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Parksville newcomer's alumni

 

May, 2008

 

Next Meeting:

Thursday, May 15, 2008, in the hall of St. Columba Church, Wembley Road starting at 7.00 p.m. This is the annual general meeting of the Parksville Newcomers Alumni, and your chance to express an opinion that counts for the membership on next year’s executive. The nominating committee will present a slate of officers, but we still need a secretary and, of course, further nominations for all positions will be accepted from the floor. Harry Costerton will conduct the election portion of the meeting.

At least nine generous members have agreed to share their interests and talents with the rest of us at the May meeting. The last portion of the evening will be a “Show and Tell” with a variety of arts and crafts on display for your perusal and discussion. It would be great to see a good turn-out for this important and interesting evening. 

Membership:

President Doug spoke to the Newcomers Club at their April meeting, giving twenty-nine “graduating” members an overview of Alumni activities, and issuing an invitation to join us in the fall. Graduating members were also invited to attend our AGM on May 15, the June 19 Picnic, and they will receive the April, May, and June Newsletters. Also, just a reminder to everyone, that there is an Alumni Page on the Parksville Newcomers website where, amongst other information, this newsletter and activities schedules are published.

 

 Current members please don’t forget to sign the waiver sheet for taking part in Alumni activities if you have not already done so.

 

Name tags: If you have ordered a name tag, but have not yet picked it up, it is available from Ada Stemler at the membership table for $2.00, or $3.00 if you ordered a magnetized tag.

 

Summary of Projected Alumni Expenses 2008-2009:

Hall rental – 8 months @ $80.00 =                            $640.00

Coffee, cookies and supplies – 8 meetings @ $12.00 =   96.00

Picnic –  Food -                          $300.00

             Table and chair rental - $250.00 =                 550.00

Christmas Party Subsidy =                                           250.00

Speakers – 4 @ $25.00 =                                            100.00

Mini Golf prizes =                                                                 100.00

Miscellaneous =                                                             50.00

Monthly Bank fees – 12 @ $3.95 =                                 47.80

Total projected annual expenses =                           $1833.40

 

BIG ANNUAL ACTIVITIES:

June Picnic:

 

 Rain or shine, the annual June Barbecue Picnic will be held in Foster Park on

 June 19 from 4:00 -7:00 PM. “Graduating” Newcomer members have been

 invited to share the picnic fun with us. It would be helpful if all attendees

 would wear their name tags. Food will be served about 5:00. Hamburgers,

 hotdogs (don’t expect steak!), and coffee will be provided at no cost, but

 members are asked to bring either a salad or a dessert, and your own plates

 and cutlery. If you wish to be environmentally friendly, please bring your

 own cup or mug for beverages.

 Dorothy Engelbrecht has volunteered to organize a few games. Contact her if you have some ideas in that regard. Doug Courtice will be happy to hear from anyone who is willing to lend a barbecue, or to help with cooking, clean-up, etc.

Please sign the sign- up sheet at the meeting, or contact Steph Szymczak (cy.szymczak@shaw.ca  248-0110), or Barb Montgomery (desbar@shaw.ca  947-9235) if you plan to attend the picnic, so that appropriate plans can be made. There were about 90 people at the picnic last year, and everyone was well fed and had a good time.

    2008 Christmas Party:

Members who attended the February meeting voted to book the restaurant at the new Clubhouse at the Qualicum Golf Course for the Christmas Party on Thursday, December 4th, 2008. The party will be for Alumni members and their guests, with a limit of 140 participants. The meal will be buffet style, with a choice of one meat (turkey etc), potato, veggie, dessert, fresh fruit, coffee or tea. The total cost per participant for the meal, and the room rental for four hours will be approximately $25.00. The attending members also voted not to have dancing, but other entertainment ideas are being considered.  The Food-Bank donation was a popular suggestion with the members.

 

REGULAR (AND IRREGULAR) ACTIVITIES:

Sign-up sheets for next season’s activities will be available at the picnic.  Activities leaders for next season are being approached. If there is an activity that you would be interested in coordinating, Barb Montgomery would be happy to hear from you. Contact Barb at 947-9235 or desbar@ shaw.ca

 

Parksville Alumni Mini Golf Tournament: After the success and popularity of last year’s mini-golf tournament, Linda and Dennis Carter have had their arms twisted to organize another tournament for this spring.  Linda and Dennis send the following details:

When?   May 20, 2008

Where?   Paradise Adventure Mini Golf

Course?  18 holes, either course

How much?   $5 per person

Fees must be paid by May 13 -  either at April Alumni meeting or at a later date to Carole Carter.

Time?   Golfing starts at 1:30 so please be there by 1:15 to get together with your team.

Fabulous prizes courtesy of Parksville Alumni. 

Coffee and prizes presentations after golf at Carter's at 608 Ermineskin Ave., Parksville.

Questions or to sign up if not able to attend meeting, call Carole at 954-1394.  We always have fun at these golf tourneys so hope we get a good crowd.  Also, we always pray for a sunny day!

*******NOTE*************

We need the men's and ladies' trophies from last year returned to Carole, preferably before the golf tournament.  These are trophies highly prized by the winners!!

 

Bowling Tournament:

Gillian and Jim Walker of the Parksville Newcomers organized a successful “everyone welcome” tournament on Tuesday, April 22, followed by good food at Cabernets to wind up the bowling season. Thanks Gillian and Jim. There wasn’t a lot of improvement in scores this year, but there was lots of fun!

 

Alumni Men’s Golf

Contact Harry Costerton (954-0709) if you are not signed up, but would like to play.

 

Alumni Dinner Group

The last formal dinner will be May 25. The windup, Appie, Dessert, and Wine night will be June 22 at Paricia Folting’s home. More details from Patricia to follow.

 

Invitations from Parksville Newcomers:

Christine Silliers, Activity Coordinator of the Parksville Newcomers (phone and email below the information) has invited us to join the Newcomers in the following two activities:

 

JUNE

 Historical/geographical tour of coal mining in Nanaimo

 JUNE 06, 2008   FRIDAY  12:15PM TO 4:30PM

 Tour conducted by David Maas  -----  David has conducted previous bus tours with our group.  They have been fun and informative.  Let’s find out

 why the pioneers came to this rocky island. 

COST:  $15.00 per person--this includes all gratuities

 DEPARTS: Wembley Mall, Remax end at 12:30 Sharp!! (Be at mall 12:15pm)

  Christine NEEDS A COMMITMENT AND PAYMENT BY MAY 13.  If you are unable to pay by then please contact Christine

 

JULY

 TALL SHIPS --- PORT ALBERNI

 JULY 11, 2008, FRIDAY   BUS TRIP     9:45AM  to  3PM

 The bus will be able to park close to the ships.  Less walking, no parking hassles.

We will have three hours to explore the ships and enjoy the entertainment programs and other venues.  Friday at noon is when the Mars Water Bombers (depending on availability) fly past to welcome the Tall Ships. We saw this spectacle two years ago from the side rail of the sailing ship the "Bounty".

 COST: $25.00 PER PERSON (INCLUDES THE $10.00 admission and 

                                                             gratuities) based on 40 people

 DEPARTS:  Wembley Mall, Remax 10am Sharp. Be at mall 9:45am

 Bring your summer guests.   Leave the driving to us.

 Sign up immediately. Pay by June 5. Christine has to know how many people are committed to this tour ASAP.

PHONE CHRISTINE TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR PAYMENTS FOR THESE TOURS

 Thank you for participating

 

CHRISTINE SILLERS

 SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR 951-0578

EMAIL:     newcomersevents@yahoo.ca

 

ODDS and ENDS

FYI:

Postage Stamp collection:

Just a reminder that Doreen Moore is still collecting any and all postage stamps, and appreciates your bringing them to her. Please be sure to leave a half inch border all around the stamps

 

Barb Montgomery has sent this information about things to see and do around Port Alberni:

 

Port Alberni is just 1/2 hour drive away from Parksville.  Within that short distance visitors are treated to views of farms, beautiful Cameron Lake and the world famous Catherdral Grove.   From there the now improved highway takes them over the "hump" to Pt. Alberni, a pretty place nestled in the valley along the Alberni Canal

 

When I was a child, it was a long journey from our cabin at Harrison's Resort, on the beach at Parksville.  As our car cleared the highest part of the pass and descended toward town, the summer heat combined with the overwhelming smell of the pulp mill was nauseating.  Why my Mom and Dad chose to drag us kids to that place, I have no idea.   It seemed to be a yearly trek but probably wasn't that often. 

 

Today, the air is clear and sweet smelling and the views are breathtaking.  Summer and fall are full of activities like the Loggers Fest, the Salmon Festival and Oktoberfest.  The Tall Ships are coming and, of course, there is the Log Train Ride to the McLean Mill.  The new water bomber museum at Sproat Lake is open to the public but not every day.  From here, you get good views of the huge Martin Mars Water Bombers and are guided through their history.   There is a lovely walk along one of old rail trails just out of town.   For a list of events, Google "Port Alberni Events".

 

I hope you enjoy your visit. 

Barb Montgomery

 

In memoriam: Several of the membership knew Valerie Thomas, and John Stark.  We send our sympathy to their families.

 

Future meetings:

 

May 15:

Parksville Newcomers Alumni AGM and Members’ Crafts Show and Tell:

 

It’s time for those people who have been generous enough to agree to share their talents with the rest of us to get organized! We are looking forward to seeing your projects.  If you have not had a chance to sign up for this session, but would like to be a part of it, it’s not too late. The more the merrier.  Members will bring examples of their art or craft which will be displayed on tables.  Each member will stand with his/her work and answer questions other members may put to him/her. Please contact Barb Montgomery for information.

June 19: Summer picnic (Information at the beginning of this letter)

 

September 18: First meeting of the new season

 

Explanation re absence of Mars Water Bomber presentation this past year:

 Through the year, Barb Montgomery has been trying to arrange a talk by someone from the Martin Mars Water Bombers.  They were purchased by the Coulson family in 2007 and, since then, the owners have been extremely busy. 

 

Last year the owners and bombers were down in California for most of the fall fighting the raging fires we all heard about.   Since then, they have been travelling and marketing the aircraft's services all over North America from Atlantic City to Reno to Florida

 

If contract negotiations pan out, the water bombers could be fighting fires in three different countries and two hemispheres this year.  The plans now call for the water bombers to be on contract to the province from May 15 to August 15, then to fly to San Diego, California for September and October before heading to Australia from mid-December to mid-March.

On Tuesday, April l5, 2008, an article with the above information appeared in the Victoria Times Colonist along with a photo of owner, Wayne Coulson.   

 

As she had mentioned the water bombers and the possibility of having someone come to speak at one of our meetings, she did want to apologize and to explain why that did not happen.   

 

Editor’s Note:

Once –in-awhile we have trouble keeping track of people’s addresses. If you have moved, or have a new email address, please let us know, so that you can continue to get this very informative and valuable newsletter!  If you know of any member who is not getting the newsletter, but would like to have it, please ask him/her to contact us, and we will rectify the situation.

If you have information that you would like printed in the next newsletter  (probably in September) please contact me by e-mail: wridl@shaw.ca, or by phone 248-9232.  See you at the next meeting.     Leslie Wrightson