President's Message
What a turnout we had at our February meeting as well as at the welcome luncheon for our 68 new members! I'd imagine that this was like in those old days some of you have been telling me about. Sure looks like we are back to (mostly) normal again.
We are gearing up for the Activity Fair on March 28 where you can talk to our wonderful leaders about activities you might like to participate in. If you cannot make it to the Community Centre that day, no worries, you can learn much from our website and you can even sign-up online starting that day. It is awesome to see a new generation of volunteers stepping up and offering to lead new activities such as birding, conversational French, or Mahjongg!
There is also a strong lineup of events in the pipeline, ranging from our participation in film festivals to museum visits to car rallies to golf tournaments to ... and the list keeps growing! The only thing holding us back a bit is that we have several vacancies to help with the organization of our club. Personally, I think there is no better way to get and stay connected than volunteering!
In a few weeks (March 21 - 27) you'll be invited to vote online on a slate of new club officers, to approve our financial report, and to accept some changes to our constitution and bylaws. You will have an opportunity for direct feedback during our online Annual General Meeting on March 28 at 11 AM. Please participate in the online voting so that we reach the required quorum and I can close my presidency by handing over to my successor a club that is well positioned for the future.
Membership
Pam Weaver & Kathy Mercer
Prior to our February meeting, our Management team was able to join many of our new members for a “Meet & Greet” luncheon. The agenda included short introduction on the upcoming Activity Fair and the Annual General Meeting (AGM), and then each member of management present was introduced. Next, everyone shared some lively conversation time and then lunch was served as the conversations continued.
A few additional new members were brought onboard that were not mentioned in the January Newsletter. Welcome to Pamella Branch, Martin Hederich, Martin Henderson, Ewen McIlraith, Fiona McIlraith, Judith Neate, Geoff Nicholson, Jan Nicholson, Katharine Peat, Charlene Winger, Christina Zettler and David Zettler.
Please welcome our new members as you meet them—they have a "star” sticker on their name badge.
Annual General Meeting - March 28 @ 11:00 AM
This year's AGM will be held on March 28, 2023 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 and with instructions on how to join this online meeting.
We kindly ask that all members participate in the online vote to elect our officers, to accept amendments to our club's constitution and bylaws, to accept the minutes of the 2022 AGM, and to accept the 2022 annual financial statements. Online voting will be available starting March 21, 2023 and will close on March 27, 2023 the day prior to the AGM. Please refer to the timeline below for detailed information.
**It is important that members participate in this online vote so that the required quorum of 25% is met and the club can continue to operate!**
To view the timeline and current nominations for officers, please go to our 2023 AGM webpage.
April Meeting
Wednesday April 19 **Please note change in date**
Wednesday April 19, 2023 is the 10th Annual National Canadian Film Day. 
Our PROBUS club has arranged to celebrate by watching a great Canadian Film at our Beaver Valley Community Centre on that date, instead of our usual 4th Tuesday meeting day. Please take a look at the description of 3 possible films on our event page, and then take the survey to choose one. The movie that gets the most votes will be the one screened! Deadline to respond is Friday, March 10.
- Peace by Chocolate
- The Red Violin
- You are Here: A Come from Away Story
50-50 Draw
Hank & Elaine Bouwman
We had our 50/50 draw for $276.00 at our February 28 monthly speaker meeting. The two winning tickets held by Howard Kitchen and one of our new members, Judith Neal for $69.00 each. 50/50 tickets are on sale at the beginning of each monthly meeting and during the 1st break.
Social Events
Don Collins-Williams, Stella Zahradnik
We just had our second visit to the Grey Roots Museum, on March 2 for the Leonardo Da Vinci Machines in Motion exhibit. And again having a significant waiting list, we have added a third tour on March 30. Preference will be given to those on the waitlist from the March 2 tour, and if there are still openings, we will extend the invitation to all members. If the registration is full, please add your name to the waitlist, as if there is enough interest, we will likely be able to book a fourth tour before the exhibit closes on April 23.
For those who have registered for the Georgian Bay Symphony on April 1, we will be sending out information on an optional post concert supper at a restaurant in Meaford.
We are gearing up for a busy social season as Spring approaches. As always, watch your email, and announcements in the Grapevine, and please let us know if you have any ideas for interesting events
Nominating Committee
Caroline Bacher, Ilene Rushefsky-Charland and Elsbeth Wright
Thank you to Linda Haines who has volunteered to take on the Technical Advisor role and to Joanne and Jamie Procunier who have offered to be Coffee Co-convenors. We still require volunteers for Activities Convenor and 2nd Vice-President. Please consider filling these roles. If you would like more information about them, please contact one of us. There will be lots of support available to assist you. This is your Club! We will struggle to organize Activities and in-person meetings if these roles are not filled...
Activity Groups Update
Colleen Wilson-Dick
Activity Fair:. We are hosting an in-person Activity Fair at the Beaver Valley Community Centre on Tuesday, March 28 from 1:30 - 3:30 PM. Come and walk around the centre to learn about the various Activity Groups our club offers!
Check out the various Activity Groups on our website and be ready with some questions before you attend! Do you have an idea for a new Activity Group? Let us know and we can add it to the list and see if other members are interested too!
Here are some of the new Activity Groups this year so far...
Say hello to old friends and catch up over a cup of coffee and cookies....
Meet our Activity Leaders—Ask questions—Sign up online!
Computer Group
Martin Buscher
Our February meeting actually happened in March but was nevertheless a very enjoyable event with shared tips on the use of camera phones, the iPhone in particular. There is as yet no topic set for our upcoming meeting on March 27 at 2 PM so please let Martin know what you'd like to see covered.
Euchre 1
Elaine & Hank Bouwman
We had an enjoyable afternoon of card playing and snacks in the “party room” at the home of Jean Tyler in Thornbury with 12 members participating on Tuesday, February 14. Jean Tyler & Ted Littlejohn went home with bragging rights for the day after coming out on top following 9 rounds. On Tuesday, March 14 at 1:20 pm – Sharon Clayfield & Bill Rogers have graciously offered their home for a fun afternoon of cards and snacks. It’s not too late to join us—just click the Register button on the Euchre 1 Activity webpage to sign up.
Casual Dining With Friends
Sallie Kedwell, Shellie Smith, Eileen Scott
Our next Casual Dining With Friends will be on March 23 at 6:00 pm. Please respond to the email invitation sent out on the 7th. We are hoping for another good turnout from those of you who are wintering at home!
Dining Around Town
Hank Bouwman
31 of our members participated in our February 15 luncheon at The Alphorn Restaurant on Hwy. 26. Invitations for our Wednesday, March 22 luncheon at The Iron Skillet in Collingwood (Sobey’s plaza) were sent out on March 1, to those members who have signed up for Dining Around Town. It’s not too late to join us… Just click the "Activity Group Sign-up" button on the Dining Around Town activity webpage.
Save the dates:
- Wednesday March 22: Lunch @ 12 noon at The Iron Skillet in Collingwood
- Tuesday April 18: Brunch @ 10:00 am at Georgian Family Restaurant in Collingwood
- Wednesday May 17: Dinner at Match Eatery, Playtime Casino in Wasaga Beach. Includes guided tour & complimentary slot play voucher
- Thursday June 15: Dinner at the Marilynne Restaurant in Markdale
- Wednesday September 20: Dinner @ 5 pm at Walter Falls Inn
Nordic Pole Walking
Nancy Hart
Once the snow has gone and the daffodils are in bloom, Nordic Pole Walking will resume. Hopefully that will be by mid April. As usual we plan to walk on Tuesday mornings for 1 hour, starting at 9:30 am. Don’t forget to sign up again this year!
Ramblers
Nancy Dixon
Nancy is currently enjoying the warmer weather down south, and Hank Bouwman has graciously offered to lead the Ramblers on Friday, March 10 @ 10:00 AM. The group will meet at the Beaver Valley Community Centre for a walk around the Thornbury Harbour area.
Ski Legends
Chris Mifflin
The Ski Legends group just recently returned from the annual pilgrimage to Sun Peaks (BC), and this week, the group is hitting the slopes at Aspen Snowmass (Colorado). The locations of next years (2024) group trips have not yet been finalized – one of the destinations may be Italy. Stay tuned as this will be announced in late spring. See the website www.probusskilegends.ca for the most up to date information. The twice weekly Ski Together at the Blue Mountain continues. Meet at the Silver Bullet chair at 9:20 am on Tuesday and/or Wednesday. Just ask/look for Ron Duke – our inimitable team leader. Frequently, an optional on-mountain group lunch will be organized for afterwards at one of the restaurants. Don't miss the annual end of season breakfast. It is scheduled for Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at 8:00 am at the Toronto Ski Club.
Travel
Gloria Thompson
This Highlands and Islands of Scotland tour is almost full, but we can make room for 1 or 2 more—so act now! Trip dates are Saturday, May 13, 2023 returning Sunday, May 28, 2023. For information and booking, please call Gloria with any questions at 705 429 9455.
Humour Corner - Airline Announcements
Shared by Jan Reid and Pat Wright
A United Flight Attendant announced, 'People, people we're not picking out furniture here, find a seat and get in it!
On landing, the stewardess said, 'Please be sure to take all of your belongings.. If you're going to leave anything, please make sure it's something we'd like to have. '
'There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane.'
Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing: 'We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal.'
After a real crusher of a landing in Phoenix, the attendant came on with, 'Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Capt. Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we'll open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal.'
Photo Corner
Shared by Robert Marshall. Diane and Robert are spending 5 weeks in Costa Rica and shared these photos of the wonderful birds seen from their balcony.
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 March.
Support Group
Lucie Desjardins, Maureen Lalonde, Mary Ann Collins-Williams
Have you heard 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.
The Last Word
Shared by Hank Bouwman
You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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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