Founders Day February 21 - William Penn Life

Branch NewsKim Weaver, director of the Weirton (W.Va.) Christian Center, acceptsone of three Holiday Baskets donated during the holiday season tothe center by the members of Branches 10, 40, 248, 349 and 8164.Branch 10Barton, OHBranch 40Martins Ferry, OHBranch 248Monaville, WVBranch 349Weirton, WVBranch 8164Steubenville, OHby Joyce NicholsonHello from the WPA branches fromBarton, Martins Ferry, Weirton,Steubenville and Monaville!As we bid 2011 farewell, weare grateful for the opportunitiesgiven us to help others through thegenerosity of WPA: Join Hands Dayevents, Holiday Baskets, sponsorshipsof a youth travel baseball team,representation of our branches atover 11 area fund-raising auctions,Ohio Valley Hungarian-Americanpicnics and social functions, branchoutings at the Wheeling Thunderbirdshockey game, the Christmasparty, assisting Jefferson CountyRed Cross and other programsIt’s been a hectic year, but it’sbeen great fun in working to makeWPA more well-known and recognizedin our communities. We willbe continuingthose efforts in2012 to spreadthe good word,great works andgiant worth ofour WPA branchesand members.We look forwardto a yearfull of activitiesand fun-filledoutings and can’twait for goodweather to arrive.Our next meetingwill be April29 at 3:00 p.m. at63 Meadow Lane,Wintersville,Ohio.We wish happybirthday to branch members withbirthdays this month, and extendbest wishes to members celebratingan anniversary. Our prayers go outto those who may have lost lovedones recently.If you have any news you wish toshare with us, please contact me. Forinformation about branch activitiesforthcoming in 2012, call me at 740-264-6238.Branch 14Cleveland, OHby Dawn D. WardIt’s been a mild winter in NortheastOhio, and everyone (with the possibleexception of skiers and snowboarders) is very happy.Branch meetings are in recessuntil March. The spring meetingswill include discussions regarding aprogram to honor people in Branch14 who have been members for morethan 50 years.Branch 14 has participated in JoinHands Day for the last several years.The last two years, we have donatedhealth-care equipment to the HattieLarlham Foundation, a home formentally and physically challengedadults and children. We will discusswhere this year’s donation will beallocated at the March meeting. Asalways, we at the branch are gratefulfor the Home Office’s generousmatching donation.Branch 14member NatalieBly (picturedleft) is followingin hergrandmother’sfootsteps. JoanAltmayer, along-timemember, hasbeen a modelfor manyyears, doingtelevision commercials and fashionmodeling. Natalie, 7, and Joan wentto Buffalo, N.Y., where they filmed acommercial for a local hospital. Theywere filmed in a home where Joanportrays a grandmother recoveringfrom surgery performed at theMillard Fillmore Hospital. Natalievisits her grandmother at the homeduring her recovery. They color atthe dining room table, Joan reads toNatalie on the couch, then they playthe piano. They continued filmingthe next day. To ease Natalie’s apprehension,the directors let her playwith two dogs, and she fell in lovewith both of them. The commercialwill air sometime next month. It willalso be shown online.The next branch meeting will beheld Wednesday, March 7, at 7:30p.m., at the First Hungarian ReformedChurch, 14530 AlexanderRoad, Walton Hills. All adult membersare welcome to attend.Branch 15Chicago, ILby Eva Laczina-VorisOn Sunday, Dec. 18, WPA Branch15 Chicago, along with a multitudeof church members, celebrated theChristmas holiday season with anarray of traditions at the St. StephenKing of Hungary Church.The event began with the HungarianSchool and Scout Troupeperforming a traditional productionof the journey to Bethlehem, alongwith a chorus of children singingtraditional Hungarian Christmassongs. Cast members, young andold alike, once again filled the guests’hearts and souls with the joy of theChristmas spirit. This annual performanceand caroling reinforced theWilliam Penn Life º February 2012 º 17