April 2016

DMARSPA APRIL 28, 2016, MINUTES

President Justine Finley welcomed DMARSPA members and to visitors, especially our

scholarship recipients and their families.

President Finley reminded members that money for the Food Pantry will be collected today.

Checks should be made payable to the Food Bank of Iowa.

The introduction of our program for today, "Three Women of The Civil War," portrayed by Betty

Kay was made by Joyce McSorley. Betty Kay graduated from Iowa State and taught in Iowa

City, Springfield , Illinois. That's where she developed her love for Abraham Lincoln. She

currently lives in Illinois.

Albert Cashier joined the Union Army; but when she pledged alliance , she was telling a lie.

She was really a woman named Jenny Hodgers. In those days, to serve in the forces, a

woman had to pretend she was a man. She served for over three years, in 40 battles; never

injured, took sick or got caught. North and South were so desperate for soldiers, they would

take anyone who breathed. They only looked to see if she had enough fingers to shoot a gun;

enough teeth in her mouth to rip cartridge bags, and her feet to see if they were strong enough

to march. They failed to check anything in between. Originally from Ireland, during the Potato

Famine she lived through hard times. Jenny went to America without her parents, pretending

she was a man to avoid danger. Even after she got to America, she stayed a boy named Albert

so she could get work and support herself. When the war started, people started questioning

why Albert wasn't fighting in the war. She figured she would get three meals a day, clothing and

a little money. Her most memorable part of the war happened at Vicksburg, Mississippi, where

she was captured as a spy. Being feisty, she escaped, and made it back to Union lines. After

the war, she continued her portrayal as a man to escape the danger she imagined as a woman.

She became the Sonoman, Illinois, town lamplighter. The town supported Albert. She voted in

every election as a man. Every day she would wear her blue Union uniform. The end came

when she was ran over by a car, and the doctor discovered Albert was a woman. The people

of Soleman didn't care. She was sent to a Veteran's hospital and continued to portray a man.

Eventually, she was placed in a home for women who couldn't take care of themselves. After

she died, the town asked for her body to brought back to Sonoman where they buried her in her

blue jacket, and made a head stone with two names - Albert Cashier and Jenny Hodgers.

Mary Ann Bickerdike walked the Tennessee battlefield, trying to help soldiers. Don't talk to

her about the glory of war. Someone saw her walking the field. Gen. Logan saw her light, and

thought someone was stealing from the dead. His aide became her helper through the night

before he brought her to the General. Her story started in Galesburg, Illinois, in May of 1861, in

church where she was seated with her two sons. She was referred in town as the widow

Bickerdike. The minister read a letter about the soldiers from their town suffering from the

effects of battle. Many were dying from Illness, not battle wounds. Dr.Beecher asked for

suggestions to help. One suggested sending someone to make sure their boys benefited from

their help and suggested Widow Bickerdike. The townspeople volunteered to take care of her

two boys for the supposed two weeks. She was gone for four years. Mary Ann discovered

that they were making do at the "hospital tent." The boys were told to take care of each other.

Mary Ann organized the soldiers, and cleaned the tent. The injured could come back to the

clean tent after they took a bath. If they didn't want to clean up, they didn't eat. She stayed

and nursed the boys. She became known as Mother Bickerdike. Through bloody battles, she

followed the boys, all the way to Vicksburg providing health care, food. She planned to go

home after Vicksburg fell, but General William Tecumseh Sherman said he needed her to go to

Atlanta. Not all of the doctors liked the way she managed the hospitals, and complained to

Gen. Sherman. He told them to take their complaints to President Lincoln because she

outranked him. When the war was over four years later, she went back to her boys. The family

lived in Iowa, Kansas, and eventually California. No matter where she went, a knock would

come at the door, and there would be standing an old wounded warrior. Again, they were

asking for help with government problems getting pensions. Through the rest of her life, she

helped the soldiers. When she died, the town of Galesburg asked her sons to bury her back in

Galesburg, next to her husband. They took up a collection and hired a sculptor to make a

statue of her leaning over an injured soldier, and placed it on the grounds of Knox College. The

quote, "She outranks me," by General Sherman is on the front.

The Civil War is over; and the victory parade has began on May 23, 24th in Washington D.C.

The soldiers mass on the grounds of the White House. Mrs.Grant was seated next to her

husband in the stands. Julia Grant grew up in Missouri, a daughter of a rich father who owned

slaves. Her brother had a roommate at West Point named Ulysses S. Grant. After school, he

brought him home. A romance developed, but U.S. Owned nothing. Her father denied her

marrying an Army boy. She bided her time, and her father relented providing Ulysses quit the

Army and lived down the street so her father could keep an eye on them. Her father gave them

four slaves for a wedding present. Time passed, and Ulysses went into business with her

brother in Galena , Illinois. Hearing the rumors of war, Ulysses volunteered for the short war.

Julia suggested he take their son Freddy to the war, thinking it would be short. He stayed with

his father the duration of the war. Back at the parade, Julia sees the soldiers marching, seeing

the soldiers stop and give her husband one final salute. The second day, the parade was led

by General Sherman. Behind him was a horse decorated in ribbons and flowers with a woman

rider - Mother Bickerdike. President Lincoln had been buried in Springfield, but his wife

refused to leave the White House. Abraham was buried with his son Willy. Mary Todd Lincoln

didn't come to the parade; she left by the back door of the White House with her two sons and a

black seamstress. Mrs. Grant had no idea what her life would become.

Justine thanked the speaker and led members in the Pledge to The Flag, followed by a moment

of silence for those no longer with us; those who have special needs, and in gratitude for the

fellowship we share and the food we are about to receive.

President Finley, after introductions the wait staff, dismissed tables to the buffet line. Lunch

was catered by Barrattas.

After lunch, President Finley thanked the wait staff for all they do to make our day possible.

The April 28, 2016, business meeting was called to order. President Finley began the meeting

with the award of scholarships. Scholarship chairperson Dee Fleischacker introduced this

year's scholarship winners and their families: Jennifer Kix, a secondary ed. senior at Grandview

University, who works as a special ed assistant, substitute , and supports her seven year old

daughter. The second scholarship winner , Derek Ludwik, is a senior at Drake University,

majoring in elementary ed, from Dyerville, Iowa. He coaches, and recently received his

coaching license. He's senior class president, belongs to the National Honor Society, SADD,

Big Brothers and volunteers in local schools. He also volunteers in a lymphoma society and

participates in five sports. Dee also thanked the members of the Scholarship Committee for

their hard work - Dee, Liz Benjamin, Erika Brown, Dorothy Hall, Janet Linn and Marilyn Reese.

Secretary Report - Sherry Wilkinson. Minutes will be approved as read.

Treasurer's Report - Rosemary Hillman. She thanked people for sending in membership

renewals for next year. They are due the end of June. Our deposits are up because of

renewals. The balance for April 28 is $9, 914.20. Deposits- $2373.50. Expenses- Baratta's

$1339, Drake University $1000. Scholarship fund - $ 1360.71. She Will transfer money into

the scholarship fund for the two scholarship winners. Total assets $ 11,241.11. Report will be

filed for audit.

Courtesy - Sue(absent). Justine shared the tragic loss of John McCartney, who served with his

wife Beverly as co-presidents of IRSPA and six years on the AARP Executive Council.

Legislative Update - Gary Thelen (absent). No report.

OLD BUSINESS:

President Finley reminded members to record volunteer hours in their directories separately or

label if time is with student (tutoring) or community (church).

NEW BUSINESS:

1. The new retiree luncheon is in June. Invite new or newly retired school personnel who

express an interest in becoming a member to the June meeting. Lunch will be gratis for those

who come.

2. The Regional Spring Meeting will be May 12 in Jefferson at the Wild Rose Resort. The

reservation deadline is May 1.

3. Volunteer signup sheet. We need a treasurer, a vice preaidnt and people to help on the

Program Committee.

4. If anyone has an idea for a good program, please give to Justine

Guests were introduced.

Justine said we have over $550 donated for the Food Pantry.

ANSWER TO PUZZLES: Dee read the answers to the table puzzles.

Warren Pitcher told people that the quality of our programs,and food are our best recruiting

tools. He said when we recruit people, tell them to try it for a year; and if they're not happy,

Warren Pitcher will refund their money.

DOOR PRIZE: Paula Herman

President Finley adjourned the April 28, 2016, DMARSPA Business meeting at 12:44 p.m. We

will reconvene with our next meeting on May 26, when our program will be - "Grace From The

Garden: Nurturing Your Inner Self," presented by Debra Landwehr-Engle.

Respectfully submitted,

Sherry Wilkinson

Secretary