January 2024 Newsletter

The Centre wishes all of you a very Happy New Year and good health this year. I am happy to be back writing the Newsletter after a time out November and December due to a fall I had in the shower. Our lovely Kate Walter filled in for me and did a great job and I thank her for this.

On to business: Your dues are due!!!! If you haven’t paid your $20.00 yet for 2024, they were due January 2nd. You will not be receiving a Newsletter after this one if you let this lapse. Your dues are important for the overall running of the Seniors Centre and without everyone’s help the Centre could close, so tie a string around your finger and get this bill paid. THANK YOU!!!!

Volunteers, where are you? Liz our kitchen manager needs 4 more people to give a hand for very light labour in preparing lunches for the hungry. Liz will train you for this job and you will benefit by making new friends and getting to know the many people that come to the Centre. The soups and desserts are made by volunteers other than the kitchen staff although they contribute too, and everything tastes yummy. Kate and I work as supervisors every Monday and we eat our lunch together and enjoy a meal prepared by the lunch staff. We share a sandwich and have a fabulous bowl of soup and it only costs us $7.50. Now where could you eat a healthy meal for this low cost? Just at the Centre, so give the Centre a call at 250-248-3200 and ask for Liz, and say I’d like to help. Or come to the Center and try us out and leave your name and number saying you’d like to volunteer.

Speaking about volunteers, we also need 6 more greeters to keep watch over the Center daily. The shifts are 9:00am – 12:30pm and 12:30pm – 3:30pm, not much of your time. Training will be provided, and your face will be the first face new members will see when they inquire about our programs. I enjoy being a greeter and this job has opened up new friendships for me. How wonderful is that! Without our members volunteering there would be no Senior Centre for anyone to enjoy so please take your turn. I would hate to see the Centre closing for lack of help

We are still looking for an accompanist for our Choral Ensemble. If you, or anyone you know, can help out, please contact Kirsteen McLean at (250) 752-2800

Here are some new activities for the Centre.

• Euchre-3 people have signed up. We need more people and an instructor. The time to play would be Tuesday, 1–3 pm. and will be on a trial basis.
• Bag Baseball -1-2pm. on Friday. We need more people and a score keeper. Again, this would be on a trial basis.
• Shuffleboard- Tuesday 1-2 pm.
• Cribbage and Scrabble- Wednesday 10-noon.
• Cribbage can also be played on Monday from 1-3pm.

Just a few things to mark on your Calendar. Our annual general meeting will be on Wednesday April 3rd starting at 1 p.m. The Center will be closed that day. We need as many members as possible to turn out for this very important meeting for us to continue making our Centre the best place to go to for our many Seniors. We, the board, need your help.

Our winner of this month’s membership draw is Ann Marie Rogers. Ann Marie volunteered in the kitchen and I’m sure many of you know her well. She always has a smile on her face especially when she’s line dancing. Congratulations Ann Marie.

When I joined the Centre 5 years ago, I came for the exercise classes. Little did I know how many joy-filled moments I would have volunteering for many other things. The friends I have met who enjoy doing things with me are like minded people I would have never met had I not volunteered. As I’ve aged along with my friends, the hardest part has been the loss of friends through death or moving and where do you go to meet new friends?

Who knew it would be the Centre. The Seniors Centre is like a second home for many of our members so please join us by volunteering, I know you’ll have fun.

Have a fun-filled, joy-filled, month - get active, take a new course, and don’t forget to breathe.

This month I’ve been asked to share my Garlic Sausage Soup recipe. My family enjoys this soup very much. I buy my chicken stock for the soup from Watkins products. I enjoy their beef stock as well. Barb, my Watkins lady leaves her books on the shelf where we sign in.

Please always remember to sign in and out of the building in case of fire. It is our only way of knowing how many members are inside. I’ve also been asked to remind you to let the office know if you’ve made changes to your address, e-mail, or phone so we can notify you of class cancelations.

Bev Swann
Editor