Sertoma Annual Christmas Party - Sertoma Club of Fort Worth

Downtown Fort Worth Sertoma Club Bulletin for December, 2007
Sertoma Annual
Christmas Party
Tuesday, Dec. 11, at 6:30 p.m. at Pappadeaux
(Interstate 30 at the Forest Park exit)
Bring your favorite White Elephant gift to exchange.
Also bring an unwrapped toy or a check payable to
Samaritan House for gifts for children who live there.
NOTE: Our morning Club Meeting at Colonial will be
cancelled for Tuesday, Dec. 11, because of the
Christmas social that evening.
Christmas at Westchester
is this Saturday, Dec. 15
Project coordinator Bill Hetreed reports that all is ready
for our annual Christmas Party for deaf and deafblind
residents at the Westchester Plaza Assisted Living
Center on Summit Avenue and Pennsylvania Street.
We will deliver the gifts on Saturday, December 15, at
10:00 a.m. We will meet first at the IHOP on University
Drive by 8:30 a.m. for breakfast together before going
to Westchester Plaza. The Westchester will provide
cookies and punch for the residents after we distribute
the gifts.
This is a party that will enrich the givers and receivers
alike. Bring the family and share the joy!
Connie resigns as
Club President
At the December Board Meeting, Connie Anderson
read a heartfelt letter to the board. She is resigning as
President, effective Dec. 31. With regret she stated
that the responsibilities of her new job position and the
upcoming move to Granbury prevent her from fulfilling
the duties as President. She also stated that President
Elect Barbara Selman will make a fantastic President
and we will be in good hands. Connie will remain a
member of the club.
Movin’ On Up!
Barbara Selman:
President Elect to President
Barbara is the Downtown Sertoma Club’s new BFF*!!
Have you seen the excitement, the interest, the drive??
We are thrilled to have Barbara as our new president.
She became a member, was elected as President
Elect, and then at the December Board Meeting, was
elected to fill the shoes of Connie Anderson who
resigned her second term as president. Thank you,
Barbara!
* BFF = Best Friend Forever, for those of us
who are out of the cultural loop.
We reached our goal for the
cochlear implant upgrade!
Thanks to the support we have received from other
Sertoma clubs in the district, we have reached our goal
for the cochlear implant upgrade for four-year-old
Cassandra Sproat, of Saginaw.
Azle, Dallas, Watauga, and Yellow Rose clubs or
members have all contributed, along with $1,300 from
a local foundation that Roger knows. In addition, Cassandra’s
mother Barbara has also received donations
from two Lions clubs and a price reduction from the
implant manufacturer, Advance Bionics.
BRING A GUEST to our club meeting on December
18. Cassandra and Barbara will be present to
receive the check, and Barbara will be our
speaker. Members of the other clubs are invited.
This will be a special occasion!

New member volunteers
for the Treasurer job
Have you missed your Sertoma bill lately?? Unfortunately,
our long-term Treasurer Russell Stone has had
to say he needs help. Fortunately, new member
Charlotte Daugirda has offered to help out! Russell has
had several major work projects this fall that have
prevented him from fulfilling all the duties as our
treasurer. In addition, these projects haven’t allowed
him to come to the weekly breakfast meetings.
Starting the first of the year, Charlotte and Russell will
get together, add her to be able to write checks, and
train her on the duties as treasurer. We can elect her
officially at our January board meeting.
Thank you, Charlotte, for helping out another
Sertoman!
Samaritan House project
Bob Middlebrook has been fund raising to provide
Christmas gifts to the residents and children of Samaritan
House just we are doing at Westchester Plaza. He
has already collected $1,045. The club had previously
promised a $500 donation to his efforts. With the
success of fund raising for the CI upgrade, we have
additional funds on hand, and Bob asked that they be
designated to the Samaritan House children. The
club/foundation board approved it.
Sleeping soundly,
thanks to Sertoma
Bob reported the mattress approved last month for
Walter Hill was delivered. Dan reported Walter says he
is sleeping soundly and is most grateful to Sertoma.
Bob said with the money he was able to get a second
mattress and then get a box spring donated for a
gentleman at Samaritan House. Way to go, Bob!
More Club News
Our Tarrant Food Bank evening project was a
success, with 13½ service hours performed and
donated to the Union Gospel Mission account.
Indoctrination was held at Marsha McGee’s home,
with Charlotte indoctrinated. Materials were provided
later to Barbara Selman and Paul Baganz.
Fundraising: Roger Norman is working with Watt
Elrod to enlist major sponsors for the golf tournament
to be held in April. They, along with Mike McGee and
Dan White, usually sit together each Tuesday morning
and conduct a brief committee meeting before
breakfast. Rebeka Gillilan’s sister Rosanna Morgan
has designed colorful, attractive brochures and other
print pieces to promote the tournament.
District status in question
Club Secretary Marsha McGee participated in a
conference call with District Governor Bill Ditman and
representatives of other clubs on the status of the
district. She reported to our club Board about the call at
our December 6 meeting.
Sertoma International will consolidate a number of
districts or form “districts at large” to reduce the
number of governors to be brought to Kansas City for
training each year at considerable expense.
At the February board meeting of Sertoma International,
decisions will be made regarding the future of
districts that do not meet the criteria established by the
bylaws – at least 300 members and eight clubs.
International requested that we present our plan either
to comply with the bylaws, merge with another district
(e.g., Heart of Texas), or become a district at large
(i.e., without a governor).
Participants in the conference call deemed it impractical
to meet the bylaw standards for a district, and they
suggested we become a district at large.
Bill requested all to discuss this with their boards and
to apprise him of the results by the end of December.
Nothing will be submitted to International until all five
clubs have reviewed the proposal and commented.
After much discussion among our board members,
Marsha moved for us to recommend to the governor
that the North Texas District request “District At Large”
status. The motion was seconded and carried.
Report based on club minutes by Marsha and conference
call minutes by Beverly Ditman, District Secretary.
In other news of the District, the Yellow Rose Club
will host the 2009 Heart of America Regional
Convention, with Dee Dee Harris and Tina Turner
responsible for the arrangements. Several members
from other clubs have volunteered to help with various
aspects of the convention.
Each club is encouraged to send a representative to
the midwinter meeting to be held in Tulsa, January 12.
Our ID, Carolyn Collette, will provide more details. This
meeting will be an important one, as it will be a preview
of what we must do to put on the event in 2009.
Now is the time to submit candidates for Sertoman of
the Year and Service to Mankind awards.
Remember –
No club meetings
Tuesday, 12/25
Christmas Day
Tuesday, 1/1/08 New Year’s Day

Member News
Watt Elrod’s brother has passed away out of state.
Watt came to the board meeting to notify us of the
death and of his planned trip out of town, but also
brought gifts for both the Samaritan House children
and for the Westchester House residents. Watt is a
dedicated Sertoman, and has our deepest sympathies.
Juanita Muhlinghause remains hospitalized in
Wichita Falls, as physicians and surgeons decide
whether they can save her leg. In any case, she is
facing more surgery. Lloyd is with her during the day,
and Tina and sisters are there at night.
Claire Collins has been working again at Casa
Manana on “A Christmas Carol.”
Ask Paula Stone how much fun it was to take a “spit
bath” each night with Russell for a week! She’ll say it
wasn’t much fun, and she finally went to a hotel. Yep,
that was the result of no water at home while their well
was being repaired!
Dan White and a buddy from their church’s Navajo
Mission Partnership visited Navajo church leaders in
several locations in New Mexico and Arizona, Nov. 28
through Dec. 1, to deliver Christmas gifts and to
discuss opportunities for next summer’s mission trip.
Officers of the
Sertoma Club
of Downtown Fort Worth
President – Barbara Selman
Vice President/Membership – Everett Young
Vice President/Sponsorships – Roger Norman
Secretary – Marsha McGee
Treasurer – Russell Stone
Sergeant-At-Arms – Claire Collins
Chairman of the Board – Dan White
Club Meetings
The Sertoma Club of Downtown Fort Worth meets at
7:00 AM each Tuesday, downstairs at the Colonial
Country Club, 3735 Country Club Circle. Visitors are
always welcome for great fellowship, programs, and an
avenue for service in our local community.
Board meetings are at 7:00 PM on the first Thursday
of each month at Ol’ South Pancake House, 1507
South University Drive. Dinner at 6:00 (on you own).