – are they needed when the fair is bringing in less money the last two years? Are the estimates from proposed income logical when these amounts are much smaller in 2010 & 2009? It was suggested that we all become informed and speak to our 5 Fair Board members. Also, we should be attending the monthly meetings – the third Monday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Pavilion.
            Schoolhouse Clean-up and meeting date: President Fern Johnson suggested that we have our first potluck lunch at the May meeting. We will meet at the log schoolhouse and do some spring cleaning that day also. The date was set for May 20th at 11:30.
            Shakespeare in the Parks: Chair Louise Lulack updated the club on this event. The date is 8/26, and the play will be All’s Well that Ends Well, performed at the fairgrounds. It was decided we will have a pot luck again. Also, we have 10 actors to house. Della Garrison will take 2, Mary Halling, 2, and the Montana Bed & Breakfast 2. That leaves 3 more actors who need a bed and breakfast.
            SCFF training: Karen Thorson announced an upcoming SCCFF training to be held May 2nd and 4th and May 9th and 11th, from 1 to 4 each day. This is training for answering the SCCFF Hotline.
            The business meeting was adjourned at 1:16.
 
             Program for the meeting was RSVP, given by Debbie Heckman. RSVP stands for Retired Senior Volunteer Program, a volunteer program for adults 55 + to use their experience and skills in their community. The program compiles a list of volunteers in the community. It is a county wide program, funded by federal grants. This program is just another way for our TWC members to volunteer and help their neighbors. One plus to this program is that they provide insurance for the volunteers to and from a work site. Applications were handed out. Debbie Heckman may be contacted for more information.
 
  Members present were Judy Stephens, Shirley King, Sue Barthelomew, Isabelle Welch, Anita Haigh, Teresa Garrison, Pat Farmer, JoAnn Baker, Debbie Kirschbaum, Terry Henry, Fern Johnson, Debbie Heckman, Karen Thorson, and Louise Lulack.
 
 
 
Minutes from Feb meeting
 
February 25, 2011
 
            President Fern Johnson called the meeting to order at 12 noon . After recitation of the pledge of allegiance and the Collect, Fern introduced guest Charlotte Buljun and former member Dot DeVolder, and they were welcomed.
             Minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
            UnderMinute for the Federation, Fern spoke about the upcoming Western District Convention to be held in Missoula April 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. urging as many members as possible to attend. 
 
Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer’s Report: Checking $1,592.85 Money Market $10,525.48
Mt. Rep Cookies: +$39.60
 
 
Old Business & Committee Reports:
             
            Mentors: Chairman Michele Furry has assigned mentors to each of the new members. While she had the floor, Michele announced that she had entered our club website in the national contest.
            Rummage Sale: Pat Farmer reminded the group that the sale is scheduled for April 9. A signup sheet was circulated for workers setting up, selling and tearing down the sale. Needed are rummage items, hangers and hanging racks (to borrow) and baked goods.
            Missoula Children’s Theater: Louise recruited the few remaining things needed for the coming MCT residency. She asked permission to buy an ad in the local paper, but since there was no ad money in the budget, permission was not granted.
            Turkey Banquet: The date for the banquet has been changed to Friday, March 4. Chair Debbi Kirschbaum has set the menu and recruited kitchen helpers and servers.
            Trade Fair: Mary Lou Hermes has paid the money and reserved a space for a Woman’s Club booth at the trade fair March 26. Shirley King is in charge of setting up the booth and getting it staffed.
New Business:
            Guest Speaker:  Guest Charlotte Buljun, one of five members of a committee to save the Plains swimming pool, explained to the group what is needed in order to open the pool this summer, and its cost. Mary Lou Hermes moved and Nora Verpoorten seconded that the club donate any funds from the rummage sale over the $500 budgeted income to the pool fund. The members urged the committee to go ahead and hold their own rummage sale on the same day as the club sale, thus bringing out more customers for each sale.
            Photographer: President Fern asked for a volunteer to be official photographer for the club. Teresa Garrison agreed to be that person.
            Scrapbook: President Fern announced a plan for volunteers to stay each month directly after the meeting to put together scrapbook pages and reports about the prior month’s activities. In this way reports will be already prepared when report to national time comes next year. This year the club failed to turn in any reports. Darlene Malmend volunteered to be a resource for scrapbooking.
            Relay for Life: Debbi K. will attend the kickoff party Sunday, February 27 and register the club team.
            May Baskets: Members are requested to make plant starts for the May Day plant distribution.
            The business meeting was adjourned at 1:15, and Mary Lou Hermes then presented a program on Roberts Rules of Order.
 
  Members present were Pat Farmer, Mary Lou Hermes, Karen Thorsen, Ann Lundmark, Joy Nelson, Fern Johnson,  Louise Lulack, Debbie Kirschbaum, Teresa Garrison, Thori Hodges, Shirley King, Marion Jolin, Michele Furry, Isabelle Welch, Nora Verpoorten, Darlene Malmend, Dot Devolder
 
 
Lunch was provided by Debbi Kirschbaum, Fern Johnson, and Teresa Garrison, with cookies left over from the Montana Rep cookie sale for desert. 
Fern Johnson won the basket.