Newsletter - March 2020
MARCH COFFEE
Fayetteville Newcomers Club will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, March 9, 2020 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 2925 N. Old Missouri Road, Fayetteville for coffee, refreshments, and a monthly program. Regarding inclement weather policy: If the schools are closed, our events are cancelled.
VP Programs - Debbie Dabney -This month’s presentation is: 911 EMERGENCY: What to do until help arrives. Captain Charles “Chaz” Birdsong, Deputy Fire Marshal and Public Educator, has been in the Fire and Emergency Medical Service for 29 years and with the Fayetteville Fire Dept for the past 19 years. He is a Nationally Registered Paramedic and a State of Arkansas EMT Instructor and a graduate from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor degree in Criminal Justice.
Newcomers to the area (established residents too) are invited to attend and enjoy the company of our friendly group. For more information on Fayetteville Newcomers Club go to www.fayettevillenewcomers.com or email fnc2925@gmail.com
March 2020 Newsletter
What Would You Do?
You never know how you’ll react in an emergency situation until you are faced with one. Hopefully none of you will ever be faced with such an event, but it is always wise to be prepared. Growing up, the small town we lived in had a volunteer fire and ambulance department. My dad was an EMT and I was fascinated by all the rescue stories he’d have to tell. Part of their training included mock accidents and I got to be a victim in one. They dragged an old smashed up car into one of our fields and leaned it against a tree. After careful application of fake blood and gore and explicit instructions about my symptoms and how I was to respond, I carefully climbed in and waited. The trainers notified dispatch and the clock started. I waited, and waited. It seemed to take forever until I could hear the sirens coming. I sure was glad that I wasn’t really injured. What if that had been real and you were one of the first people upon the scene? What would you do? I took my first CPR and first aid class when I was 16 and kept it current for years, never thinking I’d need it. I was wrong! When my ex-husband and I were on our honeymoon in the Poconos (yeah that was a thing back then), we witnessed a car accident while we were out for a walk. One of the cars hit a tree just a few yards away from us. The driver got out and sat on the ground. He had not been wearing his seat belt and his head had hit the windshield and was bleeding profusely. My first aid training kicked in and I knew to apply pressure to the wound with a clean cloth (I had a pkg of tissues in my pocket) and NOT to lift it, but to keep adding more cloths if it bled thru. When the ambulance arrived, I was horrified when the first thing the EMT did was lift my carefully layered pad of tissues to look at the wound. Of course, it opened up and resumed bleeding and I actually asked the guy what on earth he did that for - didn’t he know better? I still can’t believe I had the nerve to question him - must have been all the excitement and adrenaline! What if that had been you getting there first? What would you do? When I was expecting my first child, my mom and I took an Infant & Child CPR and first aid class - just in case. Luckily, I didn’t have to use it with my first 3 children, but my youngest child was trouble! When he was about a year old, he choked on some Cheerios. I knew by his face and the lack of sound that he was in trouble. Training kicked in and I had him upside down pounding his back until he could breathe. He was crying, I was crying…what a mess! Another time, he ate a Poinsettia leaf. Immediately I called Poison Control (do you know the number if you need it in a hurry?). Turns out, they are not a toxic plant, but are an irritant which can cause discomfort and possibly swelling. I followed their instructions for clearing out his mouth and they called back later to check on him. He was fine. A few years later, he fell off his brother’s bunk bed and got a concussion. I never would have known the signs to watch for if I hadn’t taken that class. Would you know what to do? Our speaker this month will address this issue - what to do until help arrives. I’m a firm believer in the Boy Scout Motto: BE PREPARED! Arm yourself with knowledge and don’t be afraid. It’s better to have knowledge and not need it than to need it and not have it! Until next time…
Sue
News and Updates
We have two proposed candidates for the open Board positions for next year. Program Vice President, Shelley Steele and Treasurer, Sandy Jensen. You are still welcome to submit your name for one of these Board positions. The proposed slate of Board positions will be voted on at the April Coffee:
President - Sue Schroeder
Program Vice-President – Shelley Steele
Membership Vice President - Mona Jones
Recording Secretary – Laurie Clayton
Correspondence Secretary – Jill Trolinger
Treasurer – Sandy Jensen
Activity Liaison – Janet Taylor
Website Director – Kathy Whisenant
Publicity Chair - Stacy Hahn
Newsletter Editor – Jann Gorman
Past President/Directory Chair – Tina Torres
We must get volunteers for the following activities in order for them to continue after May. If you are an activity attendee, please consider being a Chair, or Co-Chair it with one of your Newcomer friends. Contact the current Chairperson to find out more details.
Bunco Afternoon – Last Monday of each month year-round except holidays 1:00-3:00 p.m. Outback Steakhouse
Dinner Club – First Thursday, September – May 6:30 p.m.
Pink Flamingo Lunch Bunch – Third Saturday of the month year-round. 11:30 .a.m.
Take a Hike – Friday mornings year-round 7:45 a.m.
Proposed By Laws are online on the website (www.fayettevillenewcomers.com ) with the proposed changes. Please take a moment to review before the April Coffee as we will be voting on their acceptance.
Think about a charity for Newcomers to support as next year’s Service Project. You, as Service Project Chair, will be the liaison between the club and that charity. The Board will need your proposal in writing by 4/27. Your organization will present to the Board at our final meeting on 5/18.
Membership – Mona Jones Welcome to the New Members who joined in February 2020 which brings our paid memberships to 226. We look forward to seeing you at our Monthly Coffees or one of the many activities we offer. It’s never too early to volunteer for committee or create a new activity.
Pam Smart Dawn Bertels
Richard Kuehl Diane Swanson
Craig Swanson Rie Berger
Paula Opela
New Members/Guests will now have a “First Coffee” sticker to help us to identify them. Please make them feel welcome and introduce yourself to them!
Service Project – Magdalene Serenity House – Paulette Lilly/Mary Cay: This month they have a special request for Clorox wipes and fabric softener.
Sunshine Report – Jill Trolinger:
Get well cards were sent to : Valerie Lohbeck and Sue Burk
Members Eleanor Roberts and Sara Fixmer passed away
Donations have been sent in memory of:
John Southerland
Mike O’Daniel
Sara Fixmer
Memorial donation for Eleanor Roberts is pending
Newsletter Updates -Jann Gorman – Chair - Please email all newsletter updates to Jann Gorman, honk3rs@yahoo.com, for the next newsletter by the 20th of the month. Thank you
It’s a great day to be a Newcomer!
