WINONA – The Winona Ruritan Club held its monthly meeting March 24 at the Winona Friends Church.

President Rob Doyle Jr. called the meeting to order and all members stood while singing “America” and during the Invocation given by Homer Althouse. The caterer served a dinner of tossed salad with choice of dressing, large stuffed shells – some with meat and some with cheese – a garden medley of steamed carrots and broccoli, bread and butter, and a coconut cake. Everyone gave the caterer a round of applause in appreciation for the meal.

Secretary Elmer Lee Stamp called the roll of members, with 21 being present and five absent. Stamp proceeded to read the minutes of the February meeting and also the minutes of the March Board of Directors meeting. There were no changes nor additions to either and both stood approved as read.

Treasurer Bob Doyle Sr. started his report with the financial status of February. As usual it was detailed and informative. He continued his report with a preliminary report of the club’s March 21 All-You-Can-Eat Pancake and Whole Hog Sausage Breakfast that was held at the Winona Friends Church where the club served 338 people. This number was less than the Spring Breakfast in years past.

Doyle Sr. also reported the club sold 99 out of the 100 gun raffle tickets for the “Henry Big Boy Brass in .360 cal. Buckhammer.” Member Bruce Marhefka drew the winning ticket from the tub and it belongs to Andrew King, who will be notified and arrangements made to meet at Runzo’s Outdoor Sports to present him his rifle. There were no questions regarding Doyle Sr.’s February financial report.

The club’s monthly singing of “Happy Birthday” to members born in March included: Bob Doyle, Sr., Fred Pamer, Larry Sanor and Tom Sanor.

The proceeds of the pancake and sausage breakfast and the spring and fall gun raffles go to fund the club’s college/technical scholarships as well as the many other donations in the area. For 2026 the club has four graduating seniors eligible for the scholarships, including Grace Elizabeth Lance, Carrie

Ann Kneodler, Will McEver and Olivia Winn. The club will be presenting these scholarships at its annual June steak fry held at the Salem Saxon Club.

The club has been a participant in the Ruritan National Foundation’s “Build-Your-Dollar-Scholarship” program for many years, and the return on investment this year is $650. As a group, the club also invested funds into the “Salem Community Foundation” so that it will be able to provide scholarships in the future.The club recently received a favorable report of the account for 2025.

The club sold all its packages of whole hog sausage at the breakfast March 21 and will not have any more until Oct. 10.

Dennis McArthur made a motion to make the following donations: $400 to the Winona Friends Church for the use of their facility, $150 to the Winona Friends Youth Group for their help in serving and clearing and re-setting tables, $150 to the Winona Methodist Church Youth Group for their help doing the same, $200 to the Columbiana County Fair Board to purchase Trophies for the Junior Fair, $300 to the Franklin Graham Samaritan Purse program and $200 to the Columbiana County Soil &

Water Conservation District. Bruce Marhefka made the second and the motion passed.

Doyle Jr. announced that the Ohio Ruritan District Spring Banquet will be held April 18 at the Foltz Center in East Canton. Any member can attend and should see Doyle Sr. to make a reservation.

Entertainment for the club’s April 28 Father, Daughter, Granddaughter, etc. dinner will be by Dennis Imhoff of the Beaver Creek Wildlife Center presenting Song Birds of Our Area, with displays of some taxidermied for viewing. The club is still seeking ideas for the country’s 250-year celebration and combining it with its own 70th year anniversary this year.

In other business a discussion was held regarding the son of our past member Greg Coffee, Garrett Coffee. Garrett has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and is undergoing treatment. A motion was made by Homer Althouse and then amended by Thom Ewing to donate $1,000 to Greg and wife Charleen for any expenses they have now or will have, seconded by Anthony Russo, and passed unanimously.

Everyone stood and pledged allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.