Yesterday's ICON Picnic was perhaps the best one I've attended. A breeze kept most of the flies away, and most everyone who brought food was fly conscious and brought containers that had lids or covering. Mike Fay and Frank Davidson, the burgers and hotdogs were very tasty and also well protected from flies with the covers that Sarah brought. I heard people asking for Sarah's recipe for the Wine Cake, so we'll have to see if she's willing to share it. Ed Piland pointed out some really good slaw and some yummy dark carrot cake, and I sampled both—he was right! Sarah suggested I might be on a sugar high, but I ignored the remark.

Donna DeJong's Country Band was so-o-o much fun! Bill Patrick was spiffy in his summer straw hat and looked like he was having a good time playing a washboard, as was Ed Piland. Mick Topping, Jim Stewart, and Terry Roberts played assorted handmade string instruments built around washtubs and mailboxes. I don't know who all were in the kazoo section, but I remember seeing Mike Fay, Shirley Emerson, Sarah Marshall, and Terry Roberts. Sarah also played the spoons. The backup singers were Bernice Root, Faye Patrick, Betty Spence, and me, with support from Audrey Topping and the rest of the crowd. And of course the star of the show, Donna, on her handsaw played with a violin bow that made the most eerie and unusual sounds. Terry started us off with a rousing rendition of "When the Saints Go Marching In," and then Donna took charge.

Since we were there mostly to have fun, we didn't have a full-fledged business meeting—just some announcements and copies of the Revised Constitution and Bylaws were distributed.

Two tables of freebies included several of those fancy Missouri University tiger mugs with matching coasters, some t-shirts donated by Text Bucks, a new 3.5" floppy drive, and other assorted items.

Door prize drawings for a nice CD/DVD cleaning kit and two 128M jump drives were won by C.V. Lane, Willa Trask, and Nancy Preffitt. Ellis Hobbs' wife and Pat Piland did the drawing.

Two members we were delighted to see and don't see very often were Gordon and Edith Breshears. Edith was sporting one of the t-shirts with ICON'S logo that were screen printed a long time ago, and it generated some interest in our having some shirts made with our new logo.

June and John Moore, Sarah Marshall, Terry Roberts, and a couple of others did excellent fly-patrol service. Betty Spence manned the coffee pots and kept her flyswatter at the ready. Bill Patrick took money for tickets and membership renewals.

One calamity occurred, but I think it turned out okay—at least there were no broken bones. Mr. Lane fell and hit his head, then spent part of the afternoon holding an ice pack to the bump.

And I mustn't forget to tell you, Richard Preffitt and Bill Patrick, what a great job you did shopping. Audrey Topping and Shirley Emerson, your beans were delicious. There were some more beans, but I don't know who prepared them. I believe I can truthfully say, "A good time was had by all."

Happy Computing,

Mary