Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Brownsdale Study Club met at the home of Rena Perrigo on Nov. 15. President Shelly Vogel welcomed our guest, Barb Swanson. The meeting opened with the reading of the Collect. Four members answered the roll call, “Where did you live the first year you were married?”  The secretary and treasurer’s reports were approved.

There was no old or new business.

Mary Kidwiler Moritz announced that the Brownsdale Lutheran Church will be hosting an Expo on Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Therese Manggaard made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Rena.

Mary presented the main topic, “Is there a Doctor in this Town? The Dilemma of Staffing Rural Areas with Health Care.” It is anticipated the U.S. will face a shortage of between 54,000 and 139,000 physicians by 2033. Population growth is partly to blame. An aging population is another reason for the need for additional health care professionals. In addition, the health care field itself is aging-fewer people are choosing medicine as a career. Chronic diseases and limited capacity of medical schools due to the availability of health education programs are the other reasons. Only 1% of doctors, in their final year of medical school, said they wanted to live in communities under 10,000. And, only 2% wanted to live in towns of 25,000 or fewer. Providing curriculums in rural colleges, that will draw students from their own rural roots, together with grants and scholarships, is a plan that will hopefully, entice these you people to remain in rural America.

Mary’s blast from the past highlighted the Nov. 21, 2001 meeting which was held at the home of Hazel Schlichting. Twelve members answered the roll call, “Name Something Patriotic.” Marleen Swan presented “The History of Songs of Jubilee.” “Getting Hitched Amish Style” was presented by Dorothy Anderson. Amish weddings are held usually on Thursdays so as not to interfere with worship on Sundays. A service may start at 8:30 a.m. and last until noon, The wedding ceremony is held at a neighbor’s house or barn. Following, a huge meal is served by the bride’s family at their home.

Rena served a delicious pineapple cake.

Submitted by Therese Manggaard, secretary