Lafayette County WI Archives History - Books .....Senior Citizens Club 1976
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 29, 2008, 7:00 pm

Book Title: A History Of Blanchardville, Gem Of The Pecatonica

Senior Citizens Club
Chartered by Blanchardville Woman's Club

[photo] Walter Gould, first Senior Citizen President
[photo] Inez Barber, first Senior Citizen Secretary
[photo] Ed Thompson, second Senior Citizen President
[photo] Glenn Syse, first Senior Citizen Treasurer
[photo] Pearl Ramsey, 1976 Senior Citizen President

    On Wednesday, May 3, 1972, the Blanchardville Woman's Club sponsored a get
together for the senior citizens of Blanchardville. The purpose of this meeting
was to determine if enough people would be interested in starting a Senior
Citizens Club in this community.

    Temporary officers were appointed until permanent officers could be elected.
There were 35 people that attended this meeting. Village President Roy Kundert
welcomed the group and gave a brief message. Mr. and Mrs. Kundert gave a gift of
money to get things started. The Woman's Club purchased cards and dominoes and
offered to help the club when they were needed. Rental for the Legion Hall for
the first several months was paid for by the Woman's Club. Cash donations were
also received from Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Elden, Wilma Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Fred
Lukens and K. O. Lyngaas.

    Officers appointed were: Walter Gould, President; Thomas Watson, Vice
President; Mrs. Andrew Ayen, Secretary-Treasurer, and Mrs. V. A. Marshall, Sr.,
Entertainment Chairman.

    It was decided to meet the first and third Wednesday of each month. The
first Wednesday would be a potluck dinner and recreation. The third Wednesday
they would meet for recreation and afternoon lunch. It was decided that dues
would be $1.00 a year, and the year to begin in July. A letter was read from
Carl Chandler welcoming the club and inviting them to have a booth on market days.

    Among the visitors were: Rev. James Thunstrum, Rev. and Mrs. Perry Bell,
Father Kurz and Rev. Henderson.

    Officers elected at the first meeting of June 1972 were: Walter Gould,
President; Thomas Watson, Vice President; Mrs. Earl Barber, Secretary; Glenn
Syse, Treasurer, and Mrs. Alvin Blanchard, Sunshine Chairman.

    These officers were elected for one year and were re-elected for a second year.

    All meetings are held at the American Legion Hall. The village offered to
pay the rent for the Senior Citizens Club.

    Most of the business meetings were followed by some kind of entertainment by
members of the club and church and school groups.

    At the first meeting 63 paid up members attended. It was decided at this
meeting that when a member passed away a book would be donated in his or her
memory to the Blanchardville Library.

    In 1974 there were 104 members who elected the following slate of officers:
Edward Thompson, President; Pearl Ramsey, Vice President; Wilma Johnson,
Secretary; Mabel Kleppe, Treasurer, and Amy Blanchard, Sunshine Chairman.

    During this year the club enjoyed the meetings with many students to
entertain them. They did a lot of card playing and dominoes and had sing-alongs
and readings from club members as well as other entertainment.

    In the last three and one half years the following members were lost through
death: Walter Gould, George Watrud, Amanda Brager, Dona Robinson, Mildred
Hughes, Hazle Watson, James Stall, Alvin Blanchard, Scott Campbell, Ed Hanson,
Alve Thompson, Selma Robb, Ellen Breisath, Dorothy Marshall and Milo Swenson.

    In 1975 the officers elected were: Pearl Ramsey, President; Dora Hermanson,
Vice President; Leota Lehnherr, Secre tary; Mabel Kleppe, Treasurer, and Amy
Blanchard, Sunshine Chairman.

    1975 was a busy year. Pearl and Leota were on the board of directors for the
county "Senior Power" to bring information from the county commission on aging
to the local club. Some of the speakers that year were: Miss Hill on hobbies and
crafts, Mrs. Karen Ihus on Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Mr. Dick Strand
on help for blind, sick or disabled and SSI, Mr. Rodger Sudgen on food stamps,
Mr. Omer Thorpe on Medicare, and Blanchardville Rescue Squad members on life
saving equipment, which was also demonstrated. There was a health screening
program established by the county nurse's office and information was made
available for securing free legal advice and a means of checking on insurance
companies. Escort drivers for emergencies are available and the Mini Bus will
make two trips a month to each of these towns: Monroe, Darlington, Madison and
Dubuque, Ia.

    Members have taken tours of Amana, Ia., Lake Geneva Playboy Club, State
Fair, and gone to Florida on Tri-State Tour at reduced rates for senior
citizens. All this plus the regular meetings with the card playing, dominoes and
visiting.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from

A History of Blanchardville, Gem of the Pecatonica


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