Special guests at Iowa ET’s May TTT meeting were Dorothy Williamson, a 50-year member universally identified as “the matriarch” of the chapter, who moved from Marshalltown to Davenport as a result of the evacuation of the Embers after the 2018 tornado and two of the four girls ET will be outfitting to go to summer camp at the Des Moines YMCA Camp, Boone.

Deb Nuss and Lorraine Schultz, camping co-chairmen, explained the campership arrangements for the chapter’s four campers this summer. Two campers will be sponsored by the YMCA Foundation and two campers will be sponsored by Iowa ET, although ET is outfitting all of them and doing all the preparation work with them before the July 28-Aug. 3 camp session. Members of the chapter volunteered for the various camp preparation tasks (ie: shopping, haircuts, packing, transportation, etc.).

The Camper Follow-Up Committee (Nuss, Schultz, Maria Hazen and Susan Baker) announced two summer events and a long-term communication project for former campers. Baker described ET’s “Party in the Park” which will tentatively be July 9 and 20 of ET’s former campers will be invited. Margaret Johnson volunteered to assist planning the event, which will also include TTT members to interact with former campers and help them talk about camp experiences with current campers.

A low-key Graduation Recognition for Toni McNutt, a 2011 ET camper who is graduating from MHS this month, is being planned. Members also signed up for grade-level “Buddy Packs” as the chapter initiated a “project in progress” effort to keep in touch with former campers.

Karen Colwell, on behalf of the Candy Committee (Johnson, Cindy Petrie, Mary Kenagy, Kathy Welfring and herself) announced that it was the committee’s decision that the chapter discontinue its chocolate-covered nuts and fruit sale fundraiser. She noted that the decision about an alternative fundraiser will be in the hands of the 2019-20 Ways & Means Committee.

Committee members and TTT sisters agreed that the 20 plus years success of the chocolate-covered nut sale has been totally due to the diligence, organization and work ethic of Colwell and her husband, Chuck.

Nuss reported on the April Iowa State TTT Convention, noting that the workshops were helpful, but she found the table talk throughout the weekend to be most helpful. She was ET’s only delegate and as a result, made new TTT friends everywhere she went. She came back with many fundraising ideas, a new look at TTT philosophy on sending siblings to camp, information on how chapters focus on the strengths of members, news about grant writing and ideas on how chapters strengthen their long-term relationships with camper families.

The June 18 meeting will be the annual brunch, at Char Roseland’s home. The City-wide Camper Party will be a bowling and pizza event on June 20.

Refreshments were served during the Williamson social hour and camper visit by Sue Cope and Petrie.