Rick Gunn/Nevada Appeal Carson City Natives and Newcomers member Marty Rouleau, above, smiles while listening to Carson City Sheriff Kenny Furlong, below, at the club meeting at the Carson Nugget Thursday. Furlong spoke about medical ID bracelets and the benefits of the program. The bracelets will be available July 1 at the grand opening of the Carson City Senior Citizens Center and the sheriff's department
For reasons unknown to Emma Wertz, the National Welcome Wagon in 1986 released Carson City from its organization.
Not willing to let the group go by the wayside, members chose to stay intact and become the Carson City Natives and Newcomers. Wertz is the group's president.
"We do fund-raising for scholarships, help Advocates to End Domestic Violence, and give money to the sheriff's department for TRIAD," Wertz said.
Natives and Newcomers promotes charitable and humanitarian projects within the community.
Thomas Briggs founded Welcome Wagon in 1928 in Memphis, Tenn., to greet new homeowners and familiarize them with their communities. He hired "hostesses" - women who were friendly and knowledgeable about their neighborhood - to deliver baskets of gifts supplied by local businesses.
Natives and Newcomers past president and a member since 1988, Peggy Truttman, said the younger generations are just not as interested in participating in clubs such as hers.
"We need new members, younger members, to help with ideas, fund-raising events and the general function of the Natives and Newcomers," she said. "We do things to try to keep everyone interested. When we do, the members will keep coming back."
A root beer float concession summer fund-raiser is planned Saturday, June 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Albertsons on Highway 50 East for a suggested donation of $1.50.
"We offer scholarships to a Carson High School graduate and a Western Nevada Community College graduate from the nursing program," Wertz said. "The high school student receives $500; the college grad gets $1,000."
Funds for the scholarships are raised through a rummage and bake sale. A major undertaking of the group is making playing cards for the blind. Decks of cards are donated by area casinos, and Braille applications are done by members.
"We've sent thousands of decks of cards all over the world," Wertz said.
The club also adopts families at Christmas.
"We have fun doing what we do and getting together once a month. We welcome anyone age 18 and older to join us."
Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.
