By Dorothy Weinberger
The O.D.O. Club members who recently visited Esther Hoffman in Firesteel Healthcare Center included: Zelma Kneen, Joan Gaston, Kathy Nelson, Dorothy Weinberger, Ellen Jean Anderson and Marion Judy.
Over the years so many people have asked what does O.D.O. stand for? The history of the club is published in the 1983 Artesian Centennial History book.
The club started out many years ago in Benedict Township, which is just north of Artesian, as the Benedict Homemakers Extension Club. Members decided in 1957 they no longer wanted to continue with extension work so they decided to do community projects and chose a new name: O.D.O., which means “Our Day Out.” (It has been said at a business in the area that it must mean “Old Duffers Outing.”)
    At that time, in 1957 there was a large membership which included Ila Baade, Grace Connor, Alma Flohalm, Mildred Hendrix, Grace Hindes, Esther Hoffman, Lois Hoffman, Leona Klinkner, Jean Nelson, Doris Olson, Virginia Olson, Bess Rowan, Devona Simonson, Anna Strand, Jett Thomas, Verna Wire and Evelyn Wire.
The group completed many very worthwhile projects, such as lap robes for nursing homes and the Veterans hospitals, bibs and large pockets for walkers and wheelchairs. At Christmas time they packed homemade cookies in large cans to be given to the elderly shut-ins in the community and also for new families that had moved into the area. The club gave donations to the Abbot House, Crippled Children’s Hospital and other worthy causes as needed.
In 1983 when the Artesian Centennial History book was published, the members included Mildred Emmitt, Bernice Seitz, Isabel Marler, Ruth Trusty, Verne Gilreath, Pearl Shoemaker, LaVonne Kempf, Virginia Olson, Peg Kubarn, Neally Vaughn, Joyce Bechen, Geneva Spelbring, Elvie Turner, Linda Benford and Dorothy Weinberger.
I am wondering how many more years the club will continue on.

PHOTO: FRONT ROW, left to right: Esther Hoffman, Zelma Kneen, Joan Gaston; back row: Kathy Nelson, Dorothy Weinberger, Ellen Jean Anderson and Marion Judy.