Other Groups That Meet at WUMC

Village Exercise Class for Seniors
You are welcomed to come to a free exercise class designed for seniors that meets in the Fellowship Hall at WUMC every Tuesday and Thursday from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. (or 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. in the summer). This exercise class, which is sponsored by the Village of Williamsville's Evergreen Program, is led by well-known local exercise instructor, Claudia Fries. Feel free to leave a message for Claudia in the church office (634-4800) - she is would be delighted to answer your questions. Make plans to add regular exerice to your life and feel better!

Cub Scout Pack 619
In addition, the Greater Niagara Frontier Council offers both day camp and resident camp opportunities for the scouts. Any age scout can attend day camp. Resident camp is four days and three nights and is held at Camp Scouthaven, also council-owned, just south of Arcade. Both programs are well structured and well supervised. Activities include boating, swimming, archery, nature and fishing. Resident camp also includes outdoor skills, canoeing, sailing, and BB rifles.

Boys currently in kindergarten through fourth grade are invited to join the Cub Scouts. The entire Pack 619 meets in Fillmore Hall at WUMC once a month during the school year. Smaller, bi-monthly den meetings are held in the scouts' homes. If you have any questions about Cub Pack 619, please feel free to call Niecy Deakin.

Boy Scout Troop 85

Scout Troop 85 Camperall, 2007

Troop 85 is one of the oldest in the Greater Niagara Frontier Council and has been in service to the community for over 60 years.

Troop 85 travels around the country and abroad. Recent trips include: Whiteface Mountain, Toronto, 1000 Islands, Stillwater Reservoir, and Gettysburg. All trips are planned out by the senior youth leadership with the occasional advice and recommendations from the qualified adult leadership. Troop 85’s scouts attend Williamsville South, North, and East along with Saint Joe’s Collegiate Institute and the Nichol’s School. The organization's scouts also attend: Mill Middle, Heim Middle, Transit Middle, Casey Middle, and Lancaster Middle.

Troop 85 is a boy-led troop with adult supervision. Decisions are made by the boys with consultation from the highly trained and experienced adult leadership. As one of the only troops in all of New York with this philosophy, our troop provides the ideal spot for young males to learn life lessons through trial and error. The program has been proven successful year after year as it wins awards and other recognitions through the Greater Niagara Frontier Council.

Please visit Troop 85's Web site, managed by William Freeman, Eagle Scout and Senior Patrol Leader.

Troop 85 Eagle Scout Honors Gold Star Mothers

One of WUMC’s Outreach and Mission efforts is to provide a space in our church building for Troop 85 to meet on Monday evenings, which is one of the oldest scout troops in the Greater Niagara Frontier Council. Michael Spoth, the Committee Chairman for Troop 85, provided the following article to update us on the Eagle Project completed by one of the scouts in Troop 85.

Jason Maybach is the latest Eagle Scout of Troop 85. His Eagle Project was to construct a monument honoring Gold Star Mothers who have lost a child in service to our country. The monument was presented to the mothers during a ceremony at the Leonard Post Jr. VFW Post 6251 on Walden Avenue. Jason also had an existing granite monument modified to honor veterans of conflicts in Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan. His Eagle Project included a total of 547 labor hours, which is five times the required effort. Jason has been nominated for both the VFW and American Legion Scout of the Year awards.

Boy Scout Troop 85 is lead by Scoutmaster Steve Dubois, with 27 active youth ranging in age from 10 to 17 years. We are grateful to begin our 66^th year chartered by the Williamsville United Methodist Church. Because of your support, we can continue our mission to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

Yours in scouting,
Michael Spoth
Troop 85 Committee Chairman

Ring Masters Handbell Group

The Ring Masters of Western New York, members of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, was originally formed 18 years ago as the Calvary Episcopal Church Handbell Choir. The Choir hosted an Area II AGEHR Workshop for ringers and conductors, but primarily rang for various Calvary Church services fro 1988-2004. In 1993, the Choir began performing in the community and became known as the Ring Masters. From 1993 through the present, the Ring Masters have rung in two English Handbell Festivals, at many churches throughout Western New York for services and concerts, and for numerous social club events, senior citizen activities, retirement homes, and libraries. For three years, they participated in the Williamsville Interfaith Thanksgiving Services. Ring Masters have also performed in several of the Summer Concert Series at Calvary Church.

When Calvary Church disbanded its handbell choir in March 2005, the Ring Masters had an opportunity to become more community oriented. They are now considered a community handbell ensemble. The ensemble has used Williamsville United Methodist Church as their home base since 2005. They have enjoyed a critically acclaimed performance with the Amherst Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Steven Thomas in December 2006.

The Ring Masters are directed by Gloria R. Werblow, past President of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America. Ms. Werblow has directed the Ring Masters Handbell Group since its inception 18 years ago. The choir rehearses at WUMC most Saturday
mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Buffalo Philharmonic Choir Board of Directors

Williamsville United Methodist Church is the voting location for Village of Williamsville.