IUKA GFWC-MFWC held their monthly meeting on October 12, 2023, at the Iuka Library. Brenda Whitfield called the meeting to order at 2:00 o'clock. Members present were Brenda Whitfield, Jo Russell, Fredda McCune, Catherine Thomas, Brenda Irwin, Beverly Estes, Vonnie Pounders, Joy Kitchens, and Vicki Yates. All were wearing pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Other members unable to attend were missed.

Beverly was our hostess and led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance and also gave the invocation. She had delicious refreshments enjoyed by all. The table was beautifully decorated with fall colors and a gorgeous pot of mums. Brenda Whitfield won the mums as the door prize.

All club members brought a huge bag of candy for Trunk or Treat as well as nonperishable items for the Food Pantry. Jo introduced our guest speaker, Gail Milligan, who has headed up The Tishomingo County Foster Rescue. Gail has a kind heart taking puppies and dogs that have been neglected or dropped off and keeps them until they can be rescued and adopted. Brenda Whitfield presented her with a generous donation from the club to show our appreciation for all she does protecting and helping the lost strays in our county.

Gail headed up a project at our local jail where she takes pets to be trained. This is great socialization for the puppies and responsibilities for the inmates. They have received many donations as well as canine condos or sheds where the animals can live together as a pact instead of inside her home. They have doggie doors where they can get out to potty and roam and play in a fenced-in area. The land was also donated for this site.

Gail is pressing for more stringent laws for folks to have their pets spayed or neutered which would limit the pet overpopulation. There is a low-cost program in Tishomingo County, and forms are available online to have your Animal’s spayed or neutered. No one wants to have your animals euthanized, please keep your cats and dogs at home!

If you would like to contribute to this great organization, please donate to Tishomingo County Fur Rescue, First American Bank, or Animal’s Choice Veterinary Clinic. It would be greatly appreciated.

Joy gave our correspondence report, and minutes were reviewed from the last meeting. Fredda went over the financial report and passed out checks which will be donated to different organizations and schools. Each club member will be distributing across our community in the coming weeks.

Pecans have been ordered and should arrive in November prior to Thanksgiving. The GFWC Southern Region Conference will be held Oct 26-29 in Biloxi, MS. Catherine will continue working on our literacy program and how we can advance there and brainstorming on the Friends of the Library Project. We are still continuing with our soda can tabs as well as the Turn on the Tap projects.