Vice President Steve Frees called the meeting to order and welcomed guests. Members having birthdays in February were recognized. He led the pledge of allegiance and Barb Foster gave the invocation.
Steve then introduced Dr. Kathy Steele who took a trip to Egypt in May 2023 with members Marilyn Spear, Marylou Dawald and Karen Patton. They traveled with Overseas Adventure Travels which arranges mostly for people in the 55-plus category. The group first flew to Cairo and stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel overlooking the Nile River. Sixty people were on the tour and were split into three groups of 20. Each group had their own Egyptian tour leader.
During the stay in Cairo the group toured the Old Egyptian Museum with the King Tut Exhibit, the excavations at Saqqara including the step pyramid, the town of Memphis with a lot of statues from the reign of King Ramesis II and two mosques. Each small group had dinner with a Coptic Christian family in an apartment building in Cairo. Cairo residences were interesting in that they were mostly unfinished because once they were finished you had to pay taxes. The group also walked through a bazaar in old Cairo. From there the tour group took a private plane to Luxor and then a bus trip to Abul Simbal.
The group toured the Aswan Canal and then Abul Simbal which actually had to be taken apart in blocks when the Aswan Canal was built and then reassembled in a new higher location. This took millions of dollars donated by over 50 countries. The Temple of Philae was also relocated or it would have been underwater after the dam was completed. The group then boarded a Nile Cruise ship “the Nefertiti” with each cabin having their own balcony. Watching the banks of the Nile was interesting because you could see scenes that looked like from Bible times and then a modern city nearby. Many people were doing agricultural work by hand and with farm animals. The ship provided entertainment each evening including a belly dances, Sufi (twirling dervish), an African band and a dance party where everyone dressed in Egyptian clothing.
One day the group went to a farm town and visited a Montessori school and then had lunch with a farm family. The group visited many temples and monuments: Kom Ombo, Edfu, Luxor, Karnak, Temple of Hatshepsut, Valley of the Kings and more. After returning to Cairo by plane the group visited the great pyramids and Sphinx. Some of the group went to a Papyrus shop and a Perfumery. Others went to Garbage City where garbage was taken, sorted, and made into artwork, jewelry and more. People actually lived there and it was a city with stores, groceries, etc. In Cairo the group went to old Cairo and saw a couple Christian churches including a place where legend says that Mary, Baby Jesus, and Joseph fled to Egypt during the massacre of babies by Herod.
During the business meeting, Frees reminded people to get tickets to Annie Jr. It was almost sold out. The minutes were approved as read and the treasury was accepted as read. There was no report for audit. Janet Armbruster gave the community service report. The members have reported over 15,000 volunteer hours and thank you notes were read from Pam’s Promise and FISH. A collection was taken for CASA and $116 was collected.
Diane German sent a report on the State Assembly and it was read by Marilyn Spear. There are bills HB 1004 and SB 275 which include money for a 13th check. Some will get a COLA .
Mary Lefebvre announced that cards had been sent to people who had been ill or had surgeries. It was reported that Bill Crosier had passed away.
Membership chair, Kathy Steele, announced that we have 138 members and a new member Karn Selby. Most of the officers will continue to next year but a new secretary is still needed.
There was no new business.
The meeting was adjourned and door prizes were awarded.
