UNITED METHODIST WOMEN, FUMC, Jefferson City

September 2, 2009

 

 The United Methodist Women of First United Methodist Church, Jefferson City, MO met at 10:00 am in room 107.  President Juanita Rampy began the meeting with the UMW Purpose and a prayer.  She welcomed two new members – Karen Mathewson and Linda Rosendale.  Louise Schreiber accompanied the singing of the hymn, “You Satisfy the Hungry Heart.”

 

Juanita made announcements from the Mission Team meeting at 9:00.  The Fall District meeting will be September 12th at New Horizons Church, Columbia, with our van leaving our Church at 8:00.  Edith Noll took reservations, which must be in to Gail Wekenborg by September 8th.  The program will be given by Mary Still, State Representative of District 25, on how we can positively influence issues relating to women and children.  There will also be a group of African children and women with music and dance.  Edith Noll is our nominee for the Woman in Mission.  We should bring toilet paper and paper towels which will be given to the speaker on September 26th. 

 

That is the date of the Conference Annual Meeting in Poplar Bluff.  On Friday, September 25th at 2:00 pm attendees can tour the Susannah Wesley Family Learning Center in East Prairie.  That evening there will be a Chat and Chew session.  Anyone who is going and would like a discounted hotel rate should tell Gail Wekenborg by Friday.  Juanita passed out registration sheets for those wanting to go.  The program will be given by Martha Blake on the Susanna Wesley Center.  There will be no bus as previously announced.  Edith Noll has made 350 bookmark invitations to invite MO UMW to the 2010 Annual Meeting at our Church; they include information about our facility.  A DVD is being prepared to show more about us, and it will include a photo of members at this Unit meeting in front of the Church.

Juanita also reminded us that the Legislative Event in 2010 will be at FUMC, Jeff City.

 

Minutes were handed out and approved.  Treasurer Barbara Ulmer gave the Treasurer’s report that shows a balance of $3,923.94.  However she will soon be sending in our fourth quarter pledge which will leave a balance of $1,093.19.

 

Program Resources Chair Janet Hofstetter reminded us to check out books in the Church Library for the Reading Program; she has read 24 books this year.  One new book is the Food and Faith book used for the School of Missions.  Also, she is in charge of the new District Library of reading books especially for small units that have no library of their own.  She will be giving a power-point presentation at the District Meeting on it.  The books can be returned at a District Meeting or postage paid for getting them; then kept for one month; and then the reader will pay return postage.  The District Mission Team has budgeted $ 400 for postage to send books.  The cost of the books is not budgeted; they will be donated or a collection made for them.  Janet also passed out Thank Bank labels and reminded members they can view the unit minutes on-line. 

 

Circle meetings are resuming this month.  Jean James reported that the Naomi Circle will meet Wednesday, September 9th for a picnic and boat ride at her lake house.  All are welcome and should meet the Church bus at the Assembly of God parking lot at 10:00 and bring a salad.  They will return about 4:00.  Ann Maxwell announced that Rachel Circle will meet Monday, September 21 at 7:00 pm in the Parlor.  All are welcome for the program given by Rita Starnes.  The Lunch Bunch report included their projects.  They will be melting old crayons for the Day Care Center, sewing blankets, and in Oct. will start preparing the soup and bread bank in the parlor freezer for use by any FUMC member.

 

Margaret Allen reported that Church Women United will meet Friday, November 6th at our Church.  Louise Schreiber will be part of the program, reading Creation for the theme of Piecing Together the Earth.  Margaret asked members to sign up to bring cookies and to be hostesses.

 

Our October meeting will be Wednesday, the 7th as we prepare kits for Church World Service.  Barb Lamon has cut out material for 150 school bags and asked for members to sew them.  We plan to prepare 40 layette kits, and a collection was made to help pay for the $150 worth of diapers for them; checks for this should be sent to Barbara Ulmer, made out to UMW, and marked for Festival of Sharing Kits.  Receiving blankets, 1-piece pajamas and 50 nail clippers are also needed.  Clarice Shemwell said that the requests on the bulletin board by the Chapel are for the Festival of Sharing but are separate from the UMW kits.  At the School of Missions they announced a new Birthing Kit for areas with no hospital, but we are not making those this year.  On display was an exquisite, colorful quilt of insects made by Kay Brann for the Festival of Sharing. 

 

Pauline McElroy expressed thanks for funds for the Mom’s Spa, but announced that it didn’t get started this year.  With the flu spreading quickly, she encouraged everyone to carry instant hand wash in her purse and use it on leaving public places.  As Chair of the Nominating Committee, she gave their report.

Officers to be elected at the meeting November 4th are the following.

President Juanita Rampy for a second term 2010-2011;

Vice President Pauline McElroy completing Gretta Lieser’s term for 2010;

Education-Interpretation Chair Edith Noll for a second term for 2010-2011;

            Spiritual Growth Chair Shirley Link for a second term for 2010-2011;

            Nominations Committee Chair Carol Harris in a new term for 2010-2011;

                        Committee members Dorothy Williams in a new term for 2010-2012;

                                    Gail Wekenborg completing a term for 2009-2012;

                                    Lauretta Murphy in a new term for 2010-2011;

                                    Virginia Brinkman completing a term for 2010.

Officers who are completing a term for 2010 and will not be elected until November 2010 are

Treasurer Barbara Ulmer,

Program Resources Janet Hofstetter,

Membership-Outreach-Nurture Kristen Hilty,

And Social Action Dorothy Wagner.

The one Officer needed is Secretary/Communications Coordinator for a new term 2010-2011.  Note:   Sheila Scott is willing to do the yearbook for 2010 and to help this person do it in 2011.

 

Gail Wekenborg said that she will prepare soup for lunch at our October meeting.  For November, she will assign a type of food to each Circle and each member will bring a dish.  And she will prepare the December meal.

 

Our devotion time began with the hymn “I Know Whom I Have Believed.”  Shirley Link gave the meditation on a new day. She also had a thank you card made by a FUMC child for Linda Gray, the September missionary in the Prayer Calendar.

 

Our program was given by Linda Sullivan, District Treasurer and leader at the mini school of missions on Food and Faith.  She asked us to participate in a game to get acquainted with each other’s food experiences, and had us begin our personal “My Food Diary.”  She reminded us that God is always providing our food.

 

Juanita Rampy offered grace in our prayer circle after the meeting adjourned.  Lunch of quiche and fruit was provided by Gail Wekenborg.  Ruth Circle decorated the tables and hosted the meeting.

 

Respectfully submitted,     Carol Harris, Acting Secretary

 The following 23 members attended.  Kathleen Ailor, Margaret Allen, Marilyn Bacon, Beverly Crain, Shirley Goben, Carol Harris, Janet Hofstetter, Jean James, Shirley Link, Karen Mathewson, Ann Maxwell, Pauline McElroy, Dorothea McKee, Edith Noll, Juanita Rampy, Linda Rosendale, Louise Schreiber, Clarice Shemwell, Mary Virginia Stapleton, Doris Stout, Barbara Ulmer, Dorothy Wagner, Dorothy Williams and Gail Wekenborg