Spring is a marvelous time of year!

Spring is a marvelous time of year! I think it is my favorite until fall anyway. The Forsythia and Quince are blooming along with Wild Cherry, Bradford Pears and I saw some Tulip Poplars in full bloom. When I was teaching I was aware of seasons passing but had little time to really appreciate them. I have just spent a few days near a clear Ozark stream and it has been wonderful. A breeze blowing that was warm along with sunny,blue skies. The songbirds are moving back and adding their voices to the Spring Peepers we hear at night. What's not to love about this time of year? Get out and experience it as often as possible. Don't let another season pass you by!

Craig Jung, Judy Jung's son, reinforced my beliefs in the "best" way to live for all people on Earth. It is very satisfying to know that his generation is working toward a common goal that I was first introduced to in college when Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" was required reading. I hope everyone got as much from his talk as I did. You can make a difference at home and be a role model at school.

We had the following educators brought forth as future members: Lisa Boyet, Nicole Myers, Sherry Schuette, Carol Studebaker and Sarah Vandaveer. Happily, all were voted in. Sue Collins will contact them with the Rose Tea information but please personally invite each of these individuals. Let them know what a caring organization we are.

Also at last meeting we voted in the following Officers for the next 2 years: President-Christie Wiltz, 1st Vice President-Cindy Horn, 2nd Vice President-Sue Collins, Recording Secretary-Emily Mraz, Corresponding Secretary-Charlotte Hodges. The next Treasurer will be Deb Padgett. Historian will be Susi Junge. I will be Parliamentarian.
A special thanks goes to Pam Penrose and the Nomination Committee for taking care of this most important part of our organization.

We raised $125 for the Scholarship Fund from the raffle. A big thank you goes to all members who brought in items and/or bought raffle tickets.

NEXT MEETINGS
ROSE TEA - April 16th - Jeanne Rothermel's Home - 5 pm. (Her address is in the Redbook) Please bring to this meeting the Scholarship Forms from your buildings. Also bring a dish to share.

INITIATION AND RETIREMENT CELEBRATION - Pegg's on the Boulevard, High Ridge, MO - May 7th - 5 pm. We have 4 retiring as of now; Anne Benson, Sheryl DeLoach, Jane Lowery and Christie Wiltz. If you have any "teaching stories" about these ladies please bring them. After initiation I would like to take time to "toast" them.

Let your BUILDING REP know if you will be attending by APRIL 30th.

BUILDING REPS - Let me know by 9 pm on the 30th. I will let Pegg's know the next day.

March Meeting Information

February meetings are a problem!!!!!! Can you believe all that snow when it had been so warm for so long? I didn't even take a coat with me to Florida because it was so warm when we left. We bought sweatshirts and long sleeved shirts the day we left Destin to get us home. It was 26 degrees in northern Mississippi when we stopped there for the night. It was definitely a shock to my system. All in all it has been a very mild winter and I really can't complain.

Back to February meetings, I believe the one we had planned was so good that we have made an effort to set it up for the MARCH 5th meeting. Craig Jung will still be our speaker with the same topic. Judy will be joining us that night also. We will still have the Scholarship Fundraiser so still bring those handmade items and unwanted Christmas gifts for people to win. I am adding two more important items to that agenda. We will be voting on the new officers for the next 2 years and we will be asking for information on potential new members so we can vote on them. It takes more than some stinky weather to slow us down. We can get these important tasks done and still have a fun time! I hope to see everyone at this meeting. It feels like forever since we have been together.

The menu will be the pasta and salad as is indicated in the blog for March. I have heard frequently that is a favorite for several of you so I won't change that.
Let your Building Rep. know by FEB. 27th. BUILDING REPS.- Let me know your meal counts by 9 pm on FEB. 27th.

Sign up for Rose Tea will be that night as will the last chance to sign up for the April State Convention in Springfield,Mo. If you know you will be attending the Convention, you can let me know now if you like.

Christie did a great job of taking care of things in my place! Thank you for doing that for me.

I was sorry to hear we had 2 members to have a loss in their family while I was away. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Lastly, the EXECUTIVE BOARD will meet at 4 pm in the Valley Library before this MARCH 5th meeting.

Happy New Year!

Happy 2012!

Where did 2011 go??? We have some great stuff planned for the upcoming meetings. I am excited by the topic and activity for Feb. 13th. Craig Jung (Judy's son) will be speaking on sustainability. Craig (a.k.a. Mr. Green) is the founder of St. Louis Green Inc. which helps teach sustainability. He also created and managed the Holiday Light Recycling Drive. I just saw a container for collecting lights at CarX this morning. Our activity will be equally exciting to me. We will be "Shopping " for the Scholarship Fund.

Are you the creative sort that makes an item that you are willing to donate to the cause OR did you receive a Christmas gift that is the wrong size, color or design for your home that you would like to get rid of? If either of these apply to you bring it with you to the Feb. meeting. We will be raffling off each of these items as a fundraiser for the Scholarship Fund. We already have a Bath and Body Basket donated. Who can't use that??? This will be a lot of fun to see what we have to bid on!

Please let your Building Rep know if you need a meal for this meeting by Feb. 6th.
NOTICE THE FOLLOWING CHANGE: Building Reps let CHRISTIE WILTZ know your building meal count by 9 pm on Monday the 6th.

Want to be part of a "Great Girls Weekend" on April 13-15 in Springfield, MO? I have registration forms for the Delta State Convention. We can carpool and see what trouble we can get into while we are there.

Be sure to join us with your goodies on Feb. 13th. See you there.
Regina

Gamma Tau Christmas Celebration

December 3rd was the Gamma Tau Christmas Celebration. We were celebrating all the positive work we have done together this year. I really appreciate the purses, beads for key chains and all the purse necessities. Susi Junge raised an extra $44 for the Women's Shelter with her clever fundraiser. We are each very blessed and it feels so good to share that with others less fortunate. After the great breakfast, we did some retail therapy. Pam made some great pictures of the members and many guests in attendance. I haven't had my picture taken with Santa in more than 50 years. Lucky for him I didn't go for one on his lap. A picture I mean. What were YOU thinking. I hope you enjoy seeing us at play.

Wishing you and your families peace and joy at this wonderful time of year.

BRO Service Day

 Another satisfying day was spent by Gamma Tau members working at the Board of Religious Organizations. We helped fill a midsize panel truck with Christmas gifts for children in need. The work we did helped 2200 children have Christmas this year. In total, the BRO provided Christmas gifts to over 4,000 children in need in the St. Louis area. Thanks to all that worked that day. We documented the fun, hope you enjoy the photos.

PS. The BRO sends love and thanks, too!

November / December 2011

We have just finished a very rewarding project with the purses for the Women's Shelter. I can't think of another project we have done that was as touching or as satisfying.

 The speakers, Barb and Brenda, were excellent as was the response from our members with all the purse necessities. As you can see we all had fun packing purses and our key rings were an important part of the gift. From start to finish this was a joyful project that I have had a lot of positive feedback about. I want to thank Sue Collins so much for her work on this project. It would not have been possible without all her extra effort.

Pam Penrose is taking nominations for 3 positions on the Executive Board for the next biennium. Pam's email address is in the Redbook.

The positions are:
SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT (PRESENTLY CINDY HORN)
RECORDING SECRETARY (PRESENTLY JUDY SHERRELL)
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY (PRESENTLY SUE COLLINS)

 Think about members you know would be good in these positions and let Pam know.

Next Meeting

December 3rd, 10 am, at the Blue Owl Restaurant in Kimmswick, MO.

If you DID NOT sign up for a meal at the meeting, you need to CONTACT ME by phone or email by Nov. 26th at 9 pm. This is a change to our normal method of meal count but it allows you to get in on the count even on Thanksgiving break. I hope to see you there where we can share one of Oprah's Favorite Things, the Mile High Levy Apple Pie. That day will be the beginning of the Christmas Festival. I hope you can join us for some relaxed social time. We will collect for Oaxacan student that day.

Enjoy your break and eat until you are full and then add pie!!!!

 Regina

Purse Party