Winona Ruritan Club holds its Christmas dinner
Trending
WINONA - The Winona Ruritan Club held its December Christmas dinner Dec. 12 at the Winona Friends Church with 17 members and 25 guests present.
The evening started at 6:30 p.m. with hors d'oeuvres of shrimp and cocktail sauce, a variety of crackers and cheeses with caterer Chris Phillis' homemade hot pepper dip and mini meatballs in BBQ sauce.
President Rob Doyle Jr. called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. and led the group in singing "America." Vice President Homer Althouse gave the Invocation. Phillis prepared a meal of stuffed chicken breast, mashed potatoes with chicken gravy, green beans, dinner rolls and butter that was served buffet style. Dessert consisted of an assortment of Christmas and holiday cookies.
Doyle Jr. introduced special guests for the evening, Dave Wingett, recently re-elected as Ohio District Governor for 2024, and his wife Marilyn.
Secretary E. Lee Stamp called the roll of members with 17 present, each of whom introduced their guests for the evening, totaling 25. The group of 42 enjoyed fellowship, food and entertainment. Past President Homer Huprich made a motion to dispense with the monthly secretary and treasurer's reports, which passed unanimously.
The club sang Happy Birthday to members born in December - Dave Brown, Thom Ewing, Richard Stoffer, Donovan Winn and E. Lee Stamp.
Doyle Jr. directed everyone's attention to their yellow place mats that highlighted the club's donations and givebacks to the community during the past year. He thanked members and their spouses for their hard work to make this possible.
Doyle Jr. and Dave Wingett came forward with Dean Sidwell and Philip Winn so that Wingett could swear in the two as new members. Wingett then had the officers and directors for 2024 come forward and swore them in: Doyle Jr. as president, Althouse as vice president, Stamp as secretary, Bob Doyle Sr. as treasurer, Huprich as past president and Michael Knoedler as director. Directors Rob Donaldson and Buster Rogowsky were absent.
Doyle Jr. asked everyone to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. He then introduced the singing group Sound Bites, featuring members Anna Anderson, Ken Martin, Ruth Newman and Michael Newman, who sang many familiar, and some not so familiar, Christmas carols.
Doyle Jr. thanked everyone for attending and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Safe New Year.
Ohio Ruritan District Governor Dave Wingett installed two new members into the Winona Ruritan Club at its annual December member and guest Christmas dinner meeting Dec. 12 at the Winona Friends Church. From left, Wingett, new members Philip Winn and Dean Sidwell and club President Rob Doyle Jr. (Submitted photo)