The GFWC Friday Club met Friday, January 18th at Black River Electric. In the absence of the President and Vice-president, Margaret Miller the club secretary presided over the meeting. Present were members JoAnn Banks, Nancy Basden, Mary Brotherton, Phyllis Coulson, Shea Davis, Ilerea Hamilton, Mary Henson, Linda Hogan, Glenda Huffman, Dorothy Huskey, Catherine Ivy, Carolyn Kegley, Marilyn McFarland, Margaret Miller, Jean Roy, Betty Schmale, Dorothy Sutton, and Janet Ward.

JoAnn Banks introduced Kenneth Basden, who gave the program on Macular Degeneration. Kenneth has been treated for AMD (age-related macular degeneration) for four years. AMC is a deterioration or breakdown of the macula. The macula is a small area in the retina at the back of the eye that allows you to see fine details clearly and perform activities such as reading and driving. Kenneth’s program which included a video was extremely informative. He gave us three reminders to help with eye health (1) check your vision regularly, (2) watch for any distortions in your vision, (3) If you see any distortions, immediately see a Retinal specialist. For further information on AMD eye health, the American Retina Foundation has a free kit available for those who need help.

Nancy Basden gave our devotional entitled “A Recipe for a Happy New Year,” taken from the book Leaves of Gold. This provided us with inspiration to apply to our lives in 2008. The secretary’s and treasurer’s reports were accepted as read. Carolyn Kegley read a correspondence from Nina Carlton thanking the club for the coupons providing for free beauty care to local nursing home residents.

In new business, volunteer hours were updated and penny-a-day collections were taken for Missouri Girls Town. It was agreed to allow the Fredericktown football parents to sponsor a concession stand during the Little Prince and Princess Contest which is sponsored by the Friday Club. Nancy Basden made a motion which was unanimously approved to submit Ilerea Hamilton’s name as our nomination to the district as a candidate for GFWC’s Outstanding Woman of the Year Award.

Ilerea Hamilton reminded members of the need for blood for the Red Cross Blood Mobile drive sponsored by our local Retired Teachers Association this coming February. The blood drive will be held at St. Michael’s on February 12th. During the business meeting we were served delicious dessert pies and beverages by our hostesses Betty Schmale, Shea Davis, and Margaret Miller.

The next meeting will be February 15th at Black River Electric. It will consist of a program by Martha Stephens on Overseas Travel and will also include an information session on the Madison County Ambulance issue on the ballot this spring.