March 2, 2023 found the Novelty Senior Citizens’ meeting for the monthly luncheon.  Rhonda was there from the KCHD to take the blood pressures of those attending (and also brought food to share for our meal as well).  All joined in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, then Dorothy gave the invocation.   We all sang “Happy Birthday” to Dorothy as she celebrated today.  She blew out the (2) candles on the cake baked by Diana.

After eating, Rhonda took a couple of trays to Gerald and Betty Perry, who are still staying mostly indoors.

  At 1:20 Diana  called the meeting to order.  Marsha read the minutes from January (no luncheon in February).  Judith seconded her motion to approve, and it was unanimously approved.  She also shared the notice on our blogspot about the February meeting canceled, as well as the notice that wreaths have gone up as of February 1  to $17 each.

Judith gave both months’ treasurer’s report.  (she’d had a bit of trouble getting the bank and checkbook to balance, but yes, it is!)   The REC—electric—bill which has been on a budgeted plan (same amount for 11 months of the year, and the twelfth month shows the difference), which is shown in the February billing.  We decided to try to keep it on the plan that we had been using.    As of today, with no bills received yet for this month, our balance is $xxx.xx and a balance on our CD is $xxx.xx 

In unfinished business, Diana had brought up to the Green Acres about the Christmas meeting they have—they invite the coffee ladies to join them and all bring Christmas treats to enjoy.   The Green Acres ladies will decide later if they wish to have this again, or perhaps do something else. 

Marsha had a picture from a 2006 Edina Sentinel “old time” news which showed “Old Smoky Jim” the engine of the train that ran from Shelbina to Novelty from 1913-1938.  The railway had a mail contract that delivered the mail to us:  when the tracks got in such poor condition that engines could no longer run, the railroad had to modify a truck to run on the tracks to fulfill that  mail contract.  It was the Shelby Northwestern Railroad which declared bankruptcy in March, 1938.  Marsha will put the picture in the binder with the other histories she has and also with the minutes as they are approved.

Next luncheon/meeting will be April 6.  No birthdays in April, so no one will especially make a cake for them.   Coffee makers for this month will be March 7—Judith; 14—Marsha; 21—Judith;  28—Diana;  April 4—Marsha. 

After chatting a bit more, meeting was adjourned.