With 90 in attendance at the final buffet breakfast, Hoosiers were appreciative of the planned program for the morning. Carl Dickerson, pastor of the Foley United Methodist Church, was in Costa Rica just one week ago.

He spoke of two outstanding service projects that he has helped with in Costa Rica, giving interesting details of what is involved in the “Mission to Costa Rica.”

The first part of the mission was having custody of many books for school libraries in Costa Rica, and delivering the books to needy schools there. Books are very important in Costa Rica, especially in elementary schools where supplies are very limited.

The second part of the mission was in delivering wheel chairs for disabled children. Most needy persons there have no funds for such things and the government cannot fund or supply the items at all.

So, severely disabled and deformed children cannot get around at all without the help that the mission offers. Ron Gillette of Pensacola, who’s specially designed and built wheelchairs have saved the day for many of these children,  told his story to the Indiana Snowbird Club. These are for children who can’t do anything for themselves.

Volunteer labor and many donated parts have made these chairs available in his shop located in Pensacola for about $2,500 each, when normally they would cost $6,000 or more.   The chairs are shaped to the exact form of the child.

Ron explained that around five children are helped with the gift of a wheelchair each trip, but there are 500 more kids in Costa Rica who qualify for a wheelchair, so the need is great.

What are the causes for so many deformed children? The use of pesticides causes many deformities there, for one thing. 

In other club action, President Doris Gammon announced a successful search for secretary of the snowbird club for next year. It is Sue Vowmer.

Shirley Plank will continue as treasurer, and Gammon will continue next year as president, with Bev Lockhart as VP.

Mike Raters thanked his crew of Greeters and Shirley Mowry reported on the Dolphin Cruise taken last week.

Bev Lockhart reported on expanded plans for the Low Country Boil for next year. She said 880 meal tickets were sold this year by all clubs, creating a net profit of $7,500, a benefit for the Gulf Coast Zoo.

Shirley Mowry reported the decision of the Indiana Snowbird Club donation committee was to give $300 each to two different lower Baldwin Elementary schools, Elberta and Swift School, to help with their free lunch programs for needy kids, plus a $100 gift to Habitat, making a total of $700 given to worthy organizations from the Indiana Snowbird Club this year.  

A big round of support applause was given to Doris Gammon for her leadership as president of the club. Dee Vollmer also asked that the club members thank all of the door prize donors, mainly businesses in the community, for the many gifts handed out at each meeting.

Doris wished everyone a safe trip home, and a big welcome back in the fall.