2007 - Edition No. 3

Year 2007 July Edition No. 3

NEWSLETTER SPONSOR

This issue of the newsletter is being sponsored by Barbara Umbarger Blankenship and is dedicated in honor of her dear Mother, Nellie Cofey Umbarger. The Alumni Association appreciates the support by Barbara and her family and thanks them for sponsoring this newsletter.

If you or your company would like to sponsor a future newsletter, please contact any officer or mail your check for $165 to P.O. Box 32, Ceres, VA 24318. This covers postage, paper and mailing labels.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

This first half of 2007 has been busy. We are pleased that the gym is being used so often for so many uses, including adult and youth basketball, flea market, spaghetti supper for Relay for Life, Vacation Bible school, family reunions, several meals for families following a funeral, a 50^th wedding anniversary celebration, and this weekend, a wedding and reception will take place in the gym. Folks who visit the community are always interested in the Museum. The Fitness room is used daily with more folks joining all the time. We hope you will come by to use your facilities often.

Our membership drive is still on. We hope each of you who are not members will join and encourage your friends and family to join.

We hope to see you at our upcoming events: Meeting and picnic on July 21, Pig roast/hot dog supper and music on Aug. 4, and Homecoming on Oct. 20.

. Let me know if I may be of assistance. Wade Hall, President

PIG ROAST & HOT DOG SUPPER

Starting at 4:00 pm

MUSIC BY

True Grass Band & Hollybrook Band

6:00 – 10:00 pm

Ceres Peery Center Gymnasium

August 4, 2007

Price: Your donation

Purpose – Community Entertainment and raise funds for annual utilities.

Mark your calendar and come on out

for a fun filled evening.

FLEA MARKET AND YARD SALE

The Flea Market and Yard Sale on May 5^th was a successful and enjoyable event. There were plenty of bargains and hand-made items to choose from. The Alumni Association collected $621.37 from rented vendor spaces, food & donated yard sale items sold. Association expenses were $110.79. Vendors reported very good sales.

It is anticipated that $555 of this will be matched by a grant from Thrivent for Lutherans, a fraternal organization composed of Lutheran Church members or employees of Lutheran organizations. This match is for fund raising conducted by the Association and is co-sponsored by the Sharon Lutheran Church. Another $1,300 is anticipated to match funds raised in the fall raffle. Appreciation is expressed to Thrivent Financial for Lutherans & the members of Sharon Lutheran Church.

RAFFLE

We have been requested to conduct another fall raffle and are now receiving prizes to be used for that raffle. Tickets will be available in July and may be mailed with this newsletter. A complete list of prizes and donors will be published later. Prizes were donated by an Association member if not otherwise listed. We already have some very nice prizes including:

Rifle, Marlin 22 magnum

Framed P. Buckley Moss print, donated by Moss Foundation and framed by Farmer’s Daughter.

Handmade quilt, full or queen, donated by the Ceres "Just for Fun" Quilters’ members.

12 pc. Rubbermaid storage set

Painted rock (Mt. scene), painted and donated by Susan Reinholz

5 pints jams and jellies, donated by Big Walker Lookout

Handmade afghan

107 piece tool set

4 piece stainless steel canister set

Handmade throw donated by Crabtree and Pruett Sewing

Savings Bond

George Foreman grilling machine

Wall clock and weather station

And many more…….

A nice prize will go to the individual who sells the most tickets. In recent years, one member bought and gave several books of tickets to friends and relatives. We would appreciate your help again this year. This is our largest fund raiser. Also, if we make $1,300, it will be matched by Thrivent for Lutherans.

GRANT UPDATE

In the last newsletter, you were told that with your help the Association was able to meet the $25,000 match challenge and qualified for a grant. The Wythe-Bland Community Foundation has issued the first check of the $25,000 grant awarded to the CAA. One-third of the grant funds will be dispersed in the following intervals:

1. Acceptance of the Grant,

2. Mid-point during the grant and upon receipt of the mid-point status report.

3. Completion of the grant and upon receipt of the final evaluation and status report.

Thus, we have received a check in the amount of $8,334.

Thanks again for your generous financial support which enabled us to receive this grant.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

The Henry C. Groseclose Museum can fill your Christmas shopping orders. For more information, write us or call Anne Britton at 276.682.4587. Listed below are some items now available:

BOOK, 895 pages $50 + S/H

"Grosecloses and Descendants in America" by B. Clark Groseclose

TOTE BAGS (sale price) $7 + S/H

Ceres, VA – Goddess of Grain

SCHOOL REPLICA

Wood miniatures $12.50 plus S/H

Brass Collectibles (sale) $8.75 plus S/H

T-SHIRTS

White with blue Historic Ceres, Virginia

(XXL $1.00 extra) $10 plus S/H Sizes appear to run large

COFFEE MUGS (NEW SUPPLY)

Ceres, Virginia } $6 each + S/H

School } or

Peery Center } 4 for $23 + S/H

Groseclose Museum }

SWEAT SHIRTS (NEW SUPPLY)

Gray with blue Historic Ceres, Virginia

Sm., Med., Lg. XL, 2XL $19.95 + S/H Sizes appear to run large

POST CARDS (drawing by Jack Emmert)

Drawing of Museum $0.50 each + S/H

NOTE CARDS W/ ENVELOPES

Drawing of Museum (by Jack Emmert)

Pack of 5 $2.50 + S.H

PICTURES, (drawing by Jack Emmert)

4 X 6 pictures of museum $2.00 + S/H

PENCILS, wood

Ceres Alumni Association $0.25 + S/H

1991-92 CERES ELEM. YEAR BOOK

Only a few left Donation + S/H

REPORTED DEATHS

Dr. Mervin Meck (husband of Louise Cassell Meck)

Claude B. Kidd

Gertrude Hanshew Tate

David "Ted" Compton

Bertha I. Waddle

Samuel Hudson (grandson of Rev. Bill Dale)

Jeffery D. Lowe (son-in-law of Betty Dillow Stowers)

Memorial / Honorarium Gifts

Memory – Evelyn C. Groseclose

Joe and Shirley M. Caudill

Memory – Claude B. Kidd

William and Betty Hubble

Memory – G. R. Harden

Ned Baugh

Memory – Glenn Ray Harden

Ned Baugh

Memory – Arten Repass

Joe and Shirley M. Caudill

Honor – William and Betty Hubble on their 50^th Wedding Anniversary

Elaine H. Kegley

Honor – Nellie C. Umbarger

Barbara U. Blankenship

APPRECIATION

Recreation/Fitness Equipment

Kathy Bowlin

Randy and Myra Moler

Cash Donation

John and Sue Scott

KING SCHOLARSHIP

The 2007 Harry P. King Memorial Scholarships, donated by the King family, was awarded to George Wythe High School graduate, Brandy Jo Cassell, daughter of Joey Cassell of Ceres and Pam Cassell of Wytheville. Brandy Jo will attend Berea College. Congratulations, Brandy Jo.

DUES EXPLANATION

We were requested to once again repeat this from previous newsletters. Association dues are $25 per year or $100 for 5 years. Dues are for the Jan.-Dec. calendar year. It is hoped that everyone would pay their dues in January but if the dues are sent in later in the year, they are still credited for that calendar year and a membership card is mailed to the member and indicates the year through which the dues are paid.

As of July 1, 2007, the Association had 126 paid members.

GROSECLOSE MUSEUM LISTED

The Henry C. Groseclose Museum is included in the newly published Artisans and Heritage Brochure of Museums and Historical Points of Interest in Wythe and Bland Counties. This brochure has been made available to all regional visitors’ centers for visitors traveling through the area. Copies are available at Big Walker Lookout, at the Welcome Center in Rocky Gap and the Visitor Information Center in Wytheville. Send us a self-addressed stamped envelope if you need a copy.

UPCOMING 2007 EVENTS

Picnic and Membership Meeting

July 21, 2007 at 1:00 PM

Peery Center Gymnasium

Covered dish family picnic

Everyone interested in Ceres is invited.

Ceres Homecoming

October 20, 2007

The meal will be served by the same caterer (Loretta Worrell) and the price will be the same as last year ($15).

Other details to be announced.