President Mary Mighton welcomed 19 members and guests to the Merry Makers meeting held Jan. 3 at Jamesway Manor in Clifford.
Happy Birthday was sung to Ruth Murray, Geraldine Greenfield, Mary Mighton, and Irene Agla. A humourous story was read from The Voice regarding being eight again. Turns out it was the dress size, not the age. Another article detailed 20 New Year’s celebrations around the world. The Seniors Centre for Excellence sent an invitation for the members to join them for their ‘Warm Winter Memories’ meeting on Jan. 18 at Knox United Church.
Irma Eckenswiller, Marion Sangster, and Ruby Bell hosted the program, starting with a recipe for a Happy New Year mixed with prayer and meditation.
Irma Eckenswiller introduced their guests Ray and Diane Schaus saying, “The Schaus name has been well known for generations and now Ray Schaus will be known as Clifford’s author.”
Ray Schaus has attained celebrity in this corner of the world with book signings and speaking engagements for his history book, Clifford, A Scrapbook of Memories … Reveals A Village With A Past. For years, Schaus quietly went about his business delivering mail to the rural routes, farming, raising three children with his wife, Diane, attending the St. John’s Lutheran Church, and spending time with family and friends. Now he has been thrust into the spotlight signing his book and talking to groups about his motivation, challenges, triumphs, and patience.
Schaus told how he enjoyed taking part in creating a book for St. John’s Lutheran Church, sifting, sorting, and snooping through old records and documents and making notes, all the while keeping the idea of a Clifford history book in the back of his mind. He noticed holes in the main street due to fires, consulted Miss Georgia Taylor’s centennial history book, and set out to visit libraries and museums for more facts. He spent hours interviewing, getting permission to print articles he discovered, and getting to the book to press. In thanking Schaus, Sangster summed it up with, “Once you start, you just can’t stop. I appreciate your book. It is so wonderful. It brings back a flood of memories.”
Schaus had 250 books printed and by the beginning of January there were only 80 left to be sold. To purchase a copy call 519-327-8696.
The next meeting will be held on Feb.7 at Jamesway Manor with Ruth Anne Cummings, Gladys Zimmerman, and Gerald Hattle in charge of the program.
The Executive for the Merry Makers include Mary Mighton, Dorothy Kaufman, Marion Wylie, and Ruth Anne Cummings.
