July 13, 2010

The Belgian-American Association Retirees Club met at noon on July 13, 2010 at the Lutheran Fraternity Hall with 70 members present.

President Frank Baecke opened the meeting with a moment of silence for our sick and deceased members.

Roll call showed all officers present except Bob Janes who was excused.

Treasurer’s Report: Dick Cleyman read the financial report.

Guest and New members: Alberta Bauer, Phil & Suzanne Huyghe were welcomed to the club. Ed Deneweth was a guest today.

We serenaded the Birthday and Anniversary celebrants. Birthdays in July: Mariann Baecke, Laura DeBouvre, Gabe DeKimpe, Etienne Elskens, Betty Huyghe, Simone Marevoet, Esther Ostyn, Cyril Peleman, Vivian Putrycus and Irma VanMassenhove.

Anniversary Celebrants: Dick & Lillian Cleyman 62 yrs, Richard & Clementine Geromette 60 yrs and Bob & Bea Grant 58 yrs.

Gifts were donated by: Mariann Baecke, Gabe DeKimpe, Etienne Elskens, Simone Marevoet, Irma VanMassenhove, Dick & Lillian Cleyman. Cakes were donated by Marshall & Margaret DeSmet, Richard & Clementine Geromette, Ed & Flora Commyn and Cyril Peleman.

Old Bussiness: None

New Business: Al VanDenbergh reminded us of the upcoming party this coming Sunday at the War memorial to honor Reverent Karel Denys long-time pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Church. Tickets are still available, contact Margaret Roets.

Sick list: Bob & Ceil Janes were at the St. Johns nursing home but are scheduled to leave today.

Raffle: Jack Pieters and René Nuyts reported 36 prizes for the raffle. The card chairmen reported: 0 players for Bien, 24 players for 31, 30 players for Euchre, 16 players for Pinochle.

Adjournment: Motion to adjourn was made and accepted at 12:25 p.m.

A luncheon of cold cuts was then served, accompanied with cake.

Scores in the various card games are as follows:

BIEN:
No Players.

EUCHRE:
Roland Deprez 53 pts.
Marge Brooks 52 pts.
Frank Callebaut 52 pts.
Frank Baecke 51 pts.
Lucien Mareel 50 pts.
André Reyntiens 50 pts.
Leaders:
Frank Baecke 281 pts.
Mariann Baecke 263 pts.
Marion Westfall 257 pts.
Lucien Mareel 256 pts.

PINOCHLE:
Etienne Elskens 560 pts.
Ed Commyn 512 pts.
Mike Gray 507 pts.
Leaders:
Clementine Geromette 3017 pts.
Mike Gray 2988 pts.
Mary Louise Biggs 2962 pts

31:
Simone Marevoet 3 pts.
Irene Michaels 3 pts.
Leaders:
Cecile Gietzen 13 pts.
Mike Huyghe 11 pts.
Irene Michaesl 10 pts.
Maria Callebaut 10 pts.
Margaret Phlypo 10 pts.

Respectfully submitted
Etienne Elskens, Recording Secretary

History of the Retirees Club:

In March 1966, Al Vandenbergh Sr., President of the Belgian-American Businessmen’s Association and the board members founded the Retirees Club. At the first meeting, Robert Follebout was elected President; Florence Houtekier, Secretary, and board members were Leon Buyse, Oscar Raes, Louis Houtekeir, Ben Baetens, and George Brouckaert.

The original membership included 26 people, but increased rapidly to by the end of 1966, there were over 50 members. The initial meetings were scheduled for the Belgian Hall, until it closed in 1970. The club transferred to the St. Clair Shores Civic Center, and afterwards to the Shores Banquet Hall (now Barrister Gardens). In 1994, they moved to their present location, the Lutheran Fraternities Hall.

It isn’t unusual to realize that card games were an integral part of club activates. Practically every member initially was a card player with bien as the major game activity. Even in the early years it wasn’t unusual to have over 40 bein players participate. They even requested experienced bein players to have patience and instruct the new players, which they did. As more members were signed up, 31 became the secondary card game. Shortly thereafter, euchre was introduced and became more and more poplar to its present level of over 40 players a month. Bien has dropped off to where a dozen players are hard to find. Even pinochle had outgrown bein. It does give present members a choice of games they wish to play and allows almost all members present some activity.

The membership grew from the original 26 to a high of 115 in 1981. It dropped off to 92 in 1987, and several ways of boosting the membership was considered. The officers of the parent club, in their usual wisdom, asked the membership to include outsiders. It was agreed tat non-Belgians would be accepted if they were fortunate enough to have a Belgian wife.