With 143 in attendance, the Indiana Snowbird Club’s second buffet breakfast  got off to a hand-clapping start on Jan. 27 with “Cool Change” supplying the spark.

John Noonan of Greenfield Ind., opened the breakfast with prayer and club members and friends found that they indeed could eat and clap hands at almost the same time.

There was plenty to clap about, including some cool comments by the group about a place called Kokomo, well known to most Indiana folk as the Interstate 65 place that needs a “by-pass around the by-pass.”

After about a half hour of music, Doris Gammon, Indiana Club president got up and asked “Do you want Cool Change to keep on singing or do you want a business meeting?”  Well, since Hoosiers are no dummies; the groups was told by acclamation to sing a few more songs before putting the banjos away.

During the business meeting, secretary Charlotte McClurg,  read the minutes of our first breakfast, mentioning a sharing of concerns about the oil spill. Most Hoosiers expressed an impressive acknowledgement that the white sandy beaches look marvelous. Shirley Plank, club treasurer, reported a current balance in the bank of $545.86.

Gary McClurg mentioned  that he needs a few more people to work Saturday, the big “BratFest” day, the multi-club fesitval for the benefit for three different fire departments:  Fort Morgan, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. If you can help, please call Gary at 251-981-2039.  

The Indiana Snowbird club will operate the drive-through for the event, and there will be two shifts for volunteers.

He also reminded golfers that Monday is a multi-club golf outing. In addition, there is snowbird softball going on at the Gulf Shores Sports Complex — plenty of choices to keep trim and fit with physical exercise.

Shirley Mowry outlined several opportunities for club members and friends, including a Monday date set aside for a meal together with other Indiana Snowbirds at Ribs and Reds.

Bev Lockhart, VP, announced plans for the Low Country Boil on Feb. 25,  with work and fun beginning on Feb. 24, as Indiana helps prepare the food. 

Other announcements were made to the assembled breakfast group.  Highlighted was the Coastal Corale concert at the Gulf Shores First Baptist church Feb. 17-20.

Some Hoosiers are involved in the South Baldwin Community Theater  snowbird play  “Funny Money,”  which will be on stage Feb. 9-13, and Feb. 16-20. You’ll need to call the theater box office at 251-968-6721 for tickets and information, or visit www.sbct.biz.   Tickets are $15 each.

There will be at least one table of Hoosiers at the popular Missouri Club Trivia Night on Saturday, a fundraiser for the two Pleasure Island libraries. Call Shirley Mowry at 251-980-6416 if you’d like to join Indiana’s representation at this event.

Hoosiers find plenty to talk about in the process of comaraderie as they come in to the club meeting and find a place to sit down.  Some Hoosiers talk about the latest surge of serious weather conditions in the area they come from.   By recounting the severe weather, they are confirming that they made the correct decision in choosing to come to the Gulf Coast in lower Alabama, even if only for a month or two.  It’s a little “cool” here, especially in the evenings and mornings, but everyone likes the way the daylight, blue skies and sunshine just makes the day a bright and beautiful thing.

Memberships to the Indiana Snowbird Club are still available at $2.50 per person per year. We currently have 174 members.   The money raised in this fashion is donated as a gift to a worthy lower Alabama organization at the end of the season for the club. 

Our next breakfast is Feb. 10, at Lulu’s.   A special program is planned  — Dan Bock will talk about the rivers in Indiana. If you’d like to make a reservation, please call Doris Gammon at 251-981-6901-14153, or Bev Lockhart at 317-432-8708.