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Minutes of Last Alumni Meeting:2011  55th Alumni banquet

Next Meeting June 13th 6:30 p.m. at the Senior Center.  Election of Officers

At the invitation of the Honored 50 year class (1961), former Superintendent, Don McKenzie, and his wife Phyllis, will attend the 2011 Alumni Banquet on May 29, 2011.

To the Class of 1961
I have called a special meeting on Sunday, May 1 at the Fire Hall, time 4:00P.M. 

Hopefully we can work out any and all questions that may arise. 
Each and everyone of you are invited to attend, if you can’t make it send me your input and I will read it. If, it’s different than what you have already sent.

 Meeting will please come to order:

We are here to work out any and all questions between the Alumni and the 50 yr class (1961) and to discuss what is expected of them and why.

 I am answering some of the questions I received through e-mails! Such as having an honored teacher if you so desire, decide whether or not to honor deceased members of your class, provide table decorations and help set up and decorate the day of the banquet, stay and help clean up afterwards. The Alumni committee needs the help because there aren’t enough of us to do it! At my 50th we helped set up and stayed after the banquet to help put tables & chairs away and swept the floor. The committee has worked long and hard all day and if the 50 yr class doesn’t want to stay and help clean up then you are asked to pay to hire someone to do it in the amount of $75.

Since there were so few members of the 25th yr class who attended the banquet for the past 2 years, the 50 year classes offered to help with the expenses. It was always my understanding that the 25th yr class were the ones who honored the 50 yr. class but unfortunately we no longer have them to honor you!  I guess now you could call it recognized instead of honored.

I would like you to know that anything extra we make on the meals helps pay for those who reserve tickets and don’t show up, we donate $150 to the Fire Department and it is worth every penny to hold it here!

We provide a banquet meal for a select few.  All of us pay for our own ticket. No freebies!.

We pay for most of the paper products needed for the banquet and the coffee hour. That includes all the table covers drinking glasses, small foam plates etc. The Bank donates cups and napkins, I donate the large tray of homemade goodies and happy to do so.  We pay for the music except last year the 50 year class offered to pay half.  We did not tell them they had to. This year it will be handled in a different way.

The cakes for the desert bar are all donated by the Alumni.

The basket money pays for all the bills during the year and if it weren’t for that we wouldn’t have had the storage unit for as long as we did.  It went on longer because the weather kept us from moving out.

We still have $1,000 plus to pay for on the composite holder.

If, you don’t attend the meetings you have no idea what goes on financially!
Please inform us on what you plan on doing ASAP.
Pam will take minutes of this meeting.
We should be able to wrap it up within an hour to an hour and a half. I will then call for the meeting to adjourn!
The floor is open for discussion.
 
FYI: The person representing your class at the meetings is obligated to contact all class members, not the Alumni Association!

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 55th Alumni banquet

 Alumni Meeting was held on Jan. 29, 2011............Banquet plans are underway!
 
Banquet will be held on May 29, 2011, at the Fire Hall.
Caterer will be Betty’s Café II, tickets this year are $15.00 per person.

Banquet will start at 5:30 and start serving at 5:45.     Coffee hour from 3 pm to 5 pm.

Next meeting will be held on Saturday March 26, 2011, 10:00 A.M. at the Sr. Center. 
All Alumni are invited to attend!

February 26 meeting cancelled due to snow.

 

All Alumni are invited to attend!
I will keep you updated………..Sarah


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 54th Alumni Banquet, May 30, 2010

Message from the President:  

Feb. 11, 2010  Alumni News....
Pam and I went to the City Council meeting tonight to ask for permission to hold an Open House for viewing the new trophy cases.  We were granted permission for Sunday, May 30th.  An open house will be held from  2 p.m. to 4 p.m.  I told them to reserve it for us. The rental fee is $50.00.
Sarah

 

 Recap of February 1st Alumni Meeting :   Tuesday, February 9, 2010 10:28 AM CST  (From Burt County Plaindealer)
Decatur alumni met on Monday, Feb. 1, to discuss business and begin planning the 2010 alumni banquet set for May 30. This year's event will be held entirely (coffee hour and dinner) at Decatur Fire Hall. It was voted to have Betty's Cafe cater the meal.

Highlight of this year's banquet will be another performance of the "Country Playboys," a favorite hometown band, during the 3-5 p.m coffee hour. The Pickell family comprised the band that was a top hit throughout the area in the years ago, but raising families caused the band to later take a holiday. Earlier this year, band members Terry Pickell, Bob Pickell, Bill Pickell, and Dick Pickell came out of retirement and a newbie Cole (Pickell) Boden joined them and the group began to perform again.

This year there is no official 25-year class because that class' final year was at Lyons-Decatur Northeast. However, that class will have a table of honor. Since the class is now part of the Northeast alumni program, the Bulldog 50-year class and the alumni will be planning the banquet. Coffee hour will be held from 3-5 p.m. at the fire hall and the dinner will follow at 5 p.m., food served at 6 p.m. sharp.

The menu will be chicken and roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, pasta, coleslaw and fruit salads, green beans with bacon bits, roll and butter and choice of three drinks-iced tea, lemonade or coffee. Alumni members will provide a dessert bar.
 
  

Tickets can be purchased at most Decatur businesses or by mail from Pam Nelsen, 381 E. 12th St., or First Nebraska Bank. Programs with all the class information will be printed for banquet guests and all members of the 50-year class are asked to return their biography sheets to Nelsen as quickly as possible for preparation of the booklet.

During the business session, the group discussed the building of the composite picture holder it would like to have finished and in place at the city hall with the trophy cases by the first part of April. Preparation of the composite pictures to ready them for the holder will begin shortly, and it was voted to add the names of Laura Tippery and Dora McHenry to the deceased teachers' plaque.

The alumni is also searching for a place to store tables, chairs and other equipment since the John Hightree storage complex has been sold. If anyone has a storage area to offer, contact Peggy Haeffner at First Nebraska Bank or Nelsen at 349-5208.

Donations on behalf of the organization were made to the senior center, Northeast High for the prom party and Future of Decatur Foundation's general fund and endowment fund.

The next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 22, 7 p.m., at the senior center.

 Alumni update from President, Sarah:  Feb. 1, 2010

     In spite of the weather we held our first meeting of the year. I went out to start the pick-up and much to my surprise the windshield was icy. It had snowed earlier in the day and I thought we were good to go. Wrong. I decided to let Jim drive, which he isn’t supposed to do because he has an ICD/Pacemaker, it is a defibulater. He was shocked last month and isn’t supposed to drive for three months. I figured if it fired and we went into the ditch it was better if he did it instead of me. :)  The drive from Onawa to Decatur usually takes about 8 minutes it took 20 plus minutes. I have never seen a winter like this one!

     We had a good turn out for the meeting in spite of the weather and here are the highlights of the meeting.
The Alumni Banquet will be held May 30th at the Fire Hall, starting at 5:30 p.m., eating at 6:00 p.m., catered by Betty’s Café II now owned by Betsy and Scott Coates. (Betty’s granddaughter). The tickets will remain at $12.00 per person. Coffee Hour and music will be from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hopefully the Pickells will play for us. We are planning an Open House at the City Hall basement so everyone can check out the beautiful new trophy cases, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Pam and I have to go to the Council Meeting to get permission and find out how much it will cost to rent the basement for that day.

     John Hightree sold the storage unit and now we have to pay $50.00 a month rent. We are trying to figure out what we can do with our belongings because we can’t continue to pay that much each month to store our tables, chairs, floor fans, file cabinets and the many things we use at the banquet. Some of the committee members are checking into different options. The new owner was supposed to be at the meeting but he was a no show. 

     We are having digital pictures made of the composites before they are permanently placed in our Composite Display, which is supposed to be finished in time for our Open House.
Dora McHenry and Laura Tippery's names will be added to our Teachers Memorial Plaque. Both passed away this past week and were teachers
at Decatur.

     Those who attended the meeting were, Lance Anderson, Bob Kellogg, Pam Nelsen, Sis Johnson, Betty Sparks, Mary Anne Hightree, Bonnie Hennig, Peggy Haeffner, Cathy Sears, Norma Farrens, Jim Shook, Dale and Alta Wolf and…………..
Yours Truly,
Sarah Shook


January 25th meeting rescheduled to February 1st due to blizzard.


 

Minutes of  Last 2009 Alumni Meeting

 

 Alumni meeting held August 15, 2009

Summer Activities:  Riverfront Days Parade, June 20, 2009  See pictures

The 53rd Annual Decatur Alumni Banquet was held on May 24, 2009  at 6:30 p.m. at the  City Fire Hall in Decatur.  Coffee Hour from 4 to 6 p.m.   Musical Entertainment prior to the Banquet by: "Jimmy and the Giants".  Alta's Write up

UPDATE From President, Sarah: (11/09/09) The trophies finally found their new home.

Pictures of New Trophy cases

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 An Alumni meeting was held Aug. 15th at 9:00 A.M. at the City Hall.

Here are some highlights of that meeting:
Pam Nelson and I went to the City Council meeting on July 9th to get permission to place a Composite Display and another wall unit to display a quilt which was made by grade school students several years ago. We want to put both units it in the basement next to the cabinet that will house the Band Uniform, etc. Permission was granted. However, we cannot do anything until the water leak is fixed. The leak is caused from the rain and when the wind blows from the north, it leaks under or around a window and the basement floor gets wet.

This morning  (August 15) we discussed our situation with the water leak at the City Hall. We planned on moving trophies into the new cases today but last month we found out the basement had water on the floor from the rain and it was running down the wall and under the new trophy cases. Roger ( the man who built them) had to come over and move them out and away from the north wall. We are fortunate he put in a false bottom or the cases would probably show water damage.   A couple of councilmen wanted us to move them to the other side of the room. Our answer was NO and we would wait till the leak was fixed, we were in no hurry.   The cases were made for that particular spot, it would have
not been feasible to move them and besides it would cost us $1500.00 to do it. They are beautiful right where they are and would not have looked as good if they were moved. Right now it is going to cost the Alumni a total of $200.00 to have them moved away from the wall and back in place when the leak is fixed.

Right now, I would like to thank all of you who donated money and if you came to the banquet to those of you who dug deep in your pockets to fill those baskets.   It's times like this when we need the funds to help us through.  Thank-you so much!!!

The leak is coming through the mortar around the bricks outside. The city is working on that now, I guess there is a special caulking they are using. Some of the new sheetrock on the wall below the window in the basement needs to be replace. Alta Wolf, who is on the council ,was with us this morning and
said she would let us know when the work is finished so the trophies can be put in the cases.

The Council also told us we had to insure the cases on our own.  Peggy checked with the insurance company and Kay told her beings they were attached to the wall they would be under the City's policy.  It was suggested we have Kay write the City Council a letter stating so.

I just contacted Roger and told him to go ahead with the Composite Display drawing, we are getting closer now and that will take awhile.  He will have to go to the bank basement, where the composites are stored and do some measuring. The display is going to have an oak base, with flip pages and a light above.  I only have a guess-timate starting at $1,000.00 plus???

We also discussed our next banquet. Holding it at the Fire Hall again next year, I think we were all in favor of that and having an Open House at the City Hall memorial week-end so all of you can see the trophies, composites, etc.

Music and the Caterer was also discussed, Jim and the guys are no longer a group, Bob Kellogg is going to check with a local group to see if they would play for coffee hour and what the charge would be. Nothing was finalized, we will do that at a later date. The desert bar was a hit, that is in our plans for next year.
You can let me know what your thoughts are, I'd love to hear from you, good or bad, I can take it! :) sarahshook@hotmail.com

Our next meeting depends on when the city hall is ready for us to fill up those beautiful cabinets with trophies.

I will try to keep you informed and up to date on what is going on with the Alumni Association.  In a few months we will be planning the Banquet of 2010.  I would love to see all of you there, the Fire Hall holds a lot of people, more than the school or the city hall.

Those attending the meeting were, Lance Anderson & his daughter Ivy, Pam Nelson, Peggy Haeffner, Bob Kellogg,
Cathy Sears, Alta Wolf, Jim Shook (my husband) and
Yours Truly,
Sarah

 

 

Taken from Burt County Plaindealer 

Alumni plans for 2010 banquet

Decatur Alumni members met Saturday morning, Aug. 15, at the city auditorium to discuss a number of items, including some preliminary plans for the 2010 banquet.

Due to the recent water leak in the hall basement, the new trophy cabinets have been pulled away from the walls. Plans to clean the trophies and put materials away for display was tabled. When the leaks have been fixed, builder Roger Hansen will reattach the cases and alumni will complete the display setup.

The group decided to have president Sarah Shook contact Hansen and have him draw up plans for the composite holder and give them a price on the construction.

Hansen has tentatively been asked to build a lighted case to match the rest of the cabinets that will make it possible for people to leaf through the composite pictures.
 
  

Fund-raising is already under way for that new cabinet plus Hansen built one tall case to match. He has offered that case to the association for $50, the price of the glass doors. Anyone wishing to donate to the project may send a check to First Nebraska Bank in Decatur made out to Decatur Alumni Association. Money may also be sent to president Shook or Pam Nelsen.

Other expenses facing the alumni committee are a charge of $200 from Hansen for moving the cabinets out and resetting them, having Cheryl Piere make photocopies of all school class composites, and purchasing scrapbooks and scrapbooking materials to be used to organize all the school pictures (people, events and reunions) that people are turning over to the alumni for preservation.

 
  

 

Also discussed were the place for the 2010 banquet, possible caterers and menu items. Nothing was decided on those topics.

There are usually no fall or winter alumni meetings and the planning of the banquet begins with a January meeting. However, because of the trophy project under way and fund-raising events, Shook may call meetings during the next few months as needed. As of this date, there is no pending meeting before January.

 

(Scroll down)

 Last night (July 9th) Pam and I went to the City Council and permission was granted to place another case next to the one on the northwest side of the basement next to the band uniform case.
The new cabinet will house the quilt made by the elementary school kids.
Roger Hansen is going to build the Composite Holder, the base will be made of oak to match the trophy cases with flip pages and artist light above. It will be placed next to the quilt case.
On August 15th at 9:00 A. M. the Alumni is going to start placing the trophies in the cases plus we will hold a regular meeting before we start. Everything we have will be cleaned one more time and cataloged.
Any and all Alumni are welcome, if you happen to be in town stop by the City Hall. You will be greeted with open arms and a cleaning rag. :)
I will send pictures of the event so check in from time to time for an update on what is going on.
When everything is in place and completely finished we would like to hold an open house this fall in conjunction with other activities in town.
I would like to thank each and every one of you who have supported this project and those who continue to do so. We are still accepting donations. If, it weren’t for you we wouldn’t be able to do all of this.
Thanks again,
Sarah

 

Taken from Burt Count Plaindealer
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 10:51 AM CDT
 

Alumni members met Monday, June 29, to rehash the May banquet and handle the business agenda.

The 2009 party went into the history book as a great success, and the dessert bar offered after the meal received such approval it will be repeated again next year.

The group was so pleased with the trophy cases installed in the basement of city hall, they decided to ask carpenter Roger Hanson to build a composite picture holder. The holder will have a matching oak base with flipping pages and a picture light above it.

Members also agreed to add another full-sized matching oak cabinet (80" high by 29" wide to match the existing cabinets) to the display and it would house the quilt made by Decatur Elementary students prior to their move to Lyons. The quilt is presently on display at First Nebraska Bank.

 
  

President Sarah Shook and secretary Pam Nelsen will present the concept of the addition of the composite holder and display case to the Village Board for approval at the July 9 meeting.

Other plans the group would like to implement would be to begin work on organizing the trophy cases and memorabilia around the middle of August and have the entire layout finished for a fall open house.

Anyone who would like to contribute money for the composite holder and quilt display cabinet is asked to make their check out to the Decatur Alumni and send it to Shook or treasurer Peggy Haeffner at First Nebraska Bank.

Shook said the alumni is still looking for school pictures to add to the memorabilia scrapbooks that are being put together for alumni enjoyment. If anyone has any to contribute to the project is asked to give them to Nelsen or Shook or leave them at First Nebraska Bank

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Tuesday, June 2, 2009 11:34 AM CDT

Last Decatur graduates host alumni banquet --Taken from Burt Count Plaindealer

  

The class of 1984, the last 25-year class to graduate from Decatur High School, served as host for the 53rd alumni gathering on Sunday evening. Due to the renovation at city hall, the banquet was held at the fire hall. During coffee hour, music was provided by "Jimmie and the Giants," a group from Onawa, Iowa.

Paul Novak, member of the class of '84, was master of ceremonies and gave the official welcome and introduced the class of '84. Denny Peterson introduced the 50-year class.

Program festivities followed as always until an unusual clatter filled the hall. Guests looked around, and taking over the room was the amazing Frannie Frickenfeckler, the same Frannie Frickenfeckler who brought the 2008 Decatur Idol crowd to its feet. With her red skirt swirling and her white boots flying and her mouth going a mile a minute, she swooped in and began greeting the gathering. Then she paused and she kicked up her heels and shook her many starched crinolines and began to sing her song, "Everything Is Lookin' Up In Ol' Decatur."

Her surprise appearance and performance brought peals of delighted laughter from the crowd, and Frannie (urged on by their noisy approval) strutted her stuff and entertained them. When she finished, she departed as quickly as she had appeared and the banquet program resumed. But the evening definitely belonged to Judy Connealy's Frannie Frickenfeckler and her song, composed by the joint effort of Frannie and Norma Farrens.

 
  

During a brief business meeting, president Sarah Shook reported that the alumni association is still in the money-raising mode to help pay for an apparatus to hold composite pictures in the Community Hall, where the trophy cases will go as soon as the hall contractor gives the go ahead. The cases, constructed by an Onawa carpenter, are finished and on display in his business window on the main street of Onawa. She ended the Bulldog Class Challenge-set up to raise money for the trophy case project-by awarding the new trophy that will sit on top the cases to members of the class of 1959 who contributed $2,042. Denny Peterson accepted the trophy on behalf of the class.

Shook stressed that all who attended Decatur High are alumni and welcome to attend all meetings. With the last 25-year class being this year, there will be a banquet next year, but all the alumni will plan it. She closed the meeting by thanking all who worked to make the banquet possible and all who attended. On behalf of the alumni, she presented Mary Ann Hightree a bouquet of flowers and thanked her for serving many years as president.

 
  

Luella Beck received a bouquet from alumni vice president Lance Anderson for being the oldest class represented. She is from the class of 1929 and this was her 80th reunion.

 

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Alumni set in Decatur (taken from the Alta Wolf's column in the Plaindealer on May 20, 2009)

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 12:56 PM CDT
It's time once again for Decatur alumni to gather and share old times with classmates at what may turn out to be the most important alumni gathering to date.

The 53rd banquet, set for 6:30 p.m. May 24 at the Decatur fire hall, is the last one that will have a 25-year class. And that class, as tradition has had it, is the one that organizes the evening program. The class of 1984 was the last class to graduate at the local school. Then came the move to Lyons for the fall secondary term.

This year's banquet will have Paul Novak, a member of the 25-year class, as master of ceremonies.

Alumni president Sarah Shook will handle the business meeting and Denny Petersen will introduce the honored 50-year class.
 
  

New this year will be the introduction of all the class members attending the event. As part of Novak's duties, he will read a list of class members attending that will be taken from the guest book. Secretary Pam Nelsen is asking everybody to make sure they sign in and write their names legibly so they can be easily read. To make sure everybody signs the guest book, attendees are asked to come through the north door of the fire hall. It goes directly into the meeting room and Judy Anderson and Sylvia Kellogg will be sitting there with the guest book in tow.

Greeting guests this year are Anita Swanson, Margaret Tolby and Norma Farrens.

Debbie Dye and Ethelyn Brewer will be at the ticket desk. Programs were put together by Pam Nelsen and Clara Woten.

Background entertainment will be Jimmy and the Giants, an Onawa group of which Decatur's Charlie Davis is a member.

Program highlights include the awarding of the Class Challenge trophy that will be awarded to the class whose members gave the most cash donations to the trophy case fund drive. The trophy will remain with the trophy display being installed in the basement of the community hall.

Latest donors to the trophy case and composite holder fund are Pat Malloy, Class of 1992 (correction: Class of 1962), Jean McAllister, '50; Pat (Ferguson) Connealy '46; Denny Peterson, '59; John Sears, '63; James L. Smith, '46; Margaret (White) Russell, '50; Gary Warren, '60; Larry True, '63; Anita (Sweet) Willis, '46; and Bill and Ray Clark, '56.

Judy Connealy, on behalf of the Future of Decatur Foundation, will be awarding the organization's cash grants for the year and Lynna (Helms) Reed will share with the group information about the Bulldog website she has created.  (Correction:  The new Decatur Alumni website was created and is maintained by Sherry Rogers Carlson.  Lynna has been of great assistance and will speak on its behalf in Sherry's absence).

Special honorees will be Luella Beck, who will be celebrating as a member of the 80th class, and Rita (Williams) Lipps, the 50-year class' honored teacher.

The banquet menu will be broasted chicken, roast beef, broasted potatoes, corn, fruit fluff and pasta salad. Treats are homemade rolls and ice cream. If all goes as planned, the officers and at-large members will be adding a dessert surprise. Attendees will be greeted with hors d'oeuvres and favors on the tables.

Tickets for the banquet are still available locally at First Nebraska Bank, Barneys, Farrens Market, Decatur Express, Tooly's Bottle Shop and Betty's Cafe. Tickets also are available at the Lyons Mini Mart and First National Northeast and Washington County banks in Tekamah. Tickets are the same price whether purchased early or at the door. Reservations also can be made by phone by calling Pam Nelson at 349-5208 or First Nebraska Bank, 349-5353.
 

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Tuesday, April 28, 2009 1:52 PM CDT   (Courtesy  Burt County Plaindealer)

Decatur Alumni met on Monday evening to wind up plans for the annual alumni banquet. Also on the agenda was the fund-raising for the trophy cases, and the purchase of six new six-foot tables for the organization.

Alumni are hoping the Bulldog Challenge will raise enough money in the next few weeks to finish paying for the cases and purchase an apparatus to hold the composite pictures. The trophy cases with glass doors, lights, etc. are finished and will be delivered and installed as soon as renovation of the hall basement is complete. The balance due on the cases must be paid at the time of delivery. Alumni members hope to have the money raised and the job all done by Memorial weekend.

Plans for the banquet, set for Sunday, May 24, 6:30 p.m. at the city fire hall, call for coffee hour to be held at the fire hall from 4 to 6 p.m.

Greeting guests this year will be Margaret Tolby, Norma Farrens and Anita Swanson. Tickets will be sold by Ethelyn Brewer and Debbie Dye. Sylvia Johnson and Judy Anderson will handle guest book duties.

 
  

Twenty-five year class member Paul Novak will be the master-of-ceremonies for the host class and Dennis Peterson will be the spokesperson for the 50-year class. The 25-year class has not named its honored teacher yet. The 50-year class members will honor Mrs. Rita (Williams) Lipps as their special teacher.

Clara Woten will be putting the programs together and prizes will be given for the man and woman who came the most miles to attend. Special recognition will be given Luella Beck in honor of her 80th alumni year.

Judy Connealy will be addressing the gathering in regards to the Future of Decatur Foundation and awarding the grants given by the group this year. Lynna Helms Reed will be sharing details on the school alumni website, (Correction: Created and maintained by Sherry Rogers Carlson),  which Lynna continues to help with.

President Sarah Shook is having the honored deceased teachers plaque updated. Being added to the wooden board are the names of Evelyn Mussack, Beaulah Smith, Helene Lesley, Ruth Dooley, Eleanor Claussen, Duane (Dewey) Beckstrom, Hughie Hughes and Warren F. Kessinger. The names of Ida Jane Marr and Ann Malloy were recently added.

The May meeting of the group will be on Monday, May 11, 7 p.m., at the senior center. All banquet plans will be finalized that night.

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