April 2024 e-Newsletter

President's Message

Welcome to our April Newsletter. Spring is here, following a winter that mostly wasn’t. 

Time for cleaning up the yard, bringing out the patio furniture, removing the 

snow tires and for some - spring cleaning.  We can re-energize with outdoor activities, fresh air and more sunshine.  Its also a time when we welcome back our snowbirds.

You’ll remember from last month’s newsletter, that this is the first month that we are suspending the production of our full-text version of the Newsletter with a link at the top (in case you are looking for that).

I hope you enjoyed your St. Patrick’s Day and Easter weekend.

If you joined us for the March General Meeting you were treated to an entertaining and informative presentation by Lianne Harris on Persia.

Also as mentioned in that meeting, we will be required to have a Privacy Policy. Starting this month you will see a check box with a link to our policy during the checkout process for all transactions.  You can find a bit more about this elsewhere in this newsletter.

Also in March, we had an incredible response to Steel Magnolias, with 65 members and guests attending.  Thank you, Bernice Pyke, for putting together such a popular event.

I hope to see you at our next general meeting when we return to our regular schedule.


Walter Matias
President

Privacy Policy

Recently implemented data privacy laws in parts of the United States as well as Canada and Europe require that organizations which collect personal information or process credit card payments from their members, customers, or website visitors must have both a privacy policy and cookie policy for their website. We are not currently using cookies on our website so we don’t include that here.

We have updated the checkout process for all transactions made through our WildApricot website. As a part of the update, you will be prompted to review and accept our Privacy Policy as per the following screen:

At the time of this publication, we were having some technical difficulties getting the link to work on the checkout screen.  However, you can also preview our Privacy Policy by Clicking Here.

Sound System

Recently we have been able to use the Town’s speakers from their Special Events Team.  It is a significantly better sound system.  We will continue to ask for this system when it is available.  Because we can’t guarantee when we get to use these, we encourage you to sit at the front of the room, just in case we have to use the single speaker system. 

Coffee

Coffee and tea are being supplied at our General Meetings, during the break, by Calvert Catering. 

They are very reliable, have been in business for 70 years, and are anxious to please their clients. To satisfy everyone’s taste they will supply two types of coffee, regular and dark roast.

Brochures and business cards will be available for anyone who may wish to use their services in future.

APRIL SPEAKER

Agatha Christie and Archaeology

If you don't know how these two are connected, then join us to learn how the great mystery novelist's life is revealed within the pages of her books  Her love of the Middle East and the life she lived with her famous archaeologist husband provided the basis for many of her greatest novels, including Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, and Murder in Mesopotamia.  Learn about her life, travels, and the fabulous ancient sites whose mysteries she helped uncover.

For more information on Amy and past speakers Click here.

MEMBERSHIP

Our current membership stands at 256.

Guests may attend up to two meetings before deciding to join the Club.

New members can be identified by a blue lanyard and guests by a yellow lanyard. Please ensure that we give them a special welcome, so they get to know us.

NOTE:  If you arrive late for a meeting (after the front desk greeters have moved into the meeting room) please stop by the Membership Desk to be checked in.

Name Badges

Pictured above are New members who received their badges at the March General Meeting.  From left to right, Walter Matias (President), Susan van der Wyst, Anne Henry, Lucy McManus and John McManus.

Welcome to our new members!

Please wear your name badge at ALL PROBUS meetings and events.

It helps identify you as a member and makes it easier for your fellow members to greet you and get to know you. You may know your name but others don’t! It also serves as a level of security.

If you have lost or misplaced your badge you may purchase a replacement at the Membership Desk or contact us at dwprobus.membership@gmail.com.

Bev & Dave Bicknell
Membership Co-Chair

Using Our Directory

We are asked from time to time by members if we have contact information for another member.

Everyone’s name is in the directory in the main menu bar on our website. (See image below).  However, many members haven’t updated their privacy settings, so their e-mail and phone numbers for example are available to other members.

If you want to change your settings, you can update your Profile and Privacy settings by logging into Wild Apricot and clicking on your name (on the top right - see screen shot below).  If you need a refresher on how to update your privacy settings Click Here.

For activity leaders wishing to check if someone still has an active membership, you can simply type in their name in the search field in the directory.  You must be logged in to gain access.

Remember – the directory is visible to logged-in members only.  The general public does not see this.

If you need help with technical issues related to Wild Apricot, please add your name to the Buddy System sign-up sheet located at the Membership Desk and someone will contact you to provide assistance.  

Suggestion Box

We have a Suggestion Box located at the Membership Desk. If you have any suggestions that you feel would make our club better, please write them down and put them in the suggestion box.  This might include proposed social events or activities. We are always looking for new ideas. 

The Management Team will review any suggestions received in the suggestion box that month at their monthly management meeting and post a response in the following month's Newsletter.

March Suggestions

A suggestion was made at the last meeting that a monthly  Cribbage group might be of interest to club members.  This suggestion has been forwarded to Laura Lemay our Activities Chair.

Suggestions from prior months are saved on the Members Only page of our website.  Click here to see past suggestions..

Share the Wealth

The Share the Wealth draw at our March General Meeting was won by Anita Fellows who received $63.90

Anita is pictured here with speaker Lianne Harris (in costume) and Walter Matias (President).

Congratulations Anita!

2024 BUDGET

The 2024 Budget has been posted on the Members Only page for your review. If you have any questions please contact us at durhamwestprobus@gmail.com.

To access the document Click here.

SOCIAL

Please note that there are NO REFUNDS if you sign up for an event and are unable to attend. You may have someone go in your place by getting payment from them and notifying the Convenor of the event of the change, along with the name and phone number of the person replacing you.

If registration for an event is currently at capacity, please feel free to join the waitlist. If someone has already registered but subsequently finds that they can't attend, you can purchase their ticket. In this case, the event convenor will contact the first person on the waitlist. This is done on a personal basis.  Wild Apricot is not involved.

Some of our members are unable to drive but would like to participate in social events.  If you are planning on driving to an event and are willing to share your ride with someone unable to drive, please contact the event convenor and let them know.  Likewise, if you need a ride, contact the event convenor so they can match you up with a driver.

PLEASE NOTE:  Many of our members suffer from allergies. In consideration of those who suffer from an allergy to scents, we ask that you please refrain from wearing perfume or aftershave when attending PROBUS gatherings or events. 

GAMES AFTERNOON

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Are you a “game player” and have a favourite board game?  Do you love a good afternoon of board games?

If so, then you should register for this free event!  Bring your own board game or just bring yourself and join us for a fun afternoon of different games. 

Cost:  No cost for this event

For more details and to register Go to the Event.

METROLINX TOUR

Thursday, May 16, 2024

Are you a rail fan? Are you interested in learning how GO trains are maintained, repaired and/or stored? Well, here is your opportunity to see what goes on at the Whitby Rail Maintenance Facility.

We have been offered an opportunity for 10 members to get a behind-the-scenes look at this facility.

Cost:  No cost for this event

For more details Go to the Event.

2024 ANNUAL PICNIC

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Let's kick off summer with a picnic!

Our annual picnic is being held on Wednesday, June 19th, 2024.

The venue includes a covered picnic pavilion, so the fun will go on rain or shine!

This event is strictly limited to the first 100 registrants.

Cost:  $20.00

For more details and to register Go to the Event.

BARNFUL OF BROADWAY

Tuesday, July 23 2024

To celebrate its 25th season, Westben is presenting the very best of its best Broadway music theatre presentations, with some favourite guest artists.

After the show, you may opt to join us for dinner at the Mill Restaurant and Pub, located at Cobourg Creek golf Club, 990 Ontario Street in Cobourg at your own cost.

Cost:  $59.00 (show only)

For more details and to register Go to the Event

LET'S GO BLUE JAYS!

September 15, 2024

Hello, Blue Jays baseball fans. 

We have secured 50 tickets for Sunday, September 15th at 1:37 p.m. against the St. Louis Cardinals.  

Cost:  $66.00

For more details Go to the Event

PAST EVENTS

Click here for information and pictures of past events

DONATIONS

At our March General Meeting, Sandra Clarke once again thanked the membership for their generous donations of toiletries, which were distributed to the less fortunate during the 2023 Holiday Season.

Sandy appealed to anyone who may have mugs hiding in their cupboards that are no longer being used, to consider donating them to the gift-giving for 2024.

Mugs can be brought to any General Meeting between now and October and given to Sandy Clarke.

For any questions please contact Sandy Clarke at sandyc2640@gmail.com.

ACTIVITY GROUPS

The PROBUS Club provides its members with the opportunity to join a wide variety of Activity groups. If you are interested in joining a group, the activity leaders are looking forward to hearing from you. Each group has a group leader and their contact information is available on the related webpage.

Proposed New
Book Club

We are hoping to start a new book club in the spring and are still looking for a few more members.  If you are interested, please see Laura Lemay at the April General Meeting or email her at lauralemay@sympatico.ca


Proposed New Cribbage Club

A suggestion was made at the March General Meeting to start a cribbage group. 

Are there other members interested in playing this game on a regular basis?  There will be a sign-up sheet at the April meeting or you can email Laura Lemay at  lauralemay@sympatico.ca to let her know you are interested.

Click on Individual Clubs below.  Clubs with updates for this month are identified with  (**)

Food & Drink

Fitness & Fun

Arts/Special Interests

For updates on events for seniors occurring in Ajax such as the Spring Fling Dance and Luncheon on Thursday, April 25, 2024, and MPP Barnes' Seniors Lunch on Friday, May 31, 2024.

Go to Member's Corner

Sharing Our Recipe

Mini Egg Cheesecake (no bake)

This week “The Big Guy” has already eaten a whole Mini Egg Cheesecake. After counting the number of Mini Eggs he has eaten, I should be watching for a fluffy tail and long rabbit ears to be sprouting soon. It was definitely a sweet hit and I’m already thinking of how to make individual cheese cakes that I can just pull out of the freezer for a quick dessert.

Courtesy of Patricia Boulger

Go to Recipes

 

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