Lifelong Friends

Lifelong Friends

Come and rekindle old friendships or make new friendships that will last a lifetime.
Spend an hour or the entire afternoon playing cards, dominoes, games, enjoying the program or just visiting.
Future events being planned are: movie days, games, informative programs, educational instructions, covered dish luncheons, and much more.
Tables are set for anyone wishing to spend the afternoon visiting and playing cards, dominoes, board games, etc.
Refreshments are served.

Hostess: Margaret Kennedy (620-347-4358).
Lifelong Friends meets in the afternoon on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 1 pm.

Admission is free and the events are open to the public. Join us for an enjoyable afternoon.
Call 620-347-4220 for reservations for lunch.
No charge for luncheon but reservations are required.
Leave your name and # attending.

Read the article which appeared in "Her Voice" which is a publication that appears in the Morning Sun weekly.

2006 Schedule

March 16    Spring is in the Air
April 20 Nursing Home Issues
May 18 Sip for the Cure Tea Party
June 15   Popular Destinations
July 20 Services for Seniors
August 17 Preserving your Memories
Sept 21   Planning for your Senior Years
October 19 Halloween Party & Luncheon
November (no meeting)
December (no meeting)

2007 Schedule

January 18 "Cancelled"
February 22 Change Something
March 15 National Weather Service
April 19 Travel & Tourism in S.E. Kansas
May 17 Write To Preserve
June (no meeting)
July 19
August 16
September 20 Remember Me
October 18 Luncheon & Card Party
November (no meeting)
December (no meeting)

2008 Schedule
January 17 Kickoff Luncheon
February 25 The Gift of Life
March 20 Insurance Choices
April 17 Game Day
May 15
June
July
August 21 Late Summer & Early Fall Gardening
October 16 The Importance of Voting
November (no meeting)
December (no meeting

Call 620-347-4220 for reservations for lunch.
No charge for luncheon but reservations are required.
Leave your name and # attending.

October 16, 2008
Luncheon at noon
1 pm: Program "The Importance of Voting"
presented by Don Pyle, Crawford County Clerk

August 21,2008
Luncheon at noon
1 pm: Program "Late Summer & Early Fall Gardening"
presented by In The Garden, Pittsburg, Ks.

April 17, 2008
Chili Lunch followed by an afternoon of cards and games.
Call 620-347-4220 for reservations for lunch. (No charge for luncheon)

March 20, 2008
Luncheon provided by Humana at Noon
Reservations required. Call 620-347-4220 to leave your name and # attending.
Program: Insurance Choices
Presented by: Humana

February 25 , 2008
Lifelong Friends Pizza Lunch & Program was rescheduled to Monday, February 25 at noon due to the ice storm.

Program: The gift of Life (Living with Lupus & The Importance of Organ Donation)
Presented by: Michelle Johnson

Read this article that appeared in the Morning Sun about Michelle

January 17, 2008
Program: Kickoff Luncheon

Franklin Community Council, Inc. will begin hosting its Lifelong Friends program for 2008 with a kick-off luncheon Thursday, January 17. Lunch will be served at noon. There is no charge for the luncheon. There will be no program at the January meeting . Come and rekindle old friendships or make new friendships that will last a lifetime. Spend an hour or the entire afternoon playing cards, dominoes, games or just visiting. For further information contact Margaret Kennedy, 347-4358 or the Community Center 347-4220.

October 18, 2007
Program: No program this month
After a luncheon the afternoon was spent playing cards and games.

September 20, 2007
Program: Remember Me (Care of Alzheimer's Patients at Home & in the Nursing Home
Presented by: Carol Kerr, Golden Living Care Center

May 17,2007
Program: Write To Preserve
Presented by: Journalist Andra Stefanoni

“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” (Kahlil Gilbran)
   A memoir — your legacy — is the only thing that is lasting, and it is far more important than money or the accumulated “stuff” that gets left to family and descendents.
   Wouldn’t you like to know the details about your own grandparents? What their school days were like, stories about how they met, anecdotes from their lives? Your children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, or even historical researchers will feel the same way about you someday!
   Whether you have wanted to create a record of your past experiences, or simply journal your daily thoughts and insights as a creative outlet, this session with longtime journalist Andra Bryan Stefanoni will get you started. An avid believer in family and generational storytelling, Andra will give you tips and techniques so you can “Write to Preserve.”

April 19, 2007
Program: Travel & Tourism in Southeast Kansas
Presented by: Craig Hull, Director, Crawford County Convention & Visitors Bureau

March 15, 2007
Program: Tornado Outbreak of 2003 in Southeast Kansas
Presented by: Doug Cramer, National Weather Service Meteorologist
If you were unable to attend this meeting you can listen to the audio
provided by Kansas Storm Chaser Joey Ketcham.
Severe Weather Awareness Week (March 12-16, 2007)

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February 22, 2007
Program: Change Something
(A statewide campaign to improve the health of all Kansas through nutritition and physical activity)
Presented by: Ann Elliott, Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas
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January 18, 2007
"Cancelled due to ice and snow"

October 19, 2006

Halloween Party and Covered Dish Luncheon (noon - 4 pm)
Attendees were encouraged to come in costume.

September 21, 2006

Program: Planning for your senior years...legal issues to consider
Program presented by: Kevin Mitchelson, Attorney at Law
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August 17,2006

Program: Preserving Your Memories
Presented by: Laura Samford of scrapbookdreamer.com
Come and learn how to preserve your memories.
Lots of great ideas for guys and gals.

July 20, 2006
Program: Services provided by Agency for seniors who are eligible
Presented by: Linda Meyer, Program Supervisor for S.E.K. Area Agency on Aging
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June 15, 2006
Program: "Popular Destinations" The program will feature travel programs
available and highlight popular travel spots. A question and answer session will follow
Presented by: Vicky Wilderman, Office Supervisor of AAA
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May 18, 2006
Program: Sip for the Cure Tea Party
Presented by: Tammie Kramer, Mobile Services Manager, Mt. Carmel Regional Cancer Center
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April 20, 2006 Thursday
Program: “Nursing Homes - Issues and Answers“
Presented by: Brenda Stokes who has 17 years of nursing home business management experience

March 16, 2006
(Inaugural Meeting)
Program: “Spring is in the Air”
Presented by: John Harrison of In The Garden, 719 South Broadway, Pittsburg, Ks.

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Hostess: Margaret Kennedy	John Harrison, In The Garden, 719 S. Broadway, Pittsburg, Ks.

Her Voice, May 31, 2006
New Group Forms "LIFELONG FRIENDS"
by Phyllis Bitner

Woodrow Wilson said "Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together".    Southeast Kansas is a good example of that.    A large portion of the area was torn apart by a devastating tornado in 2003. Friends and family were separated through the loss of their homes.   Many residents who had made their homes in the area for over 50 years were displaced.   Yet friends from the entire area came to their aid.

What was to become of their friendships?   Of course you can keep in touch by phone, mail or even e-mail but somehow that never replaces actually visiting with a friend in person.    Realizing the importance of friendships a group called Lifelong Friends was formed in January, 2006.     The group meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month at the Franklin Community Center.

The inaugural meeting of Lifelong Friends was held Thursday, March 16 from 1-4 pm at the new Franklin Community Center. Hostess for the sessions is Margaret Kennedy.

The flyer stated: “Come and get acquainted. Rekindle old friendships or make new friendships that will last a lifetime. Spend an hour or the entire afternoon playing cards, dominoes, games, enjoying the program or just visiting.”    That’s exactly what happened. Friendships were renewed and new ones were formed.   John Harrison of In The Garden, 719 South Broadway, Pittsburg presented a very informative program titled “Spring is in the Air”.    The audience had many questions and enjoyed seeing the budding plants and listening to John’s presentation and suggestions.

“Nursing Homes - Issues and Answers“ was presented on April 20 by Brenda Stokes who has 17 years of nursing home business management experience. A lively question and answer session followed. The rest of the afternoon was spent visiting, playing cards and board games.

A program is scheduled each month followed by board games, cards, dominoes or visiting. Refreshments are served.   There is no charge for admission.   It’s a very informal group and open to anyone in the area.   Men and women of all ages are welcome. Residents from throughout the county (including Pittsburg, Frontenac, Girard, Arma, Franklin and other rural areas) have attended.      It’s a time to not only value those lifelong friendships that are already made but also a time to form new friendships which will last a lifetime.

Margaret Kennedy, the program hostess, has lived in Franklin all her life but was still a little nervous about hosting the first meeting.   As the people started to come in she said she relaxed as she saw many familiar faces along with many new ones. The people were very friendly and interesting. She began looking forward to the next meeting   All our guests have very pleased to hear all the informative talks and have enjoyed spending the afternoon visiting and playing games.

Norine Laird, a Franklin resident, attends to see both old friends and to make new friends.     She enjoys the informative programs and playing cards. She says her new friends have all enjoyed attending the sessions.

Dianna Morrison, Community Center Director, has a very busy and hectic life which gives her little time to keep up with all her friends and get to know people who share common interests.   She has lived in Franklin for sometime but through Lifelong Friends she has gotten to know people who in the past were just names.    Lifelong Friends provides fun, companionship and a time to visit.

Craig Stokes, Chairman of Franklin Community Council, Inc. feels that Lifelong friends give us the opportunity to enhance the quality of life for citizens of the entire community and SE Kansas. It provides multi-purpose programs especially designed to fulfill the health, educational, recreational and outreach needs of our most valued citizens. It provides a safe, friendly and comfortable environment.

The program on May 18 was presented by Tammie Kramer, Mobile Services manager, Mt. Carmel Regional Cancer Center.    Vicky Wilderman, Office Supervisor of AAA will present a program on June 15.   The topic will be "Popular Destinations".    The program will feature travel programs available and highlight popular travel spots. A question and answer session will follow. In July, Linda Meyers, Program Supervisor for S.E.K. Area Agency on Aging will present "Services provided for seniors who are eligible."

Future events being planned are: travel programs, movie days, games, informative programs, educational instructions, covered dish luncheons, and much more.

|Anyone wishing further information should call Margaret Kennedy at 347-4358. Lifelong Friends meets from 1-4 pm on the 3rd Thursday of each month.

Anyone is welcome to join in for an enjoyable afternoon that is sure to produce many “Lifelong Friends“.