Brenda Harper, left, program assistant at Footprints in Newton, looks over a Footprints brochure with Theresa Buntyn, right, president of Decatur Woman's Progressive Club. Harper presented a program on Footprints to the DWPC at the March meeting.

    Footprints Program Assistant Brenda Harper presented a program about the Newton daycare facility for dementia patients at the March 2, 2010, meeting of the Decatur Woman’s Progressive Club in the fellowship hall of Clarke-Venable Baptist Church. 

    Harper began her presentation by relating to club members the number of individuals who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.  She also explained that the cause is unknown and the risk is higher in women than men. Harper said that the saddest symptom is that dementia removes from the living the capacity to do what the body is still able to do.

    Footprints opened in 2000 as a safe and caring place for dementia patients to stay during the day. The facility, which is staffed by eight individuals, is open from 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Activities for those who attend range from entertainment, field trips, bingo, dominoes, cards, puzzles, painting, ceramics, Putt-Putt Golf or simply sleeping.

    Because of state budget cuts, Harper asked club members to contact their local legislatures to ask for their continued support for Footprints.

    President Theresa Buntyn led the business session. She reminded members about the Author’s Tea scheduled in April and the state convention scheduled the last weekend in April.

    The Author’s Tea will be held April 11 in the Decatur Public Library. Members of the Decatur community will be honored. The club will provide refreshments and donations will be accepted for the library.       

    The Decatur Woman’s Progressive Club will host the District II Convention of the Federation of Women’s Clubs in 2011. Clubs from Quitman and Enterprise will assist the Decatur Club. Dianne Smith, Jackie Etie and Buntyn were appointed to head the planning committee.

    Members were also reminded about the District II Convention, which was held March 6.  

    The club voted to purchase a book for the Decatur Public Library in memory of Burl Denson, husband of club member Marijo Denson. Members also voted to donate $200 to Decatur Public Library to purchase biographies; the check will be presented during the Author’s Tea.

    Jeanette Thrash reminded members about the Read Across America project to be held at the Newton County Elementary School.

    Dianne Smith reported that the DWC’s Relay For Life Committee recommended that the club provide food for the Survivor’s Tent on April 16, from 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

    New officers elected for the new club year are: Felicia Smith, president; Ann Burkes, vice-president; Diane O’Neill, secretary; Merita Cherry, treasurer; Theresa Buntyn, parliamentarian; Valorie Westbrook, historian; and Lois Cooper, reporter.

    Hostesses for the March meeting were Johnnie Keith, Jan Addy, Paula Stringer and Charlotte Smith.

• Submitted by Lois Cooper, reporter.