The Down East Seniors Club held its June 14 meeting at the Blind Center of North Carolina in Washington. President Stewart Rumley led the meeting. Jim Hackney played for the singing of “God Bless America,” and Charles Smith gave the invocation. Dick Paul provided humor.

Hackney told the group that in 1775, the Continental Congress formed the Continental Army to fight for the freedom of the colonies from England. This army would later become today’s U.S. Army. In October 1776, Col. James Bonner began development of part of his plantation on the Pamlico River into a town and named it Washington after his friend, Gen. George Washington.

Hackney also spoke about his involvement with the Boy Scouts of America. He has been associated with BSA since becoming a Cub Scout at age 8. Now he serves at the council and national levels. He told about how BSA has dealt with LGBT issues.

Smith, a retired Methodist minister, told how various religious denominations are responding to LGBT issues.

Mike Gwynn won the 50/50 drawing.