Clubs and organizations: Retired teachers' meeting upcoming [Jacksonville Journal-Courier, Ill.]

Oct. 29—Morgan-Scott Retired Teachers' Association

Morgan-Scott Retired Teachers' Association met Oct. 6 at Rudi's Grill.

Susan Hardin of the Governor Duncan Mansion was our guest speaker. The mansion is 189 years old and has been on the Jacksonville Historic Tour for more than 30 years. Members of Daughters of the American Revolution's Rev. James Caldwell Chapter are constantly restoring the mansion, not repairing. They take care of the interior of the mansion. The Governor Duncan Association was formed to restore and maintain the exterior and grounds. The mansion can be rented out for a reasonable fee. Some of the events that have been held there are weddings, wedding receptions, family reunions, baby or bridal showers, bridal photos, teas, card parties, birthday parties, anniversary parties, vow renewal ceremonies, receptions and Celebration of Life or visitations. They are open for tours from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

The DAR is selling a cookbook for a fundraiser.

President Arlene Nortrup called the meeting to order and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Bonnie Glover gave the prayer. We had 26 members present.

Charlotte Hubbard moved and Marty Reid seconded that the May minutes be approved as printed. The motion carried.

Toi Nicolet, treasurer, gave the treasurer's report. Mary Jo Barker moved and Amy Turpin seconded that the report be approved as printed. The motion carried. We currently have 82 members.

A thank-you was read from Alpha Phi — Raise a Reader effort for our donation.

Legislative — The lawsuit regarding TRIP/TRAIL funding is ongoing.

Applications for grants to help current classroom teachers are available on the IRTA website.

IRTA has 40,000-plus members statewide. The member portal in the members' only section of the IRTA website was reviewed. IRTA members' username is their email, and they need to establish a new password.

TRS is hosting both hybrid and in-person new retiree seminars.

The Nov. 3 meeting's guest speakers will be Steve and Cammie Symons with Prairieland United Way. Members should bring donations for the food drive and pet food drive. Toi Nicolet moved and Bonnie Glover seconded that we have a food and pet food drive for the Food Bank and PAWS. The motion carried. Marty Reid moved and Mary Jo Barker seconded that we have a collection from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. November 5 in the Jacksonville Public Library parking lot. The motion carried.

There was a suggestion that we go from meeting six times a year to four times a year. (October, November, March and April instead of the current September, October, November, March, April and May). We will discuss this at our next meeting.

Bob Nicolet will look into securing a date and place to ring bells for The Salvation Army.

IRTA Board — — Medical insurance is changing on Jan. 1. TRAIL now will only be Aetna PPO. There will be no HMO policies. Our maximum out-of-pocket will go up. We still are waiting on more information.

Jacksonville Promise's annual event will be Nov. 10 at Hamilton's in Jacksonville.

Bob Pinkerton will ask IRTA to come to our November meeting for a question-and-answer time.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 a.m. Door prizes were won by Mary Jo Barker, Ross Myers and Becky Dimmick.

— Submitted by Becky Dimmick

Jacksonville Noon Rotary Club

President Lisa Kluge called to order the Oct. 21 meeting of the Jacksonville Rotary Club at noon at Hamilton's.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and "America" was sung.

Volunteers were thanked, including Ginny Fanning, Linda Grojean and Joe Kauffmann, greeters and 50-50; Madison Rever, sergeant-at-arms; Cathy Jo Littleton Wahl, Reflection; Lisa Kluge, Rotations; note taker Anne Jackson; song leader Dan Lepper and Lynn Sheaff; pianist Sharon Zuiderveld; tech guru Dan Lepper; and Alberta Robinson, food delivery.

Announcements:

—The Polio Plus Jars are on the tables!

—Clipboards are being circulated. Please help where you can!

—Kelly Pool announced that we will begin having heartier fare at the meetings and there will be a rise in the price starting Nov. 1.

—Interact is painting purple pinkies.

—We could use a few more people to help with technology

—Jan Ryan urged people to sign up for the Battle of the Bells. Let's win this thing!

Upcoming events:

—Oct. 20: South School Family Night, 6-8 p.m.

—Oct. 27: Safe Halloween at Prairie Land Heritage Museum, 3-6 p.m.

—Oct. 31: Squeal at the Wheel

—Nov. 4-5: District Conference in Collinsville

—Nov. 5: Remove seats from the wheel for the winter, 9 a.m.

—Nov. 7: Membership Committee meting, noon at the chamber

—Nov. 7: First Monday Social at Bahan's, 5 p.m.

—Nov. 7: Community Service Committee meets

—Nov. 9: Board meeting, noon at the chamber

—Nov. 12: Salvation Army Battle of the Bells, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. at County Market

Anna was in the house! Cathy Jo Littleton Wahl introduced Kaylin Jones and Hannah Mae. Jenna Tucker was accompanied by Joseph Hughes

Lynn Sheaff gave an interesting program on her 2016 trip to India in honor of National Immunization Day.

Sharon Zuiderveld drew unsuccessfully for the 50-50 drawing.

The Four-Way Test was recited and the meeting was adjourned at 12:45 p.m.

— Submitted by Anne Jackson

Jacksonville Sunrise Rotary Club

On a chilly, rainy Tuesday morning, 11 Rotarians and three guests gathered in the Holiday Inn Express meeting room in South Jacksonville.

In the ongoing saga of a hotel multi-purpose room, this dark dreary morning found the meeting room neat and tidy with table and chairs at the ready, with only a cluster of vacuum cleaners keeping vigil in a corner. Jay, demonstrating "Service above self," provided (leftover) chocolate chip cookies to all comers. The boost was much appreciated.

Those in attendance were President Linda Meece, Don Pigg, Sonie Smith, Cindy Boehlke, Jane Becker, Ella Scaggs, Pat Pennell, Jay Jamison, Sarah Robinson, Gordon Jumper and Sarah Edmiston, joined by three representatives of Morgan County Soil and Water Conservation District. With the Rotary's battery-powered clock hidden by the dry-erase board, President Linda relied on her internal clock and rang the Oct. 25 meeting to order at 6:59 a.m. Gordon led the Pledge of Allegiance, Jane led the recitation of the Four-Way Test and Pat Pennell gave an appropriate invocation. Rotations were made by Jane, Cindy, Jay and Sarah Edmiston. Sarah Robinson gave all the Rotarians present a reason to donate to the Scholarship Fund with Recognitions.

Next, the Lasagna Love service project from the previous Saturday was reviewed. Sarah Robinson passed around a collage of photos taken during the event and reminded members about the delivery process and that she gets an email on Mondays listing those who are in need of a tasty meal. No lasagnas had been requested yet. Sarah Edmiston reminded members that they are invited to join the Jacksonville Rotary Club for its Squeal at the Wheel event on Halloween evening at the Ferris wheel. Bring candy. Sonie remined members that bell ringing for The Salvation Army is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. November 19 at County Market. She will bring a sign-up sheet soon. Check your schedules.

Cameron Ruyle of Morgan County Soil and Water Conservation District was up. He took the podium and described how the organization got its start during the Dust Bowl and which federal and state organizations they work with to help farmers who have land on the flood plains develop a conservation plan. Informative handouts were passed out. Another representative from the district, who works with the federal government, reviewed the federal programs. He and Cameron answered numerous questions about a variety of farmland-related issues from their attentive, if small, audience. After an appreciative round of applause, the men (who clearly enjoy getting up early) were invited to join.

Linda rang the meeting to a close at 7:52 a.m.

Our next meeting will be Nov. 1 at Spirit of Faith Soup Kitchen.

— Submitted by Sarah Edmiston

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