The Athena Club held its Dec. 17 meeting with Mary Jean Goldman serving as hostess. Seven members were present at the club’s annual Christmas get-together.

Genida Johnson gave the devotional, “The Immaculate Conception as told by Mary,” with Johnson dressed as Mary. Secretary Margie Belcher read the minutes from the November meeting, which were approved as read. Margaret Godwin gave the roll call. She said she loves most Christmas hymns; however, she just can’t enjoy “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”!

President Corinne Slayden appointed Johnson, Godwin and herself as members of the nominating committee for the next year’s officers. The nominating committee will report to the club at the February 2010 business meeting.

Johnson gave the group an oral quiz from the Bible regarding Jesus’ birth. There were many interesting answers, and not all answers were the ones expected!

Members drew numbers to exchange Christmas gifts. Doris Kirkpatrick handed out the gifts, which delighted both givers and receivers alike. Then, Slayden led the group in the club collect.

Goldman invited the members into her beautiful dining room, where she served tea and water with delicious Christmas party refreshments.

Margaret Godwin will host the Jan. 21 meeting in her beautiful home.

Athena Club president Corinne Slayden was the hostess for the Nov. 19 meeting.

Eight members were welcomes by her at 3:30 p.m. She gave the club devotion, using the poem “Celebrations of Old Age from the book “Green Winter.”

Secretary Margie Belcher read the minutes, which were approved as corrected. Jean Merkle resigned as club treasurer due to her husband’s illness. Bridget Cain agreed to serve as treasurer.

The Athena Club was asked by Kirk Brooker of the Marengo County Historical Society to decorate the dining room of Bluff Hall for Christmas on the River week. Cain agreed to be in charge of decorating the dining room.

Margaret Godwin’s “Musical Memories” were of Frank Sinatra, her program topic for the meeting. A native of Hoboken, N.J., Sinatra suffered from a lack of motherly love, which led him to drop out of high school due to rowdy behavior.

While the teen played with a band which included several of his teen-aged friends, Sinatra became friends with several mobsters, which led to an inquest by the FBI. However, he was never convicted or connected to the mob.

Sinatra gained popularity over the years and began acting as well as singing. In the mid-1960s, he joined with Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin to cut a record album.

Over the years, he supported a number of his Democratic friends, including several presidents of the United States.

Sinatra had four wives and three children, and was buried alongside his good friend, a bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey.

After the club collect, Slayden served delicious refreshments, which the guests enjoyed at her dining room table.

The Oct. 15 meeting of the Athena Club was held at the home of Doris Kirkpatrick. Seven members were present. Margaret Godwin gave a devotional based on “Songs from the Psalms.” The secretary’s report was approved as read, and treasurer Jean Merkle gave the treasurer’s report.

Corrine Slayden chose the Big Band era for her program. In Clarksville, Tenn., where Slayden grew up, she joined a Big Bands dance club and danced to the music of Tommy Dorsey, Fred Waring, Glenn Miller and Artie Shaw, among others.

She told the Athena Members about each of their lives and how they became famous. Members shared their own memories of the Big Band era, then recited the club collect. A delicious meal was served by Doris Kirkpatrick.

The Athena Club held its Sept. 17 meeting with Gail Flowers serving as hostess. Former member Sheryl Glass was a special guest. Secretary Margie Belcher read the minutes from the May meeting, the installation of officers, and the minutes were approved as read.

Eight members and one guest answered the roll call.

The Roll Call for the 2009-10 club year is “A Memorable Moment, Musical or Otherwise.” Gail Flowers’ memorable moment was incorporating World War II music into her high school history classes in years past.

The club voted to send tokens of remembrance to former member Rosanna Johnson, who recently moved from Demopolis, Mary Jean Goldman, who was absent due to illness, and Glenda Parkel, who had been absent for several months due to her husband’s illness.

Flowers presented a delightful program on rock and roll music from the 1950s and 1960s, even referring back to the 1930s and 1940s.

She mentioned such names as Sam Phillips, the president of Sun Records who discovered Elvis Presley, “Big Mama” Thornton, The Beatles and Bill Haley and the Comets. The club collect was read.

The members and guest enjoyed a chicken salad and fruit plate with coffee, tea or water.