“We like to Compete, Meet, and Eat.”

Mabel Byrd and Arlene Sharpe hosted, very gracefully, the July Madison X-Rds. Homemakers meeting with fourteen members attending. Starting promptly, Opaline West, Club President, had many topics of business to bring before our members, but first we “Pledged Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.” Next on the agenda was a “Thought for Today” plus a funny, yet a bit serious and true to life, “Devotional” by Mabel Byrd - then on to “Roll Call,” to which each answered to the same question (we use either a what, when, why, where, how, or how many question). Now, in a warm and friendly atmosphere, we “set off to the races” to present our monthly business to the club and finish with it, in order to have time for refreshments following our monthly program. Five of our members presented an Environmental Area of Study program which was from a recently published article by Eugene Linden, “Why You Can’t Ignore the Changing Climate.” We learned/were reminded that, since 1997, each passing year has been in the Top 10 list of hottest years, and the year 2005 set a new record.

Members are finalizing their cultural arts entries for a county-wide Cultural Arts Exhibit to be held at the First Baptist Church in Madison on August 29. All county members who have given 25+ years of service in the Homemakers Organization will be honored at this exhibit. Refreshments will be served with special table seating arrangements, so that county members can meet and talk with “other” county members. (There are 12 Homemaker Clubs in Madison County.) Madison X-Rds. Club will be setting up and decorating the serving tables for this gala occasion. Several clubs throughout the county will furnish refreshments. Judging of the cultural arts will be for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in various categories. All 1st place winning entries in Madison County will be entered for competition with other Alabama County 1st place winners at our Alabama Homemakers and Community Leaders (AHCL) State Meeting in Birmingham the week-end of September 8, 9, 10.

A new County Homemakers’ Cookbook is now ready to be published. This will be a loose-leaf, bright blue, hardback, notebook-type publication. Orders received by September 14 will be $16.00 per book, with the cost being $20.00 each after that date.

We’re looking forward to our August meeting with Virginia Laux in Huntsville, and then to our annual potluck luncheon in September. In November Emily Haggard has plans to hostess our club with the program being a quilt show. Madison X-Rds. Homemakers Club welcomes visitors to club meetings. For more information about (1) our activities or (2) membership in a Homemakers Club, call Opaline West/Frankie Johnson at 828-4897/852-8449.

Again, “We like to Compete, Meet, and Eat.”