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It was a lovely fall day when the Brownsdale Study Club met at the home of Fern Paschke on Oct. 18. President Shelly Vogel opened the meeting with the reading of the Collect. Five members answered the roll call, “How did you meet your significant other?”

The secretary and treasurer’s reports were approved.

The group unanimously agreed that the outing to see the play “Steel Magnolias” was an enjoyable one. Funds from the treasury will be used to celebrate our 100th anniversary next year.

Shelly announced that the “Messiah” will be performed at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Hayfield at 9 a.m. on Dec. 3.

Rena Perrigo made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mary Kidwiler Moritz.

Mary’s blast from the past highlighted the Oct. 17, 1990 meeting which was held at Ellen Anderson’s home. Mary Ann Gallaher was welcomed as the newest member. Marlene Swan presented the main topic, “Growing up in a C.C. Camp.” It was followed by the outside reading researched by Larene Fett, but given by Ellen, “History of the Windmill.”

Shelly presented the main topic, “The Gaza Strip” Spanning just 141 square miles on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the Gaza Strip is situated between Israel and Egypt. It is home to approximately two million people, of which 1.4 million are refugees  from the Arab-Israeli War of 1948. Gaza was part of the Ottoman Empire before being occupied by Britain from 1918 to 1948, and Egypt from 1948 to 1967. Israel captured the Gaza Strip from Egypt (and the West Bank from Jordan) in the Six Day War of 1967. Palestinians claim these territories and see them as a future state.Under international and domestic pressure, Israel gave up control of the Gaza Strip in 2005, withdrawing 9,000 Israeli settlers and military forces. In an effort to prevent Hamas from getting stronger and to protect Israel from Palestinian rocket attacks, Israelis kept a land, air and sea blockade on Gaza. After decades of turbulence, HAMAS (an acronym for an Islamic resistance movement) launched the biggest attack on Israel in years from the Gaza Strip, with a surprise assault combining gunmen crossing the border with a heavy barrage of rockets.

Fern served a delicious apple cake.

Submitted by Therese Manggaard, secretary