If you are going to rally behind a commendable cause this week, let it be the 4th annual Rugby Lions Club, Tables Envisioned. Many of you have become familiar with this fun and worthy project. It is a joint effort between the Rugby Lions Club and the Heart of America Library to help raise money for the greatly needed elevator at our library.

The fundraiser works in this fashion. (Please realize that whenever you see the word ‘fundraiser’ and ‘fashion’ used in the same sentence, you will want to part of it!) First of all, long before there was ever an interest in email, Facebook, or even in the Internet, there have been avid collectors of dishes of all sorts. At the event, local folks are asked to purchase a table for $25. They can display whatever creative tabletop they would like. Once all the artistic tables are assembled, the public is invited to view them for a mere fee of $5.

Now I know what you are thinking-honestly, I can, in fact, hear you say the words-“I’d rather fall asleep than look at a bunch of dishes.”

For the cost of admission, you will also receive a printed book which gives you all the juicy details of the items displayed. For those of you who think we are dishing up another boring fundraiser, this little “black book” embellishes many of the details of the dishes displayed.

The very first year we had this display, I realized that our notable states attorney, Mr. Galen J. Mack, truly wanted to have a table. However, demands of his job, family, keeping up his Ford Torino, and the church choir simply didn’t allow it. Always willing to serve a fellow Lion, I knew I had to help him in his need. So, unannounced to Mr. Mack, I presented a bachelor table setting in honor of his college days-complete with letters from his dear mother, Elna, and even a little black book-which of course was completely empty! There certainly is no harm in making life a little more colorful when the outcome goes toward benefiting our library and other community projects.

Jan and I have been dish hounds for years, and I do believe Lydia is also getting in the same groove-after all, we are counting on her to do so! This year the table we will be displaying has its original connections to Rugby. Several years ago, my mom purchased a set of Syracuse China in the Chester pattern at Esther and Alfred Mettler auction sale in Underwood. Come to find out, Esther had purchased the dishes at Lien’s Jewelry in Rugby back in the late ’60’s. She and Alfred were long-time Rugby residents, and while they lived here, they owned and operated The Shack Drive-In. Esther also cooked at the Coffee Shop, Edie Wurgler’s Caf, and McGuire’s Upstairs caf. They moved to Underwood in the early 70’s and Alfred had a cabinet shop while Esther imparted her cooking talents with local cafes in Underwood. Upon retiring, they purchased a grand motor home and traveled everywhere. It was this choice that instigated them to sell much of their belongings. Esther shared that selling her china was not easy. However, she realized it was in good hands with my mother.

Recently five of the sets of dishes my parents had collected were presented to us five sons. We were delighted with this set. It started out in Rugby, traveled a bit, and next week it will be displayed in its home of Rugby once again. Come to Tables Envisioned-you won’t be disappointed. Your attendance will be uplifting, especially since proceeds will go towards the library elevator fund.

Esther cooked at the VFW Caf long before I did. In one of caf’s kitchen drawers was a notebook of recipes shared by previous cooks. I had the privilege to copying these recipes and this one is from Esther.

Repnow is a Rugby resident.