President’s Message
Dear Manxmen, Manxwomen, and Friends,
It has been a long winter. The cold, snowy days are hopefully behind us and it is time to think about our first meeting of 2001.
The Executive Board met this week to layout plans for the coming year. Our difficulty with finding a caterer who would serve on a Sunday and to a smaller group (many of them set 75 as the number they will serve), has been solved. As you see in another section of the Newsletter, Bill Wade has located a caterer that will fill our needs. If you plan to attend the April meeting, please contact him before the deadline date so he can order a great lunch for us.
The main event of our meeting will be the nomination and installation of officers for the next two years.
I continue to receive inquiries about our organization. One, an e-mail from a member of the Minot, N.D. Celtic organization, inviting us to represent the Manx people at their festival on Sept. 15. If you are interested, let me know. Another, a note from a Manx lady in Lady Lake, Florida, asking for information about the next N.A.M.A. Convention. And, an e-mail response to my N.A.M.A. Bulletin Board Internet message about our upcoming meeting.
So you see, as we reach out, there are people who are interested in their fellow-Manxmen, their fellow-Celts.
Wishing you well in 2001.
Sincerely,
Joyce Benjamin
Library Reminder
Please remember that all outstanding library materials should be returned either before or at the April meeting. If you will be unable to attend the meeting, pack burrowed items carefully in protective packaging (bubble wrap or sturdy box) and mail them "BOOKRATE" to Librarian Norma Bircher.
Spring Meeting - April 22
TRA DY-LIOOAR (Time Enough
)Special time is being reserved at the April meeting to give the members an opportunity to share information on their latest contacts with relatives, friends, the Isle (even ancestors). In addition to opportunities for group sharing we hope there will be time after the business meeting for Library browsing and member-to-member social contacts.
ENJOY A CATERED MEAL AT NOON
T J’s Catering from Sauk City will be providing our Soup, Salad and Sandwich Buffet. The cost is $10.00 per person. Reserve with Bill Wade by April 12. Bill asks if you leave a message, please spell your name to avoid confusion!
COUNTRY VEGETABLE SOUP
FRUIT SALAD
BROCCOLI CASHEW SALAD
SLICED SMOKED HAM
SLICED TURKEY BREAST
VARIETY OF FRESH BAKED BREADS, WHIPPED BUTTER, MAYONNAISE, MUSTARD, SLICED TOMATOES, LETTUCE, AND PICKLES
FRESH GROUND COLUMBIAN DECAF
LEMONADE
Member News
WMS members were saddened to learn of the death of the son of Jean and Dann Willett, Charter members of the Wisconsin Manx Society. Tim Willett, age 49 died at home on January 13, 2001. His death was a shock to all and we extend our deepest sympathy to Jean and Dann and the entire Willett family.
From the newspapers, we learned that John and Norma Bircher marked their Golden Anniversary on February 3, 2001. They plan to celebrate with their family in July when their daughter, Beverly who lives in Turangi, New Zealand will be able to join them. Norma and John have been working hard to keep their bodies going as well as their marriage. We look forward to seeing them at the April meeting, back in good health after a couple of years of many hospital visits including Norma’s very recent gall bladder surgery.
Jody Morey and son, James are anticipating a real adventure when they fly off to explore Prague, Czechoslovakia during their Spring break from school. That should be an exciting week.
Membership Chair, Andy Ravenscroft, will not be present for our April meeting but has an "excused absence since he will be going back to the Isle of Man for a family "holiday". We look forward to his firsthand report of the "State of the Isle" and a program for the Membership after their return.
Mark your calendar for our Fall Meeting on
October 21, 2001.Membership Secretary Report
A couple of people suggested that it would be helpful to have information on the newsletter mailing as to whether your membership dues were paid up or
needed renewing. As a little experiment in this newsletter your dues status has been added to the mailing label. If you look at the label above the
address you'll see a line that says 'Membership fee due:'. If it says 'October', you're paid up until the Fall meeting. If it says 'Now', well you know where to send the check (or bring it with you to the Spring
meeting)! If this works out OK we'll keep the notification on every mailing, and all you have to do is send money every time you see the word 'Now'.
A quick note on the internet – I'm going to try to keep the Association web site (
Nominative Slate
The Nominating Committee (Mona Voutila, Judy Schlueter, and Chris Merritt) is very pleased to accept the generous offer of the individuals listed below who wish to renew their service to WMC.
President: Joyce Benjamin
Recording Secretary: Doris Alff
Treasurer: Joan Ogden
Membership Secretary: Andrew Ravenscroft
Librarian: Norma Bircher
Historian: Mae Reese
1st Governor: Mona Voutila
2nd Governor: Judy Schlueter
3rd Governor: Chris Merritt
The committee regretfully acknowledges the wishes of Bill Wade to not return as Vice President for the next term. We all appreciate his contributions the past 2 years. At press time, the committee is continuing to search for prospective candidates. If you would like to help keep our organization active by sharing a few hours of your time twice a year, let the committee know at our April meeting.
The Nominating Committee