EARLY DAYS RE-VISITED WITH THE PGI CIVETTES
by Irma Weingarth, a past president of Civettes.
Ah, those were the days my friends! What days you ask? The “start-up” of the PGI Civettes. Finally! We were no longer operating out of a shoebox in the closet or car trunk of the PGICA President – we had our own building. Just one little problem – we had no money with which to operate. Enter the female element of our wonderful Isles.
A meeting was announced for a Monday morning with a plea to ladies – please attend. And we did. Nina Monn was asked to call us to order and introduced three guys, known to us all for having put “the deal together” with PGI Management, i.e. Bob May, Fred Stevens and Vince Pohlman.
What was their assignment? “Ladies, make money!!!” O.K., we can do that. I cannot remember if it was Bea Carr or Alice Riplin who took off her straw hat and we passed it around. Over one hundred bucks dropped in and we were off. Officers and the first Board were nominated and approved right then and their and the enthusiasm could be felt.
Our first project was a Brown Bag Luncheon. Nothing was done in secret. Everyone who attended knew it was going to cost five bucks for a sandwich and a cookie made and donated by the Board. Nothing fancy, just come, and bring your own table (and I really mean table and chairs – we had nothing, cards too) It worked! We had this money now and the “hat bucks” what next?
We had enough cash to purchase card tables and chairs and the Friday Bridge Group and the Tuesday Pinochle Group came into existence. Here too, we carried on our Mission. Charge those attending to play, gave a little (and I mean little) cash prize and out of the profit we gave to Al Clark, PGICA treasurer, two bits per head to cover the cost of the A.C. and lights. What was so wonderful about all this, NO ONE, BUT NO ONE, ever objected to the way we divided up the fees. This was a community effort and we all wanted to be a part. I know I feel honored to have been the Charter Secretary of the “Start-Up” bunch, and later Program Chairman and President. Look what came out of all of our efforts.
Our monthly meetings were great. A chance to invite and bring a new neighbor and there was always entertainment. A favorite was U.S. Cleveland, the local historian who would show his movies of the past of our newly adopted town. But, oops, we had to purchase blinds for the windows first. Each new project brought on a new need.
Yes, we ladies were asked to assume the monetary chore but let me tell you the men were always there. I’m especially reminded of Randy Jacobson who was the first Center Director. Randy and “his boys” would respond to any outlandish request we made of them immediately – the absolute impossible might take them about three hours.
What a trip this has been down memory lane. Thank you for asking for my input. Glean what you need or desire from this rambling. Do not hesitate to use the big black pencil – I had a great time with “Early Days”