i Record-Courier
4
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29,2015
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Longest Tenured Club in Oregon Celebrates 99th Annual Banquet
By Gina Perkins
On Feb. 13, 1916 Belle
Fisher founded the Rock
Creek I Muddy Creek Mu
tual Improvement Club
which celebrated its 99th
Annual Fall banquet Sun
day, Oct. 25 in the Fellow
ship Hall of the Haines
United Methodist Church.
The Mutual Improvement
Club was, and still remains,
a social and service club for
rural women. Philanthropic,
community-minded
and
home-oriented, the Mutual
Improvement Club is the
longest tenured club in the
State of Oregon.
In addition to Belle Fisher,
there were 12 charter mem
bers in 1916 which in
cluded: Cora Fisher, Grace
Perkins, Ella Brown, Francis
Brown, Lizzy Caster, Electra
Spend Halloween
at the Frontier
in Haines
Adults '21 and over can
enjoy a fun time at the Fron
tier in Haines. There will be
music (no cover charae), a
costume contest, horror
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and cash prizes.
g
Fisher, Georgia Hoberg,
Nannie Hoberg, CJ Os
bourne, Nena Perkins, Edith
Polley and Cornelia Potter.
For many years, member
ship was limited only to
women living in Rock Creek
or Muddy Creek. That re
quirement no longer exists
and members are from
throughout the community.
The club also met twice
monthly for years, but now
meets monthly. Beginning in
1943 and continuing until
2007, the Club partnered
with OSU Extension Service
to offer members education,
Skills, and information on a
broad topic of homemaking
skills.
Following president Ruth
Cole's welcome and intro
duction, several people
spoke about what being a
member in the Mutual Im
provement Club has meant
to them.
Mac Kerns was asked to
give the response and
shared that his family had
moved tp the Haines area in
the late 1930s. He said
there are two ways go get
involved in a new commu
nity: one was to have kids
’’99 Years And More Ahead’’
By Debbie Cole
Oct.24,2015
Photo by Gina-Perkins
Debbie Cole
It's been over 99 years
Since our club got its start
And, as we look back and
ahead,
It's still close to our hearts.
We've reached out to help
When we knew of a need
To help our neighbors
God's will to heed.
We've climbed many
mountains
Of various sizes
With determination and
courage
That brought some
surprises.
In spite of our size,
We still have the drive
To move onward and
upward
And keep Club alive.
In times of crisis or illness
We've tried to be there
In person to help, or at
least
Offering prayer.
The military, Red Cross,
schooU^
t
bdfnhluniiyas*a
whole
Have all been important
In reaching our goal.
We're a service
organization^
And proud of it, too.
We hope that our existence
Is important to you.
As we face the century
mark,
And start looking back,
It's pride and accomplish
ment we acknowledge
And not what we lack.
We have a diversity of
talents
With which we’ve- been
blest;
By using them all gladly,
Our Club is the best!
(written for 99th Mutual
Improvement Club
banquet)
Belle Fisher / Photo courtesy of Mutual Improvement Club
and the other was to join an Shetler who played guitar
organization like Mutual Im after the dinner catered by
provement Club. Kerns Trish and Chuck Everson.
Boyer, whose mother,
complimented the excellent
service work of the women Joann, was a long time
member who passed away
throughout the years.
Evelyne Fisher of Haines in 2005 at the age of 96,
said she has been,a mem reminisced by saying, "We'd
ber for 75 years. She get out of grade school at
shared history from the Muddy Creek and we'd walk
Club's archives about the to wherever the club meet
25th Banquet which was ing was."
Lynn Perkins, whose
held at the Hotel Baker with
100 in attendance. She grandmother, Nena Perkins
noted that founder Belle was a charter member, said
Fisher remarked at that time that he remembered one
how amazing it was the club meeting in particular as a lit
had existed for 25 years. tle boy where he was fasci
Evelyne wondered how she nated with the baby chicks
might feel knowing it was in the hostess's basement.
Members honored Betty
well on its way to 100.
"Perseverance is the Vanderwall who passed
keynote to success," stated away earlier this year. She
Fisher, who then added, had been a faithful member
"Friendship is the cement to ■ for years and was known for
her beautiful singing voice
hold our club together."
Marjory Peck also shared and exceptional cooking
several thoughts and stated ability. She and her hus
that on Founders Day in band, Bert, often sang duets
2016, members can be together and were members
proud of being part of a club of the last graduating class
which has remained vital of Muddy Creek School in
and dedicated to its purpose 1947.
Community service proj
ects have been, and con
tinue to be, an integral role
of the Mutual Improvement
Club since its inception.
They have always sup
ported the Muddy Creek
and Haines School projects
and have made hundreds, if
not thousands, of pies and
popcorn balls throughout
the decades. They also
have faithfully sent pack
ages to soldiers from the
area. Their 2015 project list
alone has included:
• Sponsorship of the 4-H
Livestock Junior
Photo by Gina Perkins
Showmanship Trophy
Evelyne Fisher
• “We Are Thinking of
You I" care packages for
local military personnel
and service to the commu
stationed abroad and
nity for 100 years.
within the U.S.A.
Duane Boyer was another
• Donations to: Haines
one of the handful of men
Food Bank, Neighbor
present. He played the
hood Watch, Haines
banjo and sang with Janie
School ‘Hawk Store’,
Sierra Bingham Medical
Fund, Canine Compan
ions for Independence,
Ronald McDonald
House, and Save One
Life
• Warm Coats for Rikki’s
Room
• Over 150 popcorn balls
made for the Haines
Grade School Holiday
Program
• Gifts for children in the
Angel Tree Gift program
• Homemade
cookies/baked goods
for causes such as Red
Cross Blood Drive and
Friends of Haines
• Volunteer hours at the
Eastern Oregon
Museum and in the
Reading For Literacy In
Schools Program
Following the dinner, pro
gram and entertainment, the
2016 installation of officers
was held. It is fitting that
Evelyne Fisher, having been
a member for three quarters
of a century, will lead the
Mutual Improvement Club
into their 100th year as
president.
During her speech, Fisher
reminded members to look
ahead and be thankful. "We
still have a future," she said.
New residents to the area,
Helen Marsh and Lori
Thompson will serve as co
vice presidents, Dotty Miles
will serve as the Secretary I
Treasurer, Historian is Ruth
Cole, and Mary Rider is in
charge of Hospitality. If you
are iriterested in joining this
organization, contact Dotty
Miles at 541-377-5795.
Those in attendance of
the 99th Annual Fall Mutual
Improvement Club Banquet
Included: Mary Boyer, Mary
Rider, Florance Mahugh,
Marjory Peck,. Viola Perkins,
Edgar and Elsie Newman,
Cliff and Debbie Cole,
Evelyne Fisher, John and
Linda Berg, Jacqueline and
Virgil Borger and their
youngest daughter Cheryl
Anderson, Betty Kuhl and
daughter, Barbara Kuhl,
Lynn and Gina Perkins,
Helen
Marsh,
Valerie
Russell, Lori and Ren
Thompson, Sue Richard,
Beth Bigelow, Dotty and
Myron Miles, Tina Edwards,
Mac Kerns, Janie Shetler
and Duane Boyer. Cliff Cole
gave the invocation, Myron
Miles provided interesting
history on the Star Span
gled Banner and led the flag
salute. Debbie Cole read
two poems, one of which
she wrote in honor of the
occasion. Lori Thompson,
Helen Marsh, and Mary
Rider decorated for the
event.
Viola
Perkins
secured the caterer, Trish
Everson who, along with
her
husband,
Chuck,
provided a delicious meal
which was also beautifully
plated.
Honoring'the Past Presidents of Rock Creek/
Muddy Creek Mutual Improvement Club
1916-19
Belle Fisher*
1920-21
Cora Fisher*
1922-23
Grace Perkins*
1924
A. Angell
1925-26
F. Coleman
1927
E. Badsky
1928
E.lla Brown*
1929
V. Spense
1930-31
B. Kooch
1932
G. Perkins
1933
N. Polley
1934
G. Scott
1935-36
H. Osborne
1937-38
F. Christenson
1939-40
J. Hobbs
1941
R Lillard
1942-43
A. Loennig
1944-45
E. Loennig
1946-47
L. Bond
1948-49
J. Boyer
1950
D. Leggett
1951
J. Brownell
1952
V. Perkins
1953-54
H. Fisher
1955
D. Green
1956-57
B. McCullough
1958
T. Pritchard
1959-60
B. Boesch
1961
E. Newman
1962-63
V. Gard
1964
N. Stephens
1965-66
, R. Stephens
1967
B. McCullough
1968
I. Daniels
1969
H. Fisher
1970-72
H. Proebstal
1973
M.J. Jacobs
1974
J. Griffith
1975-76
I. Fisher
1977
T. Jackson
1978
E. Fisher
1979
M. Peck
1980-81
M. Maxwell
1982-83
G. Kirkland
1984
T. Pritchard
1985
B. Vanderwall
1986
J. Boyer
1987
D. Leggett
1988
N. Shull
1989
V. Perkins
1990
M. Peck
1991
D. Boyer
1992-93
L. Seymour
1994-95
D. Rosmond
1996-97
E. Newman
1998-99
K. Thee
2000-01
E. Fisher
2002
T. Edwards
2003-04
M. Boyer
2005
J.Johnson
2006-08
M. Rider
2009
M. Boyer
2010-2012
S. Maxwell
2013-15
R. Cole
★ Denotes
original members
along with
members: Francis
Brown, Lizzy Caster,
Electra Fisher,
Georgia Hoberg,
Nannie Hoberg,
CJ Osbourne,
Nena Perkins,
Edith Polley and
Cornelia Potter