President's Message
We are well into October now and Thanksgiving festivities. We have so much to be thankful for – at the top is the wonderful country that we live in and that includes our many Probus Club friends.
Talking about Probus Club friends, we are looking for a big turnout at our first ever Fallicious Lunch on October 24th at Blue Mountain Pottery Restaurant. This luncheon will be a meet and greet affair. Each of you will be given a table number when you arrive. This is how Probus works – being with old friends and meeting new ones. Please sign up before the day and make this first Fallicious luncheon a big success.
All of our Events are now listed on our Probus web site. We are in the process of making the site easier to use and the “go to” place to keep us all connected. If you have any suggestions or would like to be on the Committee – please get in touch with Martin Buscher.
Last month saw a lot of community activity, with students in our area and throughout Canada taking a day off to march for awareness of how we can reduce our impact on the planet. Please remember the little things that we can all do – another reminder – bring your own coffee cup to the Probus meeting! Try to “do as I say and not as I do”.
Marion Stewart
Speaker on October 22 with Topic: Search and Rescue
Constable Anderson will be bringing his dog, Bauer. Bauer is a general service dog whose duties include searching for wanted criminals, missing/lost people, drugs and guns. Constable Anderson will also be bringing his other dog, Striker, who is a human remains detection dog. This will be very exciting for those of us who love dogs, but anyone with allergies that are affected by dogs, please be mindful of our canine guests.
Annual Christmas Lunch
Our annual traditional turkey Christmas luncheon will be held at Lora Bay on Tuesday Dec 10th. Details will be announced later.
Activity Group Updates
Georgian Probus Travel Group: Travel with your peers....avoid the single cost...get to know new people...join our trips!
- There are still a few spots left for the tour to the "Islands and Highlands of Scotland", 10-25 May 2020. For further info or to book please call Gloria at 705 429 9455.
- Our informal survey showed great interest in a Russian River cruise or Portugal/Madeira program. Stay tuned. Gloria Thompson
Recreational Cycling Group: The group has completed its busy season. We had a few new rides this year, one from Owen Sound on the trail and a quiet road to Leith, and the other from Anten Mills to Elmvale. We also cycled around the many trails and country roads in Collingwood, Thornbury, and Meaford. Thanks to all who joined us to make this an enjoyable activity! Caroline Bacher and Joan Hammond
Dining Around Town: Upcoming dinners: Wednesday, November 20 - Crow. Bar & Variety in Collingwood Friday, January 4 - Cured Restaurant in Thornbury (limited seating) Wednesday, February 12 - The Grey Restaurant in Thornbury Thursday, March 12 - The Mill Café in Thornbury Hank Bouwman
Ski Legends: PROBUS Ski Legends is a club with members from all area PROBUS clubs who enjoy skiing, socializing and travelling. Ski Legends organizes social activities, ski days at private clubs and ski trips. The website, www.probusskilegends.ca , has the most up-to-date information on events and ski trips, as well as the application form to join Ski Legends. Basic memberships are $30. This year’s social events:
- December 2 - Skiis & Biikes Wine and Cheese. There is a discount, for that night only, on purchases of soft goods.
- January 6, 2020 - Free Welcome Back Breakfast for Legends Members only, at Blue Mountain Grand Central Lodge.
- January 22, 2020 - Dinner Show and Party at Blue Mountain Golf Club.
Ski Days at the private clubs:
- Devil’s Glen – Thursday, January 16 (to be confirmed)
- Craigleith – Wednesday, January 8 (to be confirmed)
- Osler Bluff – Thursday, January 30 & February 20
- Alpine – Thursday February 13
- Georgian Peaks – March 11 or 18 (to be confirmed)
Ski Trips:
- Sun Peaks, February 29 – March 4, is SOLD OUT. To have your name placed on the wait list, go to the Ski Legends website/ Ski Trips to find the trip leader contact.
- Steamboat, Colorado – February 2 to 9. Please go to the Ski Legends website/ Ski Trips to see further information about the trip and trip leader contact.
- For 2021- Group ski travel has changed significantly in the last few years and it has become necessary to plan more than a year ahead to secure space. Plans are being made for the ever-popular Sun Peaks as well as a European trip, likely the Dolomites in Italy, with sales likely this coming winter. Louise Armstrong
Hiking: Hiking season isn’t over yet! Although weather is less than predictable at this time of year, there are still a few more weeks of hiking season left. Some people feel this is the best time of all – cool temperatures and glorious colours. If you’re not already on our mailing list but would like to be, please let Cynthia know at probusbvhiking@outlook.com. Hope to see you on the trails! Cynthia Sampson
2019 Probus Putt and Lunch Event
Beautiful blue skies and a hint of autumn temperatures made it a perfect day to be on the putting green! 32 members hit the course on September 12th at the Georgian Bay Hotel and Conference Centre. The fellowship, friendship and laughs on the course continued as the group enjoyed the delicious BBQ lunch on the patio which followed. Here are the results of this year’s event: • Winning Team: Pat Ransom, Robert Johnstone, Stella Zahradnik • Low Individual Score: Pat Ransom • Hole in One: Robert Johnstone • “Most Active Putter”: Joanne Knight. Stay tuned for details on next year’s Putt and Lunch Event. You don’t want to miss out on all the fun in early September 2020! Rick Leclair
Royal Winter Agricultural Fair, CNE Trip Tuesday Nov 5
Visit this fair which for almost 100 years has brought the best in agriculture, local food, and equestrian competition from across the country to the heart of Toronto. It is the largest combined indoor agricultural fair and international equestrian competition in the world. Wander the vendors’ stalls, see horse jumping, meet cows, pigs, sheep and more. Expect a fun day of shopping, meeting the great farmers who grow our food and vegetables, etc. Sign up sheets will be at the back of the room at our October 22nd meeting. The fee for senior admission and the bus is $56.84. Cheques only please. Stella Zahradnik
Membership Renewals Coming Soon
Very soon, in your very own snail mail box, you will receive a vibrant pink Membership renewal form. Hopefully you can send it back immediately to the Membership Directors. Better to do it right away than risk forgetting it in the pile of correspondence! Please note that it is due by December 1 and we do want you to renew! However if you are unable to return please advise the Membership Directors ASAP.
Although we’re starting a new decade that doesn’t mean we’re old. Let’s keep up our activity levels by participating in or volunteering for the club interest groups or the Board. Right now there are over 30 activity groups from which to choose, or you can start a new group! Contact the Activities convenor Rick Leclair for details. Remember you only get out of it what you put in.
The renewal form and cheque, please no postdated cheques, can be mailed or alternatively brought to the October or November meetings. Please remember to sign the Waiver portion. See you at the Club. Membership Directors Vicki & Terry Kellar
Help Wanted
We need you! There are openings on our Management Team. We are looking for a Co-Secretary, an Assistant to Activities Convenor and a Vice President. If you are interested, or know of someone who would be a good candidate, please contact Caroline Bacher or Marion Stewart.
Environmental Plea
Remember to bring your own mug for coffee/tea break! Let’s reduce the amount of garbage produced at the meetings.
Ontario Steam Heritage Museum Tour
Join us for a tour of the Ontario Steam Heritage Museum on Thursday October 17. The Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, restoring and operating steam powered equipment and Steam Traction Engines. So come along with us, get on the bus for a country lunch in Morriston then an amazing tour and ride a Steam Traction Engine. The cost of the bus and lunch is $49.65 per person (cheques only). Contact Stella Zahradnik
Join us for a Fallicious lunch at The Pottery Restaurant
This event takes place on Thursday, October 24 at 12.00 noon. We are naming it “Mix and Chat”. As you enter the restaurant you will be given the number of your assigned table. We are hoping that this mingling will introduce you to new people at our club!
The lunch will be buffet style so more ability to “mix and chat” with others. The menu is a Naan and Noodle – Thai rice noodle salad with Bok Choy,Onions & Sesame dressing, Kachumber salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, cilantro & lemon juice, minted potato salad with fresh mint, olive oil and lemon juice, crispy vegetable samosas with mango chutney, vegetable biryani, tender beef rendang with ginger, garlic & lemongrass braised in coconut milk, chef’s special butter chicken finished in rich tomato butter sauce topped with Fenugreek leaves, platters of fresh sliced papaya, dark chocolate orange cake, Starbucks Premium coffee, tea and soft drinks all for $35.85 per person which includes tax and gratuity. Cut off date is Oct 16. Contact Stella Zahradnik for tickets. Stella Zahradnik
The Master Gardener’s Corner
Things to do in your garden each month taken from the Ontario Master Gardener Calendar by John Hethrington, Past President, Master Gardeners of Ontario. For more information, or your copy of the 11” x 17” calendar of the full year’s tips for a $1 contribution to Master Gardeners, call 519-599-5846. A LIMITED NUMBER OF COPIES WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE OCTOBER MEETING.
October 2019:
- After a warm summer and another 3 weeks of summer in September, fall is finally here.
- There is an annual argument as to whether you should cut back your perennials, grasses, etc., in the fall, or leave them long for “winter interest”. Up here, most perennials are covered by 2 feet of snow, so you can’t see them anyway. Spring Clean-Up can be daunting. There may be wet weather, or a late spring like this year. For these reasons, this fall I am opting for a BIG FALL CLEAN-UP to get a jump on spring 2020.
- It’s time to trim back perennials and divide them as needed. Make sure it is a cool cloudy day and fertilize with a “transplant fertilizer” -- big middle number.
- Suzanne Strong, our first President, has downsized 3 of her huge perennial beds. Volunteers from St. Georges Anglican Church in Clarksburg have been busy potting up and heeling in her treasures which will be for sale at the church plant sale next June.
- Buy and plant spring flowering bulbs. Add a little bulb fertilizer, one with a big middle number for lots of phosphorus (P). Your efforts now will bring big dividends in April and May 2020.
- Place chicken wire just under the surface of the soil over any tulip bulbs you plant. The squirrels will hate you. Daffodils should not need this protection.
- Plant perennials and evergreens, and/or buy new ones.
- If there is an early frost warning, cover tender annuals overnight with an old bed sheet. They should make it through and keep on blooming.
- Bring in house plants when the evenings start to cool down, or you get a frost warning. Give them a thorough spray first with insecticidal soap, so that there are no unwanted hitchhikers coming into your home.
- Fertilize lawns with a low “first” number and high “middle” number “Fall” formula. The phosphorus promotes root growth.
- Start cutting your grass much lower than in summer to avoid winter matted long grass next spring.
- Water shrubs, evergreens and trees weekly and deeply at least until frost.
50/50 Draw
Congratulations to Jerry Primak and Marcel Forget, the winners at the September 24th meeting!
Book Exchange
Bring a Book, Take a Book. All books should be current and in good condition. The book you bring to exchange should be one that you have enjoyed reading and would recommend to a friend. Nancy Hart
Support Group
Do you know of a member who needs encouragement to get through a difficult period? Please do not hesitate to call on the following, or any of the management team:
- October: Carol Hethrington
- November: Mary Dillon
Lynn Corrigan
The Last Word
Respect is how you should treat everyone, not just those you want to impress. Richard Branscombe (submitted by Past-President Pat Wright)
Beaver Valley Probus Club