Franklin Community Newsletter

December, 2007

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

We would like to wish everyone a very happy and blessed holiday season.   We thank you all for your support, your volunteer efforts, your donations, your kind words and your work to make the community a better place to live.     We are blessed to have such wonderful friends and neighbors!

LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING  - CENTENNIAL & FRANKLIN Collectibles

Stop by the community center during our new office hours. Many very inexpensive gifts are available for purchase.   These would make a nice gift for children or grandchildren.  Lots of $2 and $3 items (hat pins, key rings, patches, etc.).  T-shirts $3.00;  Sweatshirts $5;  Denim Shirts  $12.00  If you attended the Centennial you are very likely in the Spirit of Franklin Remains DVD.   The DVD also contains a narrative and photos on the history of the community as well as interviews and photos from the centennial.  $20 for a nicely packaged 2 DVD set. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

December 31 New Year’s Eve Party

2008

January 10 - Annual Board Meeting

January 17 - Lifelong Friends

February 10 - Valentine Dinner & Dance

March 1 - Bargain Bazaar & Chili Feed

May 4 - 5^th Anniversary Remembrance & Weather Symposium

June 21 -  Franklin Reunion

Sept 7 - Community Picnic

Nov 8 - Salute to Veterans

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY

*Please note new time”

Dance begins at 8 pm

Party Favors & Breakfast provided - BYOB

$15 per person    

For Reservations call 620-347-4220 

Music by Johnnie Zibert Band

We need a few people to help with the dance, serving, handing out party favors, etc. If you would be willing to help please call Norine at 347-4453

Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness

FCCI ANNUAL MEETING

Annexation, Incorporation, Community Park, Community Center

Are these issues important to you?  Plan to attend the annual meeting.

This is your official notice of the Annual Meeting of the members of Franklin Community Council, Inc.  The meeting will be held at the Community Center, 701 S. Broadway, Franklin, Kansas, at 7 p.m. on January 10, 2008.    Purpose of the meeting is to elect board members and any other business that comes before the board.  Plan now to attend.    Be an active participant in your community.   We extend an invitation to you to attend the annual meeting and exercise your right to vote.

Registration of members will begin at 6:45.    Business meeting will begin promptly at 7 pm.  All members are welcome to attend the annual meeting and are urged to attend.   All members are allowed to participate in the business session of the annual meeting.   Action to be taken at annual meeting includes a report by committee chairpersons, election of directors, committee appointments and any other business which may come before the council. 

In connection with the election of directors scheduled for the meeting, the following members have been nominated by the nominating committee for 3 year terms: Craig Stokes, Henry Ashbacher and David Chandler.  Nominations will also be accepted from the floor by any member.    Please make plans to attend this very important meeting.

            Please consider doing your civic duty and step forward to serve on the council in some capacity (board member, committee chair, committee member, volunteer, etc.)   The board meets once a month and several committees handle day to day operations of the facilities and programs.   All meetings are open to the public and we invite and encourage everyone to attend.   Bring your ideas for future plans for the community.  Are the above items important to you?   What would you like to see available in the community in the next 3, 5, 7 years?  What programs would you like to see in the community?  Can you help with those programs?  Do you know someone who can?  Do not sit back and wait for someone else to do it. If you have an idea please come to a meeting.  Everyone is welcome!!  Your attendance at the meeting is important to consider the direction of the future of Franklin.    If you are unable to attend but would be willing to serve please contact a board or committee member.

Year End Giving

Please keep FCCI in mind when planning your year end tax deductible donations to charity.  We are a recognized non-profit and donations are tax deductible.   Please use the form at the bottom of the newsletter to send your contributions.  All donations (large or small) are appreciated and are used for programs that benefit the entire community. No directors of the board are paid and all donations go 100% toward the intended use.

COMMUNITY CENTER 

Monday-Wednesday 10 am-8pm                    Thursday-Saturday 10 am-3pm

Many people have been making use of the new office hours at the community center.   Visitors & residents have stopped by to view the new center and spent hours browsing through the historic displays and photo albums.   Please feel free to stop in to view the new center.  

BARGAIN BAZAAR (March 1, 2008)

Plan now for our annual bargain bazaar & chili feed.  Start saving your items to donate.  All proceeds go to benefit the community.  Please help us make this a success.  No “junk” accepted.  Please do not make us a trash drop off. We will accept clean, usable items.

MORE WAYS TO HELP

FCCI has a booth space in the new Iron Wheel Flea Market as a fund raiser.  If you have antiques or collectibles that you would like to donate please drop them by the community center during normal business hours or call to make arrangements for pickup.  This is a great way to support your favorite non-profit and to help with the community.  All proceeds go 100% directly to programs that benefit the community.

PARK 

Thanks to John Alex and Ray Hamblin for the beautiful Christmas lights at the community park and the welcome sign area.  They are a beautiful site as you drive through the community.   This shows what volunteerism can do to brighten up the lives of many. 

A memorial paver in the park makes a nice gift (several sizes available).  We’ll be sending in another order so please pick up a form at the center, visit the website or call one of the directors.

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted

CONTRIBUTORS

Thanks to those who continue to help us in our quest of saving historical items and documents relating to Franklin.  We are dedicated to preserving the history of the community and appreciate support toward these projects. 

  <>We are in need of a full size vacuum sweeper for the community center. If anyone happens to have an extra one please drop it by the center.    We also are in need of general lawn and garden equipment such as a wheelbarrow, hand truck ,etc.    We need general maintenance tools such as hammers, screw drivers, etc.   If you have any of these items that you no longer need and they are just taking up space in your garage please consider donating them to the community for use at the park, community center and welcome sign.    If we receive more than one similar item we will put the additional items in the Bargain Bazaar. 

COMMUNITY CENTER MANAGER JOB OPENING

We are looking for someone to manage the Community Center.  Job would involve letting renters in and out, follow-up after an event, maintaining paperwork on rentals and reporting rentals to the bookkeeper, setting up for events, possible cleaning after events (extra pay for this),   etc.  Much of the paperwork is handled by the ladies at the center during business hours and much of the work would be after hours or week-ends.    If you are interested in a part time job with flexible hours please call 620-249-9333 or 620-249-1326

LIFELONG FRIENDS

Margaret Kennedy    620-347-4358

Programs will resume January 17. 

Noon - Special time for a kickoff luncheon.  Call the office for a reservation. 

 620-347-4220

FUNERAL DINNERS

 Norine Laird 

620-347-4453

Please remember that the community center is available for funeral dinners at no charge to the family.  FCCI will provide meals for funeral dinners for Franklin residents AND former Franklin residents.  Families are responsible for paying for meat for the dinner but side dishes and beverages will be prepared and served by residents of the community.

WATER DEPARTMENT DROP BOX

The Drop Box for RWD #7 water is located in front of the Franklin Community Center just south of the portico pillars. You may continue to mail your payments to P.O. Box 44 Franklin, Ks 66735.  If you have any questions please call Veda Maxwell at 347-4747.

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WATER BOARD DIRECTORS:

Craig Stokes, 620-347-8519

Jim Rhuems, 620-347-3498

Doris Morlock, 620-347-4958

Dianna Morrison,  620-347-8807

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FCCI DIRECTORS:

Robert Craig Stokes, 620-347-8519

 Henry Ashbacher, 620-347-4070

Margaret Kennedy, 620-347-4358

Norine Laird, 620-347-4453

Frances OBlak, 620-347-4312

Mary Ann Shull,  620-347-8411

Newsletter Editor: Phyllis Bitner

 620-249-9333