Decatur Progressive Woman's Club members Kay Chambers, Charlotte Griffin and President Felicia Smith display some of the goodies that will be for sale at the club's annual Bake Sale, May 6 in the  Newton County Court House in Decatur.

    Decatur’s crime problems and safety issues were addressed by Chief of Police Joedy Pennington at the April meeting of the Decatur Woman’s Progressive Club. The presentation concluded with a question-and- answer session.

    The club presented Pennington a gift of appreciation. Because the chief has covered food costs for the department’s drug sniffing dog, Jackie Etie made a motion that the club donate a gift card from Wal-Mart to help defray these costs. Mary Cullum seconded the motion, which was passed.

    The April 5, 2011, meeting was held at Clarke-Venable Baptist Church. President Felicia Smith called the meeting to order; meditation was presented by Jeanette Thrash.

    As the first order of business, Smith asked if there were any corrections or additions to the March minutes; they were accepted as written. 

    Secretary Dianne O’Neill read correspondence, which included a letter of thanks from Bess Hollingsworth for the club’s donations to the Decatur Historical Society’s 175th birthday celebration. Suzanne Poyner of the Mississippi Federation of Women’s Club and JoAnne Reid, president elect, sent a letter of thanks to the club for hosting the District II Convention. 

    The club voted to donate money to East Mississippi State Hospital.

    Beginning the reports from department and project chairs, Jeanette Thrash recognized the success of the Historical Society’s birthday bash – the group’s largest meeting on record. Eleven DWPC club members attended.

    Jackie Etie reported that 14 DWPC members attended the District II convention. Theresa Buntyn and Merita Cherry were thanked for their hard work. Etie also proudly announced that the DWPC receive first place overall, as well as six other first place awards.

    Youth Art Chair Pam Keith reported that although there weren’t as many entries this year, the art work was very good and Decatur received many awards.

    Merita Cherry, treasurer, presented the financial report. 

    As chair for National Library Week, Thrash made a motion that the club donate a monetary gift for juvenile books in time for summer reading. The motion was carried.

    Louise Bailey asked members to bring old watches to the May meeting for a mural project in New York. 

    Charlotte Griffin reminded members of the club’s May 7 fundraiser – a bake sale at the courthouse starting at 8 a.m.  All members are asked to bake two cakes or other items for the sale. 

    Relay For Life Chair Mary Cullum requested help in making sandwiches for participants. Griffin made a motion to reimburse Cullum for the expense of making the sandwiches; the motion was carried. A motion by Keith to make a monetary donation to Relay For Life was also carried.

    A letter from Diane Mills thanking the club for donations to the Care Lodge was read.

    Candy Babson requested help placing two dogs in need of adoption. Babson also alerted members to a Persian Gulf War Memorial Wall dedication on April 18t at the Veterans Cemetery. Babson said she would present a date at the May meeting for volunteers to help weed the gardens and planters in town.

    Smith reminded members of the two-day state convention at Eagle Ridge Conference Center in Raymond. Theresa Buntyn and Smith were scheduled to attend, and would pick up the club’s yearbook and other District II first-place winning entries entered in the state competition.

     Hostesses were Candy Babson, Merita Cherry, Kay Chambers, and Marie Spence. 

    The Decatur Women’s Progressive Club’s next meeting will be May 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the Gold Room at East Central Community College.The meet will be catered by ECCC; music will be provided by Josh Burton.

          

• Submitted by Ada McGrevey, reporter.