Chapter President’s Letter – Feb. 2nd,  2009 

A cold and chilly hello to all. Here is what has happened since the last letter. Last Wed. (1-28-09) a group of Pioneer volunteers from the Rochester area met at the Country Inn Suites on Hwy 52 N in Rochester.

This motel has donated the furniture from their remodeling to the flood relief project that has been ongoing at the Cedar Rapids ,Iowa area.

This event was spearheaded by Judy Fries of Cedar Rapids. The furniture consisted of: 2 types of tables, 2 types of lamps, chairs, sofas, hide-a-beds, night stands, dressers, microwaves, and plumbing fixtures.
This was stored in 4 storage sheds (pods) on there property.

The HY-VEE Company donated 2 semi trailers and drivers to transport to Cedar Rapids. The Pioneers helped empty the sheds and move it into the trailers.
It was a cold and windy day----but the Pioneer spirit kept us warm and focused on the project. The job was finished in three hours by the combined effort of Joe and Judy Fries and 8 Pioneers from the Rochester area. I was one of the 8.

Last Sat.(1-31-09) this very same thing happened at Owatonna Country Inn Suites. As of this writing I do not know how many pioneers worked on this project. (Web Masters note; information and pictures are posted on the "Projects" page)
The victims of the flood can use all items as Judy Fries says that they lost everything and many are still temporally relocated.

The Rochester project was reported on KTTC-TV, and the Owatonna project was reported on KSTP-TV.

P.S. the chapter meeting dates are as follows;3-20-09; 6-12-09 (at St. Cloud). and 9-18-09. No date has been set for the fourth meeting.                                                 


Keep warm,  Harry Osborn.