The Deep River Chapter of Colonial Dames XVII Century held its winter luncheon meeting at the Country Club of North Carolina Friday, Feb. 6. President Anne Ratcliffe presided over the opening rituals and invited the 20 attendees to participate in a tea cup auction that featured a wide variety of unique items. Following lunch Ratcliffe opened the business meeting.

Agnes Buckley, registrar, reported that the chapter currently has 33 members. She also described her January visit to Colonial Dames headquarters in Washington, D.C. Buckley had been invited by the National Registrar to be a "Genie" for a week. As a "Genie," Buckley spent over 60 hours in the Colonial Dames research library, verifying and approving nearly 70 supplemental applications that had been submitted to the National Headquarters.

Bettye Spence, national defense chair, read an article about the recent troop withdrawal agreement in Iraq and some of the challenges that will face the Iraqi troops as the U.S. military leaves. Many of the troops currently stationed in Iraq will be redeployed to Afghanistan. The current shortage of troops based here in the United States is being met by an increase in enlistments that has been one outcome of the recent economic crisis.

Mae Cooper, chair of the nominating committee, presented the slate of officers for the 20092011 season. The slate was approved as submitted. The new officers will be installed at the May meeting. They are: Jackie Oakley, president; Lora Buelow, vice president; Bettye Spence, recording secretary; Lynne Frazier, corresponding secretary; Barbara Reining, treasurer; Sue Aceves, registrar; Elizabeth Younts, chaplain; Agnes Buckley, librarian; and Cynthia Buttner, historian.

Jackie Oakley read a letter from the Project Able coordinators thanking the Deep River Chapter for its donation of $510. One hundred percent of this donation will go to aiding troops in need.

Betty Nickerson was thanked for donating a book to the ancestry archive of the Carthage Public Library. Others were encouraged to make similar donations from their personal libraries, as this is a valuable resource for those researching their heritage.

The meeting closed with a prayer delivered by Chaplain Connie Tingley.