THURSDAY MARCH 9, 2023 | 6:30PM

Chili Potluck Dinner and Kitchen Fundraiser. Donations will be accepted to go toward our Kitchen Fund that purchases cups, plates, coffee, and other supplies for our events. The after- dinner topic will be “Where were you and your parents born?” There will be a large world map to mark the locations.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2023 | 11AM - 1PM

Annual Presidents’ Day Soup Luncheon fundraiser. Enjoy a selection of homemade soups, bread, and desserts, along with hammered dulcimer music performed by Don Gillett.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2023 | 7PM

General Meeting: “African American Musicians in Kansas 1860-1920,” presented by Lem Sheppard. Sponsored by Humanities Kansas. African American musicians from 1860-1920 are often part of an under-told story in Kansas history from 1860-1920. Not defined as traditionally Black music, these musicians played in mandolin quartets, cornet bands, orchestras, and string bands. They performed as itinerant musicians and jubilee singers at civic events, weddings, fairs, barn dances, and private homes. They were an important feature of the musical landscape of Kansas, and their history mirrors the history of Kansas itself: the struggle of abolition, the Civil War, and Western migration. This talk explores the dynamic musical history of African Americans, and the social and cultural impacts in Kansas. Lem Sheppard is an internationally known blues guitarist, vocalist, and historian based in Pittsburg, Kansas. “African American Musicians in Kansas 1860- 1920” is part of Humanities Kansas's Speakers Bureau, featuring humanities-based presentations designed to share stories that inspire, spark conversations that inform, and generate insights that strengthen civic engagement.

SATURDAY MAY 6, 2023 | 8AM - 11AM

Breakfast and Bake Sale Fundraiser: Pancakes or biscuits with gravy along with a wide variety of homemade baked goods.

FRIDAY APRIL 21, 2023 | 2PM - 7PM

SATURDAY APRIL 22, 2023 | 9AM - 3PM

Annual Plant and Mulch Sale Fundraiser: double-ground natural mulch and a variety of plants. Mulch is sold loose by the cubic yard.

THURSDAY APRIL 13, 2023 | 7PM

General Meeting: “The Civil War in Kansas,” presented by Will Haynes. Sponsored by Humanities Kansas. For Kansans, the violent guerrilla warfare between proslavery and antislavery forces known as Bleeding Kansas foreshadowed the national Civil War to come. From 1861-65, the border struggle continued to heat up as Kansans fended off Confederate attacks, accepted the formerly enslaved into their communities, and engaged in bitter political debates. Men of all backgrounds—white, black, and Native American—served in uniform, while women managed farmsteads and formed societies to help the needy. This talk presents the story of Kansas during the Civil War and how it helped shape the state’s image for years afterward. Will is the director of engagement and learning for Watkins Museum of History in Lawrence, Kansas. He earned a PhD in history from the University of Kansas and has contributed to public history projects involving the New York Times, the Truman Library Institute, and the Kansas City Public Library. “The Civil War in Kansas” is part of Humanities Kansas's Speakers Bureau and “21st Century Civics,” a collection of resources that invite Kansans to participate in community discussions and learn more about the history of American democracy and the shared responsibilities of citizenship. “21st Century Civics” is made possible with support from “A More Perfect Union: America at 250,” an initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Support for “The Civil War in Kansas” has been provided by the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area.

SATURDAY JUNE 10, 2023 | 10AM

Fieldtrip to The Watkins Museum in Lawrence and lunch afterward. We will meet at the station at 10am and carpool to Lawrence. There will be a $5/person fee for the guided tour of the museum. Sign up at the May general meeting, by phone, or email.

THURSDAY MAY 11, 2023 | 7PM

General Meeting: “The Girl Behind the Plow: The WLA in WWI,” presented by Mary L. Schmidt. The Women’s Land Army (WLA), modeled after a European program, trained young women to work on farms when men were away during World War I.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 | 7PM

General Meeting: “History of the Sunflower Village,” presented by Brenda Spencer. Sunflower Village, currently known as Clearview City, was built as a planned community just a few miles east of Eudora in the 1940s in order to house some of the employees of the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant. Brenda Spencer has been a historic preservation professional for over 35 years, providing preservation planning, consulting, and design services across Kansas and surrounding states. Brenda, along with her sister Michelle Spencer, wrote the successful nomination that placed Sunflower Village on the National Register of Historic Places.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 12, 2023 | 7PM

General Meeting: “History of the Monticello Township Fire Department,” presented by Bob Garrett. Mr. Garrett was an original member of the department when it was created in 1973.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 9, 2023 | 7PM

General Meeting: “US Presidential Libraries and Museums,” presented by Anita Tebbe. Sponsored by Humanities Kansas. US Presidential Libraries and Museums are impressive structures that act as repositories of valuable presidential records and artifacts. But who started this trend and when? What role do these institutions play in how and what we remember? Why are they important? This presentation delves into the who, what, when, where, and why of the 13 US Presidential Libraries and Museums and explores why they are critical to the educational health of our country. Anita Tebbe teaches continuing education courses and is a retired professor in the Legal Studies Department at Johnson County Community College. “US Presidential Libraries and Museums” is part of Humanities Kansas's Speakers Bureau and “21st Century Civics,” a collection of resources that invite Kansans to participate in community discussions and learn more about the history of American democracy and the shared responsibilities of citizenship. “21st Century Civics” is made possible with support from “A More Perfect Union: America at 250,” an initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2023 | 8AM -

11AM

Breakfast and Bake Sale Fundraiser: Pancakes or biscuits with gravy along with a wide variety of homemade baked goods.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 14, 2023 | 6:30PM

Annual Business Meeting: Election of officers and adoption of budget for 2024, holiday pot-luck dinner and optional ornament exchange.