Habitat for Humanity

B-CS Habitat for Humanity dedicated a home this month for the Ortega family. Construction was sponsored by area Lions Clubs and a grant from the Lions Clubs International Foundation.

The local clubs raised their portion of the sponsorship at a music show in February and Lions provided volunteers to build the house throughout the year.

The participating Lions Clubs were Aggieland, Bryan Breakfast, Bryan Evening, Bryan Noon, Bryan North Bryan, College Station Morning, College Station Noon and Wellborn.

The Woman's Club

The annual Woman's Club Christmas Luncheon was held in Bryan recently.

Martha West and her Luncheon Committee greeted members and guests with hot cranberry wassail. The seated luncheon featured a traditional Colonial Williamsburg menu of beef tenderloin with Madeira sauce, Yorkshire pudding, roasted winter vegetables, Waldorf salad and spirit cake and coffee for dessert. The overall Luncheon Chairman was Kathy Patranella.

Club members and guests were entertained by the Bryan High School Ensemble, led by Alex Medlock. The group of junior and senior singers were dressed in classical Renaissance costumes as they shared selections from their 25th Anniversary "Feast of Carols" as well as contemporary Christmas songs. The 30-minute performance offered many favorite holiday songs including The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies, Carol of the Bells and Deck the Halls. The leader of the day was Doris Light, who introduced the ensemble.

The Christmas Luncheon completed the schedule of events and meetings for the calendar year.

Fall projects included the sale of holiday Butter Braids to benefit Habitat for Humanity and Christmas wreaths to benefit Hospice Brazos Valley, collections for the Boys and Girls Club of the Brazos Valley and the sale of note cards to fund two scholarships offered by the club.

The 2008-09 club year will continue Jan. 14.

Tree-planting

Members of Bryan's executive team and the Bryan Noon Lions Club planted a Live Oak at Tanglewood Park this month. The tree was one of 50 supplied by the Apache Tree Planting Program and Bryan Noon Lions Club. This is the second year the agencies have provided trees for local parks.

The trees have been planted at Tanglewood Park, Tiffany Park, Bryan Municipal Golf Course and on park land behind the Target on Briarcrest.

RSVP

RSVP volunteers and guests gathered this month for the 36th Annual RSVP-Senior Corps Volunteer Recognition Luncheon. Volunteers from the seven-county Brazos Valley Region were served a special holiday dinner and a program filled with entertainment, fun and a few surprises ... like snow!

Despite the weather, the ballroom at the Hilton was filled with 525 attendees. This event celebrates the accomlishments of 1,000 volunteers, who contributed more than 175,000 hours of service during the year.

The Rev. Cherry Moore, Hospice of Brazos Valley chaplain, gave the blessing for the meal. A Joyful Noise, a gospel music group that performs at area nursing homes and assisted living centers, provided music during the meal. Rene and Judy Estrada and J.R. and Lois Bosley make up the ministry group (www.1savior.net).

For the second year, Humana Market POINT was a major sponsor of the event. Sales Manager Michael Beilman attended, assisting with some of the emcee duties along with Bob French of KBTX. French, who was given an award recognizing his years of service to RSVP, spoke on the importance of giving, especially after a loss, and shared some of his experiences with Hurricane Ike and the destruction of the home his grandfather had built at Galveston.

The Humana Foundation We Care Award was presented to Howard L. Myers of The Lord's Pantry of Leon County. Beilman presented the award, sharing how Myers has contributed to make his community a better place to live and work.

Other nominees for the award were Mary McVey, Madison Health Resource Center; Ruth Necker, Washington County Healthy Living Association Senior Center RSVP Driver Escort Program; Lula Taylor, Our Open Hands; Michael D. Krumrey, Argent Court Assisted Living-Brenham; and Lila Steen, RSVP Reach-Out Volunteer.

Also recognized were 33 RSVP volunteers who achieved 15 years of service: Donald and Juanita Bailey, Clayton Brasington, Barbara Cargill, Martha Crabtree, Caroline Edwards, Maggie Freeman, Donald Graesser, Flora Gray, Helen Hamilton, Ruby Jewel Johnson, Betty J. Jones, Blanchie Jones, Gwyn V. Jones, Katharine Lockhart, James E. Nealey, Rosemary O'Neal, John Prescott, Charlotte Price, Ethel Mae Richardson, E. Gaye Robertson, Valeria Schoppe, Sylvester Singleton, Luci G. Smith, Raymond Stetz, Joan Stitzlein, Dale Stoughton, Jean W. Vilas, Beverly Bennett-Walker, Rose E. Watson, Shirley Woode, Myrtle Wyatt and Gertrude Zgabay.

Plaques were presented to seven RSVP volunteers with 20 years of service: Birdie Ayers, Louise Bullock, Doris Foster, Inez Hill, Barbara G. Masters, Willie R. McMillian and Marie Ryder.

Mildred Kennedy was recognized for 25 years with RSVP. Kennedy has served all 25 years at the same place -- Fannin Elementary school in Bryan.

Fannin HOSTS (Help One Student To Succeed) coordinator Sheilah Pantin shared stories of how Kennedy has inspired and helped not only students, but also staff, at the school over the years. Tony Atkins, manager for H.E.B. in College Station, presented Kennedy with a dozen long-stem roses. She also received an engraved vase and a plaque.

Door prizes were donated by more than 50 area businesses, organizations and individuals. More than 50 event sponsors were recognized for their help in funding the recognition luncheon.

More than $500 was collected was those attending the lunch, with funds set aside for RSVP's annual Shirley's Senior Christmas project. The money will be used to purchase gifts for area nursing home and homebound residents.

James Nowak of Specialties Photography donated the photography services and posted the photos online at www.specialphoto.com. On the homepage, click on Events, then in the Corporate Events dropdown menu, choose "RSVP 2008."

Beta Sigma Phi

* The Pi Psi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met this month at Joyce Sutherland's home (photo at right). The theme was "Christmas celebration with friends."

Co-hostess Lisa Rosser prepared a chili dinner and one guest was welcomed. Toys, clothes and a new bicycle were wrapped for a 7-year-old Christmas Angel.

For the program, Sutherland decorated a box for each person, and holiday wishes were written to each other and placed inside. Secret sister gifts were exchanged.

The next meeting will be Jan. 19 at Rosser's home, with co-hostess Sonya Bouse.

* The Epsilon Alpha Beta Master chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met at Louise Smith's home. President June Scott presided over the meeting. Two guests were welcomed.

Service Chairman Rose Watson reported that the box to be sent to soldiers in Iraq would be mailed soon. The chapter voted to help a needy student. The gifts collected for RSVP were delivered. Smith said the January Birthday Breakfast will be at Blue Baker at 9 a.m. Jan. 10.

Courtesy Chairman Vanette Allen presented Dorothy Martin with a yellow rose bush after her stay in the hospital. Allen also mentioned other infirm members.

Program Committee Chairman Marianna Bond presented a program about turkey, including a quiz.

The chapter also celebrated at Christmas dinner this month with spouses and guests at Della Nichols' home. Scott presented Christmas facts from around the world. Decorations included Santas from other countries along with the national flags. Christmas cards were exchanged.

Grimes County 4-H

The District 9 4-H Food Show was held in Hempstead recently. Grimes County 4-H'ers competed in a food challenge with 17 other teams. During the competition, teams were given ingredients, a one-hour time limit and written materials to assist them in their presentation. They had to come up with a dish using the given ingredients and write the recipe, then calculate the cost, the nutritional value and the category the ingredients fell into (such as fruits and vegetables, grains, etc.), and relate how this worked for their body.

Individual winners: Junior Division -- Daylen Wagner, Bread & Cereal Display; Intermediate Division -- Tonia Lambert, 3rd in Fruits & Vegetables; Senior Division -- Ashleigh Sowell, 2nd in Nutritious Snacks; and Cierra Myles-Williams, 5th in Fruits & Vegetables.

Equality Texas

Equality Texas has elected four new members to its board of directors, including Katy Stewart of Bryan-College Station.

Equality Texas advocates and lobbies for the elimination of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.

Katy Dawn Stewart was born David Alton Friesenhahn in 1971 in San Antonio.

Stewart is a graduate of Texas A&M University, with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. She is a graduate student at Texas A&M, working on a certificate in nonprofit management through the George Bush School of Government and Public Service.

Her professional career began in 1990 in the radio/television industry. She has worked in grassroots advocacy specific to civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. Stewart is the Texas State Coordinator of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), and serves as facilitator between Texas chapters, community organizations and national PFLAG offices.

She also serves as president of the Bryan-College Station PFLAG chapter. Stewart serves as Transgender Network vice president, a national officer board position. She serves as an Aggie ALLIES co-facilitator/LGBT educator and is responsible for scheduling and logistics for LGBT educational workshops as part of the TAMU Aggie ALLIES safe zone program.

Bridge Club

Star Duplicate Bridge Club met Dec. 12 at College Station Conference Center. The winners were as follows:

N/S

1. Cindy DuBois and Jim Hibbetts;

2. Kathy Baldwin and Chuck Gates

E/W

1. Beth Coker and Bob Young

2. Patsy Boedecker and Nell Page

Dec. 15 winners were:

N/S

1. Richard Duble and Jim Hibbetts

2. Barbara McAllister

E/W

1. Joyce Greinert and Betty Mahoney

2. Ann Fleischer and Lynda Shepard

Brazos Valley Senior Citizens

Mary Kay Moore won a handmade quilt in a raffle for the Brazos Valley Senior Citizens Association following the group's annual membership meeting this month. The raffle is a major fundraiser for the self-supporting group. To support Brazos Valley seniors or join the association, call 822-6873.

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