President's Message
Kirby Philp
Thank you to all who organized and participated in the success of the Activity Fair in March. We have seen a great interest in members signing up for this year’s activities. Through these various Activities and Events, we will continue to follow the Probus motto of “Fellowship, Friendship and Fun”!!!
With spring now upon us, our thoughts go to our upcoming outdoor activities. It’s time to put away the skis, get our bikes tuned up and get the hiking boots, kayaks and golf clubs ready to go. Gardeners will be making their plans for the year and we can start enjoying the sights, smells and sounds of spring. I think we are all ready for some warmer weather. Please join us at our next General Meeting on April 22 and help Celebrate National Canadian Film Day.
Membership
Pam Weaver & Kathy Mercer
We loved seeing and chatting with so many people who stopped by the Membership table at the Activity Fair! They kept us busy. A good number of new members picked up their badges. Other members liked being able to swap badge clips for a magnet. And the lanyards with plastic card holder attached turned out to be a popular item. Kudos to those who organized the Fair and made it all happen!
Annual General Meeting Results
This year’s AGM was held on March 25, 2024, at 11 AM online via Zoom. Approximately 50 members participated, and the call was wrapped up in about 20 minutes! Over 47% of our members took part in the online voting the previous week. The voting results were announced, and the Annual Financial Statement, 2024 AGM Minutes, and the proposed Slate of Officers were all accepted.
- President: Kirby Philp
- Vice President: Chris Pocock
- Treasurer: Ann Dyer
- Co Secretaries: Mary Ann Collins Williams and Kris Wichman
Thank you to all who particpated!
April Meeting—Tuesday, April 22 @ 1:30 - 3:30 PM
Denise Rand / Kirby Philp
Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Doors open: 1:00 PM
Meeting begins: 1:30 PM
Canadian National Film Day:
We will be featuring a Canadian film, chosen by the membership to celebrate our third National Canadian Film Day. This year's film is You are Here: A Come from Away Story. Director: Moze Mossanen / Year: 2018 / Duration: 83 min / Documentary.
This emotional and inspirational documentary tells the incredible story of how this tiny town in Newfoundland came together to feed, shelter and support all of the stranded airline passengers from the 40 planes that landed there in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.
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!
Social Events
Don Collins-Williams
March 30: Board Games Afternoon. The power outages with the ice storm scuttled our third Games Afternoon, but we will look at hosting further Games events next Fall and Winter.
May 5: Bruce Nuclear Plant Tour. We have been able to arrange a private tour of the Bruce Nuclear Plant in Tiverton for the afternoon of Monday, May 5. Please watch your emails in early April for the invitation.
May 29: Blue Mountain Film Festival. We will be returning to the Film Festival for the third time on Thursday, May 29. We had a lot of fun at it the past two years. Invitations will go out later in April.
June 17: Annual Golf Tournament. Our Annual Golf Tournament will be held at the Shelburne Golf and Country Club on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. Details and sign up information to follow later this month. We hope you can join us for this fun event!
September 5: Barn Dance. We are planning a good old-fashioned 'Dinner and Barn Dance', on Friday, September 5, complete with a caller and fiddler. No experience necessary. Just plan to come for a really fun evening, and be ready to kick up your heels!
Your Social Committee is hard at work planning many other events over the next few months, and as always, your suggestions are welcomed!
Theatre Event - Beehive: The 60's Musical
Vicki Kellar
Our Club has reserved 42 tickets for the musical
Beehive on Thursday, July 17, at 2 PM at King’s Wharf Theatre in Penetanguishene. The cost is $52.20 per ticket. A post-theatre group dinner will be arranged closer to the date. Please keep an eye out for your email invitation in early April!
This amazing Musical of the most powerful and iconic female voices of the 1960s will take us back to our Youth. Told from the perspective of six women who come of age in this enigmatic decade, Beehive takes audiences on a nostalgic journey through timeless hits of the era such as “My Boyfriend’s Back”, “Son of a Preacher Man”, “Natural Woman” and many more. From Leslie Gore to Janis Joplin and Aretha Franklin to Tina Turner this toe tapping production will put a song in your heart.
Gardening Lecture by Paul Zammit - May 21 @ 7 PM
John Hethrington
Gardening Enthusiasts—don't miss out! Our Probus Club, in partnership with the Thornbury 599 Garden Club, is excited to host the award-winning horticulturalist and fantastic speaker, Paul Zammit! There’s no charge for Beaver Valley Probus members to attend this engaging event. More information will be coming via email soon—Stay tuned!
Georgian PROBUS Travel Group
Gloria Thompson
We have several exiting trips planned for this year and some already in the works for 2026. Remember all members, friends and family are welcome to join.
2025 Trips: Below is more information about our trips this year!
- Muskoka Cruise (July 10 - 11, 2025) Join us for a new and memorable voyage on the Muskoka lakes, Lake Joseph and Lake Rosseau, with an optional overnight at the Windermere resort, dinner and musem visits or golf the next day!
- Rideau Canal Cruise (September 6 - 12, 2025)—almost sold out!
- Agawa Canyon Train Tour (September 29 - October 3, 2025).
This trip will take us north via Manitoulin and return through Sudbury. See the complete Itinerary for details of the trip!
- Italian Indulgence Tour (October 4 - 16, 2025)
We’re still looking for more people to join our small-group Northern Italy tour in October, when the weather will be perfect. For details, check out the flyer above or contact Brenda at 705-444-1161.
2026 Trips:
- Majestic Morocco Tour (April 10 - 24, 2026) Join us for a 15-day trip through Morocco’s ancient cities and countryside. Explore the souks and Kasbahs, and even experience the Sahara desert by camel! See the Poster and the Detailed Itinerary.
- We are also considering other exciting trips, such as biking in Croatia, a STAR CLIPPER sailing week (either in the Caribbean or the Mediterranean), or a repositioning cruise across the Atlantic under glorious sails. We would love to hear what destinations you’re interested in!
Activity Groups Update
Ilene Rushefsky Charland
Our Activity Fair held last Tuesday was a huge success! The community center was filled with new members and existing members looking at over 30 displays. We were very happy to see so many new members anxious to see what was available, and existing members connecting with friends and checking for activities that may be new to them. Thank you to the activity leaders for their time and enthusiasm in providing so many great opportunities for our members. Have a look at the photos; you will see the creative, attractive displays the leaders have made. Get involved, get active, have fun!
There is a step-by-step video on "how to sign up" for Activity Groups. Click on the red arrow to view!
Birding
Lucie Desjardins
Thank you for joining us at the recent Activity Fair! We’re excited by the interest in the Birding Group and look forward to our first outing on Sunday, April 13, at 8:30 AM. You’ll receive an invitation with full details, including the location and meeting point, closer to the date. Whether you’re new to birding or experienced, we welcome everyone. Please bring your own binoculars, as they should be adjusted for your personal vision. I’m happy to assist if needed. Our outings are planned biweekly through April and May, with possible extra sessions during the peak of the migration. I’ll keep you updated.
Casual Dining With Friends
CDWF Committee
It’s that time of year again and we welcome all of you who have either re-registered or have registered for the first time to Casual Dining With Friends. We’re a friendly group who enjoy meeting in small groups, in each other homes, to share a meal and some interesting conversation on the 4th Thursday of the month.
Our next get together will be on Thursday, April 24 at 6:00 PM and you will receive an invite around April 4. All initial invitations and responses will be facilitated through the Probus website, with actual location invites shared through email by individual hosts approximately 2 weeks in advance of the event. Looking forward to our new activity year.
Dining Around Town
Hank Bouwman
Invitations for our Wednesday, April 16 Springlicious Dinner at Copper Blues Bar & Grill, Blue Mountain Village were sent out on April 1 to those members who have signed up for Dining Around Town. (Regular price $62.95—now only $39.95). It’s not too late to join us…Remember you will need to sign-up again for the upcoming season via the Dining Around Town Activity Group webpage in order to receive the invitations!
Future Dining Dates:
- Wednesday, April 16 @ 5 PM Dinner - Copper Blues Bar & Grill, Blue Mountain Village
- Thursday, May 8 @ 5 PM Buffet Dinner – Walter Falls Inn
- Wednesday, June 18 @ 5 PM Dinner – Mylar & Loretta, Singhampton
- Wednesday, September 17 @ 5 PM Dinner - Williams on 26, Meaford Airport
Euchre 1 & Intermediate Euchre
Elaine & Hank Bouwman
Monthly tournaments are now being held on the second Tuesday afternoon of each month in the downstairs Great Hall at St. George’s Anglican Church, 166 Russell St. E., Clarksburg. There is ample parking, an elevator and a spacious room. Invitations are sent out on the first of each month.
- Upcoming Tournament: Tuesday, April 8 @ 12:45 PM
- March 11 High Scores :
-
- Euchre 1—Mae F & Mary P
- Intermediate—Elaine B.
E-bikes & Explorators
Terry Kellar / Anita Dundys
The E-bikes and Explorators cycling group will meet weekly on Mondays again this year. The Recreational Cycling Group may join us for some of our flat rides. Our first ride will be on May 5, starting at Terry and Vicki’s house. We will head around the base of Blue Mountain, onto the Georgian Trail and then return through the Windfall development. Afterward, we will hold a meeting to discuss the upcoming biking season, and coffee and treats will be provided! Information about individual rides will be sent out weekly to all members of the group, including a link to register. Please visit the E-bikes and Explorators Activity Page to sign up for the group and get more details about rides and the schedule.
Hiking
Vicki Kellar
May Start For Hiking: A lot of interest at the Activity Fair translated into over 115 members (so far) signing up for the Hiking Group. You can still join by registering on the Hiking Activity Group webpage. We anticipate starting our weekly hiking schedule the first of May, depending on the weather and if ski season is still operating at Blue Mountain (Yes—as I write this we’re still skiing and had lots of fresh snow overnight!). The hikes vary in duration, pace and difficulty which is described each week in the email invitation. If you are interested in attending a hike, please 'Register' to ensure you receive any updates or cancellations. On some trails we may separate into slower and faster groups to allow for individual preferences. Participants are encouraged to lead their favourite hike and guidelines for leading are found on our Hiking web page. We hope that we can hike weekly until the end of October, with various volunteer leaders and a variety of locations. See you on the trails!
Ramblers
Nancy Dixon
I cannot believe what great turnout at our Activity Fair—thanks to all my Ramblers for showing up. We have lots of newbies and I hope to get as many of you out as possible. Our usual day will be Friday, but if it looks like rain then I will move our troop to Thursday, so that we can also include our Ramblers that have issues with Friday. Watch for our invitations and see you soon.
R.O.M.E.O.'s
John White and Louis Charland
Invitations were sent out on March 31 for our next R.O.M.E.O. gathering on Wednesday, April 9 at the Williams on 26 Restaurant, located at the Major-General Richard Rohmer Airport (formerly Owen Sound Airport). April 9 marks the 108th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, one of Canada's Greatest Military Victories. Another Great Opportunity to Celebrate Being CANADIAN. Please register if you plan to attend!
Rummikub
Mary Jansen
Our first season of Rummikub ran from the fall of 2024 to April 2025, with our last game to be held on April 28, 2025. We had some members who were familiar with the game and several of who were new to it, but had no trouble picking up the game! Throughout the season, we also introduced a few new games that our members really enjoyed. Looking ahead to the 2025-26 season, starting in October, we will continue playing Rummikub. In addition, based on the interest shown at the annual Activity Fair, we will be offering other games as well. We hope to see many of you at our tables!
Snowshoeing
Ilene Rushefsky Charland
Our snowshoe season started off strong, with lots of snow in early January. We had a number of different hikes to explore the local scenery. Thanks to all who participated, and especially to those who offered to lead our hikes. We had fun, met a few new friends and enjoyed fresh air and exercise. Enjoy the coming spring.
Ski Legends
Chris Mifflin
It was great to see so many Legends members at the annual year-end breakfast. There sure was a lot of excitement for next year's ski trips! People were asking for copies of the flyers—so please see the links below and enjoy the remaining ski days for this season!
Online Trip Applications will open on Wednesday, May 21 at 6 pm. They will not be available before this time. If you have questions please contact the trip organiser at legendsskitrips@gmail.com. More details will follow soon on the Legends website: https://probusskilegends.ca/
Please note: all participants must be PROBUS members and members of PROBUS Ski Legends for the coming season. Ski Legends Membership for the 2025-2026 season will open in early May 2025.
All Clubs Bonspiel
Shared by Cheryl Ross
Two teams played two eight-end games each on Saturday, March 15. One team was skipped by Maurice P with Marge A as vice, Dave A as second and Yvonne Z playing lead. This team placed third. The other team was skipped by Ray G in the first game and by Cheryl R in the second game. Other team members were Bruce R, vice, Ann P, second, and Mary J, lead. This team placed sixth. Fun was had by all! Click on the image to see
more photos!
Humour Corner - 10 points to ponder
Shared by Hank Bouwman
- If a bottle of poison reaches its expiration date, is it more poisonous or is it no longer poisonous?
- Which letter is silent in the word "Scent," the S or the C?
- Why is there a 'D' in fridge, but not in refrigerator?
- The word "swims" upside-down is still "swims"
- Do twins ever realize that one of them is unplanned?
- Every time you clean something, you just make something else dirty.
- What is a “free gift"? Aren't all gifts free?
- Common sense is like deodorant. The people who need it the most never use it.
- Over 100 years ago, everyone owned a horse and only the rich had cars. Today everyone has cars and only the rich own horses.
- Hard to believe I once had a phone attached to a wall, and when it rang, I picked it up without knowing who was calling.
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.
The Last Word
Shared by Nancy Dixon
A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.
Frank Capra
Beaver Valley Probus Club