36 Club members Gladys Dickison shared mementos from a historical movie in which she had a role. Members of GFWC/TFWC 36 Club were transported back to 1836 when Gladys Dickison, dressed in period costume, related parts of Janice Wood Windell’s “True Women.”

Mrs. Dickison was an actress in the mid-1990s Hallmark Hall of Fame movie based on the book, which centered on the Runaway Scrape after the fall of the Alamo.

With Santa Anna’s powerful army sweeping eastward from San Antonio virtually unopposed, Texas settlers were terrified.

The Runaway Scrape consisted of mostly women and children who gathered a few personal items and supplies, abandoned their homes and headed eastward toward the U.S.

Mrs. Dickison began her story in Gonzales on March 13, 1836, with a large group of women and children preparing to join the Scrape.

She played the part of a widow traveling with her son and daughter-in-law and grandchild.

General Sam Houston briefly joins them to hurry them on and report that all had been killed at the Alamo, and that Santa Anna was on the way toward the group.

Mrs. Dickison described the trek over the rough trails through mud, suffering from cold, wet weather and scant food. There was much sickness and many deaths along the way.

There were just a few horses as many of the women’s husbands had taken the family’s only horse when they headed off to fight in the war.

When the group finally reached the Brazos River after a long trek, they found it swollen and swift. They bravely conquered it and were finally able to cross to the other side.

The group could hear Houston’s army’s gunfire on April 21 as he was defeating Santa Anna.

They were relieved when they got word Santa Anna had been captured and the war was over.

Mrs. Dickison related how she was chosen to be in the movie and her experiences on set. She said they worked from before daylight until after dark each day, but the relationship between the cast members was great, and the author appeared on the set daily. Mrs. Dickison said she got to know all the cast members by name.

The meeting was at the Keystone Square Museum with co-hostesses Kay Briggs, Susan Detrick, Gail Callahan and Edith McCandless and 22 members present.

President Amy McDaniel conducted the club’s business.

Projects chairman Mrs. Detrick thanked the members for their hard work on the taco salad luncheon and bake sale, which were both successful, she said.

Nominating committee chairman Jane Shrader presented a slate of officers for 2010-2012 to include Mrs. Detrick, president; Gay Gorman, vice president; Margaret Oberender, recording secretary; Dorothy Duncan, corresponding secretary; Suzanne Tooley, treasurer; June Davis, reporter; Ellen McFarland, parliamentarian; Mrs. McDaniel, federation counselor; and Martha Green, yearbook chairman. The slate was adopted.

Federation counselor Crystal Hammett discussed the TFWC Capitol District Spring Convention in Hillsboro on Wednesday where she was installed as district president-elect.

Mrs. McDaniel and several other members accompanied her.

Next meeting is April 8 at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church with co-hostesses Maryann Severn, Marion Hammett and JoAnn Garner.

Members may invite guests but are encouraged to let the hostesses know. Those who cannot attend also are encouraged to report that.

Daniel Hodges of Hodges & Sargent Pharmacy will give the program.