February 2024 Newsletter

Time once again to fill you in on what’s happening at the Centre this month. Thank you for responding to our request for more volunteers needed, but we still need more. We would like a few more Greeters as people are now travelling and sometimes health issues get in the way of our duties to the Centre. It would be lovely to have a list of people to step-up in any emergency and give a hand. Cheryl would be happy to train you for these easy jobs, and what a great way to meet new people. I will be away for the month of March and I am so grateful that others (Patti) will fill my place. Patti, is the President of the Centre and she will take good care of you just as she takes good care of the Centre. We have 28 unpaid volunteers who look after the Centre. Not one person is paid to do this work and the Centre, I must say, runs beautifully. As it stands right now we have 313 members signed up for this year. When we came to year-end 2023, the membership count was 469 people, so my friends, come join us as volunteers. We would love to meet you!

In February, I celebrated a birthday, and my daughter Angela bought tickets to Mama Mia, produced by Ballenas Secondary High School. What a marvellous time we had. The young people in Oceanside are alive and well!!! They sang and danced as if there was no tomorrow. Their lines were said with confidence, and being a singer, I know one of the hardest things to do is dance while you are singing. They made it look easy. Whoever the choreographer was who helped make this happen you’re the best. Those kids did you proud. I watched these young faces filled with the future before them and it made me think of all your faces at the Centre. We don’t know what life has in store for us as we age, but the training we get in school trains us for many things as we walk our road in life. Having courage to try something new, working with others, not quitting if we miss a beat, just carrying on, smiling, being kind, our Parksville kids did it all and so do you, thank you.

Once again a reminder, our annual general meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 3rd at 1 p.m. The Centre will be closed that day and we need as many as possible members to turn out for this very important meeting in order for us to continue making our Center the very best place to go for our many seniors. Did you happen to read the local paper? Parksville is listed as Canada’s greyest city: with a population of 14,164, 46.08% of residents are 65 years or older. We have to have the best Centre don’t we.

The centre will be hosting, Ears to You, with free hearing tests on Monday, March 25th. There will be a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board. The service is free, but there will be a cost if you need hearing aids.

Euchre will be starting on Tuesday, February 27th at 1:00 p.m. We have a teacher until the end of March so come play this fun card game.

Maria Pires won our $20.00 Thrifty’s draw this month, congratulations Maria. See it pays to pay your dues! Have you paid yours yet? We’re waiting to take your money!

Next month Kate will be doing the newsletter once again.

You might not recognize me as I’m coming back brown after sitting in the Tucson sun, and I’m hoping my back will be much better. Thank you for the many inquiries and helpful hints you gave me and I’ll look forward to hearing what’s new with you when I come home.

Enclosed with this newsletter is information regarding Helping Hands. Please don’t be shy, fill out the request as needed.

Bev Swann
Editor