President's Message
Caroline Bacher
Dear Members,
It is now the first of June and this morning I was sitting outside enjoying the sunshine and listening to the birds with my last cup of coffee, thinking what a wonderful world we live in.
I know that this pandemic has hit us hard. We cannot mingle with friends freely and perhaps some of us haven’t seen our family for over a year now. However, with the numbers of COVID-19 decreasing “there is light at the end of this tunnel”! It looks hopeful that we can get together in small groups outside of our household this summer.
That is where your Probus club can help. Some leaders of small group activities have submitted their plans for a restart, following the government health regulations to do so safely. These are mostly outdoor activities so that members can get outside again to enjoy the nice warm days ahead. So sign up for the activities that interest you and let’s get moving again.
Although in-person meetings are not possible at this time, we have been able to meet via Zoom for our monthly meetings. Thank you to those of you who have joined these meetings. Your participation greatly enhances everyone’s experience. It helps to keep us connected. Our next monthly meeting will be on June 22nd when we will listen to Andrew Major talk about migratory birds.
Going forward, your Management Committee is working on plans for a different type of meeting in order to accommodate those members who may want to join in a physical setting. This is called a Hybrid Zoom meeting where some members will be able to attend physically, while others continue to join the meeting via Zoom at home. More information will be forthcoming once we receive the permission to restart. In the meantime, I hope that you all enjoy a safe and healthy summer, ‘til we meet again! “ Stop and smell the roses.”
Sincerely,
Caroline Bacher
Our Speaker on June 22 @ 2 PM
Andrew Major, Wildlife Technician and local wildlife expert, will be our guest speaker in June.
Topic: Migratory Birds and How to Identify Them!
Now that migratory birds are back and paired up, they will be nesting and protecting territories with their calls, songs and bright colours. This gives us an opportunity to test our identification skills.
In this presentation we will go over key features to watch for and how to use them, to put a name to the birds. We will then discuss about 20 species that are in our backyard and how to recognize them. Some of the birds will be compared to others that may be challenging to identify. I will also touch on "Birds Canada" and how to participate in annual events.
Andrew Major grew up in the countryside of Meaford, and currently lives in Clearview County. For Andrew's biography, please
click here.
Questions? Please contact:
Brenda Rudolf or Beverly Forget (Speaker info)
Heather Buscher (Website, Zoom info)
Beaver Valley Probus Club 20th Anniversary
As part of our 20th Anniversary celebration, we would like to recognize our Past Presidents, who have all been such an important part of our Beaver Valley Probus Club. We would like to include as many of our Past Presidents as possible, with a short bio and photo in our Grapevine newsletter, starting in September until the end of the year. Please forward your bio to Hank Bouwman so that we can recognize you in one of our future newsletters.
This month, Vicki Kellar has written a wonderful article detailing 20 years of theatre memories for us. Please see below.
We still welcome your ideas on how we can celebrate this special milestone in 2021 and ask you to contact anyone on our Anniversary Committee listed below with your suggestions.
Hank Bouwman, Anniversary Chair
Vicki Kellar / Martin Buscher /Stella Zahradnik
Our Past Presidents
20th Anniversary Theatre Memories
Vicki Kellar
Who knew that our Beaver Valley members were such ardent theatre aficionados? Since 2005, when we enjoyed Lost in Yonkers in Drayton, Hello Dolly in Stratford and Les Miserables at Toronto’s Mirvish, 30 theatre trips have been organized by our Social committee, which originated with Wilma O’Brien and Stella Zahradnik.
The majority of our excursions were to The Stratford Festival, Dancap Productions, Toronto, and since 2013 we also enjoyed more local productions at the King's Wharf Theatre. Read more about the wonderful excursions and browse through the photos and slideshow on our 20th Anniversary Theatre Memories page!
Activity Groups Update:
Ilene Rushefsky Charland
Colleen Wilson-Dick
We know that our members are anxious to begin activities. However, we are required to wait until the province and the Grey Bruce health unit allow gatherings of those outside of your household before commencing activities. We are just as excited to begin outings as you are, and will contact activity group leaders as soon as the announcement of the start up date is made (Step 1). In the interim, we encourage all of you to stay active!
Sign-ups are still ongoing, and outdoor activities will start soon. Click on the yellow Activities button above, to see the list of Activity Groups and check out the individual Activity Group webpages. There is detailed information about the Activity Group and a Registration button on each page! (You will need to register to be on the new list for this year, even if you were registered in the group last year.)
Outdoor groups such as Ramblers, Hiking, Canoeing & Kayaking and the Cycling groups are getting ready to start, as soon as Provincial regulations allow. Other groups (book clubs, computer group etc) will continue to meet online. As we move through the 'steps' of reopening, and the weather gets warmer, other groups will be looking to start as well. Make sure that you have signed up for the Activity Groups you are interested in, so that you get the detailed information and don't miss out!
Ski Legends
Louise Armstrong
Calling all skiers! Ski Legends group ski trips for 2022 will be on sale by the end of June. Two trips are planned: one for Lake Louise and Banff; the second for Sun Peaks. It is anticipated that spots will sell very quickly as there is a huge pent up demand. You must be a member of a Probus group and of Probus Ski Legends for 2021-2022 to sign up for the trips. If you were a member of Probus Ski Legends over the past two years, you will receive an email with more information about the trips within the next 2 to 4 weeks. If you are not a member of Ski Legends and are interested in these trips, you are encouraged to join Ski Legends so you will receive information about the trips. See the Ski Legends activity page for more information and to download the Ski Legends Membership Form. Please contact Louise Armstrong with any questions.
Computer Group
Martin Buscher
Digital Inheritance was the topic of our online meeting in May. What should your executor know about your iTunes collection, your software licenses, your passwords, your digital wallets, your social media accounts, etc? You can refer to this presentation with pertinent information, but it is always better to participate in our lively discussions! For our June 23 meeting bring your questions about All Things Google and let's see if we can find answers together! If you haven't signed up for the Computer Group yet, you can do so from here.
Photo Corner
Lucie Desjardins again shared some incredible photos of birds in her backyard. Very appropriate for this month's membership meeting!
Take a look at the Spring Slideshow for other wonderful photos shared by our members. Please send any photos to share to Heather Buscher.
Butter Tart Challenge
To all you road warriors, hikers and ramblers: We are on a search for the best butter tarts in the area. Thanks to Linda Rylott and Peter & Ann Smith for participating. Linda enjoys Grandma Lambe's and Peter and Ann like the Blackbird Pie Company in Heathcote.
We would like to expand our challenge through the summer. Please send a photo of your "indulgence" and why you like, along with the name and location of the bakery to Nancy Dixon. We will record and vote on the best entry!
The Master Gardener’s Corner
Our Master Gardener's Corner by John Hethrington, Past President, Master Gardeners of Ontario, has moved online. Look for the Gardening Tips on our web Homepage (scroll down on the right-hand side) or click here to see what you need to be doing in your garden in June!
Don't forget the Giant Plant Sale at St. George's Anglican Church in Clarksburg on Saturday, June 12 at 8:00 AM.
Humour Corner
She's got a point!
Click on the image to watch this hilarious video by Nicole Oliver (TikTok@mamoliverr).
Shared by Elsbeth Wright!
Trivia Trifecta
Shared by Mary Livingston. Mary enjoys creating trivia rounds for her family's game days and shared some of her efforts with us. Look out for more trivia from Mary in our September issue!
Happy Father's Day - Sunday, June 20
Community Announcements
Lobsterfest - July 3, 2021. Beat back the Covid Doldrums and help support local community groups! For details and to place your order, please visit https://lobsterfest.blue, call 519-599-3345 or email lobsterfestblue@gmail.com
Trivia Trifecta Answers
The Last Word
Marion Stewart, Past President
"The only impossible journey is the one you never begin"
Tony Robbins
Grapevine Team
| Editors |
Heather Buscher, Nancy Dixon |
| Photography |
Cheryl Besley |
| Distribution |
Nancy Dixon |
| Website |
Heather Buscher, Nancy Dixon |
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| Please be advised that all events and activities of the Beaver Valley Probus Club are organized for the benefit and enjoyment of its Members. Individuals who participate do so at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety. |
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Beaver Valley Probus Club