PULLMAN SENIOR CITIZENS ASSOC. May 2021
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PULLMAN SENIOR CITIZENS ASSOC. May 2021 REPORT FROM THE BOARD There is so much going on that Association news is taking over the front page! We were hoping to have meals “in person” starting May 4, but now that seems uncertain as the Covid numbers in Whitman County have not improved as much as we had hoped. COA is ready to go with the Center to be open on Tuesday’s and Friday’s with limited hours, 11:00am – 1:00pm. We are prepared to get creative to comply with occupancy restrictions and maybe a reservation system. But, as of this newsletter we just don’t know what is going to happen. However, as always, all those who wish to have a meal will get a meal. When we do get back open, transportation to the Center will be available as before, and delivery of meals will also continue. Updated information will be sent to members in a separate mailing. WATCH FOR A FLYER! We are going day by day on this, and you can always call the Rec. office at 509-338-3227. The Association has agreed to accept a bid for $1,660.00 to purchase a sound system for the new enter. Terry Buffington’s son, Kwasi, is acting as our agent on this matter and is donating his time and professional expertise. Many thanks to Terry and Kwasi!! Garage Sale plans, (Aug. 14, 2021) are well underway. Dave and Vicki Ruddick have already been collecting items. If you have good items to donate, give them a call. The Board has decided that the preferred site would at the old Senior Center, if it is available. We have not yet heard the results of our Rotary grant application, but remain hopeful. Other grant possibilities are Lewis Clark Valley Health Foundation, Walmart, and Safeway. We need some social event ideas! Barbecue, ice cream social, picnic on the lawn with music, and food truck vendors are a few of the ideas that have been floated. But, we hope to hear from YOU!! Call Millie or Vickie to share your thoughts. Due to the pandemic, 2019 was the last time we had the yearly memorial celebration for members we have lost. We will be holding this event in September. The next PSCA Board meeting will be held on May 10, 2021, at 10:00am at the Senior Center. GARAGE SALE: August 14, 2021 HOLIDAY BAZAAR: October TBD PULLMAN SENIOR CITIZENS ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBERS Terry Buffington, Eileen Macoll, Annabelle Syms, Marlene Stephens, Jodi Lee, Millie Flood, Sharon Sharp, Jere’ Strang Pete Haug, Joann Ailor, Dave Ruddick, Vickie Ruddick Your Association is operating without a Millie Flood - (865) 604-8040 Vicki Ruddick - (509) 595-2640 The Member to Member Outreach program was created to insure that no member of our Senior Community would ever be left out by financial constraint of membership dues. New donors this month are: Roy Johnson, Dorothy Waelti, Ann Orouke If you know of senior citizens who would Newsletter Editorial Staff benefit from inclusion under this program, Eileen Macoll please contact a board member. Jolie Haug Or: Pete Haug Contact Millie Flood, (865) 604-8040 Millie Flood with any questions. History of Mother’s Day Celebrations and symbols of mothers and motherhood can be traced back in to pre-history. But closer to home…the background of what we know as “Mothers Day”, involves far more than flowers and a day off for Mom. Some surprising figures appear in our Mother’s Day traditions. Ann Reeves Jarvis and Julia Ward Howe The origins of Mother’s Day date back to the 19th century. In the years before the Civil War, Ann Reeves Jarvis of West Virginia started “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” to teach women basic child care skills. These clubs later became a unifying force in a region of our country still divided over the Civil War. In 1868 Jarvis organized “Mothers’ Friendship Day,” at which mothers gathered with former Union and Confederate soldiers to promote reconciliation. Another early version of Mother’s Day came from the suffragette and abolitionist, Julia Ward Howe. In 1870 Howe wrote the “Mother’s Day Proclamation”, A call to action asking mothers to unite in promoting world peace to be celebrated every June 2. Anna Jarvis Turns Mother's Day Into a National Holiday The official Mother’s Day holiday arose in the 1900s as a result of the efforts of Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis. Following her mother’s passing in 1905, Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers make for their children. Following the successes of the first few Mother’s Day events, Anna Jarvis resolved to see her holiday added to the national calendar. Arguing that American holidays were biased toward male achievements, she started a massive letter writing campaign to newspapers and prominent politicians urging the adoption of a special day honoring motherhood.. In 1914 her persistence paid off when President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day Around the World While versions of Mother’s Day are celebrated worldwide, traditions vary depending on the country. In Thailand, Mother’s Day is always celebrated in August on the birthday of the current queen. Another alternate observance of Mother’s Day can be found in Ethiopia, where families gather each fall to sing songs and eat a large feast as part of Antrosht, a multi-day celebration honoring motherhood. Mother’s Day has often been a date for raising political awareness. In 1968 Coretta Scott King, used Mother’s Day to host a march in support of underserved women and children. In the 1970’s women’s groups often used the holiday as a time to highlight the need for equal rights for women and better access to childcare. Mother’s Day is celebrated by presenting mothers and other women with gifts and flowers, and it has become one of the biggest holidays for consumer spending. In her later years Anna Jarvis actually denounced the holiday, as she felt it had become far too commercial! Did you know? More phone calls are made on Mother’s Day than any other day of the year. These holiday chats with Mom often cause phone traffic to spike by as much as 37 percent. May Day Celebrations In the northern hemisphere, May Day celebrates the coming of spring and many May Day traditions have roots that go far back into history. The ancient Romans celebrated the end of April with a festival in honor of the goddess Flora. Celtic cultures traditionally observed Beltane on the first of May, with bonfires, flowers, decorating a May Bush, and offerings to the fairies to keep them from making mischief at the villagers’ expense. Let’s take a look at some traditions from modern day Europe that you may not have heard of. United Kingdom In parts of the UK, May Day celebrations include dancing around a maypole, crowning a May Queen and traditional folk dancing. Some towns have also brought back Jack in the Green, a rogue-ish character clothed ”only” in foliage. Jack in the Green was once a common sight at May Day festivals until Victorian morals did away with him. But now Jack is back! Cornwall hosts unique May Day celebrations, including the ‘Obby ‘Oss (Hobby Horse) festivals and Flower Boat parades in many communities. Both intended to promote romance and favorable weather for the growing season. Sweden The Swedes celebrate May Day the day before, on April 30th, or Walpurgis Eve not May Day, but the traditional activities are suspiciously similar to May Day celebrations elsewhere: bonfires, singing, and parades. For students, a breakfast including champagne and strawberries has become a modern favorite. Finland Like the Swedes, Finns traditionally celebrate the coming of spring on April 30th, which they call Vappu. It is one of the four biggest holidays on the Finnish calendar. Traditions include plenty of spirituous beverages, especially for the younger set, and placing a cap on the Havis Amanda, an art nouveau sculpture in Helsinki, and decorating other statues throughout the country. Must do activities are eating funnel cakes and having a picnic in a neighborhood park. Germany In Germany, Walpurgisnacht (April 30th) and May Day are both opportunities to “Tanz in den Mai” or “Dance into May.” Celebrations include parties, bonfires, and maypoles. In some parts of the country, secret admirers deliver maibaum (flower baskets) to potential sweethearts. Italy In Italy, May Day is called Calendimaggio . Singers called maggerini deck themselves out in flowers and fresh green sprigs of alder. They go from house to house, singing songs about spring in exchange for small gifts of wine and sweets. Romania In Romania, May Day is called ziua pelinului (mugwort day), or ziua bețivilor (drunkard’s day). For many, the holiday involves drinking copious amounts of red wine, sometimes flavored with mugwort. Fresh spring greenery is used as decorations, and oxen get the day off from work. Bulgaria Bulgarians celebrate May Day as Irminden. Interestingly, most Bulgarian May Day traditions involve warding off lizards and snakes. To avoid snakebites, Bulgarians, build bonfires to scare the reptiles away! Excerpted from many sources, and I apologize for any inaccuracies and/or cultural faux pas. The Pullman Parks & Recreation Summer Activity Guide, is available on-line at D e n n s Kittelson 1 www.pullmanparksandrec.com and is chock full of exciting programs. Registration for programs J a q u e s Adam 2 begins on May 3.