Club News

Martha Washington Questers 1032 met Sept. 25, 2015, at the home of Janet Peterson. Co-hostess was Virginia Reighard, and the program was by Sharon Hough. Nine members attended.

President Virginia Reighard opened the meeting with the reading of the Questers Invocation. The minutes were read and approved, and the treasurer?s report was given. In old business, Phyllis had sent copies of pictures of the group?s outing to Centerville on July 24, to Hawkeye Tales. She also received word that the vice president of programming had received the yearbook and that it will be judged. Members are currently being asked if any of them would like to be on a list to offer programs to other Questers groups. They were reminded of the Questers International meeting in Des Moines on May 19-23, 2016, and will be waiting to be assigned a job.

In new business it was moved and seconded for the club to give $25 to the State President?s Fund for restoring Music Man tapes. Virginia shared some ideas for fun ways to make a little money. An example would be that at each meeting she would ask members to pay a little money for objects around the house ? such as 10 cents for shoes in a shoe collection. The members were receptive to the idea.

The program was on the Bronte sisters and was presented by Sharon Hough. The Rev. Patrick Bronte had a family of six daughters and one son. The most famous of the girls were Charlotte, Emily and Ann Bronte. The family lived in the Bronte parsonage, where, after the death of their mother, they were raised by their aunt and the family cook. The girls had interesting lives. They went to boarding school and tried being teachers and governesses but always wanted to write books and poetry. Eventually Charlotte wrote ?Jane Eyre,? which was an acclaimed success, and Emily wrote ?Wuthering Heights.? Along with Ann, they wrote and published several other books and poetry, but always under pen names since women were not accepted as authors in that day. Unfortunately, both Emily and Ann died young, only in their early 30s. Charlotte lived longer and was married but died a year later at age 39. The Bronte Parsonage is a museum now and open to the public. Sharon invited members to join her on a trip to Yorkshire, England, to visit the Bronte Parsonage Museum.

The next meeting will be at Jane Fehr?s home on Oct. 23. Janet Peterson will be co-hostess, and Shirley Pfeifer will present the program on pop-up books.