President's Message
Caroline Bacher
Dear Members,
Five years ago, on Tuesday, October 25, 2016, the Beaver Valley PROBUS Club celebrated its 15th anniversary. This year Tuesday, October 26 marked our 20th anniversary. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic we were unable to celebrate this milestone in person. These have been difficult times for our Club but there are many people who assisted us in moving forward and keeping us connected.
I would like to thank our Website and Zoom coordinator, our Anniversary Committee who worked on presenting bios of Founding Members and Past-Presidents, our Activity Leaders who kept us exercising outside, dining, playing euchre, reading books, etc., our Newsletter Editors, our Website and Communications Coordinators for event announcements and other emails and our Speaker Co-chairs who organized so many interesting and informative speakers for our monthly meetings.
PROBUS Clubs depend on volunteers to sit on the Management Committees in the various roles that keep the club running smoothly. I encourage you to put your name forward if you feel that you can contribute to your Club in any way.
Please review this newsletter carefully to see important announcements and dates. Hopefully we will be able to meet in person at the Beaver Valley Community Center for our January meeting. Details will depend on the provincial and town regulations at that time, of course. The intention is to offer the meeting in a hybrid format, with members also able to join via Zoom. In the meantime, I hope that you all stay safe and healthy!
Sincerely,
Caroline Bacher
Membership Renewals
Pam Weaver and Kathy Mercer
On December 1, we will begin our membership renewals for 2022. The renewal fee has been reduced by 50% again this year—to only $15 each—due to COVID related limitations. While reducing our cash flow, this amount will allow us to continue to operate and to reopen for meetings and activities when permissible.
You will receive a personalized email on December 1 that will provide an easy link for online payment of dues. We are hoping to complete our membership drive by January 15, 2022—so please help us by renewing early! Reminder: This is a cheque-free process. A Help Team will be available at that time, if you have any questions.
Our Speaker on November 23 @ 2 PM
Please join us via Zoom! Check your email the day before the meeting for the Zoom link.
Speakers: Pierre Pepin and Jennifer Gosselin
Presentation: The NorAm Odyssey - a four-year canoe journey across Canada and the United States
After selling everything they owned and quitting their jobs, Pierre and Jennifer, along with their Karelian Bear dog Jasmine, embarked on an extensive canoe journey covering more than 20,000 km throughout the United States and Canada. Living a nomadic life for almost four years, Pierre and Jennifer share with passion and humor their discoveries, their most wonderful encounters, as well as their highlights and unforgettable moments of their adventure.
Wild Raven Adventures is a concept that took shape in 2002. Prior to meeting each other, Pierre Pepin and Jennifer Gosselin each undertook a variety of expeditions and adventures. They share the same vision and passions of wanting to explore and discover the world. They believe in a simpler, healthier lifestyle, and that being outdoors is the best way to play, stay healthy, discover, share, preserve and live. They love to share their stories and inspire people.
Questions? Please contact:
Brenda Rudolf or Beverly Forget (Speaker info)
Nancy Dixon (Zoom info)
Beaver Valley PROBUS Club 20th Anniversary
Hank Bouwman, Anniversary Chair
Vicki Kellar / Martin Buscher /Stella Zahradnik
Our Past Presidents
This month we feature Barb Thompson (2010) and Vicki Kellar (2012).
Please click here to access their photo and bio! (Members-only) you must login to view!
Activity Groups Update:
Ilene Rushefsky Charland
Colleen Wilson-Dick
It is great to see so many activities ongoing, and new ones getting ready to start as the cold weather season approaches. Yes—the water activities are over, biking and hiking are coming to an end—but we look forward to snowshoeing and skiing. With the changes in legislation, we are now dining indoors, and so excited to see our friends again in person. As a reminder, to keep all activities consistent, and ensure that activities are safe, and enjoyable for all: Activities that are part of the Beaver Valley PROBUS Club are meant for members of the Beaver Valley PROBUS Club only. At this time, guests are not permitted. At such time as guests are permitted again, they will be required to complete a waiver to attend an activity. Thank you for your understanding, and we hope to see you soon at an upcoming Activity!
Ramblers
Nancy Dixon
Our Ramblers group continues to expand in number. We have tried to create new routes that extend our distances. Ramblers still talk and walk according to our creed, while enjoying each other's company. I think I even know everyones names by now. We hope to do a "Christmas lights" walk in Owen Sound, which starts November 20. Stay tuned. And don't forget to check out the latest photos on the Rambers Slideshow!
Nordic Pole Walking
Nancy Hart
The Nordic Pole walking group restarted in October after almost a 2 year break! It feels so good to be able to walk and talk with friends while checking out the fall colours. We have enjoyed a few beautiful walks down by the bay, through the Meaford cemetery and along the Georgian Trail. We will continue to pole walk until the the weather turns. Take a look at the Nordic Pole Walking Activity page for more information and to see the slideshow for the latest photos!
Casual Dining
Marjorie & David Allin
We had our first “regular Casual Dining” event on October 14 after our summer picnics. There were 22 people dining at three different host homes. Diners agreed they felt safe participating, especially since we were all fully vaxxed. Our next event will be on November 11. Please contact David or Marjorie Allin if you wish to join the group.
Dining With Flair
Debbie Catto, Marion Stewart, Shellie Smith, Mary Bryant, Eileen Scott, Sallie Kedwell
Fall dinners with a hint of winter predominated this month. We had 18 guests, nine at each home. Peter and Elske Edwards along with Barry and Sallie Kedwell were the hosts. The most surprising thing was both chose beef Bourguignon as the main dish and in each case there was a nice salad and veg; appetizers and desserts added by the guests. The dessert is always of interest, and this month there was a french style mousse in one home and a sticky pudding with a to die for sauce served warm at the other. One guest reported to me and I quote, “After the dinner the hostess served a sweet wine along with a cheese board and we all rolled home. It seemed we all clicked and had a great evening. Bless DwF!!!”
Please contact anyone on the committee if you would like to give Dining with Flair a try. We will continue to follow Covid protocol. We always have a small group, usually 8, so social distancing is not difficult. We understand that the Covid protocol makes it difficult for some people to host. We ask that those who feel comfortable hosting to please let the committee know.
Dining Around Town
Hank Bouwman
Our Dining Around Town group held our third dinner at The Curly Willow in Collingwood on Tuesday October 19, with 24 members participating. The restaurant capacity is only 24 seats so we had the restaurant to ourselves for 2 hours. We sold out in a matter of hours so we booked a second seating for November 2 to accommodate everyone on the waitlist.
Our next group dinner will be on Wednesday, November 17 at 6 pm at the Orchid Restaurant in Thornbury. We have indoor seating for 40 people available, as we will be the only people in the restaurant. Menu to include Soup or Caesar Salad and Choice of Shepherd Pie, Vegetable Penne or Steamed Salmon and dessert options. You can still sign up on-line for the Dining Around Town Activity Group, so that you will receive invitations to all of our future dining functions!
Computer Group
Martin Buscher
Does that email from another PROBUS member, from a family member, or from an acquaintance seem unusual?
Trust your gut instinct which, amazingly, is still one of the best protections against scammers! Don't feel pressured, don't reply, don't click on any links, and don't open any attachments. Call them to verify! You may find that their email account got 'hacked' and it was the fraudster who now wants to draw you into their evil plans! We covered this type of fraud as well as others called phishing, how to recognize them, and how to deal with them. You can relive our discussion with this
slidedeck. Our next meeting on
November 24 will look at ways to safe-guard our digital memories and important documents.
Travel Group
Gloria Thompson
It is possible that we can try the
Islands and Highlands of Scotland in May 2022. Air Transat is scheduled to fly 4 days a week to Glasgow. The exciting program that was created for us, centering on the north, can still be done with the same company. Of course, it would have to be a bit last minute with COVID news and any new variants. Now there is news of petrol shortages and a lack of drivers. Hotels have been shut down for a long time as well. At least, those who had signed up before, keep yourself sort of ready and speak to your friends and relatives about the possibility. I will be sending out direct emails to those who were interested, in the past, as well as those who had signed on.
Ski Legends
Louise Armstrong
PROBUS Ski Legends committee continues to work on activities as permitted by public health requirements. Currently, ski days at private ski clubs have been reserved and skiing together at Blue Mountain will be every Tuesday and Wednesday once Blue is open. At this time, we are not able to book social events but that may change. Regular emails are sent to Ski Legends members with updated information about skiing together, days at the private clubs and any updates on the ski trips. The ski trip to Sun Peaks is still available with a cut-off date of November 30th. The cut-off date for the trip to Banff/Lake Louise is November 15 at which time unsold rooms will be released. Availability after that date cannot be guaranteed. Please go to the website www.probusskilegends.ca, for the membership form and the most up to date information.
If anyone would be interested in being the Beaver Valley representative for the Ski Legends committee, please contact me. It is an excellent group of like-minded people who meet monthly to plan ski activities and events. After 9 years as the representative, it is time for me to step down.
Photo Corner
Here is a collection of November photos shared by some of our members. Leaves (top left), beach (top centre), fungus (bottom left), creek (bottom centre) all shared by Lucie D. Fall scene (top right) shared by Vicki K, birch trees (bottom right) shared by Heather B. Take a look at the Fall Slideshow for all 29 wonderful photos shared by our members.
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 November!
BONUS: There is also a separate article dedicated to bulbs that you won't want to miss: "Bulbs, Bulbs, Beautiful Bulbs - Work now and Enjoy Them in the Spring!"
Humour Corner
Shared by Heather Buscher
Shared by Gloria Thompson.
Interesting Finds
Oldest Pair of Skis Unearthed in Norwegian Ice
Shared by Elsbeth Wright
In September of this year, Norwegian Archaeologists found the best preserved prehistoric pair of skis on record—encased in ice for the last 1300 years!
Read all about it in the following articles:
Photo: Espen Finstad, secretsoftheice.com
The Last Word
Marion Stewart, Past President
Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer.
Ed Cunningham
Grapevine Editors Note
Thank you to all our members who have submitted articles, photographs, puzzles, jokes and cartoons. We continue to rely on your contributions and welcome any suggestions you might have.
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