The Pierian Study Club met January 14, 2010 at the gorgeous exotic ranch home of Cherry Kay Lange. The spacious home sits high on a hill where the panoramic view is exquisite. The Western theme of the home is portrayed throughout the house with decorations of windmills, western art, ropes, saddles, brands, a mounted buffalo head adorns the fireplace wall and the mantle decorations are completed with a fox and bobcat and the great room has deer mounts and other memorabilia.

Co-hostesses for this event were Paula Barrier, Gail Bruner, Martha Roe Terry, and Martha Leigh Whitten, who was unable to attend but functioned as a co-hostess. Other members present were: Connie Adams, Donna Baker, Loy Nell Behrens, Millie Burnham, Sharon Clawson, Kathleen Hawkins, Jeri Jones, Zolly Jones, Anita Miles, Jane Randolph, Clione Rochat, Vickie Stephenson, Geanne Taylor, Louise Williams, Elsie Millican, Lisa Theodosis, Anna Wilson, and two guests. The members were pleased to welcome guests Laverne Martin from Plainview, Texas, who was a long time member of the Pierian Study Club when she lived in San Saba and hardly seemed a guest and Gail Johnson from Llano, Texas, cousin of Cherry Kay Lange and Dorothy Miller as well as their traveling companion, who has visited the study club on other occasions.

On arrival the members were served a delicious chiffon bread pudding complimented with toasted pecans and coffee served on china plates with silver accompaniments.

Kathleen Hawkins, Yearbook Chair, introduced Lance Beaumont, Head of Guitar studies and Assistant Professor of Music at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. Mr. Beaumont teaches courses in music history and music technology and is the author of "The Capo Chord Book" a best seller published by Mel Bay Productions. He graduated from TCU with a BM and MM in classical guitar performance and has studied with some of the worlds greatest guitarists: William Kannengiser, Carlos Barbosa, Paulo Bellinatti, Roland Dyens, and Simon Dinnegan. His areas of specialty include guitar pedagogy in secondary education, sociomusicology, democracy in music education and music aesthetics. He is currently a doctoral candidate at Boston University pursuing a degree in music education. He is highly sought after as a clinician and performer and after his beautiful renditions on the guitar we certainly realized and appreciated his talent as a performer. Mr. Beaumont entertained the ladies with selections from Bach to Gershwin, Brazilian dance music, and his finale were two intricate guitar pieces by Andrew York. It was a superb enjoyable program.

In the absence of the President, Trish Warren, Kathleen Hawkins, First Vice President, called the meeting to order and Paula Barrier led the Club Collect. The Secretary, Dorothy Miller, gave the roll call and read the minutes. They were approved as read. Louise Williams, Treasurer, gave the financial report and reminded members it is now time to pay dues for the coming year. Louise gave a report on the spring social finances giving praise to the Chair, Barbara Gilger, stating that it was unusual for the cost to be the exact amount of what was taken in, noting perhaps it was the graciousness of Barbara.

Kathleen announced that due to the president and several members being absent the vote on the amendment would be tabled until next month. She asked the members to go over the amendment and give it due consideration. This amendment would allow ex-members to become associate members with appropriate dues.

Connie Adams announced that there would be an Emergency Medical District meeting at the Court House on February 16, 2010 and urged all members to be present for this very important meeting. There will be questions and answers with regards to our EMS issues, which effects everyone in the county. The vote will be in March.

Geanne Taylor announced the good news, that Betty Jo Miller had received her pacemaker and was doing well and would be home in a couple of days.

The February meeting will be February 11, 2010 at the home of Bebe Bagley with her friend and travel agent, Jan Kirkman, bringing the program on "Trips, Tips, and Tales." It should not only be informative but fun! Co-Hostesses will be Susie Nettelship, Clione Rochat, Sharon Clawson, Zolly Jones, and Geanne Taylor.