[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22889]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO ROSEMARY'S CIRCLE

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                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 26, 2008

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the members of 
Rosemary's Circle for 75 years of service to the Nashville, Illinois 
community. In 1933, a Sunday school class was formed at the United 
Methodist Church in Nashville, Illinois. These 30 students aimed to 
complete charitable work in their community. Some of the group's 
activities have included: Christmas fruit trays for shut-ins, 
fundraising for school activities and Children's homes, funeral dinners 
for church families, and quilt donations to the local EMT.
  From its inception until 2003, the class was named after its first 
teacher, Jennifer Bennett. In 2003, the longtime president of the 
``Jennifer Class'' passed away, and its members decided to rename the 
group in her honor. Known now as Rosemary's Circle, this group of 
dedicated women continued to serve the people of Nashville, Illinois 
for seventy-five years.
  In recent years, membership in Rosemary's Circle has dwindled due to 
the aging of its members. In July of 2008, the group, upon conferring 
with its namesake's descendents, decided to disband and made a final 
donation to the Methodist Children's Home. Although Rosemary's circle 
is no longer active, the generosity of its members will not soon be 
forgotten. I join with my fellow representatives today in honoring the 
members--past and present--of Rosemary's Circle for many years of 
community service.

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