Betsey Hager Chapter National Society of American Revolution

The American History Essays Awards were Feb. 20 at the Red Cross Central Plains building.

There were three first place winners who read their essays. The essay was entitled "I Spy, Espionage During the American Revolution". Winners were, Christina Zarek from Walnut Middle School; Nathan Maginnis from Engleman Elementary; and Kaitlyn Mycal Keeling from Cedar Hollow Elementary.

Second place winners were: Riley Ostdiek from Engleman Elementary and Katie Marie Goesh from Cedar Hollow Elementary.

Third place winner was Nicole Lynn Broich from Cedar Hollow Elementary.

First place winning essays have been sent to the state competition.

The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. March 28 at the Library Meeting Room A. The state regent will present the program.

Truth Rebekah Lodge #132

The Truth Rebekah Lodge #132 met Feb. 22 at the I.O.O.F. Hall. After a potluck dinner, Noble Grand Eunice Becker opened the meeting with 23 members in attendance. Brother Fred Stubbendick reported visiting Sisters Renae Feldt, Bea Southard, Evelyn Desch and Betty Stoner. Sister Vice Grand Alice Harris reported making phone calls to Sister Lois Clark and Eldora Speck.

Communications were read by Sister Gerene Williams from our Assembly President Joyce Stoker, a reminder of the Scholarship program and the upcoming Arthritis program, also a communication regarding the four State Conclave to be held on April 4 and 5 in St. Joseph, Mo.

Sister Gerene also said Nebraska would be sponsor of the Conclave in 2009.

Grand Master Richard Kim has proclaimed March 23 as Schuyler Colfax day, who is the founder of the Rebekah Lodges. Sister Gerene Williams was the door prize winner.

The next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. March 14 at the I.O.O.F. Hall. Hosts are the Beckers.

Betty Bunch

The Betty Bunch met at 2 p.m. Feb. 20 at Tommy's Restaurant where 10 Bettys and two guests gathered for pie and coffee and valentine exchange.

Hostesses were Bettys Briggs, Rallens and Shuman. Door prizes were awarded to Bettys Barber, Deuel, McMullen and Niedfelt. Get well wishes were extended to Betty Barth and birthday wishes to Bettys Briggs and Stanger.

The Bettys annual state will be held on April 26 at The American Legion Club in Columbus. Registration will be from 8 to 9 a.m. and cost is $30. Theme for the event is Fabulous 50's.

The next meeting will be at noon March 29 at Peking Palace. Hostesses will be Bettys Barber and McMullen.

Andrews Chapter #41, Order of the Eastern Star

Andrew's Chapter #41, Order of the Eastern Star met from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Masonic Center in Chapman for the annual Supervisor's visit. In attendance were 13 officers and guests were Susan Gray, Grand Supervisor from Lexington; Dave Thienel, Worth Grand Patron from Wood River and Jim Batie from Doniphan.

During the morning, individual instruction was given to the officers. Worthy Matron, Carol Ann Campbell, opened the afternoon session and instruction was continued. A lap robe handmade by Campbell was presented to Gray, and it will be given to the Masonic Home in Plattsmouth in Gray's honor.

Grand Island Woman's Club Duplicate Bridge

The Grand Island Woman's Club Duplicate Bridge meeting was held Feb. 11 with hostess Kathy Sass.

Winners were first place Mona Dubas and Reva Berens, second place Avella Highland and Jan Karrer, and third place Stacia Larson and Loucille Riessland.

The Duplicate group met again Feb. 22 at the Woman's Club with hostess Catherine Kutilek. Winners were first place Pat Vogel and Avella Highland, second place Joyce Wagner and Maxine Beilfeldt, and third place Catherine Kutilek and Kathy Sass.

The next meeting will March 10 at the Woman's Club with Mona Dubas and Reva Berens as hostesses.

Preceptor Alpha Xi

Preceptor Alpha Xi members joined the other Beta Sigma Phi chapters for a Valentines celebration at the Saddle Club on Feb. 19. Carolyn Lichterwalter was honored as Valentine Queen.

There were also two regular meetings this month. Ten members met at the home of Gen Conger on Feb. 11. The hostess presented a program of "I'm Obsolete." Lucille Armstrong also presented a program on "Gardeners Tools."

On Feb. 25, eight members met at the home of Bonnie Skeen. Following the business meeting, Phyllis Somer presented "The Lennon Sister, Sweethearts of Song."

The next meeting will be at the home of Barbara Clark on March 10.

Eagles' Auxiliary

The Eagles' Auxiliary met on Feb. 25 with the meeting being called to order by Madam President Carolyn Arndt. All officers present except Annie Smith and Louise Harden.

The Eagle's with be hosting the District Meeting on March 16 with corned beef, cabbage and red potatoes which will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

There will be a guest speaker from Habitat for Humanity. It was voted on that we send Ethel Rezabek a get well gift.

Other items discussed is nominations of officers on April 28. A Mix Feed will also be planned for the month of March.

The next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. March 10.

Grand Island Duplicate Bridge Club

February results

Feb. 5: First Eldon Ervin and Bob Kutilek; tie for second and third Don Dunn and Greg Smith, and Stacia Larson and Patricia Vogel; fourth Steven Millnitz and Jerry Kenyon.

Feb. 7: North-South: First Elsie Roemmich and Phil Spiehs; second Jerry Kenyon and Thomas Beswick; third Carolyn Loschen and Dorothy Jobes. East-West: First Patricia Grudzinski and Darlene Fagan; second Stacia Larson and Avella Highland; third Bob Kutilek and Marilyn Rank.

Feb. 12: First Myrna Sullivan and Jerry Kenyon; second Carolyn Nowka and Carolyn Loschen; third Stacia Larson and Thomas Beswick.

Feb. 14: North-South: First Lois Shoop and Ron Shoop; tie for second and third Eldon Ervin and Phil Spiehs, and Myrna Sullivan and Peggy Rauch. East-West: First Donna Rockwell and Marilyn Rank; second Thomas Beswick and Jerry Kenyon; third Patricia Vogel and Diane Fahrenbruch.

Feb. 19: First Myrna Sullivan and Bob Kutilek; tie for second and third Greg Smith and Don Dunn, and Peggy Rauch and Eldon Ervin.

Feb. 21: First Stacia Larson and Avella Highland; second Bob Kutilek and Eldon Ervin; third Patricia Grudzinski and Darlene Fagan.

Feb. 26: First Thomas Beswick and Stacia Larson; second Steven Millnitz and Jerry Kenyon; third Greg Smith and Bob Kutilek.

Feb. 28: First Darlene Fagan and Marilyn Rank; second Bob Kutilek and Thomas Beswick; third Patricia Vogel and Avella Highland.

Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Ave Maria #1263

Catholic Daughters Court Ave Maria #1263 met on March 4 at St. Mary's Cathedral Square. The meeting was called to order by Regent Trish Curran. The opening prayer was the Litany to the Blessed Mother for the intentions of the members.

All fundraiser cookbooks were sold and the total for sales was $424.

Members of the nominating committee for new officers are Joanne Kisner, Wauneta McGowen, and Suanne Davis. Ruth Armadys and Barb Jones volunteered to take another term as Financial Secretary and Recording Secretary.

Barb Jones reported on the status of the human cloning bill and spoke about the talk Fr. Thomas Euteneur, President of Human Life International, gave at the February Sanctity of Life banquet in Hastings.

Claudia Badura read a few excerpts from the book "Little Book of Life's Lessons."

Door prize winners were Mary Voss and Claudia Badura. Pat McHugh won the 50/50 drawing. Pat McHugh and Wauneta McGowen will celebrate March birthdays.

Fr. John Kakkuzhiyil from India will be the guest speaker at our next meeting on April 1.

Yakkity Yakkers Toastmasters

The Yakkity Yakkers Toastmasters met March 4 with the pledge of allegiance. Nancy Klimek, VP of Membership, was master of ceremonies and presented a joke.

Pam Clausen presented a speech from an advanced manual project, titled "Look at Yakkity Yakkers Toastmaster." Clausen referred to the mission statement for a Toastmaster club and outlined how to accomplish those goals.

Norma Perkins-Bailey led an impromptu speaking exercise with questions related to March. Teri Engleman, Tami Manhart and Steve Riehle participated.

On March 18, a visitor's meeting and lunch will be held at noon to help celebrate Yakkity Yakkers tenth anniversary.

Nancy Klimek won first place in the Area 1 motivational speaking and table topic contests. She will compete in the division contest March 29 at Sapp brothers in Columbus. The District 24 Conference will be May 2-3 at Beatrice.

Yakkity Yakkers Toastmasters meets the first and third Tuesday each month from noon to 1 p.m. at the Center for Independent Living. Visitors are welcome.

Toastmasters at Principal

Toastmasters at Principal welcomed Jeri Jaixen, Sharyl Baldwin, Mark Newton, Jill Purvis, and Victoria Kathman as new members in February.

Speakers for the month of February were: Carrie Galvan "The Core of Carrie's Confusion"; Kendra Beckstead "Saying Good-bye"; Coral Selden "Cell Phones"; Karla Schwieger-Arnold "It Happens Here"; and Coral Selden "Did You Know This About the Military?"

Events to come are the District 24 Conference on May 2-3 in Beatrice and the Regional Conference on June 26 and June 28 in Rapid City, S.D.

Kathy Kuszak received third place in the International Speech Contest.

Schwieger-Arnold received second place in the Table Topics contest and Georg Hood received third place.

Toastmasters at Principal meet from noon to 1 p.m. each Wednesday at 3025 W. College. Guests are welcome to attend.

Platt Duetsch Colonial Double Pinochle Club

The Platt Duetsch Colonial Double Pinochle Club met for lunch on March 5 with 19 in attendance. Viola Ruff will celebrate her birthday this month.

Door prizes were won by Maxine Torgerson, Sandra Hostler, Donna Speece, Phyllis Kurz, Glenrose Luebbe, Pat Miller, Irene Pelican, and Shirley Bruhn.

Card Winners were Imogene Williams, Shirley Bruhn, Betty Rother, Betty McMullen, Phyllis Kurz, Dorothy Dahms, and Irene Pelican.

The next meeting will be at 11:30 a.m. April 2 at the Platt Duetsche.

Grand Island Area Graduate Home Economists

The Grand Island Area Graduate Home Economists met March 5 at the Edith Abbott Memorial Library. Information was provided by Judy Hemmett about the Afro Psalms display. Kathleen Nonneman gave a tour of the library. Hostesses were Jan Meyer and Darlene Otto.

Volunteers are needed at the City Greenhouse to assist in transplanting flowers that will be used to beautify the city parks and other areas in Grand Island. The group decided to lend a hand at 9 a.m. March 26.

Bev Biggs and Jan Meyer reminded members about the new International Quilt Study Center and Museum in Lincoln. The dedication will be March 28 with the grand opening on March 30.

The next meeting will be April 3 at College Park. Jim Hruskoci, extension agent, will speak about spring blooms in small containers.

Grand Island Area Retired School Personnel

The Grand Island Area Retired School Personnel met Feb. 27 at Riverside Lodge with 36 members in attendance. President Gwynne Kuhn welcomed the group. Marie and Randy Smith from Aurora were introduced as new members.

Kuhn introduced Ann Sukraw-Lutz and Awauol Makol who spoke about the Sudanese who are making Grand Island their home.

Hope Harbor was the recipient of items brought to the meeting and the Food Pantry will be featured in March. A $25 gift went to the Crisis Center in January.

President Kuhn announced that AARP Day of Service will be May 8 and members voted to again prepare and deliver "goodie bags" to retirees. Items for the bags should be brought to the March meeting. Kuhn read an article naming the four signs of stroke and treatment. Pete Peterson reported that four requests for scholarships had been received with more expected. Several members agreed to help with the Groundwater Festival on May 13.

The serving committee was chaired by Jean Chestnut assisted by Della Lane, Carolyn Lichtenwalter, Veryl Morey and Stan Urwiller.

Door prizes were won by Pat Wissel, Jean McMindes, and Edith Pinkston.

YWCA Cards

Fifty-two ladies shared a covered dish luncheon on Feb. 27 at the YWCA.

High prizes were awarded to: Pitch Elenore Ruge, Gloria Enyeart, Milrae Sullivan, Shirley Thavenet, and Evelyn Zigler.

Pinochle Viola Ruff, Pat Miller, Beverly Wolfe, and Irene Alder.

Bridge Merlyn Andrews, Donna Fredrick, Jean Nore, Marge Olsen, and Pauline McCleery.

The next luncheon will be at noon on March 26.