President's Message
Ilene Rushefsky Charland
Summer is fast approaching, with ‘teaser’ days to get us in the mood. Outdoor activities are in full swing; so much so, that some of us have two or even three activities on the same day! And if you love a walk in the sunshine, listening to the birds and the smell of the flowers, nature is accommodating you. Enjoy!
In May, our speaker, Dean Hollin, kept us interested and humming for the hour. Thanks to our speaker chairs, Brian and Kirby, for arranging this. This month is our last general meeting before the summer break. We look forward to speaker Bill McCreary, a former NHL ref with his stories from his long career.
There will be numerous opportunities to meet and socialize with your PROBUS friends in the next few months, as most of our groups are active. Whether you prefer rambling or hiking, trail or road biking, birding or water sports, dining in or out, (just to name a few), we encourage everyone to get involved in your club and participate.
Check the website for the variety of events offered, including our golf tournament, theater outing, and the summer picnic. As always, thanks to our activity leaders and social convenors who make all this fun happen. Enjoy your summer, and stay safe. I look forward to seeing many of you at our events. Ilene
Membership
Pam Weaver & Kathy Mercer
Historically, our club has added new members only once a year, in February. But this year things are different. Our club's Management team has decided to try a mid-year enrollment, on August 1. This adjustment was made so that new members could come on board while our activities are still going strong and not have to wait a full year. As new members, they will be able to register and participate in all club events and activities. Please make them feel welcome, especially when we reconvene at our September Membership Meeting.
If you have any questions for the Membership team, you can reach us at our new email membership@beavervalleyprobus.com
June Meeting - Tuesday June 27 @ 1:00 PM
Remember—this is our last meeting before the summer break! The Grapevine Newsletter and our monthly meetings will start back up again in September.
Please register if you plan to attend this meeting—so that we have enough chairs and coffee for everyone!
Date: Tuesday June 27, 2023
Doors open: 1:00 PM
Meeting begins: 1:30 PM
Speaker: Bill McCreary
Bill is a former NHL referee and member of the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame and now lives locally. He will share some stories of his over 30 year refereeing career, including many Stanley Cup finals and the famous Gold Medal Olympic Game in Vancouver.
50-50 draw: Nancy Dixon and George Czerwinski shared in 50% of our winnings at our May monthly meeting. Our 50/50 tickets are on sale at the beginning of each monthly meeting and during the 1st break.
Book Exchange
Our Book Exchange is back in business! Any member can participate—no sign up is required. The Book Exchange will be set up at the back of the room starting at 1pm. Books should have a copyright date no older than 10 years. Bring a Book, Take a Book. Since the summer break is coming up, we invite you to exchange up to 3 books at a time. Please contact Nancy Hart with any questions!
NOTICE: Beaver Valley Community Centre Parking Disruption
Please be aware that there is a big parking lot construction project scheduled starting May 29, which will restrict the amount of parking available at the community center for our next meeting. Please follow the signs to see where to park for our meeting and where to enter the building.
Social Events
Don Collins-Williams, Stella Zahradnik
Don't forget to register for our upcoming annual events!
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une 20, 2023: Annual Golf Tournament
Registration is still open! This year's tournament will be held at Shelburne Golf and Country Club. $95 / per person. Price includes 18 holes with cart, and BBQ lunch. The format is team scramble with a shotgun start. Non-member guests are welcome! We would love to have more participants—it's not too late to sign-up a friend! Online payment for those who reserved already is now due. An email with the link to pay was sent out on June 5.
July 20, 2023 - Annual Summer Picnic
Registration is now open! Our Annual Summer Picnic is back. We will return to the Alpine Ski Club for our summer get-together with lots of games and activities on the lawn. Please register from the email invitations sent out on May 31.
If you have any lawn games you can bring—ladder toss, corn hole toss, horseshoes etc, please let us know via our new email address events@beavervalleyprobus.com.
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 (or this year prior to March 28, 2023). 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
Birding
Brian Cromie / Lucie Desjardins
Fifteen members of the Birding Group had a good first outing May 4, with Co-coordinator Lucie Desjardins recording 23 different species in our visit to Christie Beach, her and Kirby's backyard, and to the Thornbury Sewage Lagoon. The group made a second outing to Collingwood Harbour on May 31, where even more spring migrants, warblers and shore birds were spotted! Take a look at the Birding Slideshow to see some great photos taken by our members.
Computer Group
Martin Buscher
In our June meeting we will delve into the fascinating world of Cloud Computing. Following our insightful discussion on Artificial Intelligence last month, we are eager to continue our journey of technological exploration. Source: ChatGPT, and yes, there will be real people ;-) We're covering the Cloud only because Hank B. sent a funny video to start with. Also, Rod I. wants to tell us why he keeps everything local.
Casual Dining With Friends
Sallie Kedwell, Shellie Smith, Eileen Scott
Save the date - our next regular get together will be on June 22. Hoping you can join us for another enjoyable evening. As usual, dinner locations will be announced closer to the date. Thinking ahead the summer picnics will be on July 27 and August 24 - always fun to meet outdoors as a larger group. The venues for these events have yet to be decided but we usually plan for July in Meaford and August in Thornbury.
Dining Around Town
Hank Bouwman
Invitations for our Thursday, June 15 "Family Style" dinner at 5:00 PM at Marilynne Restaurant in downtown Markdale were sent out on June 1 to those members who have signed up for Dining Around Town. The session is now sold out. Last month, 42 of our members enjoyed an excellent dinner on May 17 at Match Restaurant & Casino in Wasaga Beach. Each person received a $35.00 free slot play and some of us even made a few $$$ in the casino. It’s not too late to join our Activity Group… Just click the "Activity Group Sign-up" button on the Dining Around Town activity page to receive future invitations to our dining events.
Save the dates:
- Thursday, June 15: Family Style Dinner @ 5:00 PM at Marilynne Restaurant in downtown Markdale (Sold Out—Waitlist only)
- Friday, August 18: Pizza Party @ 5PM at Justin's Oven in Kimberley
- Wednesday, September 20: Buffet Dinner @ 5 pm at Walter Falls Inn
R.O.M.E.O
Bill McMurray
The next R.O.M.E.O. gathering will be on Wednesday, June 14 at Sterlings in Thornbury. Please RSVP via the email invitation that will go out on June 7.
Dominoes
Donna Murray
This a potential new activity group, depending on the number of members who sign-up to show interest in playing. The idea is to have weekly or bi-weekly gatherings at member's homes to play Dominoes (Mexican Train). The day and time will be decided by the participants. Please check out the Dominoes Activity Page or contact Donna with any questions.
Euchre 1
Elaine & Hank Bouwman
On Tuesday, June 13 at 1:20 PM, David & Christina Z will host for a fun afternoon of cards and snacks. It’s not too late to join us..…just go on-line to the Euchre 1 Activity page to sign up. We had an enjoyable afternoon of card playing and snacks at the home of Bruce & Janet L with 12 members participating on Tuesday, May 9. George Baker had the high score and holds bragging rights for the day after coming out on top following 8 rounds.
Introduction to Euchre
Elaine & Hank Bouwman
We have had 7 training sessions involving 16 different participants to teach the basics of playing euchre. We may to start a fourth group in the fall, so please add your name to the
Waitlist to be notified of the details. These sessions are geared toward members who have either never played euchre at all, or those who have played, but need a refresher course.
Ramblers
Nancy Dixon
May 26 turned into the most amazing day for our Ramblers Coffin Ridge adventure. We had the view, the sun and the best time hanging out at the winery. Our hosts allowed us to wander throughout their vineyard. Even though we had a written map of their self guided tour, we somehow missed a few of their "Skeleton crew" direction signs but made it to our final objective--wining allowed. We will return in the fall for another vineyard adventure.
Tick Alert
Submitted by: Vicki Kellar
Spring is tick season as well as allergy season! Ticks don't just carry the potential for Lyme disease, rising temperatures means ticks carrying babesiosis are also making their way to our area. Brucetrail.org reminds us to make sure we protect ourselves from ticks when out walking or hiking. Wear long pants and shirts, tuck your pants into your socks, wear boots and avoid walking through tall-grassed areas—stay to the centre of the path. Wear light colored clothes so ticks are visible, then check for ticks after your hike!
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/16/health/babesiosis-tick-disease-northeast.html
https://toronto.citynews.ca/2023/04/10/ontario-tick-season-lyme-disease-symptoms-prevention/
Brain Teaser - Anagram
Submitted by: Mary Armstrong
Can you guess who the Canadian Singers are below?
- ONCE IN DELO
- INN HAS AWAH
- RODEO CHANNEL
- BARD MAN SAY
- BE MUCH LIABLE
Answers at the end of the newsletter!
Photo Corner
Brian Cromie
This Red-headed Woodpecker, a near-threatened species, visited a couple weeks ago, and is one of the 29 different species seen in our backyard so far this year. For those not in the Birding Activity, you can still see lots of different birds in backyards, parks and wild places around your home. Keep your eyes and ears open and your feeders full, and it is a great time of year to go out and enjoy some of the best of what nature has to offer!
If you have any spring photos you would like to share, please send them to our new email address at grapevine@beavervalleyprobus.com so that they can be included in the Spring Slideshow!
The Master Gardener’s Corner
John Hethrington, Past President, Master Gardeners of Ontario
Click on the tulip photo to see what you need to be doing in your garden in June... Don't forget to look over your garden to determine what plants are in the wrong place or should be divided. Check out the St. George’s annual plant sale, Saturday June 3, 2023.
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 Vicki Kellar
The only reason some people get lost in thought is because it is unfamiliar territory!
Paul Fix
Brain Teaser (Answers)
Celine Dion; Shania Twain; Leonard Cohen; Bryan Adams; Michael Buble
Activity Groups: Participate - Volunteer - Have Fun!
Convenor: Volunteer needed!
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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