WINONA – The Winona Ruritan Club met Oct. 22 at Winona Friends Church. President Rob Doyle Jr. called the meeting to order and led the group in the singing of “America.” Homer Althouse gave the Invocation. The caterer served a meal of mashed potatoes, homemade biscuits, chicken gravy and corn, tossed salad, beverages and pumpkin cake.

Secretary Elmer Lee Stamp called the roll of members with 22 answering in the affirmative; six members were absent. Stamp then read the minutes of the September meeting and the October board of directors meeting. There were no additions or changes to either and both stood approved as read..

Treasurer Bob Doyle Sr. gave his detailed financial report for September; there were no questions and his report stood as given.

Doyle Sr. then gave his preliminary report of the Oct. 12 semi-annual pancake and sausage breakfast, then reported on the results of the fall gun raffle, the “Henry All Weather 45/70 cal. Rifle.” Not all 100 tickets were sold. But both events were successful and the club thanked everyone for their help and participation in making the fundraisers work for the good of the community.

There was discussion regarding the hours of the spring breakfast, serving from 7 to 11 a.m. and everyone agreed to the change. A couple other small items will be changed at the breakfast also. The club has “whole hog sausage” for sale in vacuum-packed 1-pound packages of bulk, patties and smoked links, priced at $5 per pound. Contact any member to place an order.

David Brown made a motion to donate $300 to the Winona Friends Church for the use of the great facility and also to donate an additional $300 to the Winona Friends Church Youth Group. Homer Hoprich made the second and the motion passed.

Doyle Jr. announced the club received details for the Ohio District Fall Convention scheduled for Nov. 9 at Smithville Brethern Church. All Ruritan members are invited to attend at a cost of $17 per person. This is where state officers are elected.

Stamp reported that the board of directors is still looking for entertainment for the Christmas dinner, Dec. 10, and also the Father & Son dinner on Feb. 25 and the Father & Daughter dinner on April 22. Doyle Jr. reminded everyone that next month’s meeting will come early due to the Thanksgiving holiday; it will be Nov. 12, which is also the club’s Veterans Recognition dinner. Also the December meeting is coming early due to the Christmas holiday, on Dec. 10; hor dourves start at 6:30 p.m..

Michael Knoedler shook up gun raffle tickets and Buster Rogowsky pulled the winning ticket belonging to Jeff Zimmerman. Knoedler also made a motion to donate another $500 to The Samaritan’s Purse, earmarked for Appalachia Disaster Fund, seconded and passed unanimously.

No one has volunteered for any of the officer or director positions for 2025, so the officers will be recycled again: Doyle Jr., president; Tom Richey, vice president; Doyle Sr., treasurer; Stamp, secretary; Knoedler, 3-year director; Donaldson, 2-year director; Rogowsky, 1-year director. Tom Sanor volunteered to take the board of directors position vacated by Home Huprich.

There was no other business that came before the club. Everyone rose and pledged allegiance to the American flag.