Posted: 3:39 PM - Feb 09, 2010
From The Wilmington News Journal dated Friday 5 February 2010.
The first meeting of 2010 for the Six and Twenty Club was held in January at the home of Mrs. Dawn Victor-Herring.
The gavel was passed from the vice-president, Mrs. Sara Conti, to the new president, Mrs. Cecilia Wathen.
Meeting the day after the death of Mrs. Jean Heiland, an honorary member of the group, members reflected on Mrs. Heiland's life.
Some told humorous incidents while others told of how she was a tomboy growing up, but a perfect lady in her adult years.
She was known as an excellent cook and hostess and a supporter of her husband and family, a good example to follow.
Mrs. Mary Ann Raizk was introduced as the years first program leader. Her 2010 club book is "Telex from Cuba," a fictional novel based on historical
fact, written by Rachel Kushner.
The setting was in Oriente province during the 1950s, luxurious years during which the United Fruit Company owned thousands of acres of
sugarcane plantations before Castro overthrew the Batista. Desiring to know more about the history of Cuba, Mrs. Raizk researched and gave
members a brief summary of Cuba's past.
Mrs. Raizk introduced guest speakers Libby Curry and Lois Hackney who have been on several mission trips to eastern Cuba under the leadership of the Friends United Meeting.
Mrs. Curry related that Cuba became a desperate country after Fidel Castro deported Americans in 1959. During the several trips she has made to Cuba, she observed that in spite of their poverty, the people of Cubans are well educated and have excellent health care.
The Quakers started a Cuban mission in 1902 and Eva Terrell from Fairview Friends Meeting was its first missionary. The "Wilmington School," which was built by the Wilmington Yearly Meeting still exists there today.
Mrs. Hackney told of her 2004 trip to Cuba for the centennial celebration of the mission church built in Puerto Padre by the Wilmington Quakers. She noted the sense of community and a spirit of happiness among the Cuban populace.
Under a socialistic regime, everyone works for the government. However, every time they have returned to Cuba, things are improving, due in part to the easing of church bans.
Mrs. Curry and Mrs. Hackney concluded their program by passing mementos crafted by the enterprising citizens, including crocheted, carved and woven items.
Members exchanged their books and convened at the tea table. Mrs. Victor-Herring served a selection of tea sandwiches, cookies, cheese straws, nuts and candy with caramel tea amid bouquets of red tulips.
The first meeting of 2010 for the Six and Twenty Club was held in January at the home of Mrs. Dawn Victor-Herring.
The gavel was passed from the vice-president, Mrs. Sara Conti, to the new president, Mrs. Cecilia Wathen.
Meeting the day after the death of Mrs. Jean Heiland, an honorary member of the group, members reflected on Mrs. Heiland's life.
Some told humorous incidents while others told of how she was a tomboy growing up, but a perfect lady in her adult years.
She was known as an excellent cook and hostess and a supporter of her husband and family, a good example to follow.
Mrs. Mary Ann Raizk was introduced as the years first program leader. Her 2010 club book is "Telex from Cuba," a fictional novel based on historical
fact, written by Rachel Kushner.
The setting was in Oriente province during the 1950s, luxurious years during which the United Fruit Company owned thousands of acres of
sugarcane plantations before Castro overthrew the Batista. Desiring to know more about the history of Cuba, Mrs. Raizk researched and gave
members a brief summary of Cuba's past.
Mrs. Raizk introduced guest speakers Libby Curry and Lois Hackney who have been on several mission trips to eastern Cuba under the leadership of the Friends United Meeting.
Mrs. Curry related that Cuba became a desperate country after Fidel Castro deported Americans in 1959. During the several trips she has made to Cuba, she observed that in spite of their poverty, the people of Cubans are well educated and have excellent health care.
The Quakers started a Cuban mission in 1902 and Eva Terrell from Fairview Friends Meeting was its first missionary. The "Wilmington School," which was built by the Wilmington Yearly Meeting still exists there today.
Mrs. Hackney told of her 2004 trip to Cuba for the centennial celebration of the mission church built in Puerto Padre by the Wilmington Quakers. She noted the sense of community and a spirit of happiness among the Cuban populace.
Under a socialistic regime, everyone works for the government. However, every time they have returned to Cuba, things are improving, due in part to the easing of church bans.
Mrs. Curry and Mrs. Hackney concluded their program by passing mementos crafted by the enterprising citizens, including crocheted, carved and woven items.
Members exchanged their books and convened at the tea table. Mrs. Victor-Herring served a selection of tea sandwiches, cookies, cheese straws, nuts and candy with caramel tea amid bouquets of red tulips.