Beaver Valley Probus Club

President's Message
Brian Cromie

November is often a difficult transition month, weather-wise, as we mourn the passing of summer and autumn and haven’t yet embraced the joys of winter. Winter is a special time in this playground of snow, where skiing, snowshoeing and other cold-weather sports offer themselves to those who cherish the great outdoors. In BVPC, we have activities for all, both outdoors and in, year-round; if health permits, there should never be a day when you find yourself home alone when what you seek is good companionship. In October, our dedicated volunteer activity coordinators put on 34 events in a month of 31 days. Expect something similar for November. PROBUS exists to provide social opportunities to seniors who wish to stay active, engaged and involved with friends in fun activities. Your participation will keep you young!

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Membership Renewal - New Dates
Pam Weaver & Kathy Mercer

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL DATES

The timeline for our Membership Renewal Drive has been shortened to just two weeks, running from December 1 to December 15.  Please note that this will be the only opportunity to renew your membership for the upcoming year.

NOTICE: No reminder calls! We aren't going to make any reminder calls this year. You need to contact us if you need help! Remember, you can always access your member information anytime, from anywhere in the world, through our PROBUS website. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. As always, help will be available upon request.

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November Membership Meeting

Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Doors open: 1:00 PM
Meeting begins: 1:30 PM

Speaker: Dave Alexander
Title: Local military troops and their role in WWII

Dave Alexander was a long-time teacher of history and geography at the Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute. Upon retirement, he completed a master’s degree focused on military history through the Tri-University Program. In 2014, Alexander, along with his colleague Ryan McManaman, were recipients of the Governor General's History Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dave is an independent researcher with a keen interest in military history including the Canadian war experience. He is a volunteer at both Grey Roots Museum and Archives and the Billy Bishop Museum.

The Dashed Hopes of the 26th Army Tank Regiment during the Second World War: “The Grey and Simcoe Foresters were no more…” There were high hopes for the Grey and Simcoe Foresters (G&SF) when they were mobilized for the Canadian Active Service Force in June of 1940. They would play a role in the war being fought overseas. After completing much training and garrison duties in Canada, the G&SF were redesignated as the 26th Army Tank Regiment (26th ATR) being attached to the 2nd Canadian Army Tank Brigade in early 1942. They would fight this war in tanks! As fate would have it when they arrived overseas in the United Kingdom in June 1943, they were disbanded and their personnel transferred to other units of the First Canadian Army. This talk will examine this history and what happened to the personnel of the 26th ATR (G&SF).

Book Exchange:
The Book Exchange will be set up at the back of the room starting at 1 PM. Books should have a copyright date no older than 10 years. Bring a Book, Take a Book. We ask that you exchange no more than 3 books at a time. Please contact Nancy Hart with any questions!

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PROBUS Canada 

One of the benefits of being a PROBUS member is the availability of group insurance plans. A week ago, our insurance representative gave a helpful presentation via Zoom. He reviewed the insurance plans available for Extended Health Care, Dental & Prestige Travel plans, MEDOC Travel Insurance, and Trip Cancellations.

If you would like to view the recording of the presentation, please click here. You can also view the details of the plans on the PROBUS Canada website:

• Health and Travel Insurance
• Home and Auto Insurance

President's Message
Brian Cromie

If you’re like me, despite having tried to wring as much out of the summer as possible, it never lasts long enough. The good news is that there is still lovely fall weather in which to cherish the great outdoors; our Club had 45 events and activities on offer in September, and October already has over 20 more scheduled. I hope you can participate in some of these, not only for the exercise, but for the fun and fellowship of enjoying life with your fellow members. The snow-based and indoor activities will soon enough call us to join in.

The Fall Car Rally is back after a gap of more than 10 years. This easy route should feature beautiful fall colours and scenic views of the Beaver Valley. Hopefully, no one will get lost.

We also celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends, and give thought to the many benefits of living in this special part of the province, surrounded by unspoiled nature and wonderful people.

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Membership Renewal - New Dates
Pam Weaver & Kathy Mercer

We have new dates for this year's renewal drive. 
December 1 - December 15

We have shortened the time period for our renewal drive from two months to two weeks. The previous renewal length created a high volume of unnecessary work for our volunteers, who had to followup repeatedly, as members forgot to renew.

The online renewal process is quite straight-forward. Our website has shown itself to be an excellent, user-friendly tool to manage member records. Our members are able to access their information on the website at any time of day, from anywhere in the world.

Since renewals can be made only during this shortened period, we ask that you keep these dates in mind. We will, of course, publish frequent reminders as the dates get closer. As always, help will be available upon request..

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October Membership Meeting

Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Doors open: 1:00 PM
Meeting begins: 1:30 PM

Speaker: Chris Pocock (Beaver Valley PROBUS Member)
Title: Overcoming Obstacles That Prevent Physical Activity

Throughout my life, I have enjoyed the health benefits derived from participating in physical activity. I participated in endurance sport competitions including marathons, triathlons, adventure racing, cycling and rowing in my fifties and sixties. After forty-five years of working in the Canadian Finance industry, I retired at the age of seventy and then returned to Graduate School to research the relationship between healthy aging and physical activity. My Master’s thesis explored the questions, “What strategies do older adults use to overcome obstacles both before and during participating in physical activities, and when do they use these strategies?” I will discuss a number of these strategies and hopefully, they will help you overcome similar obstacles during your participation in physical activities or other types of activities. As a point of interest, the average age of the participants in this study was sixty-seven years old.

Book Exchange:
The Book Exchange will be set up at the back of the room starting at 1 PM. Books should have a copyright date no older than 10 years. Bring a Book, Take a Book. We ask that you exchange no more than 3 books at a time. Please contact Nancy Hart with any questions!

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PROBUS Members Benefit: Group Insurance Plans
Zoom Presentation: October 9 @1:00 - 2:00 PM

PROBUS Canada has negotiated Group rates for voluntary plans for all PROBUS members. Benefits available to PROBUS Canada members through Johnson and belairdirect (i.e. Home Insurance, Auto Insurance, MEDOC Travel Insurance, Extended Health Care (EHC) with optional Prestige Travel Insurance, Dental Care, and stand-alone Trip Cancellation & Interruption Travel Insurance). If you are interested to learn more you are welcome to attend the Zoom presentation: 

Topic: Insurance Benefits for PROBUS Canada Members
Date: Oct 9, 2024
Time: 1:00-2:00 PM Eastern Time

See your emailed newsletter for the link to join!

President's Message
Brian Cromie

Summer is definitely drawing to a close, and while we may not be involved in getting children back to school, I’m sure all of us are thinking about new activities and opportunities that come with the cooler temperatures. But looking back first to the fine summer we just enjoyed, we must recognize the wonderful array of events that our PROBUS Club undertook between June and August. A total of 144 indoor and outdoor activities took place, with only a few rescheduled due to weather or other unavoidable causes. Much credit goes to our Activity Coordinators and Social Committee for their dedication, leadership and hard work, and to our members who validate these groups by participating. Thank you all for making the Beaver Valley PROBUS Club such a vital and supportive group for seniors in our area.

In June of this year, your PROBUS Management Committee voted to discontinue the popular 50/50 Draw that has been part of our monthly meetings for many years. This follows advisement by PROBUS Canada that such draws require a provincial or municipal gaming license, which generally is not available to non-charitable organizations such as ours and to continue holding the Draw would be knowingly illegal. Alternatives are being examined and are expected to be in place soon. In the interim, we owe sincere thanks to Hank and Elaine Bouwman for faithfully managing the Draw for many years.

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Membership
Pam Weaver & Kathy Mercer

Welcome to our 9 new members who joined us effective August 1, 2024. Most quickly and enthusiastically jumped into the flow of activities already in process! Name badges for these new members will be available for pickup at the Membership table during the September meeting. Also, members who have ordered replacement badges can pick them up as well.

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September Membership Meeting

Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Doors open: 1:00 PM
Meeting Begins:  1:30 PM
Speaker: John Ota

Title: "The Kitchen"

Hear how Mr. Ota has researched the kitchens of many famous people in the pursuit of the ultimate kitchen! John Ota is all about food, architecture and history. He is the author of “The Kitchen”, the best-selling book about his journey through history in search of the perfect design. “The Kitchen” book was a finalist for the 2021 Paris Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in the Design Category and was a finalist for the 2021 Taste Canada Awards. John has degrees from the University of Toronto and the Schools of Architecture at Columbia University and the University of British Columbia. He has worked in architecture offices in Toronto, New York and Vancouver. John has chaired the awards committee of the Ontario Association of Architects, served on the Toronto Historical Board and been a guest critic at the Toronto Metropolitan University School of Architecture.

President's Message
Brian Cromie

As we welcome summer back to beautiful South Georgian Bay, your PROBUS Club is alive with activities and special events. Virtually every registered Activity has outings this month, on either land or water, outdoors and in; some 41 events were offered in May, and more than 20 are already on the calendar for June. This includes the many biking groups, hiking and rambling, golf at Tomahawk and the Annual Golf Tournament at Shelburne on June 18, Euchre, French conversation, dining opportunities, and a wide range of events like the Blue Mountain Film Festival, theatre in Penetanguishene, lawn bowling and more. You'll find all the details you need in the Grapevine, below.

Your Club is a purely volunteer organization, run by caring volunteers for the benefit of its 600 members. We become stronger and more vital as a group when members actively participate in its events. If you have ideas and suggestions that you think would benefit the Club or would be willing to contribute a few hours to assist any of the more than 30 Activity Groups, please speak to one of the leaders and get fully engaged in PROBUS. We will all be better for it.

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Membership
Pam Weaver & Kathy Mercer

As we approach our mid-year Membership review in August, we could use the help of all our members. If you or a member you know of, has moved out of the area or has found they have scheduling conflicts that prevent them from participating in PROBUS activities or who just wants to step away from PROBUS, let us know. We have a very large number of applicants on our Waitlist who are anxious to become active members of our club.

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June Membership Meeting

Date: Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Doors open: 1:00 PM
Meeting Begins:  1:30 PM

Speaker: Luigi Calabrese

Title: Trends in mobile devices, sensors and wearables, focusing on enabling seniors to age comfortably at home and privacy threats, hacking, and navigating the complexities of new Artificial Intelligence (AI) schemes to ensure seniors stay safe and empowered digitally.

Luigi Calabrese, President of Frontier Networks Inc., is a seasoned leader in the tech and telecommunications industry, providing internet and phone services to businesses across North America. With a focus on advocating for older adults, Luigi collaborates closely with law enforcement agencies in Canada and the USA, including the CSIS, the RCMP, and Homeland Security, to combat fraud and vendor abuse targeting seniors. Luigi is a sought-after speaker, renowned for his ability to demystify technology and engage audiences with humour, while entertaining and informing.

Book Exchange: The Book Exchange will be set up at the back of the room starting at 1 PM. Books should have a copyright date no older than 10 years.

Bring a Book, Take a Book. We ask that you exchange no more than 3 books at a time.

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Social Events 
Don Collins-Williams

June 12: Rock of Ages, King's Wharf - 2 tickets available due to cancellations
June 18: Golf Tournament - space available. Payment due by Friday, June 7
July 3: Lawn Bowling and BBQ - space available
July 18: Summer Picnic - Save the Date!
August 15: Billy Bishop Goes to War / lunch, Meaford Hall - space available

New Social Committee: Please welcome Susan J, Cheryl R, Sandy T and Mary Ann CW, who have volunteered to join me to make up the new Social Committee. With their help, we will continue to try to provide a varied and interesting array of social events for the Club. As always, your suggestions are welcome.

No-Shows: As a courtesy to your fellow members, if you have registered for a social event, and for whatever reason cannot attend—even if it is at the last moment—please notify the event leader (whose name will appear on the invitation and reminder). For most of our events, there is a waiting list, so someone can be brought in to take your place (and for a paid event, to purchase your spot from you).

Recently, we have had some no-shows that we were not notified about ahead of time, and it is unfair to those at the top of the waitlist to not get a chance to take their place. Thank you very much for your cooperation in giving as many of our members as possible, a chance to attend our events.

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King's Wharf Theatre Event - June 12, 2024
Vicki Kellar

Fans of ’80s arena hard rock music will dig this awesomely hilarious musical comedy that wails with big chords, big hair… and an even bigger heart.

We have 2 tickets available—one of our members who registered can no longer attend. Please JOIN WAITLIST and contact Vicki Kellar for details.

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Annual Golf Tournament - June 18, 2024
Golf Tournament Organizing Committee

The invitations have gone out for the Annual Golf Tournament on Tuesday, June 18 at the Shelburne Golf and Country Club. This will be a 9 am Shotgun start, with registration at 8 am. The cost is $95 / person and includes 18 holes with a cart, followed by a lunch with prizes. 

Payment is now due: The link to pay has been sent out on June 3 to those who reserved. There are still spots available, so register soon! The deadline to register and pay is Friday, June 7. This year we are welcoming non-member guests to join, so bring a friend!

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Summer Picnic - July 18, 2024
Save the Date!

Our Annual Summer Picnic will be held this year on Thursday, July 18 at the Alpine Ski Club. Please join us for a fun afternoon of food, drinks, games, sunshine (hopefully) and fellowship. Invitations to register will be sent out next week!

Bocce Tournament—Volunteers Needed:

This year, we would like to revive a longstanding tradition by reintroducing Bocce to the picnic, but to do this we need some volunteers to help organize the games and teach members who would like to participate, but who have not played before. We will also need the equipment! If you are able to help with this, please contact Don Collins-Williams.

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Georgian PROBUS Travel Group
Gloria Thompson

For PROBUS members, family and friends who would like to travel with local people and create new friendships—GPTG, your travel group—is proceeding with the following trip:

Norway Coastal Voyage: September 17 - 27, 2024. From Bergen to Trondheim. We would really like some more people to join this wonderful trip! Most of the members booked on this trip are travelling early, to experience the fabulous train program from Oslo to Bergen...then taking the train back from Trondheim to Oslo. For more information please contact Gloria at 705-429-9455.

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Activity Groups Update
Ilene Rushefsky Charland 

Spring has brought out the action and involvement in us. It is time to dust off the gear and get outside! Our activity groups are in full swing! Check out the activities listed on our website or at the bottom of our newsletter; watch for email invitations from the activity groups you have signed up for and enjoy! In addition to all of the 'action groups', you can keep your mind engaged with our book clubs and games or just enjoy the company of friends while dining. (Note: If you have not received email invitations from activity groups that you have signed up for this year, check your 'junk mail'. They may be there.) It is not too late to sign up for most groups.

There is a step-by-step video on "how to sign up" for Activity Groups. Click on the red arrow to view!

If you need any help with passwords or sign-up, please contact our web team at our email address: help@beavervalleyprobus.com

Birding
Brian Cromie, Lucie Desjardins

The PROBUS Birding Activity group met twice in the last few weeks with several dozen members on the lookout for birds. One event spotted 28 different species while the more recent one saw 29, including several quite uncommon sightings. Now that the spring migrants have paired up and started to raise their young, birds will be harder to spot and our outings will be less frequent until fall migration begins. Photos: Please see the latest photos on our Birding Slideshow.

Canoeing & kayaking
Kirby Philp, Lucie Desjardins, Glen Downey

We kicked off our season with a great paddle on the Beaver River on May 29. It was a beautiful calm sunny day. We saw a beaver, turtles and several types of birds along the way. Check out our most recent photos. We welcome members to join us for our next paddle at Lake Eugenia on June 12.

Challenging Canoeing & kayaking
Liz Goodall / Karen Thompson

Hello canoeing and kayaking enthusiasts. It is almost time to put the canoes and kayaks in the water. As soon as the temperature climbs, we will be scheduling our first outing in June. In the meantime, check your equipment and get ready for our first day. See you soon. 

Casual Dining with Friends
Sallie Kedwell, Shellie Smith

Our May get-together was on May 23 at four different homes, hosting a total of 33 guests. Our next gathering will be on June 27 at various hosts homes, in groups of 6, 8 or 10. We are planning full group picnics in the summer on July 25 and August 22. All in all things have been running smoothly with the assistance of our volunteer hosts. 

Dining Around Town
Hank Bouwman

Invitations for our Monday, June 17 Dinner at 5 pm at Marilynne’s Restaurant in Markdale were sent out on June 1 to those members who have signed up for Dining Around Town.

It’s not too late to join us—just go on-line to the Dining Around Town Activity Page to sign-up. Please see our future dining dates below:

Monday, June 17: Family Style Dinner – Marilynne Restaurant, Markdale
Friday, August 16: Annual Pizza Party – Justin’s Oven, Kimberley
Wednesday, September 18: Buffet Dinner – Walter Falls
Wednesday, October 16: Dinner - The Huron Club, Collingwood
Wednesday, November 20: Luncheon – Katherine’s Chateau, Collingwood

R.O.M.E.O
Bill McMurray

The next R.O.M.E.O. lunch will be on June 12 at The Red Door Restaurant in Meaford. Invitations will go out shortly to those who are signed-up for the Activity Group.

Euchre Update
Elaine & Hank Bouwman

Our Intermediate Euchre and Euchre 1 group has grown to 70 members. We have booked a second play date each month starting in June in order to accommodate everyone. We will play on the 2nd Tuesday of the month and the 3rd Thursday of each month at The Far Hills Clubhouse in Thornbury.

Euchre 1
Elaine & Hank Bouwman

Our next Euchre 1 tournament will be on Tuesday June 11 at 6:30 pm and Thursday June 20 at 1:00 pm at The Far Hills Clubhouse in Thornbury. Our April 9 tournament was enjoyed by 36 members (9 tables) with Jean K. taking home bragging rights with a score of 53 after 56 hands played.

Intermediate Euchre
Elaine & Hank Bouwman

Our next Intermediate Euchre tournament will be on Tuesday June 11 at 6:30 pm and Thursday June 20 at 1:00 pm at The Far Hills Clubhouse in Thornbury Christine F. claimed top spot for the afternoon on May 14 with a score of 44 after 48 hands played for the 1st. group. Susan G. claimed top spot for the afternoon on May 14 with a score of 27 after 32 hands played for the 2nd group.

Mah jongg
Judy Smith

Our group is enjoying the convenience of playing Mah jongg at the Far Hills clubhouse. We are contracted with the condo board until the end of 2024. Our members have agreed to a $10 fee to cover the cost of replacing future card tables as needed. (Mah jongg members who paid through Euchre are not asked to pay again.) Game days are the 1st /3rd Tuesdays of the month - 1:30 - 3:30 PM. Email Hosts are assigned for coming game days; they will send out reminder emails to all active members. Introductory/Training sessions will still be held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, as needed, in the instructor's home. We will continue playing Mah jongg throughout the summer months. New participants are always welcome. 

Ramblers
Nancy Dixon

Thanks again to all my Ramblers who walked the Georgian Trail with me, looking at the lilacs and clocking in over 7 kilometers.  Our recent walk was a Mystery Walk, starting at the Old Mail Road in Griersville. The Old Mail Road at Griersville is one of the only remaining Pioneer Roads in its original state.  I convinced our Ramblers to follow me to look for the old Euphrasia and St. Vincent side road, currently not travelled but still indicated on the map. Unfortunately, the road was too muddy to continue—so next time Ramblers—we will continue our search. All are welcome to try our group out for our next adventure.

Recreational Cycling
Mary Ann Collins-Williams, Ilene Rushefsky Charland, Mary Jansen

We had a glorious sunny day for our first session. The bike ride started at the Craigleith Depot where the wonderful scent of lilacs filled the air. From the Depot we cycled 16 km to the intersection into Collingwood and back. On our return we all went to Mary Ann and Don's chalet for rhubarb muffins, cookies, and coffee while sitting on the sunny deck. It was a fun morning. The first Monday in June was perfect weather for our Session 3 bike ride. A group of us cycled 25 km. from Meaford to Thornbury and returned. A few of us enjoyed the social conversation over a nice lunch at The Leeky Canoe Pub in Meaford. For the summer we are planning cycle routes around Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, the rail trail to Stayner and possibly near Leith and the Tay Shore Trail. We are open to any suggestions and would encourage members to lead us on their favourite cycle route. 

Ski Legends
Chris Mifflin

Registration for 2025 Legends Ski Trips is now open! PROBUS Ski Legends is running 2 ski trips in 2025: 

• Sun Peaks BC (7 nights), February 2 - 9,.Only 10 spots left!
• Banff/Lake Louise (7 nights), March 2 - 9. Stay in the fabulous Chateau Lake Louise and Banff Springs Hotel! 

For the latest information, download the trip flyers and get the registration links, please check the Legends website: https://probusskilegends.ca/2025. All participants must be PROBUS members as well as members of PROBUS Ski Legends—Legends Membership cost is $50 per year.

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Photo Corner
Shared by Lucie Desjardins

See the rest of the wonderful collection of photos in the 2024 Birding Slideshow!
See also the latest Canoeing & Kayaking photos, Hiking photos, Nordic Pole Walking photos, May meeting photos, Blue Mountain Fruit Tour photos and more.

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Humour Corner
Shared by Hank Bouwman

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The Master Gardener’s Corner
John Hethrington, Master Gardener Emeritus
Past President, Master Gardeners of Ontario

Click on the image to see what you need to be doing in your Garden in June. There is lots to do, now that Summer is here!

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Support Group
Lucie Desjardins, Mary Ann Collins-Williams

Do you know of a BVPC member who is having a difficult time (health issue, accident, hospitalization, loss of partner, etc.) and would benefit from receiving a card or a call from our team? If so, please let us know. We will be happy to follow up and/or get in touch with them. 

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The Last Word
Shared by  Nancy Dixon

'The more you use your brain, the more brain you will have to use.'
G. Dorsey

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President's Message
Brian Cromie

A cool wet April is slowly giving way to a warmer May, and with it, more PROBUS outdoor activities are now up and running. Ramblers are continuing each week, golf is weekly at Tomahawk, birders have been out several times, Nordic pole walkers are touring the area, and several of the cycling groups start up this month. Among the 12 outdoor activity groups that meet Spring through Fall, there are an astounding 637 member registrations. We are so fortunate that PROBUS members choose to embrace an active lifestyle here in the beautiful Beaver Valley.

It's never too late to sign up for one or more of these, so please join us for exercise and a great social time. Of course, the dining, euchre and money matters groups are active as well, among the dozen indoor activities catering to every interest. Lovely pink and white blossoms are about to grace the hillsides around Thornbury, marking the beginning of another season of the apples that make our valley famous.

Members can still register for an informative and highly impressive tour of the Blue Mountain Fruit Company on May 16, as well as the Blue Mountain Film Festival on May 30. And don’t forget our regular monthly meeting on May 28, when Prof. Mark Rector will speak on Canadian inventors and their marvellous technologies. Hope to see you there!

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Membership
Pam Weaver & Kathy Mercer

Reminder: For your convenience, the Membership table is staffed at every monthly meeting. Stop by to order a replacement badge, to pick-up an “Emergency contact card" with plastic sleeve and lanyard, or have your badge repaired. We’re here to help!  If you have any questions you can contact us at  membership@beavervalleyprobus.com

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May Membership Meeting

Date: Tuesday, May 28, 2024
Doors open: 1:00 PM
Meeting begins: 1:30 PM
Registration: Please register online to let us know if you will attend.

Speaker  Professor Mark Rector

Professor Rector is a published author, public speaker, and a recently retired Professor of Electronics Engineering with a specialty in telecommunications. He has written many articles, contributed to nationally published textbooks, and released his first book in 2018.

Mark will share his passion for inventions and enlighten us about several famous Canadian Inventors featured in his book OH CANADA Our Home Inventive Land.

50/50 Draw

Marie J. and Cynthia M. shared in the $227.00 pot at our April 23 monthly speaker meeting. Our 50/50 tickets are on sale at the beginning of each monthly meeting and during the 1st break. See Elaine or Hank Bouwman at the table at the back of the room.

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Social Events 
Don Collins-Williams

We had a very interesting tour of the Blue Mountain Fruit Company Facility in Thornbury, and have planned another tour on May 16. Those on the waitlist for the April tour will have priority.

There are still plenty of tickets available for the Billy Bishop Goes to War Musical, preceded by a lunch, at Meaford Hall in August.

Volunteers Needed: Would you like to be part of the Beaver Valley PROBUS Social Committee? We are looking for one or two more volunteers to help out. You can be part of the fun as we put together outings and events for the Club. Please contact Don directly if you are interested

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King's Wharf Theatre Event - June 12, 2024
Vicki Kellar

Fans of ’80s arena hard rock music will dig this awesomely hilarious musical comedy that wails with big chords, big hair… and an even bigger heart.

We have 1 ticket available—one of our members who registered can no longer attend. Please JOIN WAITLIST and contact Vicki Kellar for details.

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Annual Golf Tournament - June 18, 2024
Golf Tournament Organizing Committee

The invitations have gone out for the Annual Golf Tournament on Tuesday, June 18 at the Shelburne Golf and Country Club. This will be a 9 am Shotgun start, with registration at 8 am. The cost is $95 / person and includes 18 holes with a cart, followed by a lunch with prizes. 

Reserve Now—Pay Later: The invitation will allow you to reserve your place. The link to pay will be sent out to those who reserved on June 3. This year we are permitting non-member guests to join, so bring a friend!

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Georgian PROBUS Travel Group
Gloria Thompson

For PROBUS members, family and friends who would like to travel with local people and create new friendships—GPTG, your travel group—is proceeding with the following 2 trips:

Circumnavigation of Newfoundland:  June 16 - 27, 2024. For those who love learning, small ship travel, and unique experiences. We still have space with no single supplement and a group discount. Please contact Brenda Chapman at Marlin Travel 705-444-1161 with any questions.

Norway Coastal Voyage: September 17 - 27, 2024. From Bergen to Trondheim. We would really like some more people to join this wonderful trip! Most of the members booked on this trip are travelling early, to experience the fabulous train program from Oslo to Bergen...then taking the train back from Trondheim to Oslo. For more information please contact Gloria at 705-429-9455.

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Activity Groups Update
Ilene RC 

With the warmer weather, more spring and summer activities have started, or are going to do so soon. Money matters and golf has started and members have been out birding a few times already. Cycling is about to begin, as is hiking. The new art group is also meeting soon. If you haven't signed up for your favorite activity group, there is still time to do so. Below are reports from various activity groups—you may find something that appeals to you. We can assure you that you will get the most out of your PROBUS club if you participate. Enjoy!

Please make sure you register ONLINE for the activities in which you are interested.

There is a step-by-step video on "how to sign up" for Activity Groups. Click on the red arrow to view!

If you need any help with passwords or sign-up, please contact our web team at our email address: help@beavervalleyprobus.com

Birding
Brian Cromie

The Birding Activity Group met twice in late April, and despite cold weather, strong winds and snow at times, 25 members came out to the Clendenan Dam to welcome back our early spring migrants. All told, we spotted some 21 different species over the two visits, a good start to another exciting season with our fine feathered friends. Click to see the Birding Group Photos!

Bridge anyone?
Don Collins-Williams

Would anyone be interested in forming a PROBUS Bridge Activity Group? I have had a couple of enquiries, and suspect that we have a lot of bridge players out there!! If so, please send Don Collins-Williams an email at doncw127@gmail.com. If there is an enthusiastic response, I will see if we can get some co-leaders together, and give it a go!!

Challenging Canoeing & Kayaking
Karen Thompson, Liz Goodall

Hello canoeing and kayaking enthusiasts. It is almost time to put the canoes and kayaks in the water. As soon as the temperature climbs, we will be scheduling our first outing in May. In the meantime, check your equipment and get ready for our first day. See you soon. 

Casual Dining with Friends
Sallie Kedwell, Shellie Smith

Our dinners on April 25 were a success. As we had several gals attending on their own, and for a bit of a change, we tried a ladies night dinner and by all reports it was a fun evening. Going forward we’ll be planning our regular dining event for May 23rd and look forward to welcoming both our regulars and some of the new members who have joined our group. Just a reminder for your future planning, we always arrange our dinners and summer picnics for the fourth Thursday of the month. Our December cocktail party is usually arranged for one week earlier to avoid the holiday rush. Looking forward to welcoming you soon.

Dining Around Town
Hank Bouwman

Invitations for our Wednesday May 15 Dinner at 5 pm at Match Casino Restaurant in Wasaga Beach were sent out on May 1 to those members who have signed up for Dining Around Town. It’s not too late to join us—just go on-line to the Dining Around Town Activity Page to sign-up. Please see our future dining dates below:

Monday, June 17: Family Style Dinner – Marilynne Restaurant, Markdale
Friday, August 16: Annual Pizza Party – Justin’s Oven, Kimberley
Wednesday, September 18: Buffet Dinner – Walter Falls
Wednesday, October 16: Dinner - The Huron Club, Collingwood
Wednesday, November 20: Luncheon – Katherine’s Chateau, Collingwood

R.O.M.E.O
Bill McMurray

We had a big turnout for our April lunch and look forward to our May 8 lunch at the Corner Cafe. 

Euchre 1
Elaine & Hank Bouwman

Our next Euchre 1 tournament will be on Tuesday May 14 at 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm at The Far Hills Clubhouse in Thornbury. Our April 9 tournament was enjoyed by 30 members (7 tables) with Viv A. taking home bragging rights with a score of 51 after 56 hands played.

Intermediate Euchre
Elaine & Hank Bouwman

We have reserved The Far Hills Clubhouse in Thornbury for the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 1 – 4 pm. Our next Intermediate Euchre tournament will be on Tuesday May 14. Yvonne P. claimed top spot for the afternoon on April 9 with a score of 27 after 28 hands played.

Euchre Lessons 
Elaine & Hank Bouwman

11 of our members just graduated from 5-week euchre refresher sessions and will now join the Intermediate Euchre group that plays on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at The Far Hills Clubhouse in Thornbury. Congratulations to the group and have fun. 

Ramblers
Nancy Dixon

We had the most Ramblers for our walk on the Meaford Georgian Trail to date. I am certainly enjoying meeting all of the new members who have joined our group. We will have a few special adventurers soon. Will keep you posted.

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Registration and Website Tips

1. General:

• Please do not forward an invitation to someone else. The invitation is specifically for you and if someone else uses it, they will register you and not themselves.
• Invitations are only good for 7 days. The link to register expires in 7 days. After that you will be prompted to login with your password in order to register. So it is always best to register promptly!

2. Meeting Registration

• Click “YES” if you are attending. You should receive a confirmation email within minutes. If you don't receive this email then you were not successful in registering. Please try again!
•  Do not click “MAYBE”. It doesn’t tell us anything of value, and you won't get a reminder notices or any additional invitations. If you aren't sure if you will attend or not, just do not respond!
• Click “NO” if you are not attending. You will not receive a any further notices to register for this event

3. Confirmation emails: Keep these emails as you may need them in order to cancel your registration. If you made any selections (menu choices etc.) during registration, they will be noted there for future reference. For many activities and events, directions or other important information is also included in the confirmation emails.

3A. Cancellation from Confirmation Emails: Instructions to cancel are often included in your confirmation email. It will look something like this:

• Click here to access this Event 
• Click on the link that says "Already registered"
  You must be logged in to the Beaver Valley PROBUS Club website to see the "already registered" link. If the "Already registered" link is not there, it means you need to login.
• Click on the "Cancel Registration" button

3B. Cancellation Instructions from the Website:

• Sign into the Beaver Valley PROBUS Club website. 
• Click on the yellow “ACTIVITIES” button 
• Click on the activity that you want to cancel and scroll down to the event date that you want to cancel 
• Click on “Already registered” link (next to the “Register button”) 
• Click on the “Cancel registration” button 

Please Note:

Activity leaders are not able to cancel your reservation—you need to do it yourself. But as a courtesy, please let the organizer know directly if you are having trouble cancelling.

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Photo Corner
Eclipse photos shared by Ilene RC

See the all new, wonderful collection of photos in our 2024 Spring Slideshow!

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The Master Gardener’s Corner
John Hethrington, Master Gardener Emeritus
Past President, Master Gardeners of Ontario

Click on the image to see what you need to be doing in your Garden in May. There is lots to do, now that Spring is finally here!

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In Memorium

Harvey Wormald passed away at home on April 30. He and his wife Penny joined our club in 2015 and were very active in Hiking, Biking and Dining Around Town. Harvey previously volunteered on the Management Committee as Speakers Chair and as a non golfer, ran our Mini Putt event for 2 years. Our sincere condolences go out to Penny and all their family.

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Support Group
Lucie Desjardins, Maureen Lalonde, Mary Ann Collins-Williams

Do you know of a BVPC member who is having a difficult time (health issue, accident, hospitalization, loss of partner, etc.) and would benefit from receiving a card or a call from our team? If so, please let us know. We will be happy to follow up and/or get in touch with them. 

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The Last Word
Shared by Nancy Dixon

Kind  hearts are the gardens; Kind thoughts are the roots;  Kind words are the blossoms;  Kind deeds are the fruits. Anonymous

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President's Message
Brian Cromie

Despite the ups and downs in our weather recently, it seems like Spring might be just around the corner. People are out walking, biking and enjoying the great outdoors. Your PROBUS Club offers over 40 different Activity Groups, many of which kick off in spring and keep us engaged until late fall. This past week we had an excellent turnout for the annual Activity Fair at the Community Centre and membership of many groups is expanding daily. Please remember to register online for the activities in which you’re interested.

We are so grateful to the Beaver Valley PROBUS Club volunteer Activity Leaders who organize and lead our indoor and outdoor activities. This year there are five new activities to enjoy, with something for everyone. Thanks also to all the members of the Management Committee, who carry out the business of the Club, and particularly Ilene Rushefsky Charland, who completed her term as President at the March 27 AGM. As the new President, I am confident that we will continue to benefit from the strong, dedicated leadership of the Management Committee and the active participation of the entire membership. 

This month, to honour National Canadian Film Day, and based on an overwhelming vote by the membership, we will be presenting the film “The Grand Seduction”. Please come out on April 23 and enjoy this wonderful story of life in a Newfoundland outport as we celebrate Canada and the Canadian film industry.

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Membership
Pam Weaver & Kathy Mercer

At the Activity Fair, we were happy to have several members stop by the Membership table to visit and pick up their club badges. Please know that we still have badges from the last several membership drives, as well as replacement badges that were specially ordered. We bring all these orphaned badges to every meeting just in case their owners show up. Please come and collect your badge.

If you need to reach us, please contact us at membership@beavervalleyprobus.com

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April Membership Meeting - April 23, 2024
Kirby Philp

In honour of National Canadian Film Day, we will be featuring the film (as voted by the membership) “The Grand Seduction”. The film length is 113 min. We will have a short 5 min intermission at the halfway point. This year we have teamed up with Events For Life and they will be opening up their Arena Cafe for us—making and selling Pop Corn at $3 per bag. Please go into the Arena and grab some Pop Corn prior to the movie start time of 1:30 pm and also support a great cause.

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Social Events 
Don Collins-Williams - Social Convenor

Thank you to all of you who stopped by the Social Table at the Activity Fair. Your suggestions and comments were appreciated. The John Sheard Homeward Bound event in September is now sold out, but if you are still interested, please put your name on the wait list, as there are often late cancellations, making tickets available again.

SAVE THE DATE: On Thursday, August 15, we will be returning for another lunch and musical at Meaford Hall. This year it will be Billy Bishop Goes To War, with a lunch in the Meaford Hall Terrace before the afternoon matinee. Watch your email later in April for the invitation.

Social Events Committee—Volunteers Needed! We are looking for a group of volunteers to form a small committee to help with organizing our PROBUS events. No significant experience is needed ( just enthusiasm), and you can work from home! As an added perk, you would have first crack at signing up for events, before the invitations go out!!! This is your chance to be part of organizing the fun and getting more involved in our Club. Please contact me if you are interested.

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King's Wharf Theatre Event - June 12, 2024
Vicki Kellar

Fans of ’80s arena hard rock music will dig this awesomely hilarious musical comedy that wails with big chords, big hair… and an even bigger heart.

We have tickets available—some couples who have registered are no longer able to attend. Please JOIN WAITLIST and contact Vicki Kellar for details.

It’s 1987, and aspiring rocker Drew Boley meets and falls madly in love with Sherrie, a fresh-faced Midwesterner who has recently moved to Los Angeles to chase her movie star dreams. Will their stars rise? Will their love last? Find out in the worldwide phenomenon featuring 28 classic rock tunes like “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “We Built This City,” “The Final Countdown,” “Wanted Dead or Alive,” “Here I Go Again,” “Harden My Heart,” “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” and “I Want To Know What Love Is.”

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Annual Golf Tournament - June 18, 2024
Golf Tournament Organizing Committee

Save the Date: The 2024 Beaver Valley PROBUS Club Annual Golf tournament will be held on Tuesday, June 18 at the Shelburne Golf and Country Club. Details and sign-up information to follow in April.

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Georgian PROBUS Travel Group
Gloria Thompson

For PROBUS members, family and friends who would like to travel with local people and create new friendships—GPTG, your travel group—is proceeding with the following 2 trips:

Circumnavigation of Newfoundland:  June 16 - 27, 2024. For those who love learning, small ship travel, and unique experiences. We still have space with no single supplement and a group discount. Please contact Brenda Chapman at Marlin Travel 705-444-1161 with any questions.

Norway Coastal Voyage: September 17 - 27, 2024. From Bergen to Trondheim. We also still have group pricing and space. Most of the members booked on this trip are travelling early, to experience the fabulous train program from Oslo to Bergen...then taking the train back from Trondheim to Oslo. For more information please contact Gloria at 705-429-9455.

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Activity Groups Update
Ilene Rushefsky Charland - Activities Convenor

Our 2024 Activity Fair was a huge success. Thank you to the many activity leaders, who went above and beyond our expectations in their table displays. You could see the care and effort made to show off their activity and entice members to stop and have a chat. Thanks to the many members attending, asking questions and taking the opportunity to chat with friends. Our offerings of activities is second to none. This is what makes our club so much fun. Check out the Activity Fair Slideshow to see photos of the event!

Please make sure you register ONLINE for the activities in which you are interested.

There is a step-by-step video on "how to sign up" for Activity Groups. Click on the red arrow to view!

If you need any help with passwords or sign-up, please contact our web team at our email address: help@beavervalleyprobus.com

Bridge anyone?
Don Collins-Williams

Would anyone be interested in forming a PROBUS Bridge Activity Group? I have had a couple of enquiries, and suspect that we have a lot of bridge players out there!! If so, please contact me. If there is an enthusiastic response, I will see if we can get some co-leaders together, and give it a go!!

E-Bikes + Others
Terry Kellar / Mikael Schaltz

Spring is here and the bikes are coming out, our group is open to all bikers (e-bikes and petal power) that can do a distance of 20km+. We bike on trails and quiet sideroads on Mondays. Our season will start in early May so sign up now to receive our invites.

Casual Dining with Friends
Sallie Kedwell, Shellie Smith

It was a pleasure meeting so many of you, both regulars and potential new members, at the activity fair and we look forward to a new season of our dining groups. Our next get-together will be at 6:00 pm on Thursday, April 25 and we hope to have many of you participate. As usual, we’ll be meeting in small groups at the homes of our volunteer hosts and each guest will be asked to contribute to the menu, likely an appetizer, salad or dessert, as requested by the host. You will also be asked to provide your own beverage of choice. Again, as always, we will be requesting members to volunteer as hosts for this event. Look for an email invitation on or about April 8. Looking forward to April 25!

Dining Around Town
Hank Bouwman

Invitations for our Monday, April 15, Wednesday, April 17 and Wednesday, April 24 Luncheon at 11:30 am at The Mill Restaurant in Thornbury were sent out on April 1 to those members who have signed up for Dining Around Town. It’s not too late to join us…just go to our website and click on the Dining Around Town Activity Page to sign up. Please see our future dining dates below:

Wednesday, May 15: Dinner – Match Casino Restaurant, Wasaga Beach
Monday, June 17: Family Style Dinner – Marilynne Restaurant, Markdale
Friday, August 16: Annual Pizza Party – Justin’s Oven, Kimberley
Wednesday, September 18: Buffet Dinner – Walter Falls
Wednesday, October 16: Dinner - The Huron Club, Collingwood
Wednesday, November 20: Luncheon – Katherine’s Chateau, Collingwood

R.O.M.E.O
Bill McMurray

Romeos are back in action with 47 members signing up after the Activity Fair. We will be having lunch/brunch at The Pottery on April 10. Look for the invitation coming out this week.

Euchre 1
Elaine & Hank Bouwman

Our next Euchre 1 tournament will be on Tuesday, April 9 at 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm at The Far Hills Clubhouse in Thornbury. Our March 12 tournament was enjoyed by 28 members (7 tables) with Terry K taking home bragging rights with a score of 55 after 56 hands played.

Intermediate Euchre
Elaine & Hank Bouwman

We have reserved The Far Hills Clubhouse in Thornbury for the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 1 – 4 pm. Our next Intermediate Euchre tournament will be on Tuesday, April 9. Hank B. claimed top spot for the afternoon on March 12 with a score of 43 after 48 hands played.

Euchre Lessons 
Elaine & Hank Bouwman

Interested in learning how to play euchre or just need a refresher session?  Register online for sessions starting in April.

French Club
Caroline Bacher

Parlez-vous francais? The French Club has had a very good time meeting this past season. We usually begin in September, however, there has been some discussion of getting together during the summer months as well! The days we meet will be dependent on the host—we shall keep you posted! We meet once a month at each others' homes. The host decides what the topic will be so that participants can prepare ahead of time. We are a friendly bunch who want to improve our French conversational skills in a cooperative and supportive environment. So please join us if you have  knowledge of written and oral French! A bientot!

Hiking
Vicki Kellar

A lot of interest at the Activity Fair translated into 104 members (so far) signing up for the Hiking Group. You can still join by registering on the Hiking Activity page. We anticipate starting our hiking schedule the first week of May, depending on the weather and if the ski season is still open at Blue Mountain (yes, we’re still skiing in April!). Currently, there are 4 volunteers to lead hikes but we have many more dates to fill. The leader decides which day of the week and time to hike so it varies every week. Each participant is encouraged to lead their favourite hike. Guidelines for leading are found on our Hiking web page. We hope to hike weekly until the fall, if a sufficient number of leaders volunteer. See you on the trails!

Ramblers
Nancy Dixon

Wow! Thanks to all of you who registered for this Activity. We are currently 87 Strong. Don't worry, I have been leading our group for almost 4 years now and we never have more than 25 members for our Rambles. Hoping the weather will let us walk on April 5 along the Collingwood Harbour and part of the Georgian Trail. If not, we will reschedule and Ramble as usual.

Stitch & Bitch Crafts
Sheilia Churchill

Our Stitch & Bitch group wishes to invite interested members to our May 6 meeting to be hosted by Sylvia R. I know there are members like myself who had not knitted or crocheted in a while but are looking for a PROBUS group to connect with—that was ten years ago for me and l am now knitting projects l never thought l could. Why not give our great group of gals a try? We can get you restarted. We encourage you to join and meet up to share in the conversation, tea or coffee, dessert and perhaps get back into a craft. Only a few hours once a month on the first Monday. If interested in attending our Open House, please contact Sheila or Nancy for details of where to attend on May 6. Nancy Dixon

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PROBUS Canada Newsletter
Shared by Martin Buscher, PROBUS Canada
Director Ontario District #7

Please see the PROBUS Canada Connections March newsletter!

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All Club's Bonspiel
Submitted by Cheryl Ross

This team of Beaver Valley Probus members curled together on March 16 at Meaford Curling Club. Skip Lorne W, Vice Cheryl R, Second David A and Lead Marge A had a great day and were only 1/4 of a point away from being the champions of their draw! Our first game was against the Meaford Lawn Bowling Team #1 and our second game was against the Meaford Apple Harvest Craft Show Team. Lots of fun was had by all!

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Photo Corner
Shared by Lucie Desjardins 

Red-headed Woodpeckers are rarely seen in our location and in particular at this time of year. 

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The Master Gardener’s Corner
John Hethrington, Master Gardener Emeritus
Past President, Master Gardeners of Ontario

Click on the photo to see what you need to be doing in your garden in April!

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In Memorium

Bill Hamilton passed away on Wednesday, March 20. Bill and his wife Wendy had been members of our PROBUS Club since 2006 and were involved with the Euchre 2 activity group and attended many theatre events. Our sincere condolences to the Hamilton Family.

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Support Group
Lucie Desjardins, Maureen Lalonde, Mary Ann Collins-Williams

Do you know of a BVPC member who is having a difficult time (health issue, accident, hospitalization, loss of partner, etc.) and would benefit from receiving a card or a call from our team? If so, please let us know. We will be happy to follow up and/or get in touch with them. 

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The Last Word
Shared by  Nancy Dixon

Find something you are passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it. Julia Child

President's Message
Ilene Rushefsky Charland

I hope that many of you were dazzled by the stunning underwater pictures shown by our February speaker, Randy Bird. His stories and photos were inspiring. For those who are not divers, and even some who are, we learned about another world beneath the sea. At that meeting, we also had a chance to welcome our new members and introduce them to our Probus club.

With winter drawing to a close, we are looking forward to spring and summer activities. Plans are underway for our Activity Fair to be held in-person, once again, at the Beaver Valley Community Centre. Please plan to attend on March 26 @ 1:30 PM and find out about new activity groups, and revisit existing groups. 

Don’t forget that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) is being held earlier on the same day at 11:00 AM via zoom. Voting information, management reports and the agenda can be found in this newsletter. Please read it carefully and participate in YOUR Probus Club.

I have enjoyed my year as president of our Probus Club and want to take this opportunity to thank the members for their confidence in me. I have met many members in a variety of venues; it has always been a very positive experience

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Membership
Pam Weaver & Kathy Mercer

We have had well over a hundred new members join us over the past 8 months and with so many new faces, it helps if you wear your PROBUS badge at activities and events. Badges for new members are available for pick-up at the Membership table at the monthly meetings. Also, stop by if you need a badge replacement (for a fee) or a repair. We will also be at the Activity Fair! See you there! If you have any questions, please contact us at membership@beavervalleyprobus.com. 

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Annual General Meeting - Tuesday, Mar 26 @ 11:00 AM

This year's AGM will be held on March 26, 2024 at 11 AM. It will be an online meeting, using Zoom. An invitation and a reminder will be emailed to our members ahead of time with instructions on how to join this online meeting.

We kindly ask that all members vote online to elect our officers, to accept the 2023 AGM Minutes, the 2023 Annual Financial Statements, and the proposed By-laws amendments. Check your email on March 19, 2024 for instructions on how to vote. Voting closes on March 25, 2024 the day before the AGM. To view the timeline for the AGM and current nomination for our offices, please go to our 2024 AGM webpage.

Please note that later on the same day, we will be holding our Annual Activity Fair in the Beaver Valley Community Centre between 1:30 and 3:30 PM.

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Activity Fair — Tuesday, Mar 26 @ 1:30 - 3:30 PM
Ilene Rushefsky Charland - Activities Convenor

Walk around the Beaver Valley Community Centre and learn about the various Activity Groups that our club offers. Meet our activity leaders in person—ask questions and find out how to sign-up! Say hello to old friends and meet new ones, over a cup of coffee and snacks! The Activity Fair is in place of our March Membership Meeting.

**NOTE: you must sign-up again online for any activities this year—even if you were signed up last year, or this year before March 2, 2024.**

 

Check out all the activities on our Activities webpages and be ready with your questions before you attend! We have several new Activity Groups, and it is not too late to create more new groups—if you are willing to volunteer!

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50-50 Draw
Elaine & Hank Bouwman

Brian C. and Todd K. shared in the $367.00 pot at our February 27 monthly speaker meeting. Our 50/50 tickets are on sale at the beginning of each regular monthly meeting and during the first break.

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April Membership Meeting - National Canadian Film Day
Kirby Philp

Thank you to all who responded to our survey for the National Canadian Film Day. We had a great response—291 members responded. The results are in and the winner is...The Grand Seduction. The showing will be at our April Membership Meeting on April 23. See everyone there—it should be fun!

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Social Events 
Don Collins-Williams - Social Convenor

The Pilkington Glass Factory Tour was very interesting. We are hoping that they will allow us to schedule more tours, as we had 64 members on the waitlist, but we have not heard back from them yet.

We had 71 members register for the Any Dream Will Do concert on February 13. This is the fourth concert/theatre event that we have done in the past year and each of them was well subscribed. We are blessed with excellent theatre and music opportunities in our area, and our members are clearly interested in these outings, so I will continue to watch for further interesting shows in Collingwood, Thornbury, Meaford and Owen Sound—perhaps combined with an optional pre or post theatre meal. Stay tuned!!

We have arranged to return to the Blue Mountain Film Festival this year, on May 30, for two screenings. Watch for the email invitation coming out on March 7. Separately, the Festival is also offering our members a 10% discount on 4, 6 and 8 packs of tickets and on individual film passes. Use the promo code "FRIENDS10" when you call the festival. This offer expires on March 22.

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Annual Golf Tournament - June 18, 2024
Golf Tournament Organizing Committee

Save the Date: The 2024 Beaver Valley PROBUS Club Annual Golf tournament will be held on Tuesday, June 18 at the Shelburne Golf and Country Club. Details and sign-up information to follow in April.

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Georgian PROBUS Travel Group
Gloria Thompson

For PROBUS members, family and friends who would like to travel with local people and create new friendships—GPTG, your travel group—is proceeding with the following 2 trips:

Circumnavigation of Newfoundland:  June 16 - 27, 2024. For those who love learning, small ship travel, and unique experiences. We still have space with no single supplement and a group discount. Please contact Brenda Chapman at Marlin Travel 705-444-1161 with any questions.

Norway Coastal Voyage: September 17 - 27, 2024. From Bergen to Trondheim. We also still have group pricing and space. Most of the members booked on this trip are travelling early, to experience the fabulous train program from Oslo to Bergen...then taking the train back from Trondheim to Oslo. For more information please contact Gloria at 705-429-9455.

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Activity Groups Update

Sign-ups for Activity Groups are now paused to prepare for the new season and will re-open after the Activity Fair on Tuesday, March 26. Remember—you will need to sign-up on March 26 for your Activity Groups for the upcoming season, even if you signed up last year, or this year before March 2. 

There is a step-by-step video on "how to sign-up" for Activity Groups. Click on the red arrow to view!

If need any help with passwords or sign-up, please contact our web team at our email address: help@beavervalleyprobus.com

Birding
Brian Cromie / Lucie Desjardins

Even though our Birding Group has been inactive this winter, the birds are not. There are good viewing opportunities all around us, especially waterfowl in the Collingwood Harbour—and if the weather allows it—you can see and enjoy many of our winter visitors. Looking forward to our first Spring group outings! Please see the proposed schedule and sign-up on our Birding Activity Page after the Activity Fair if you wish to join us this year!

Challenging Canoeing & Kayaking
Karen Thompson / Liz Goodall

New in 2024: This is a new group for experienced Kayakers and Canoeists. We will tackle easy water with occasional swifts and paddle for 60 to 90 minutes, then take a rest. The entire paddle may last 3 or 4 hours. We will look for pleasant places to get out of the kayaks/canoes to eat our snack, swim if desired and relax before we continue to the end. This group will alternate weeks with the original Canoeing & Kayaking activity group, which will continue with their casual paddles! For more information please visit us at the Activity Fair or view the Challenging Canoeing & Kayaking Activity Page

Cycling: E-bikes+ & Explorators
Terry Kellar / Mikael Schaltz

This year the Explorators cycling group will combine with the E-Bikes + Others group and ride on Mondays! This activity group is open to all bike types.

Recreational Cycling

A new leader is needed this year for the Recreational Cycling group, which rides on Wednesdays. After many years of leading the group Caroline Bacher is ready to hand over to a new leader. If interested, please contact Caroline, who would be happy to share all her information, routes etc to whoever steps up!

Casual Dining with Friends
Sallie Kedwell

Our January/February mix of lunch or dinner—both held on the same date—was a success and will be considered again for next year. Although the driving conditions were a non-issue this year the luncheons were a pleasant change. Now that March is here we’ll go back to our regular schedule with dinners planned for various hosts' homes on Thursday, March 28. The invitation for this event will arrive in your inbox on March 6 for those who have signed up for the Casual Dining With Friends Activity Group.

Dining Around Town
Hank Bouwman

Invitations for our Wednesday, March 20 Luncheon at Sheardown’s Wine Bar in Meaford were sent out on March 1 to those members who have signed up for Dining Around Town. To sign up for the new season just go to the Dining Around Town activity page after the Activity Fair on March 26 and click on the Activity Group Sign-up button. Also, please see our photos of our lunch at Tesoro Restaurant last month.

Future Dining Dates:

• Monday, April 15, Luncheon – Mill Restaurant, Thornbury 
• Wednesday, April 17, Luncheon – Mill Restaurant, Thornbury 
• Wednesday, April 24, Luncheon – Mill Restaurant, Thornbury 
• Wednesday, May 15, Dinner - Match Eatery (Playtime Casino), Wasaga Beach
• Monday, June 17, Family Style Dinner – Marilynne Restaurant, Markdale
• Friday, August 16, Annual Pizza Party – Justin’s Oven, Kimberley 
• Wednesday, September 18, Buffet Dinner – The Falls Inn, Walters Falls
• Wednesday, October 16, Dinner –The Huron Club, Collingwood
  
  

R.O.M.E.O
Bill McMurray

Our next luncheon will be on Wednesday, March 13 at the Match Eatery (Playtime Casino) in Wasaga Beach. The invitation email with all the details will be sent out the week before, to those who were signed up for the R.O.M.E.O Activity Group.

Euchre 1
Elaine & Hank Bouwman

Our next Euchre 1 tournament will be on Tuesday, March 12 from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm at The Far Hills Clubhouse in Thornbury. Our February 13 tournament was enjoyed by 29 members (7 tables) with Ryburn G. taking home bragging rights with a score of 54 after 56 hands played.

Intermediate Euchre
Elaine & Hank Bouwman

We have reserved The Far Hills Clubhouse in Thornbury for the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 1 – 4 pm. Our next Intermediate Euchre tournament will be on Tuesday March 12. Elaine B. claimed the top spot for the afternoon on February 13 with a score of 34 after 32 hands played.

Euchre Lessons
Elaine & Hank Bouwman

Interested in learning how to play euchre or just need a refresher session? There will be a sign-up sheet at the upcoming March 26 Activity Fair for sessions starting in April.

Money Matters
Rod Innes

New in 2024: This is a brand new group forming this season. The aim of the group is to explore topics related to the management of savings and investments, TFSA's, RSP's, RRIF's, taxation, estate planning and anything else members are interested in. The group will be a forum within which to exchange information, ideas and experiences. We may also invite experts to inform members of issues of interest, but will not be a forum for soliciting new business. Everyone interested is invited to participate. Come and find out more at the Activity Fair or check out the Financial Insights Group activity page on the website.

Mah Jongg
Judy Smith

Members meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month to play the American version of this traditional Asian tile game. New members are always welcome and training sessions are provided as needed, on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. Members will need the new 2024 game card—at the cost of $20.00 Canadian. For more information check out our display at the Activity Fair or see the Mah Jongg Activity Page.

Ramblers
Nancy Dixon

Even though the weather has thwarted our last few walks, on March 7, 2024 we will again attempt our walk starting at the Lora Bay Golf Club Parking lot to enjoy a walk on part of the golf course and the Georgian Trail. We welcome new members to sign up on the Activity page in order to receive my much adored if not revered emails. Our new season will include walks in the outlying communities and some unusual twists and turns as well as historical insights. Let's Ramble!!! Check out the Ramblers Activity Page to register for the Ramblers Activity Group after the Activity Fair in order to receive our invites for the walks.

Rummikub
Mary Jansen

New in 2024: Rummikub is a game that involves both luck and strategy. It is played with tiles, numbered 1 to 13 in 4 different colours, and is similar to RummyO. Your mind is constantly working to win the game by getting rid of the tiles on your rack. It is fun and easy to learn, yet can be challenging. We can have groups of two to four per table, with a maximum of 10 players per session. The group will meet on Mondays either bi-monthly or weekly. See what it's all about at the Activity Fair or take a look at the Rummikub Activity Page.

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All Clubs Bonspiel
Shared by Cheryl Ross

Four of our members are joining together to represent Beaver Valley PROBUS Club in the "All Clubs Bonspiel "at Meaford Curling Club. New member Lorne Wedge, along with Marge and David Allin and Cheryl Ross will pit their curling skills against other clubs from the area on Saturday, March 16. Wish us well!

Things turn out the best for people, who make the best of the way things turn out.  John Wooden

President's Message
Ilene Rushefsky Charland

Welcome to our new members! At last count, we had 70 new members join the club. Thanks to our social convener, Don, and our many activity leaders, there is lots of excitement at our PROBUS club recently. We are very sure you will enjoy the plethora of activities and events that are offered and we encourage you to get involved, try new activities, and make new friends. Whether your interests lie in outdoor pursuits, indoor games or dining, there is something for everyone.

The management committee is again planning to host our new members at a "meet and greet" prior to the February general meeting. At the general meeting in February, we will hear from Randy Bird, who will excite us with his love of the underwater world.

Our Annual General Meeting online is on March 26, where we will share the voting results for our new executive slate and proposed by-law changes. This is followed by an in-person Activity Fair in the afternoon, where you will have a chance to meet some of the activity group leaders, get more information and ask questions. All of this is posted on our website, so check it out!

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Membership
Pam Weaver & Kathy Mercer

On February 1, 2024 we mark the start of a new membership year. We are pleased to report that our enrollment remains at capacity of 600. We look forward to having over 70 of our newest members join the rest of us at our February Membership meeting. If you have any questions, please contact us at membership@beavervalleyprobus.com. 

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Volunteers Needed
Martin Buscher, Past President

Our wonderful volunteers on our management committee are looking for an infusion of energy and talent! While they would like to keep all the fun to themselves, they are willing to share it with a few members ready to get to work. In particular, we are looking for a Vice President next year! If you might be interested, please contact me, or any of the management committee to learn more about the role!

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January Membership Meeting Notes

We had a very interesting talk about Managing Anxiety given by our very own Todd Kaufman at our January 23 membership meeting. As promised, here are some notes from Todd's presentation. You can also view the photo album from the January meeting!

• Anxiety Presentation Notes
• Genius Foods Summary
  
  

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February Meeting - Tuesday, Feb 27 @ 1:00 PM

Please register if you plan to attend this meeting—so that we have enough chairs and coffee for everyone!

Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Doors open: 1:00 PM
Meeting begins: 1:30 PM

Speaker: Randy Bird
Title: Exploring the Underwater World—a Journey of Colour And Mystery!

Underwater photography is a passion and challenge that inspires Randy's quest for the perfect underwater pictures.  In this presentation Randy will share his favourite photos, of the amazing, and unique creatures he has encountered below the surface.

Randy has been a certified scuba diver since 1984. He attained the level of Instructor-Trainer with SSI (Scuba Schools International), and has received the SSI Platinum Pro Instructor Award. Sharing his love for diving he taught in schools in Toronto and Oakville introducing hundreds of people to scuba diving. He has over 3800 dives to date which equates to about 4000 hours underwater. Randy has had the opportunity to dive the Great Lakes in Canada and the USA, the St. Lawrence, the Caribbean, and most the of the oceans of the world (with the exception of the Arctic).

50/50 Draw: Dianne P. and Rod M. shared in the $308.00 pot at our January 23 monthly speaker meeting. Our 50/50 tickets are on sale at the beginning of each monthly meeting and during the first break. See Elaine and Hank Bouwman at the table at the back of the room!

Book Exchange:
The Book Exchange will be set up at the back of the room starting at 1 PM. Books should have a copyright from 2014 or later. Bring a Book, Take a Book. We ask that you exchange no more than 3 books at a time. Please contact Nancy Hart with any questions!

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Social Events 
Don Collins-Williams - Social Convenor

A fun time was had by all at the Valley Ridge Farm Sleigh Ride on January 24—see the photo album—snow enough for everyone! 

February 7 - Pilkington Glass Factory Tour: The Pilkington factory tour on February 7 was vastly oversubscribed. We are hoping to be able to get more tours from them, and those on the wait list will be given priority. We have been told that the earliest another tour may take place is in April.

February 13 - Any Dream Will Do: The music of Andrew Lloyd Webber is sold out with 71 members registered. But again, if you would still be interested in attending, please join the waitlist, as we often get a few late cancellations.

June 12 - King's Wharf Theatre Event: The Rock of Ages event in Penetanguishene is now sold out! Please Join Waitlist as cancellations do happen! For questions contact Vicki Kellar.

Watch the Grapevine and your email for notification of additional events, and as always, any suggestions for other potential outings are welcome!

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Georgian PROBUS Travel Group
Gloria Thompson

For PROBUS members, family and friends who would like to travel with local people and create new friendships—GPTG, your travel group—is proceeding with the following 2 trips:

Circumnavigation of Newfoundland:  June 16 - 27, 2024. For those who love learning, small ship travel, and unique experiences. We still have space with no single supplement and a group discount. Please contact Brenda Chapman at Marlin Travel 705-444-1161 with any questions.

Norway Coastal Voyage: September 17 - 27, 2024. From Bergen to Trondheim. We also still have group pricing and space. Most of the members booked on this trip are travelling early, to experience the fabulous train program from Oslo to Bergen...then taking the train back from Trondheim to Oslo. For more information please contact Gloria at 705-429-9455.

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Activity Groups Update

Many of our Activity Group sign-ups are still open! Sign-up will close again on March 5, to prepare for the new season sign-ups. Remember you will need to sign-up on March 26 for your Activity Groups for the upcoming season, even if you signed up last year, or this year before March 5. 

You can see what the different Activity Groups are all about at our in-person Activity Fair on March 26 at the Beaver Valley Community Centre.

There is a step-by-step video on "how to sign-up" for Activity Groups. Click on the red arrow to view!

If need any help with passwords or sign-up, please contact our web team on our email address: help@beavervalleyprobus.com

Casual Dining with Friends
Sallie Kedwell

In January our new experiment of choosing either a lunch or a dinner event (both on the same day) was easily organized and by all reports went well. We’ll continue that format for February just in case the winter driving ever does become an issue! The invitations will be sent out on February 5 for those who have signed up for the Casual Dining With Friends Activity Group.

Computer Group
Martin Buscher

Didn't you get our email? A simple question that is often very difficult to answer. In this session, we're going to delve down a little bit into the world of email infrastructure and the technologies used to identify and discard unwanted messages. Sadly, this is going to be the last session of the Activity Group, unless someone is willing to step forward to lead it! After 5 years, Martin has run out of interesting topics to share.

Cross Country Skiing
Glen Downey

This is a new activity group this year! We had our first outing on January 25 and plan to go out again on February 15 at the Kolapore South Ski Trail, as conditions permit. Click on the Cross Country Activity page for more information. Sign-up now to get notified when outings are planned!

French Club 
Caroline Bacher

The French Club meets once a month in members’ homes. The host/hostess choose a topic of conversation so that participants can prepare their dialogue ahead of time. So far we have had three meetings with up to 8 participants. Everyone seems to be enjoying the chance to improve their spoken French!

Dining Around Town
Hank Bouwman

Invitations for our Wednesday February 21 Luncheon at Tesoro Restaurant in Collingwood were sent out on February 1 to those members who have signed up for Dining Around Town. It’s not too late to join us—just go to the Dining Around Town activity page and click on the Activity Group Sign-up button.

The Amici Restaurant in Meaford posted to their Facebook page about our January 17 luncheon there:

“A big thank you to the Beaver Valley Probus Club! We had the pleasure of hosting 31 wonderful guests today for a private lunch. Special gratitude to Hank Bouwman for coordinating the event. Our menu featured delightful choices like Chicken Parm Pasta, Hot Beef Dinner, Smoked Higginson Farm Burger, and, of course, our AMICI House Salad. To all the members who joined us today, it was truly our pleasure to have you. We enjoyed meeting many of you for the first time and look forward to welcoming you back for another delicious meal. Much appreciated, The AMICI Team.”

Future Dining Dates:

• Wednesday, February 21 Luncheon – Tesoro Restaurant, Collingwood
• Wednesday, March 20, Luncheon – Sheardown’s Wine Bar, Meaford 
• Monday, April 15, Luncheon – Mill Restaurant, Thornbury 
• Wednesday, April 17, Luncheon – Mill Restaurant, Thornbury 
• Wednesday, April 24, Luncheon – Mill Restaurant, Thornbury 
• Monday, June 17, Family Style Dinner – Marilynne Restaurant, Markdale
• Friday, August 16, Annual Pizza Party – Justin’s Oven, Kimberley 
• Wednesday, September 18, Buffet Dinner – The Falls Inn, Walters Falls
• Wednesday, October 16, Dinner –The Huron Club, Collingwood
  
  

R.O.M.E.O
Bill McMurray

Our next luncheon will be on Wednesday, February 13. The invitation email with all the details will be sent out this Tuesday for those who have signed up for the R.O.M.E.O Activity Group.

Euchre 1
Elaine & Hank Bouwman

Our next Euchre 1 tournament will be on Tuesday February 13 at 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm at The Far Hills Clubhouse in Thornbury. Our January 9 tournament was enjoyed by 26 members (6 tables) with Ken K. taking home bragging rights after 7 games.

Intermediate Euchre
Elaine & Hank Bouwman

We have reserved The Far Hills Clubhouse in Thornbury for the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 1 – 4 pm. Our next Intermediate Euchre tournament will be on Tuesday February 13. Lou F. claimed top spot for the afternoon on January 9. 

Ramblers
Nancy Dixon

Thursday, February 1 turned out to be one of the best Rambles to date. With the addition of more new members than my regular Ramblers totalling 25, l was struck by how enthusiastic everyone was. One wonderful gentlemen even asked about my Walking Soccer group. Before our soccer season though, I plan a few new walks, mixed in with some of my more usual Rambles, including our Collingwood trail walk along the shore ending at the Collingwood Marine Museum to find out about the history of the area. Check out the Ramblers Activity Page to register for the Ramblers Activity Group if you have not already done so, in order to receive our invites for the walks.

Snowshoeing
Ilene Rushefsky Charland

The snowshoeing group has also resumed this season. We plan to alternate weeks with the Cross Country Skiing group. Click on the Snowshoeing Activity page for more details. Sign-up now to get notified when the sessions are scheduled!

A smile is the best face cream.
Nessebar, Bulgarian Philosopher 2013

President's Message
Ilene Rushefsky Charland

As I sit here watching the rain, I am wondering, "what is happening to our weather?" Skiers are miserable, non-skiers are soggy, and sun worshippers might be happy, depending on their location. Here's hoping for a more normal January.

We have exciting plans for PROBUS members this winter. Our social calendar is full, activities such as dining and games are in full swing and hopefully snow sports will start soon.

Thanks to all who volunteer their time and expertise to organize all of the wonderful events we have come to love as part of the Beaver Valley PROBUS Club.

Sincere best wishes for a happy, healthy and joyful new year with family and friends. Ilene

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Membership Renewal Deadline: January 15
Pam Weaver & Kathy Mercer

For some reason, Membership Renewals have been painfully slow this year—we are far behind previous years. To those that have already renewed—thank you! To those who haven't—please renew today! And if you are not going to renew, please let us know! We have over 70 people wanting to join! 

We won't be calling to remind you this year—we simply don't have enough volunteers to phone such a large number of people. If you need help, please contact us at membership@beavervalleyprobus.com. 

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Volunteers Needed
Martin Buscher, Past President

Our wonderful volunteers on our management committee are looking for an infusion of energy and talent! While they would like to keep all the fun to themselves, they are willing to share it with a few members ready to get to work. In particular, we are looking for a Vice President next year! If you might be interested, please contact me, or any of the management committee to learn more about the role!

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January Meeting - Tuesday Jan 23 @ 1:00 PM

Please register if you plan to attend this meeting—so that we have enough chairs and coffee for everyone!

Date: Tuesday, January 23
Doors open: 1:00 PM
Meeting begins: 1:30 PM
Speaker: Todd Kaufman
Title: Managing Anxiety

Todd Kaufman is a Registered Psychotherapist specializing in anxiety. Long associated with the University of Toronto, his practice is now primarily virtual, based out of his recently renovated cottage, now home, near Thornbury.  Over the years, Todd developed a therapeutic process to help end panic attacks and reduce the negative effects of anxiety/worry. He is the author of a book entitled: ’TRANSFORMING ANXIETY—From Hot Mess to Superpower.’

Todd has taught medical care professionals and social workers globally through keynote lectures, workshops and virtual opportunities. He promises to provide us with an engaging, fun and truly practical experience aimed at helping us all to worry less and learn to experience our retirement with joy and gratitude.

50/50 Draw: Mary L. and Mary Ann C. shared in the $92 pot at our November 28 speaker meeting. Our 50/50 tickets are on sale at the beginning of each monthly meeting and during the first break. See Elaine and Hank Bouwman at the table at the back of the room!

Book Exchange:
The Book Exchange will be set up at the back of the room starting at 1 PM. Books should have a copyright from 2014 or later. Bring a Book, Take a Book. We ask that you exchange no more than 3 books at a time. Please contact Nancy Hart with any questions!

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Social Events 
Don Collins-Williams - Social Convenor

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Holiday Luncheon, and made it such a success. We are heading into our 2024 Social Calendar, with plenty on offer!

January 24 - Valley Ridge Farm Sleigh Ride: We will start our season with a winter sleigh ride (assuming that we finally get some snow!) at the Valley Ridge Family Farm. Look for the invitation sent out on  January 3. We can accommodate 30 people, but if the limit is reached, please put your name on the waitlist, as we could try to get a second date if there is strong interest.

February 13 - Any Dream Will Do: The music of Andrew Lloyd Webber is sold out with 71 members registered. But again, if you would still be interested in attending, please join the waitlist, as we often get a few late cancellations.

January 20 -  JS Bach's Long Walk in the Snow: Theatre Collingwood is putting on this event and is offering PROBUS members $5.00 off the price of a ticket. Our club is not organizing a group outing, but if you are interested, you can purchase tickets online or by phone from the theatre, using the promo code "PROBUS5".

Watch the Grapevine and your email for notification of additional events, and as always, any suggestions for other potential outings are welcome!

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King's Wharf Theatre Event - June 12, 2024
Vicki Kellar

Once again we are returning to the King’s Wharf Theatre in Penetanguishene—this time to experience The Totally rad '80s Musical "Rock of Ages." Fans of ’80s arena hard rock music will dig this awesomely hilarious musical comedy that wails with big chords, big hair … and an even bigger heart.

It’s 1987, and aspiring rocker Drew Boley meets and falls madly in love with Sherrie, a fresh-faced Midwesterner who has recently moved to Los Angeles to chase her movie star dreams. Will their stars rise? Will their love last? Find out in the worldwide phenomenon featuring 28 classic rock tunes like “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “We Built This City,” “The Final Countdown,” “Wanted Dead or Alive,” “Here I Go Again,” “Harden My Heart,” “Can’t Fight this Feeling,” and “I Want To Know What Love Is.”

With only 42 spots available for our Club tickets will go fast! Look for the invitation to come out on January 10.

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Georgian PROBUS Travel Club
Gloria Thompson

For PROBUS members, family and friends who would like to travel with local people and create new friendships—GPTG, your travel group—is proceeding with the following 2 trips:

Circumnavigation of Newfoundland:  June 16 - 27, 2024. For those who love learning, small ship travel, and unique experiences. We still have space with no single supplement and a group discount. Please contact Brenda Chapman at Marlin Travel 705-444-1161 with any questions.

Norway Coastal Voyage: September 17 - 27, 2024. From Bergen to Trondheim. We also still have group pricing and space. Most of the members booked on this trip are travelling early, to experience the fabulous train program from Oslo to Bergen...then taking the train back from Trondheim to Oslo. For more information please contact Gloria at 705-429-9455.

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Activity Groups Update

Most Activity Group sign-ups are still open!

If you need any help with passwords or sign-up, please contact our web team on our new email address: help@beavervalleyprobus.com

Casual Dining with Friends
Sallie Kedwell

Our group celebrated the holiday season with a delightful cocktail get together at the lovely country home of Sandy and Al Tulloch on December 14. It is always great fun when we can meet as a group in one venue and we enjoyed an evening of joviality with 40 members.

We’re trying something new in January and possibly February. Several of our regulars have shared concern about evening driving in snowy weather so we’re going to try a blend of luncheon and dinner events all on the same date of January 25. Our members will respond to our invitation indicating a preference for attendance at either 12 noon for lunch or 6:00 pm for dinner. We will require hosts for both with those volunteering indicating a preference to host either a luncheon or a dinner meal. If this works out well we’ll do the same format in February. Change is always interesting so let’s hope it’s successful. Happy New Year to all and see you on the January 25!

Computer Group
Martin Buscher

This month, the Computer Group will meet on Thursday, January 25 at 2 PM to share their tips and tricks for using iPhones and iPads. Example: how to share a shopping list so that multiple people can let the shopper know what they need from the store. Please watch for the email invitation to join the session!

Dining Around Town
Hank Bouwman

Invitations for our Wednesday January 17 Luncheon at Amici Restaurant in Meaford were sent out on January 1, to those members who have signed up for Dining Around Town. It’s not too late to join us—just go to the Dining Around Town activity page and click on the Activity Group Sign-up button. The November 21 Curly Willow luncheon proved to be a hit as we had 16 people on the Waitlist, so we booked a 2nd date on November 29. 

R.O.M.E.O
Bill McMurray

Our next luncheon will be on Wednesday, January 10 @ 11:30 AM at the Mill Cafe in Thornbury. Look for the email invitation sent out on January 3, for the restaurant details and to RSVP. **Please note the earlier start time of 11:30 AM** which is at the request of the cafe.

Euchre 1
Elaine & Hank Bouwman

Our next Euchre 1 tournament will be on Tuesday January 9 at 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm at The Far Hills Clubhouse in Thornbury. Our November 14 Euchre 1 event was enjoyed by 24 member (6 tables) with Steve D. & Mary P. hosting us at The Far Hills Clubhouse. David Z. & Hank B. earned top spots after playing 7 games. On December 12 Euchre 1 had a delicious Christmas potluck snack luncheon with 18 members participating prior to playing euchre. Hank B. claimed top spot after 6 games.

Intermediate Euchre
Elaine & Hank Bouwman

Members that previously started out last April playing “Introduction to Euchre” have now graduated to a new Activity Group called “Intermediate Euchre” ! They will play on the same date and place as the Euchre 1 members, but in a separate group. We have reserved The Far Hills Clubhouse for the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 1 – 4 pm. On December 14, Intermediate Euchre enjoyed a delicious Christmas potluck snack luncheon with 15 members participating prior to playing euchre. Elaine B. claimed top spot after 5 games. Our next Intermediate Euchre tournament will be on Tuesday January 9 at 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm at The Far Hills Clubhouse in Thornbury.

Ramblers
Nancy Dixon

Hello Ramblers. Praying for snow and wishing for great weather for walking. My, my, my what a conundrum, we have—I am planning that we do both! I will arrange our walks for the afternoon, which will allow our skiers to get a few runs in in the morning. As we will have some competition with the new sports activities below, I will be arranging our walks for the winter according to the weather and ski conditions. Look for our first walk the week of January 8 through to January 12. More news to follow.

Cross Country Skiing
Glen Downey

This is a new activity group this year! We plan to go out bi-weekly, and hope to have our first outing on January 25—snow permitting. Click on the Cross Country Activity page for more information. Sign-up now to get notified when outings are planned!

Snowshoeing
Ilene Rushefsky Charland

The snowshoeing group will also resume this season. We plan to alternate weeks with the Cross Country Skiing group. We hope to begin in late January when there is enough snow. Click on the Snowshoeing Activity page for more details. Sign-up now to get notified when the sessions begin!

“When you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat.” 
Ronald Reagan

President's Message
Ilene Rushefsky Charland

It looks like summer is really over, and the cool weather has arrived. Many of us are busy getting the yard and gardens ready for winter, perhaps having postponed the clean up as the weather was so warm. Others are getting ready to head south, or getting ready for ski season. Whatever your passion, this is a time to reflect on our good life.

A few weeks ago, we learned from an amazing woman, Angie Sandow that “CAN’T’ is not in her vocabulary. What an inspiration! It really shows you that as we age, some things may become more challenging. However, we can still enjoy many of the things we love, maybe needing a few modifications.

Soon we will be honouring those who fought for our freedom and still do today. We are thankful for living in this beautiful country, where we enjoy freedom and relative peace.

The holiday season is quickly approaching. Our holiday lunch is on Dec. 6 at Alpine Ski Club, and we hope to see many of you there. With our wishes for a safe and happy season whether it be travelling, or at home with family and friends.

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Membership Fees 2024-25
Pam Weaver & Kathy Mercer

Our on-line renewal process will begin December 1 and our membership fees for next year will increase to $40, effective February 1, 2024. This is the first increase in fees that we have levied since 2009, but due to continued increase in costs of food for our club-wide events and meetings, as well increase in costs of our website platform, we need to increase our fees to continue to break even. 

For more information on the background for the increase in fees, please see the Membership Fee webpage.

If you have any questions for the Membership team, you can reach us at our new email membership@beavervalleyprobus.com

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Membership Meeting - Tuesday November 28 @ 1:00 PM

Please register if you plan to attend this meeting—so that we have enough chairs and coffee for everyone!

Date: Doors open: 1:00 PM
Meeting begins: 1:30 PM
Speaker: Professor Mark Rector

Professor Rector is a published author, public speaker, and a recently retired Professor of Electronics Engineering with a specialty in telecommunications. He has written many articles, contributed to nationally published textbooks, and released his first book in 2018. Mark will share his passion for inventions and enlighten us about several famous Canadian Inventors featured in his book OH CANADA Our Home Inventive Land.

50/50 Draw: Todd K and Don C each won $59.00 at our October 24 monthly speaker meeting. Our 50/50 tickets are on sale at the beginning of each monthly meeting and during the first break. See Elaine and Hank Bouwman at the table at the back of the room!

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Social Events
Don Collins-Williams

Dec 2: John McDermott Lunch and Christmas Concert
The lunch and concert is sold out, but if you are still interested, please join the waitlist as we often have late cancellations.

Dec 6: Holiday Luncheon
Our annual Beaver Valley PROBUS Club Holiday Luncheon is being planned for Wednesday, December 6, at the Alpine Ski Club. Look for the invitation to be sent out November 8. The menu will be a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings.  A vegetarian option will be available. There will be a Cash Bar serving wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages.

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Decorating Committee - Members Needed

Do you love to decorate for the holidays? We need a few creative members to help our Decorating Committee make table arrangements for our Holiday Luncheon to be held on December 6. If interested, please contact Nancy Dixon at npdixon16@gmail.com for more information. 

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Chi-Cheemaun Cruise
Vicki Kellar

On October 16, fifty-two adventurous BVPC members joined 400 passengers plus crew for the fall Repositioning cruise of the Chi-Cheemaun ferry. Twice yearly the ship, as of 2022 the 3rd largest passenger ship on Lake Huron, makes the transition between Owen Sound, the winter berth, and Tobermory, for the summer.

Our sun dances didn’t work, however the ‘no rain or snow’ pleas were successful. After a choppy start, which did trigger a little seasickness in a few, we turned an unknown corner and the rocking was much diminished. The complementary coffee was a nice start to the cruise and some added a not complementary Baileys. Lunch was a very full plate at the buffet and a few enjoyed the specialty wine in a unique flowered metal wine bottle.

Apart from our Probus members we spoke to a couple who do both the repositioning cruises each year and a couple from Goderich who were celebrating their 50th Anniversary with this ‘cruise’ arranged by the husband. Gord B also celebrated his earlier hole-in-one achieved at Monterra Golf course. Live music by Late Night Radio was a pleasant addition. Check out the Chi-Cheemaun Cruise Photos on our web site and keep your eye out for other unique activity ideas for our Club.

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Georgian PROBUS Travel Club
Gloria Thompson

Circumnavigation of Newfoundland: This is an incredible 12-day adventure out of St. John's June 16 - 27, 2024. Book before November 25 to get the Early Booking Bonus of 25% off the berth cost. Click on the image for the Itinerary and Pricing details!  Please contact Brenda Chapman at Marlin Travel 705-444-1161 with any questions.

Norway Coastal Voyage: Join your fellow PROBUS members from the Georgian Bay Region for an incredible tour of Norway September 17 - 27, 2024. The Hurtigruten ship leaves Bergen and sails north of the Arctic Circle and returns to Trondheim. Optional rail tour available. See details on itinerary and pricing. For more information please contact Gloria at 705-429-9455 or Brenda 705-444-1161.

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PROBUS Canada — Travel, Health, Home and Auto Insurance
Martin Buscher, Director Ontario District #7, PROBUS Canada

Health and Travel Insurance: PROBUS Canada has worked with Johnson Inc., a national benefits provider, to offer plans for PROBUS members. The plans include voluntary benefit options that can be purchased on a standalone basis to meet your insurance needs: MEDOC travel Insurance, Extended Health Care, Dental Care, Trip cancellation & Interruption, Life insurance and more! Visit the PROBUS Canada club reference pages for details.

Home and Auto Insurance *NEW*:  PROBUS Canada has now teamed up with belairdirect to offer home and auto insurance to its membership. For more information, you can visit their website, or call them at 1-833-887-4626, and use PROBUS Canada when prompted for group name. This new offering is in addition to the existing health and travel insurance available to Probus members.

The latest PROBUS Canada Connections newsletter is now available at https://www.probuscanada.ca/news

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Activity Groups Update

Most Activity Group sign-ups are still open!

It's not too late to sign-up! Just a reminder, in order to be on an activity participant list—you must sign-up online—even if you signed up for the same Activity last year. A couple of Activity Groups are closed to additional participants due to overwhelming demand, but most groups are still open. If you aren't sure, please contact the Activity Group leader directly or email help@beavervalleyprobus.com

There is a step-by-step video on "how to sign-up" for Activity Groups. Click on the red arrow to view!

If you need any help with passwords or sign-up, please contact our web team on our new email address: help@beavervalleyprobus.com

Dining Around Town
Hank Bouwman

We had 45 members attend our October 18 dinner at Prime-Seven-Nine and all enjoyed an excellent meal. Invitations for our Tuesday, November 21 Luncheon at 11:30 am at The Curly Willow in Collingwood were sent out on November 1 to those members who have signed up for Dining Around Town. It’s not too late to join us—just go to the Dining Around Town activity page and click on the Activity Group Sign-up button.

R.O.M.E.O
Bill McMurray

We had a successful outing to The Red Door Restaurant in Meaford on October 11. Our next luncheon will be on Wednesday, November 8 at the Alphorn Restaurant. Look for the email invitation sent out on November 1, for the restaurant details and to RSVP.

Euchre 1
Elaine & Hank Bouwman

On Tuesday November 14 at 1:20 pm, Steve D & Mary P  will host for a fun afternoon of cards and snacks. We had an enjoyable afternoon of card playing and snacks at the home of John & Beth W on October10 with 16 members participating in 2 groups of 8 and George C, David Z & Hank B came out on top.

French Club 
Caroline Bacher

We had a very enjoyable first meeting speaking in French! There were many funny stories and lots of laughter too. We discussed our backgrounds and why we want to keep up our ability to speak French. We also talked about our favourite cuisine. The next meeting will be in November. We meet once a month in one another's homes. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me.

Golf
Brian Cromie

New member Paul N retrieves his first ever hole-in-one ball on the second green at Tomahawk Golf Course, October 24!  Click on the photo to enlarge! This was the final outing of the Golf Activity Group for 2023, and what a marvellous way to finish! This great new group of friends is already looking forward to next year and more exciting times.

Mahjongg
Judy Smith

New members are invited to join the Mahjongg Group. Any level of experience with American Mahjongg is welcome. During the winter months, we will meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 1:30 - 3:30 pm, in members' homes. Training sessions are available on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. If you would like to join our group, please sign-up on the Mahjongg activity page, or contact Judy Smith for additional information.

Ramblers
Nancy Dixon

We have already had quite an eventful fall. We explored the historical Leith Church where Tom Thomson’s memorial plaque is displayed and the Village of Leith, then rushed over to Coffin Ridge where the owners fired up their Pizza Oven for our group. We enjoyed the view of the vineyard and Georgian Bay while sitting outside with warm blankets provided by our hosts. Yes, we did enjoy some wine and cider. I was able to twist some of my RAMBLERS’ arms to come with me on Saturday, October 28 to enjoy a scary walk through Meaford where we met up with an amazing group of goblins out for treats in the downtown core. I can’t wait for the next walking adventure. My mind is whirling. Watch for my next email.

Ski Legends
Chris Mifflin

Are you a downhill skier or snowboarder? Have all your ski buddies packed it in, and are you tired of skiing alone? Do you want to make good use of your 5x7? Do you want to take advantage of great ski trips and social events? Then you should join Probus Ski Legends – where our motto is "Never ski alone!" Check us out here: https://probusskilegends.ca/

To join, go to the Legends website and download the membership form: While you're on the website, make sure you check out all the events and activities: including Ski Days: Tuesdays and Wednesdays at Blue Mountain (meet at 9:30am at the Silver Bullet) and Thursdays at the Private Clubs, Ski Trips and Social events. Dates for Ski Days and Events coming soon. So join us to make new friends and find new ski buddies. Let’s get excited for the upcoming season and Think Snow!

Cross Country Skiing
Glen Downey

This is a new activity group this year! We plan to go out bi-weekly, starting in mid-January. Click on the Cross Country Activity page for more information. Sign-up now to get notified when outings are planned!

Snowshoeing
Ilene Rushefsky Charland

The snowshoeing group will also resume this season. We plan to alternate weeks with the Cross Country Skiing group. We hope to begin in mid-January when there is enough snow. Click on the Snowshoeing Activity page for more details. Sign-up now to get notified when the sessions begin!