Brownsdale Study Club

Brownsdale Study Club met at the home of Shelley Vogel on March 16, 2016. The meeting was opened with all members reading the Collect led by Fern Paschke. Minutes of the March meeting were read and approved.

Eleven members answered roll call by sharing about the first car they owned. There was no old business. For new business, Ellen Johnson, a former member passed away on March 6. A $15 memorial was given by the club to her family. An announcement was also made about Brownsdale’s three guest houses which can be rented to the public. They are Jessie’s House and Jim’s House. All are located on Highway 56 near IBI Data. Motion was made to adjourn the meeting by Beryl Sprung, seconded by Leone.

Ida foster gave the outside reading titled “Four Eyes.”

The phone rang. It was Micah’s fourth grade teacher. Micah was having trouble seeing words on the big board at school. She needed glasses. Then, Micah’s mom remembered when she had to get glasses in third grade, big thick coke-bottles glasses. The kids called her Four Eyes. Her mother bought trendy clothes to help her feel better, but she still felt ugly until she got contacts for her eyes. Before Micah went to the eye doctor, her mom told her that she herself had the same eye problem and still needed contacts or glasses, but she knew that people cared for her even with four eyes. Later, Micah had her appointment with the optometrist and her exam revealed she had 20/40 vision and would get to have regular new-style glasses. She was excited to pick out frames and told her mom she needed new frames too. Now, she and her mom felt loved just the way they were.

Beryl Sprung presented her main topic on “small ways you can make a difference this summer.”

We can never know how an act of kindness can really change a life. If good things can continue to happen, we can certainly keep doing our part. Here are eight small ways to help out and make a difference in someone’s life.

•Trust your gut. Get your heart committed to do something for someone and be a cheerful giver.

•See if someone needs your help. Get ideas about how to help someone. A smile can do wonders.

•Celebrate Christmas daily. Keep the whole sprit of the holiday season. You don’t need to spend money. A gesture or kind comment can even feel good.

•Set a good example. Kids look at us every day and they do a lot of what we do. Try to create a ripple effect of goodness each day.

•Get one. Give one. Every time you buy, or get something, try to find something of yours to give away.

•Show loyalty. Be a big brother to someone. Be supportive of someone lonely or alone. Invite someone to eat with you or give them a ride.

•Find ways to give off line. Donate to the Red Cross or relief funds to the poor. Just visit someone or give them your time.

•Respect every person. Be careful how your judge people, whether it’s how they look or what they wear. Be fair. Respond to people in positive ways. Get involved being helpful.

•Value others, be polite and say thank you. Look around you. Make a difference every day.

Shelley served a delicious raspberry dessert.