SPIRITED!! WITH SPIRIT!! might describe the attitudes and the working ways of members of the Madison X-Rds. Homemakers and Community Leaders (HCL) Club: Spirited!! with lots of guidelines for gardening, sharing new and old ideas with each other, (emphasizing care of homes, betterment for our lives, and planning for the future); With Spirit!! as members work to carry out plans for families, home improvements, relationships, and outreach to the local community and to a broader community.

Laura Byrd hosted the Madison X-Rds. HCL Club’s April 25th meeting. Some past memorable Easter activities were shared by members, and several topics of interest were considered in order to engage a speaker from TARCOG for a future meeting. After delicious refreshments there was a fun time with an in-club, front-porch plant sale. Club member, Dainie Tidwell, served as auctioneer. The Byrd’s home, most unique and comfortable, afforded a nice setting, with its full front porch, for the plant sale.

An annual Spring County HCL project of donating new “Books for Babies” maxed out for a total of approximately 175 books as twelve Madison County, AL HCL Clubs brought books to the “Stepping Into Spring” gala held at the Board of Realtors Building in Huntsville on April 27. The Madison X-Rds Club donated 37 books, some of which were children’s classics and some contemporary.

Also at the “Stepping Into Spring” gala, a delectable lunch of chicken salad on croissants, tossed salad, fruit platter, and cookies was served. A fashion show by Stein Mart, located on Airport Road and on University Drive in Huntsville, was given during the lunch hour.

Also a presentation was given by Summer Classics (used to be Brooks and Collier). Summer Classics invited all to an event to be held soon at their location on Meridian St., Huntsville, featuring “out-door” kitchen appliances. There will be chefs on hand to cook at this event.

SPIRITED!! WITH SPIRIT!! The Madison X-Rds. Club is continually involved in many Homemaker activities.

Spring and Early Summer have afforded many opportunities for our Homemakers to study, learn, travel, extend friendship with other Homemakers (County, District and Statewide), and to reach out in community service.

In April our Club attended the “Stepping Into Spring” gala sponsored by the Madison County Homemakers Council. We enjoyed a fashion show and a program on outdoor furniture and outdoor kitchen appliances. All clubs attending donated books under the State Program of Work, “Books for Babies.” Our club donated 57 books and the county-wide total surpassed 200. The books were taken to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Huntsville East, for distribution to patients.

At our May meeting we shared memories of Marge Root who recently passed this life. Marge had been one of our most active Homemakers, “wearing many hats” offering much fun and dignity to our organization, both at the County and Local levels. We miss her leadership and presence.

We were honored to have Sue Schmitz as our Speaker in May under our State Program of Work category “Citizenship and Community Outreach.” Sue emphasized her dedication to teaching as well as service in the areas of citizenship and government policy making. She serves as Alabama State Representative for District 6 and gave us many insights to the legislative process and stressed that killing legislation is just as important as passing legislation. She reported that the State legislative body is made up of 10% women, 90% men. In 2004 Sue led Sparkman High School (Madison County) seniors to participate in a “We the People” national contest. Students were required to memorize nine essays which they had written themselves in the areas of Citizenship and the Constitution. Sparkman High School Seniors won 4th Place nationwide and a trip to Washington, D. C.

The month of June started off with three key meetings: (1) County Board - June 5th; (2) County Council - 8th; and (3) District I (held in Guntersville) - 12th. Then on June 15th the Madison X-Rds. Club helped with the Health Fair sponsored by the District 4 Commissioner’s Office, Madison County, at the Bobo Fire Department. We served lunch (Whitt’s Bar-B-Q sandwich furnished by the Commissioner’s office and homemade cake and drink furnished by Homemakers). Approximately 110 people came through the Health Fair and were served lunch afterwards. A big majority of our club members helped with the Health Fair and furnished ten homemade cakes.

June 27th, we tried our skills at sponge painting. Emily Haggard had all the supplies necessary for, and led us in, the painting workshop. We painted on cedar wood and had lots of fun with some members showing unusual talents.

Our Club usually meets the 4th Tuesday of each month. We enjoy and welcome visitors. For Club information, call Opaline West - 828-4897, or Frankie Johnson - 852-8449, or any Club member you might know.

In late August a county-wide Cultural Arts Exhibit will be held with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners named in categories such as painting, needlework, writing, photography, and many more. The annual Homemakers State Conference will be held in Birmingham in early Sept.