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June 2010
All good things come to an end, so it’s been said. That
also holds true for our co-presidency. After two terms for me and one for
Susanne, we are passing the reins over to Marshall Persky and Jo Anne
Gerben.
For me, I had the great fortune to share the club
leadership with two of the best co-presidents and most capable club
members. The first year was a learning experience for me. My co-president,
Lori Brickman, thankfully and gently made our co-presidency a great
learning experience. My second year, I had the pleasure of sharing the
office with Susanne Bonner. This past term was one of great enjoyment, not
only for a year with no controversy, but also for Susanne’s seamless
move from activity chair to co-president. Susanne and I blended to make
the perfect match.
So to Lori and Susanne, thank you for sharing the office
of presidency with me.
I also want to thank the entire Board of Directors for
their dedication to the Newcomers Club. Their competence and good nature
made my duties a piece of cake—chocolate, that is.
As part of my farewell tour, I will be attending the Ranch
Rudolf Hootenanny on June 5 and the Newcomers Picnic at Bowers Harbor Park
on June 27. I’m looking forward to seeing you all there and ending my
co-presidency in the company of fellow Newcomers.
Thank you.
Bob
As the Newcomers year comes to an end, so does my time on
the board. I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the board for the
last four years, and as co-president this last year. It has been a
pleasure to work with all the talented members that have contributed so
much to this organization. I especially would like to thank Bob Pelto,
with whom I shared the presidency with this year.
The friendships that have been made on and off the board
are treasured. I look forward to continuing with the Newcomers Club and
with all that this great organization has to offer.
Have a wonderful summer!
Susanne
May 2010
I hope that everyone has been able to enjoy our unusual and beautiful spring and let us hope it will
continue into the summer. I promised myself I would not write about the weather, but weather does seems to be such a big part of our lives
in the greater Traverse City area, year round. We anticipate each season and its
changes but summer is the season most of us look forward to, with a feeling of
celebration and the wish that it would last longer. Ok, enough about the weather.
I am always amazed how the Newcomers turn out for our activities. I must admit I was
a bit surprised and delighted to have seventeen of our members show up for our movie
group this month. Judy Pelto, our movie guru, had slim pickings for a movie this
month. She scheduled “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”, which is usually not the kind of movie
the group attends. After the movie, it was planned that we would go to the Firefly. We
all sat through the movie (it was kind of cute) just to be able to get together and
socialize after the movie. All it takes is food, beverages and interesting people to get a group
together.
It has been great with so many of our new members joining the activities and getting to
know them beyond a name and where they lived before moving to our area. New
members are what help keep our group fresh and from becoming stale. And I must
say, we always have a great group of new people and new friends each year.
Most of you are aware that Doug Stanton, our April speaker, had to cancel and would
like to reschedule his date. He had an unexpected trip to Afghanistan. He had to take
the dates offered to him because it involved government travel and meetings with
politicians. It was a trip he could not pass up, as he was also doing research for a
magazine article.
The remaining of our monthly meetings will not be held at the library. We hope to see
you at Chateau Chantal on May 11. It should be a fun and informative evening. Early
June, we have our spring outing at Ranch Rudolf and the end of June will be our
annual picnic.
Co-presidents,
Susanne & Bob
April 2010
April is a time of rebirth or emergence; the receding
winter snow cover supplanted by ever expanding patches of bare ground and
the first fingers of green pointing at the welcoming sun are only a
morning's coffee away. The bird's winter dirge recomposed for
welcoming ears to spring's merry tunes.
April is also the start of a period of metamorphosis in
the Newcomers Club. Next year's club leaders will be accepting the
helm and the exiting board members will be disembarking. Meet the
new leadership at the Ranch Rudolf Hootenanny and consider joining
the leadership next year.
Club activities are changing with the season.
Skiing, showshoeing, and indoor games are put in layaway, with golf,
boating, gardening, and those guests from downstate the new priority.
Jim Neibauer and Marshall Persky, our
co-vice presidents, have arranged impressive monthly programs all year and
to finish out the Newcomer season the following are the icing on the cake:
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The April program in the library features author Doug
Stanton. |
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May will find us at Chateau Chantal tasting
wine. |
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Early June is the Ranch Rudolf hootenanny. |
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The end of June will be the picnic at Bowers Harbor
Park. |
And for something different, Del Johnson proposed
an outing to watch the mating habits of the American Woodcock.
For those under 18, you must have a note from your mother to attend
:-)
Co-presidents,
Susanne & Bob
March 2010
Many of you have heard us quietly or not so quietly asking
members to
think about volunteering for a position on next year's Newcomers Board.
This year we have had several members step forward and express an
interest in serving on the Board. The positions that were available for
next year and have been filled are: Co-Presidents, Co-Vice
Presidents,
Treasurer, Secretary, and Executive Assistant. Thank you to every member
who stepped forward and volunteered. We are so pleased with the
response and have never filled positions so quickly. I think this says a
lot about our next year's Board.
The only position that is available is Webmaster. Computer
knowledge is
required to maintain the club's website. Please contact us if you are
interested or have any questions.
On to other business: We would like to remind
everyone about our Book
Exchange. It is simple--just bring any books or current magazines
you
would like to donate to the monthly meetings at the library. Everyone
is welcome to take what looks interesting to them. You do not have to
bring a book to take one. At the end of the evening, if your donated book
is still there, please take it with you as we do not want to store books
between meetings.
Our March program features Edward Downing, Executive
Director of the
Traverse City Symphony Orchestra, who will present us with an informative
and entertaining program. In April we will be visited by Traverse City's
own
Doug Stanton, author of the best-selling book Horse Soldiers.
And, in May
we will have our program at Chateau Chantal on the Old Mission Peninsula.
More details to follow at a later date. We are hoping the cherry
blossoms
will be blooming and some of our snowbird Newcomers will be back. In
June we have our annual spring gathering at Ranch Rudolf. Between
all of
our monthly programs, we have our many different card games and groups,
book clubs, film group, various groups that go out to eat, quilting, and
our
solo group that always have something planned. All of us that have
not
gone south are hoping for some nice, fresh snow so we can get out snow-
shoeing or cross-country skiing before the bulbs start popping up.
Co-presidents,
Susanne & Bob
February 2010
We have entered the first year of the new decade, or the
last year of the
eventful aught decade. We won't go into that discussion about when
decades
end or start; but the status of the Newcomers Club is in jeopardy.
Well its
not really the status and I guess the club is not in jeopardy, but we have
to
make some important choices. We need to find more time in which to
partake
of all the activities the club has to offer. Some of the options are
to add more
hours to the day, more days to the week, or to clone ourselves. The
first two
are out of the question, we would have to buy new clocks, watches and day
planners and, as for cloning ourselves, I'm afraid my clone may have more
fun
than me. Where does my find go when I start to use it? (...Bob
speaking....)
Moving right along to catch you up with past club
events: The auction in
November was very successful. The new venue worked out beyond our
wildest
dreams, and the generosity of our members netted $2484.00. We will
use
these funds to partially subsidize all of our major events. In
addition, the
printing, mailing, and operations of the club are covered by these
funds. And,
for the Ranch Rudolf hootenanny coming up in June, the cost per person
will be
even less than last year, making this function more attractive. The
holiday
dinner dance was a great big hit. There were 79 beautiful people in
attendance.
we had a door prize raffle and of the four winners, three were new
members.
What a way to welcome them to the club! The location will be
changing but the
fun will be the same come December next.
Our co-vice presidents, Jim Neibauer and Marshall Persky,
have put together a
Newcomer Club monthly program schedule for the rest of the year that you
will
find irresistible.
And, most important, members are needed to fill board
positions for the coming
year. Details will be in the March newsletter.
One other note--if you are receiving unsolicited,
unwanted, forwarded emails
from club members, replay to the sender and ask to be put on the "do
not mail"
list.
Until we meet again, happy trails to you.
Co-presidents,
Susanne & Bob
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January 2010
The annual Dinner Dance was a successful evening with a lot of
dancing
feet and singing to songs from....forty plus years ago. Does anyone
have the answer to why we can remember the words to old songs, but
cannot find our car keys? The food was excellent, and we have
managed
to obtain the recipe for the walleye, which is printed in the Newsletter.
So, we move into the New Year possibly a few pounds
heavier after the
Holiday Season. Our magical Winter Wonderland surrounds us and calls
us to enjoy the beauty of the season. The Newcomers have scheduled
snow shoeing and cross country skiing twice a month for the winter
months. The exercise will help us work off the extra holiday pounds,
get some fresh air and spend some time with other Newcomers. Our
other activities are available to all, depending on time and interest, and
can keep us more active than we ever thought we would be "up
north."
If you have not been to an activity or would like to try a new activity,
just let the group leader know you will be joining them.
Be sure to mark your calendar for our January 26 program,
featuring
Jonathan Hawley, the author of "Point Betsie--Lightkeeping and Life-
saving on Northeastern Lake Michigan." This interesting and
informative
program will be held at the Traverse City Library.
We hope to see many of you at the January activities and
wish all a
Happy, Healthy and Peaceful 2010.
Co-presidents,
Susanne & Bob
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December 2009
The autumn leaves have drifted by my window (apologies to
Johnny Mercer),
frost is on the shriveling Halloween pumpkins and snowflakes are in the
air.
These occurrences can mean only one thing; the “great white north” is
around
the corner. Some of our members have evacuated Michigan for warmer
climes.
The remainder attended our Auction, the results of which required higher
math
with mechanical and/or electronic assistance. Our new auction venue
provided
the much needed space and without the time restraints demanded of last
year’s
location, and our auctioneer Lee Hosler and spotter Jim Neibauer headlined
an
Oscar-winning event. As testament to the generosity of the members and
the
skills of Lee, the auction netted $ 2,400.
A huge thank-you goes to Lee Hosler and the auction
committee, headed by
Marlowe Bonner with the able assistance of Miki Connell, Ralph and Lori
Brickman,
Judy Pelto, Faith Sanko, Joe Harris, Matt Albert, Sis Leake, Jane Grewe,
Jon Cump,
and Pauline Watt. Thanks also to Jim and Rose Neibauer for setting up the
cookie
bar, to everyone who made the cookies and other treats, and to Tom
Custance for
facilitating the use of his church. And finally, a big thanks to all of
our members
who contributed items to the auction.
Our Co-Vice Presidents have been hard at work compiling a
program schedule for
2010 that is going to knock your socks off. Among some of the programs are
a trip
to a winery, author of The Horse Soldiers Doug Stanton, Ed Downing from
the TC
Symphony, programs about the Point Betsie Lighthouse and Sleeping Bear
Dunes,
the Ranch Rudolf Hootenanny and the Newcomers Picnic. After these
programs,
do you know what is next? Summer—what happened to winter?
See, it’s not so bad up here in the off season.
The OFF season is in fact the ON season for Newcomers.
There’s a full plate of
activities going on. To list a few: snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, the
film group,
book clubs, dining out, card games, volunteering at the State Theater and
the Solo’s
outings. Join in and before you know it, the robins have returned.
Co Presidents,
Susanne and Bob
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November 2009
Our Newcomer activities are in full swing. A rainy and
windy fall has not kept us from
enjoying the activities and each other’s company. As many of you know or
are finding
out quickly, you can be as busy as you choose to be with the Newcomers. We
have
had great turnouts at most of our activities and many of our new members
are
becoming familiar faces at the events.
The Coast Guard “field trip” was a huge success with
close to 100 people attending.
Commander Jon Spaner, along with one of his pilots and crew chiefs at the
air station,
welcomed our group. The evening was very enjoyable and informative with
interesting
information and humor combined. Our apologies to any late arrivals who
were not
able to get past the entry gate.
We are looking forward to seeing all of you at our annual
auction, which has become
quite a “happening.” The evening is very entertaining with our very
own auctioneer,
Lee Hosler. Plus, there are always so many interesting items you will not
be able to
resist bidding on. Thursday, November 12, is the date, and details are
listed in this
newsletter and on our website.
The Holiday Dinner Dance will be held on Friday, December
4, at the Waterfront
Conference Center. This annual event is a great time to get together with
your
Newcomer buddies in a festive atmosphere. If you do not dance, that is not
an
excuse not to attend. There is always so much interesting conversation
and
socializing taking place. Who would want to miss this party?
All of our new members will be receiving their Member
Directories, if they have not
already received one. Members who have renewed may print a hard copy from
our
website or request a hard copy by mail. Any questions or requests should
be directed
to Robin Timmerman. We would also like to remind all members that our
Member
Directory is to be used for club business or social purposes only. As
stated in our
bylaws, the Directory may not be used to solicit members for outside
business
purposes.
As this article is being completed, there are green leaves
and clouds out the window.
Hopefully when you receive this newsletter, there will be beautiful fall
colors and
sunshine.
Co-presidents,
Susanne & Bob
October 2009
Can you believe that apple and cider season is upon
us? All of our summer house guests are gone, you can easily find a
seat in your favorite restaurant, the half-off coupons have started to
arrive and evening parking is free in the downtown parking garage.
The Fall Kickoff Dinner is past and hopefully you signed
up for all the activities your calendar will stand. Those of you who
missed the dinner and the activity signup sheets can still contact the
individual activity leaders to join in the fun.
Speaking of the Kickoff Dinner, we had a record attendance
of more than 116 members: of those 116, 19 were new members. A
special Newcomers welcome to all and we are looking forward to seeing you
at some of the activities. We had a delicious meal, a beautiful view
of the bay and we enjoyed the company of our fellow newcomers. A big
thank-you to our executive assistant, Karen Spencer, who did
a wonderful job coordinating all of the presentations for the Kickoff
dinner.
The next Newcomers event is a field trip to the
Coast
Guard Air Station, where we will have a tour of the base, check out
the orange helicopter you see flying over your homes and partake of some
snacks prepared by the Coast Guardsmen. Save the date: Tuesday,
October 13 at 6:30 p.m. Look for details elsewhere in the
newsletter and on the website.
The auction is coming up on Thursday, November 12.
The venue has been changed to the Presbyterian Church of
Traverse City, off Airport Access and Westminster. This move was
made to enhance the enjoyment of an evening with no time restraints or
space problems. We are in need of usable and interesting donated
items to sell, and of course, members to give a new home to said
items. Some of the more popular items are Gift Baskets, Cooking
Lessons, Gift Certificates to Local Businesses, Tickets to Local Events,
Dinner in Members' Homes, Boat Rides, Kayak Lessons, Wine, Handmade
Jewelry, Jams and Jellies and other creative & useful items our
members might donate. Our world famous auctioneer Lee Hosler will be
there to keep us entertained and empty our pockets while we are laughing
hysterically at his wit. This is our only event to raise funds for
the operations of the club. Last year's auction was successful
enough that it enabled us to lower the price of this year's three dinner
events: the Kickoff Dinner, the Holiday Dinner Dance and the Ranch
Rudolf Spring Hootenanny.
If you are a new member or a veteran, welcome to the start
of the 2009-2010 season. We hope you will join in, bring your
smiling face and prepare yourselves for a fun ride on the S.S. NEWCOMER
where all are welcomed.
Co-presidents,
Susanne & Bob
September 2009
As we enjoy the last fleeting days of summer in this beautiful
region that we are so lucky to call home, we cannot deny that fall is just
around the corner and with fall, as with each season, there is an anticipation
of what the season will bring. I think many will agree that fall evokes the
feeling of starting fresh and new beginnings, just as the Newcomers do each all
season. We look forward to meeting new people, getting involved in the many
activities that are offered, socializing and, of course, seeing old friends we
have not seen throughout the summer.
Welcome to the Grand Traverse Newcomers 2009-2010 Year!
We have many returning members and several new members. Everyone
who belongs to Newcomers recognizes quickly they are not new for very long. We
are a large friendly group that offers many opportunities to meet new people and
become part of our community.
The Newcomers board also welcomes many new and enthusiastic
faces this year, and they have joined the board members who are continuing to
contribute their experience. The board has been active planning for another
great year filled with many activities, programs and of course, fun.
Our first event this year is our annual Fall Kickoff Dinner,
which will be held at the Hagerty Center on West Bay on Wednesday, September 16.
You will have the opportunity to meet and greet each other, sign up for
activities that you will not be able to resist being a part of, and of course,
enjoying the view, the food, and the great people that make up this wonderful
organization.
Susanne & Bob
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June 2009
It’s June and all is fresh and renewed for the short and
frantic summer season here in northern Michigan. Some of our activities
will hibernate for the summer (think snowshoeing) while others are just
getting started (think golf and the garden group). We encourage you to
stay involved during this time and bring those visiting guests along to
Club events.
This will be Lori’s last contribution to the
President’s letter as she will retire from the Co-President position and
move to Past President on the Board. It has been a great experience
working with very talented and committed individuals. Newcomers are a
great group of people and those who volunteer for the Board are the best
of the best. Bob will continue as our mighty Co-President for
another year. He already has a full agenda of events planned for next
year.
Bud Dockter will also be retiring. He has served
above and beyond the call of duty in his position as co-vice president.
Our many fine speakers over the last three years are the result of his
hard work and research. Let us not forget that he (and wife Nancy)
have had that hot coffee and tea ready at our programs on cold winter
nights as well as the cool spring and fall monthly gatherings. From the
Club, thank you Bud.
Others who are stepping down include Patti Custance
as our Helping Hands member. Patti has also served in other Board
positions over the years including VP and President. Web Master, Judy
Albert (formerly in charge of Membership) is saying good-bye to
editing our web site. She has built the site into an amazing advertisement
for the Club as well as a tremendous resource for our membership.
Ron Wallace as the Directory Director, Carole
Groves in Public Relations, Briant Sikorski, Co-VP and Pam
Evans, the Executive Assistant, are all hard-working people who will
be finishing their terms this year. We thank them for their service with a
smile.
Faithful Board members remaining for another exciting term
are Marlowe Bonner our Treasurer, Miki Connell as Newsletter
Editor and Secretary JoAnne Gerben. Current Board members who have
agreed to fill other positions are Judy Owen, Helping Hands, and Karen
Spencer, Executive Assistant. To each we say thank you for your
dedication and commitment.
Last and certainly not least we bid adieu to our past
presidents Brad Spencer and Tom Custance. They remain
active in the Club but no longer have to attend the monthly meetings.
Their sage advice will be missed.
We say hello and welcome to new Board members Marshall
Persky and Jim Neibauer as Co-Vice Presidents, Robin Stott
Public Relations, Jane Pearsall Web Site, Pauline Watt
Activity Director, Terrill Persky Membership, Mary Jankowski
Calling Committee, Robin Timmerman Directory Editor, and a
special re-welcome to Susanne Bonner, who is stepping up to
Co-President. Bob is looking forward to working with these very capable
club members on the Board next term.
A giant sized thank-you to Lori Brickman for having
the strength to support me on a long learning curve as her Co-President.
Ya’ll have a great summer!
Lori and Bob
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May 2009
Well, hello fellow newcomers. This article is appearing in
the May Newsletter but it is being written from the warmth of Florida in
mid April. As it has been snowing in Michigan, I don’t know quite what
to say about the weather when this column is published. In Michigan almost
every conversation begins with the weather. So we will just assume it’s
sunny and great and that we are enjoying the beautiful spring flowers.
While thinking about what to write, it came to me that we
often know little about our fellow members. Sometimes the knowing helps to
kick start a great conversation and who knows where that will lead. So we
have a little quiz for you this month to get to know your fellow Newcomers
a little better. The answers are found elsewhere in the newsletter. The
questions or statements below refer to members of the Club. Although only
one name is listed in the answers, there may actually be several right
answers. NO, there is not a prize for the winner. The satisfaction of
being correct is enough to make us happy. So here goes:
1. Name a Club member who is a pilot. (Dave Jankowski)
2. Name another pilot who flies for Wings of Mercy.
(Albert Sickinger)
3. Who are the husband and wife team of Master Gardeners?
(Keith & Judy McCormick)
4. Who served on the Boardman River Dams Committee? (Pete
Albers)
5. Name a volunteer with the Leelanau Conservancy. (Mark
Kupferer)
6. Who has an amazing collection of Japanese art? (Kathy
Bodette)
7. One of our members used to write movie reviews. (Joe
Coffman)
8. Who led the newcomer snowshoe outing with the largest
attendance? (Don Eastway)
9. Which couple is responsible for rejuvenating the TC
Paddle Club? (Lois Goldstein & John Heiam)
10. Which member is a professional musician? (Jim
Horrocks)
11. Whose daughter is a TC school principal? (Carol &
Lee Hosler)
12. Name two state theater volunteers. (Sharlene &
Warren Kruger)
13. Who is the activity leader for movie night? (Judy
Pelto)
14. Our Boy Scout Leader is.... (Tom Stoeber)
15. Who advises third world nations’ farmers? (Jim
Neibauer)
16. Who teaches at NMC? (Jane Pearsall)
17. Who is an expert wood carver? (Chris Scurto)
18. Who served in Kenya in the Peace Corps? (Sandy
Seppala)
19. Who taught tennis for 30 years? (Sis Leake)
20. Who is a professional artist? (Caroline Hirth)
21. Who has a collection of over 15,000 books? (Brad
Spencer)
22. Who got a hole-in-one twice? (Bud Dockter)
Hope you got a few right answers and were surprised with a
few others. No matter. Now you know enough to say hi to someone you haven’t
talked to before. A good place to have that conversation would be at our
Ranch Rudolf outing. It is one of the best attended events of the season.
Join us and compare notes with your fellow guessers.
Bob and Lori |
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PRESIDENTS’
NOTE
April 2009
April is the 4th month of the year, originally it was the
2nd until January and February were added in 700 BC, and some say the name
April is a derivative of the Latin aperier, to open, an allusion to the
time of year when trees and flowers begin to open.
April 2009 is the month with Passover, Good Friday,
Easter, Earth Day, Tax Day, Patriots Day and Arbor Day and this April the
Newcomers Club of Grand Traverse will sign a purchase agreement for
Elmbrook Golf Course. The down payment will come from the proceeds of our
successful auction last November and membership dues will be raised
slightly to cover the monthly mortgage.
Lastly, April also contains April Fools Day. Gotch ya!
Speaking of opening, the Newcomer Spring activities will
be starting soon: Fishing, Hiking, Kayaking, Gardening, Biking and Golf
are going to take the place of Skiing, Snowshoeing, Ice Fishing, and most
indoor activities. Our snow bird friends will be returning to open their
summer homes and renew friendships with those who stayed and braved the
winter.
Joe Harris fulfilled his volunteer commitment to the
adaptive skiing program and returned to lead the last scheduled
snowshoe/cross-country ski event on March 7th During his absence the
activity was ably led by Don Eastway and unless there is a significant
snow storm the next out-of-doors activity may feature flip flops and
Hawaiian shirts.
So maybe I’m rushing the season a little but this was a
long cold winter. Remember the spring snow storm of last year when it was
80 degrees on one weekend and 9 inches of snow fell the next>. brrrr,
shades of depression start to creep in with just the thought. Come on
cherry blossoms!
The nominating committee has completed their search for
new board members. The results will be announced at the Ranch Rudolf
spring event on May 16. Be sure to attend this event and meet the incoming
2009-2010 leadership of the Newcomers Club.
The men’s breakfast piloted by George Kobernus meets all
year on the second Wednesday of the month at 9:00 AM in the Omelette
Shoppe on Front Street just East of Garfield. The muster of early risers
fill their stomachs while solving the problems of Traverse City, the
Nation and the World. Just last March we solved the banking predicament
and the oil crisis. Come join us!
Lori and Bob |
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March 2009
I had a difficult time
getting up this morning. Various aches and pains called out and it was
looking bleak and cold outside. I found myself singing the chorus of an
old (like 1932 old) song by Jules Bass that goes:
Put one foot in front of the other
and soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
Put one foot in front of the other
And soon you’ll be walking out the door
Yep, it helped and soon I was moving about the house with
purpose if not immediate enthusiasm. I began to wonder about those lyrics
and how they became lodged in my memory banks waiting to be called up when
needed. It turns out the song was used in a 1970 children’s TV movie
that our family has watched many times over the years. Googling the tune
brought up the very interesting verses as well as the catchy chorus.
You never get where you’re going
If you never get up on your feet
Come on, there’s a good tail wind blowing (Michigan???)
A fast walking man is hard to beat
(Chorus above)
If you want to change your direction
If your time of life is at hand
Well don’t be the rule be the exception
A good way to start is to stand
(Chorus)
If I want to change the reflection
I see in the mirror each morn
You mean that it’s just my election
To vote for a chance to be reborn
(Chorus)
Wow, who knew such prophetic words from a little people
film could have an impact on us “big” people. As winter drags on in
the north country, we may succumb to a little cabin fever or seasonal
depression (also known as the winter blahs). It takes an extra effort to
get outdoors for a walk or invite someone over for company or show up for
a card game. Sometimes that effort feels like just too much work. But the
rewards are worth the effort. Once we are out and about, we feel
physically better, think more clearly and generally improve our well
being. That good feeling multiplies as we influence those around us. There
is nothing like giving a smile to get one in return.
The character who receives this great musical advice in
the movie does turn his life around to the delight of all around him. I
love happy endings! So come on, stand up and....put one foot in front of
the other.....and soon we’ll be seeing you at a Newcomers event!!!
Bob and Lori
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February 2009
As I sat at the computer, pondering what to write, I
explored some of the previous years’ February newsletters. Two of the
recent Newcomers Presidents were lamenting the lack of snow. We are not in
the same predicament this year. Here we are, in the second month of the
New Year, with more snow on the ground, more predicted, and rapidly
running out of places to put it while shoveling.
Snow is one of the reasons we all moved to Northern
Michigan, “the water/winter
wonderland”. Think how boring
winter would be without snow: no skiing, sledding, snowmobiling or
snowshoeing. Snow adds to the lake and water
table levels, purifies the air by trapping particles of pollution in each
flake, and protects plantings and wildlife with a layer of insulation. In
fact, without the white of snow there would be no color this time of year
except a drab grayness.
Speaking of fun in the snow, all of you Saturday morning
couch potatoes missed a fun time with the snowshoeing/ cross-country
skiing group, led by Don
Eastway, at the Muncie Lakes
Pathway on January 10th. There were about 32 hearty souls who showed up
and kept their New Year’s resolutions for a healthy and fun-filled new
year. Of course we promptly broke those same resolutions by going out to
lunch at Ruby Tuesdays immediately after all that good exercise. At least
we upheld the Newcomers tradition of no group activity without food and
beverage.
On a different vein, there is a pressing need for members
to step forward and fill approaching vacancies on the Newcomers board.
Without members volunteering for board positions there would be no
Newcomers Club. This is an excellent opportunity to meet and make new
friends, partake in the operations and direction of the club as well as
having a fulfilling experience. The time required to volunteer is as much
or as little as you wish to give depending upon the position held. A list
of positions and responsibilities will be found in the March newsletter.
A special notice for all you Gourmands, which is fancy
talk for “people who like to eat,” February’s program will be “ The
Confessions of a Restaurant Entrepreneur”. The
speaker will be Meagan Thomas of
Radish, a
restaurant in downtown Traverse City. We hope many of you will join us at
the Traverse Area District Library, 610 Woodmere Avenue on Tuesday, February
24, 2009 at 7:00 PM.
Lori and Bob |
January 2009
Have you settled into 2009 yet? All
the company gone or you are back home again? Did you finish the gift returns and
after Christmas sale shopping?
Well, the Newcomers Club is here to
help you adjust to the New Year and keep some of those New Year’s resolutions.
For those of you who promised to exercise more, we suggest that you sign up for
snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Lots of fresh air and healthy movement
await you. We’ll bet some have decided to expand their minds (no not Timothy
Leary) in 2009. Why not check out the book clubs or the movie group? Yep, we
said the movie group. They saw the French film, A Christmas Tale, in December
and are still discussing various nuances and meaning in the plot.
Ok for you dieters, the Lunch Bunch
and Dining Out are great opportunities to share a salad with friends. Men’s
Breakfast members may even skip the hash browns this month. If you are hosting
any Newcomer activity, include a plate of carrots to help our dieters meet their
goals.
Cabin fever gets to all of us at one
time or another during the winter months. The more involved and active we are,
the lower the fever. So join the quilters, play poker, sub for euchre or bridge
or learn how to play mahjongg. You get out of the house,meet friends and have
fun. That’s a great prescription for the winter doldrums.
We may need some help for the Garden
Group. It is too late to for them to work in the yard and too early to receive
the flower catalogs. So, if you know a garden group member, invite them to
another activity and get them out of the house.
Lest we forget, there are numerous
volunteer opportunities within and outside the Club. Our Newcomer members were
very generous with their time and money in 2008. Auction sales hit a new record
and the December Dinner Dance attendees donated generously to the Northwest Food
Bank. We also know that some of you are already giving of your time and talents
to various community organizations.
However, the newest of our
membership may be unfamiliar with the community groups that need our help. For
example, do you volunteer at Munson Hospital? Are you a greeter or an escort? Is
someone an usher at Interlochen or the State Theatre?
Who works with the Leelanau
Conservancy and what do you do? We would like to include a volunteer forum in
upcoming newsletters that describe the various organizations and what
opportunities may be available for our members. So call or e-mail Bob at
RobertPelto@charter.net or Lori at rlbrickman@yahoo.com and let us know what’s
out there. We will include the information in future columns. Volunteering gets
us out of the house and makes us feel good, too. That’s like losing 20 pounds
on a chocolate diet. It is a perfect way to start the New Year off right.
Bob and Lori
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December 2008
Michigan: “land of four seasons”.
The warmth of vibrant fall colors that you could almost feel on your face
as you drove down a sun lit tree-lined lane are only a memory. The naked
tree trunks are the only obstructions to views we haven’t seen since the
pre-greening of spring.
The snowbirds are readying themselves
for their escape, hoping to beat the first snowflakes of winter. The rest
of us will be busy waxing, dusting, oiling, and reacquainting ourselves
with our winter toys.
The Holiday season is fast approaching.
With gift buying, house decorating, card writing, party planning, New Year
celebrations and all the Newcomer activities that you can cram into your
calendar. These, “to quote”, are some of my favorite things.
There have been three events that have
occurred since the last newsletter. The first was the road trip program to
the Old Town Playhouse. We welcomed seven new members into the club: Beryl
Striewski & Jim Horrocks, Marie & Jim Bode, Joan Hauer and John
& Jerilyn Cleverdon. Executive Assistant at the OTP, Carly McCall,
gave an interesting and informative talk followed by a Q&A session
about the OTP and community theatre. We then had a guided tour of the OTP
building, we viewed the prop studio, wardrobe storage, dressing rooms and
the backstage. We were treated to a practice musical number from the next
OTP show, “URINETOWN: the musical” and then sat in the theater and
watched as the shows director Phil Murphy rehearsed with the cast members
on stage. A special thank you goes to Co-Vice President Bud Dockter and
those who assisted him in the planning and executing of a successful
October program.
The second event which occurred was the
presidential election. We won’t go into the results but we never thought
that we‘d miss product advertising on television and news events from
the rest of the world.
The third event was the November 12th
Newcomer Auction, our only fund raiser. This turned out to be a very
entertaining and financially fulfilling night. The board members thank all
who participated by either donating or purchasing items or both. The
success of this event means that we will not have to stand on the street
corner and panhandle for operating funds. Newcomers own auctioneer Lee
Hosler was on his A game. He not only amused the bidders with his humor,
he was able to solicit bids that would even embarrass CongressE. just
joking!! He, along with Jim Neibauer and the rest of the auction staff
lead by Joan Wallace, produced a whopping $2,646.50. I was told that this
is a record. In case you were not in attendance at the auction, you missed
Madonna’s bra lamps, a bag of nighttime fun, a heated walker/underwear
warmer and a gourmet dinner at the House of Dogs (t-shirt included).
Don’t forget to come and celebrate the
holidays with your friends at the Dinner/Dance on Friday, December 5th
from 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the Waterfront Conference Center.
Reservations are required by Monday, December 1.
From the Executive Board we wish one and
all a healthy and happy holiday season and a funfilled New Year.
“ Live long and prosper “: Mr.Spock.
Lori and Bob
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November 2008
Here we are in November and Newcomer
activities are in full swing. We have been delighted to see so many new
faces at these events. Lori had a chance to meet Pat Jonen at the last
Garden Club meeting of the season. Judy Pelto said Larry and Faith Sanko
and Jim Striewski joined the regulars for film Night. Marlowe Bonner’s
walking group had a record 37 trekkers, including the Samuels and Kathy
Flegel. Karen Coquillard told us that they have a lot of new folks,
including Dick and Jane Grewe, who signed up for Euchre. Other activity
leaders are also reporting an upswing in attendance.
If you are a new member and your name
wasn’t mentioned this month, we’ll be on the lookout for you with an
eye toward future President’s notes in upcoming newsletters. We want all
of you to know how much we enjoy getting to know the newest of the
new.
The Directory is online now which makes
it much easier to contact new friends and invite them to the Auction this
month or the Holiday Dinner/Dance in December or any other great activity.
It is an excellent tool for staying in touch which brings us to a point
about Club policy.
The Directory and all member lists of
Newcomer participants are for the social use of Club members. As stated in
our By-Laws, they may not be used to solicit members for business purposes
by mail, email, phone or in person. It is important that our membership
feel confident that the information they share will be used appropriately
for Club business only. If you have been contacted or feel that your Club
information has been used without consent, contact Bob or Lori and we will
follow up. We’re a fun-loving group of people who just want to enjoy our
great GT Newcomers Club.
Speaking of enjoyment, I know that each
of you has already selected or crafted your contribution to the Auction.
As it is the Club’s only fundraiser we look forward to lots of
participation. With Lee Hosler as our master auctioneer, the event is sure
to be hilarious and profitable. We had so much fun last year that everyone
just kept on bidding (whoa, do you think Lee did that on purpose?).
Thanksgiving is also fast approaching.
It is usually a time of travel to be with or receive friends and family.
But sometimes when we’re new in town, we find ourselves alone on a
holiday. Maybe those of us who plan to be at home in TC for Thanksgiving
can set an extra place or two at the table and invite a few good souls to
join us. That would result in Thanks and Giving. What a concept! Have a
great holiday!
Bob and Lori
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October
2008
Well it is October already. What happened to the summer? Yes, we know,
the same thing that happens to every summer. It just flies by without any
respect for those of us who wanted a leisurely stroll through the warm
days. Oh well, fall brings its own beauty and energy. It must be time to
try out a few new activities and meet more friends.
We hope you had an opportunity at the fall kick off dinner to sign up
for something new to you. Stretch yourself a little. The Saturday Walk in
the Woods is a great way to get some exercise and a lot of conversation
with fellow trekkers. The golf group is still trying to push the weather
envelope so put on an extra layer and join the bravehearts. Card games and
eating out is a favorite pastime around here as are movies and reading. It
is all there for the asking.
Don’t forget to volunteer with us at the State Theatre. Volunteering
makes us feel good and we give a little back to the community. You can’t
miss our field trip to the Old Town Playhouse this month. Behind the
scenes at the Playhouse will be a great learning experience and a lot of
fun. We may even find that there is an actor among us just waiting for a
stage to perform.
Most of us will agree that the fellowship we experience is the
highlight of these activities. Sharing stories, learning more about each
other’s families, friends, hobbies and dreams is just what we need when
arriving in a new city and neighborhood. There’s also lots of advice:
“I found this great doctor” or “Why don’t you call so and so, he
fixed my car and did a great job. Then there’s the “You have to try
this restaurant” and “I can’t believe the sale going on at..”
That fellowship often leads to deeper friendships. You will recognize
it when someone says “Call me, I’ll be glad to help”. You will know
it when they show up at your door with a pizza and say, “Hey, I heard
you weren’t feeling well so I stopped by to say hi”. We Newcomers are
a great group of people and we encourage you to join us. Say, did you hear
about..........”
Bob and Lori
September
2008
Welcome back to another great year with the Grand Traverse Newcomers
Club. As members, you are entitled to all of the fun and friendship you
can handle and then some. Our job in this column is to let you know about
the great opportunities in store for you in the coming months.
First, let us tell you a little about ourselves as your new
co-presidents. We both grew up in Detroit, MI and attended the same high
school on the west side of the city. Our spouses also went to Mackenzie
High. After marriages, our paths crossed on and off over the years and we
stayed in touch through Christmas cards. It was no small wonder that we
both wound up living in Traverse City after retirement. Getting together
as members of Newcomers was icing on the cake. Becoming the organization’s
co-presidents just added the candles. We have had some great times
together over the years and are looking forward to more fun with you in
the Club’s activities.
Speaking of cakes, you can’t make a good one without great
ingredients. This year’s Board is composed of very talented and
committed volunteers that put the basic elements and the spice into the
Club. They have assembled an outstanding lineup of programs and events
that will have us all signing on to participate. September’s Fall Dinner
is the Club’s kickoff event and the time to meet and greet after a
summer of sun and sand, visitors and travels.
The activity leaders will be present to answer questions and sign you
up for a season of fun and friendship. Some of the programs we have slated
are a road trip to a T.C. landmark, the all-important auction in November,
and to get you in the holiday mood, a dinner dance in December. So polish
up your dancing shoes, or hiking boots; your card sense or food scents;
your reading skills or movie madness and join us for an Olympic year of
events. We hope to see all of you in September where we will share the
story of the “cayman in the pond and the wisdom of Spot”.
Bob and Lori
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