(11-3-25) The Twenty First Century Club met for the second meeting of the year on October 28, 2025 at the Willshire Historical Museum in Willshire, OH. President Twyla Hayes greeted all members including the newest members, Barb Bowen, Donna Bates, Marina LeJeune, and Sydney Anderson (who was absent but remembered).

Front row left to right: Barb Bowen; Cindy Canary; Julia Henkle: Sheila Baltzell-Linn; Kim Carr

Back row left to right: Marina LeJeune; Donna Bates; Melanie Shindeldecker; Janie Overley; Susan Coburn; Ann Gage; Barb Painter.

Twelve ladies listened to secretary Cindy Canary read the minutes from the opening meeting in September. She mentioned that all four new members were welcomed into the club, at that meeting, and were presented a yellow mum, the club flower. Twyla, that evening shared her hobby of painting “Plenaire” which is a misspelling of “en plein air,” a French term for painting outdoors in the open air. The minutes were approved as was the treasurer’s report.

Roll call followed by answering with a favorite time of day.  

Dues of $5 were collected as were jars of peanut butter for the

Helping Hands Food Pantry in Rockford. Collections will continue monthly.

Twyla continued with a few corrections to the season’s program booklets. The theme for the year “Time Flies When You Are  . . . .” was discussed to include program topics of hobbies and other things that engage our time. Then Cindy Canary gave an overview of the Leota Braun Foundation, Inc in Rockford, a charity to which Cindy has given of her time for 6 years. The charity was organized in 2001 at which time the paperwork was filed and officers chosen. All workers volunteer their time. The Leota Braun Charitable Foundation, Inc. became a 501c3 foundation in 2002 and exists to provide financial support for projects and activities that will improve the quality of life for residents of the Ohio communities of Rockford, Willshire, and Mendon, as well as surrounding rural areas of the Parkway Local School District. The foundation provides the vehicle for donors to make tax-advantaged charitable contributions for the benefit of the Foundation’s areas of service. It also assures the ongoing competent management, investment, and distribution of donated funds throughout and beyond the lifetimes of the donors in accordance with their wishes. All three communities have benefited.

Kim Carr followed with one of her many hobbies which is local historical research, collection and display. Kim worked with a Willshire committee during the Willshire Centenial two years ago to create a space for local history. The members of the club were able to view all of the cool things the group collected and placed in the Willshire Historical Museum. Kim keeps busy with the sorting and organizing of donations which come in periodically. She has gotten so good at this, that she sometimes is asked to help people go through their “old stuff.” One such project in the present involves preparing 5 generations of papers and collectibles for a family auction. Kim describes the joy of sorting through and finding “gold nuggets” of interesting and unusual items.


Melanie Shindeldecker and Janie Overley provided a pumpkin dessert and cheese and crackers for refreshments

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 7 PM at the home of Cindy Canary who is hostessing with Barb Bowen. Melanie Shindeldecker and Sheila Baltzell-Linn are providing the program.

Contact Sheila Baltzell-Linn if you are interested in attending a meeting, call her at 419-733-3326.