Our first meeting of the year on September 18th was a tea to recognize our past presidents and we were honored to have seven attending: Alice Albright, Tomasina Werner, Marge Hutker, Dotty Rankins, Dino Salmi, Patti Flesher and Patricia Popp. They were presented with beautiful red roses by Carol Irish, Corresponding Secretary.

The new officers were introduced for the 2008-2009 year: President, Lura Kauffman; 1st Vice President Alice Albright; 2nd Vice President Connie Mahoney, Secretary Mary Taulbee; Treasurer Mary Boor and Corresponding Secretary Carol Irish. Committee Chairmen were also introduced: Historian Wanda Patterson, Inspiration Judy Baust, Parliamentarian Dino Salmi, Sunshine Patricia Popp, Telephone Calling Mary Thompson, 50/50 Nancy Henderson, St. Patrick’s Dinner Dance Chairman Connie Mahoney and Publicity Lura Kauffman.

Our program was a singer/guitarist invited by Dino Salmi. Elena de Hueck has had an exciting and celebrated career in Europe and America and we are very lucky that she is now living in Mobile. She has a lovely rich voice which filled the room warmly as she sang a variety of songs telling the story of her life in French, German, Italian, Romania and Russian while she played the guitar. She told the story of how she met her husband when she was singing in a night club in Paris. He asked her to sing a Russian song and came back every night asking for the same song. Finally he asked her to marry him but she hesitated and called her mother in Russia for advice. She discovered that their families had known each other in Russia and they have been married ever since. Her stories and her singing were beautiful!

Alice Albright has planned some very interesting programs for the coming year. November will feature Decorating for the Holidays, December will be our annual Dinner Dance, January will be Game Day, February will feature Mardi Gras Food Ideas with David Holloway as speaker, March will be the St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Dance, April will be Hat Day and May Installation of officers. Please join us for lots of fun! Members and guests and all welcome.