(6-5-25) The Twenty First Century Club met on May 27, 2025 at the Rockford Methodist Church – Rockford. It was a Mystery Trip, and the members loaded into two SUV’s for the trip to Van Wert, OH. No one guessed the destination until their arrival at the Van Wert County Regional Airport – J.L Rice Terminal. This newly built terminal in 2021 was a complete surprise to the members and a perfect final meeting destination for their year long theme of travel. Vice president Twyla Hayes took the members on a short tour of the beautiful space which was built for airplane pilots and their passengers flying in and out of Van Wert. It is neatly decorated and arranged with photos and historical documentation of the Van Wert Airport. The terminal is named after James Lewis Rice, who ran the airport for many years after serving and flying in the Navy, Air Force, and Air National Guard, gave flying lessons, built his own midget airplane and tragically died in an airplane race in Chicago back in 1960.
President Kim Carr welcomed everyone. She called the meeting to order with a few comments. Members answered roll-call by naming the vacation spot they most wanted to travel.
Minutes from the meeting in April were read by and approved as was the treasurer’s report.
Our theme “Adventures Await” was culminated with our new president for the coming year, Twyla Hayes, providing a short program on packing for a trip. She brought her new luggage for packing in threes, handy bottles and bags designed for smaller travel portions. She explained the “rule of threes” in packing luggage which means to pack no more than three pairs of shoes, three bottoms (like pants or skirts), and three tops (like shirts or blouses). This strategy helps maximize space and create a variety of outfits without overpacking. Her single suitcase used packing cubes, dividers to organize items and save space. Other suggestions were rolling clothes instead of folding them can help to reduce wrinkles; filling shoes with smaller items; and even using compression bags reducing the volume of your clothes.Twyla said she and her husband Pete were able to vacation in Paris last year without having to check any bags! They were successful with carry-ons only.
Hostesses Kim Carr and Twyla Hayes served sourdough cookies from the new bakery and restaurant “Grains of Love: in Rockford.
The 21stCentury Club will retire for the summer and begin meeting in September 2025 for a new year.
Are you looking for a fun club of women who enjoy learning? Try our club out!
Yes, we are over 100 years old and still broadening our horizons. Contact Sheila Baltzell-Linn 419-733-3326.
Mercer County Outlook 