Bill Roberts, Golden K chairman for January, introduces his daughter, Karen Burritt, as the guest speaker at Monday’s meeting.

KINGSFORD — January tends to be the coldest month of the year. Golden K members are delighted that this hasn’t been the case in 2024, as they bundle up and gather on Monday mornings.

Bill Roberts, chairman for January, called the meeting to order and led the singing, as Alyce Derwinski captivated everyone with her skills on the piano. The selections for the day were “I’m Lookin’ Over a Four Leaf Clover,” “It Had to Be You,” “Do Lord” and “Yankee Doodle.”

Today’s guest, Karen Burritt, was greeted with the welcome song. The 50-50 winner was Joanne Hady and she donated the funds back to the club.

Happy Dollars, read by Gary Proudfit, included messages thanking Orice Walters for a life well lived and eternal life; the birth of a great-grandson for Sue and Gary Proudfit, bringing their total to 14; Proudfit’s invitation to a veteran to make the Honor Flight and his acceptance; Sharon Neubauer’s excitement over the Kansas City Chief’s win and acknowledging that the Detroit Lions had a great year; and Sarah Gospodarek quoted Proverbs 21:9 “Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.”

Several members were listed on sick call and prayers were offered to them for return to good health.

Roberts read the thought for the day, “January brings a fresh blanket of snow to the world and a blank slate for us to fill with fantastic things.”

Roberts welcomed his daughter, Karen Burritt, to the podium. Burritt received her bachelor of arts and master of science degrees in nursing from Grand Valley State University and her PhD from Michigan State University. She held the position of Associate Dean of Nursing at GVSU.

Burritt was approached by GVSU to accompany fellow educators to Ghana to set up a study-abroad program for nurse practitioners.

Before heading to Ghana, she did some research on the country. Ghana was part of the British Empire and gained their independence from Britain in 1957. It was previously called the “Gold Coast,” with gold and cocoa being their major exports.

Ghana has a population of 33 million people and is the size of Oregon. The trip was 20 hours long, with an additional bus ride of 80 miles, which took four hours, to the University of Cape Coast. They went with nursing students and conducted a community health expo, which consisted of traditional nursing duties of blood pressures, etc. While working with an interpreter to obtain approval for the expo, she mentioned how wonderful the coconuts were. This led to a 4-mile hike to see a coconut tree.

While in Ghana, Burritt became ill and was taken to a hospital with no indoor plumbing and no running water. She was able to receive antibiotics that were manufactured in Great Britain and regained her health.

She visited the Cape Coast Castle that was used in the transatlantic slave trade between the late 17th and early 19th centuries. Three million West Africans were shipped out from that castle. Countries in South America and India received the most slaves. She commented on the horrific conditions the slaves endured and what an emotional experience this was. The castle housed four dungeons and 600 slaves were kept in each dungeon.

The “door of no return” in the castle led to the dock where ships would come in. When Burritt visited the Castle, she said the waters surrounding the dock now had beautiful fishing boats that were brilliantly painted. A Bible verse was written on the side of the boats, of which one read “God is King.”

The trip was an academic success. They were able to place 30 nursing students there within a few months. The students who attend this study abroad program experience diversity and a glimpse into the health care in other parts of the world.

Everyone thanked Burritt for her interesting presentation.

Golden K meets at 10 a.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church in Kingsford. Everyone is welcome to attend.