March 2nd

This beautiful cat had kittens in Del and Bonnie Hickey's flower bed. They were put in a box and Mother and babies are doing fine. The Human Society is coming for them, wish I could keep them...Yes, I know 1 pet per household...dang! She is so friendly , I bet they get adopted.

Here's the babies all in a pile!

We sold tickets for the Soup Dinner coming up on the 19th and also Lucy was selling the phone books, and Sharon selling potato bar tickets

the newsletter

RVE CLUB MEETING – Judy Nordquist, chair, called meeting to order. Began meeting with Pledge of Allegiance, singing of “God Bless America” & closed with club song.

Accompanist – Jan Delashmit

Invocation – Charilyn Hover - “Mother's Apron” & prayer

Secretary Report – Sharon Sprague

Treasurer Report – John Geer

MANAGEMENT REPORT – None today. Website for Rio Valley Estates is riovalleyestates.com

Club website by Judi DeKoning is RVEWTC.com .. for “members only”, the password is riovalley. We voted to pay to continue this website for a year.

You can read Donna Gabbert's blog year-round too at www.donnasramblingsatrve.blogspot.com She does a great job of keeping us posted, especially when we head north at the end of the season.

Properties report was by Ron Zoeller. who said “due to the SLOW movement of things in The Valley”, board is waiting for quotes on counter top. One they received was not priced with separation of items. Mission Supply is redoing quote. We discussed the park sign that's been suggested. Final sign placement would be up to park owners. Ron is checking into cost of a scrolling sign much like Walgreen's has. Board notes there appeared to be mouse (maybe friendly gecko) droppings by stage, is looking into that. Board members: Properties – Clyde Read, Dave Cochran, Ron Zoeller; Finance – John Geer, Charlotte Therrien, Marge Rexroad.

Election of Officers was held this morning with Jerry McIninch to serve on Properties and Daryl Henningsen to serve on Finance for 3 yr. terms to begin October 1. Thanks to the residents who agreed to have names placed on the ballot.

All are invited to Monday dances. Last week 51 attended. Tonight Diego plays. He was voted winner in Valley awards this season as “best small band” Chair Ron Talbert says all should come to dance from 7-9:30 p.m. Cost $5 pp. Next week will be final dance of season. Free popcorn. Setups available.

Donna Perkins does greeting cards until end of April. Sign these in office area. Her phone number is 817-371-9730. If you know of someone needing a card due to illness or death of family member, contact her. Cards this week went to: Paul/Sharon Sprague, death of his mother; family of Rob Richgruber upon his death; and Jan Philipp family following Gary's death.

Last week we enjoyed John Sager. Attend this Friday for our final entertainment show of the season....Leslie Blassing. She resides on South Padre Island, was voted Entertainer of the Year in The Valley! This is a show you don't want to miss. Cost is $6. Come for 5 p.m. potluck. Bring dish to share & table service. Brock announced he's booked Goldwing Express as 1^st show next season.

The Club voted to give $200 to Adrienne & Brock Laing to help cover expenses incurred for booking such wonderful shows each Friday night. It takes some gas to review these entertainers and we thank the Laings!!

“Color of Rain” is the FREE Thursday night movie, 7 p.m. Wondering, Brock, any chance we could watch video of Nancy Stokwisz's leap from airplane instead of Bugs Bunny cartoon prior to the main feature?!! :-) Ask her!!

Thanks to Ross & Kathy McAuley & their crew who served some great Saturday breakfasts in February. Thanks to Therriens & Bobby Gabbert and committee who will serve biscuits, gravy & scrambled eggs for month of March.

Upcoming Events:

March 3 – Rio Valley Drive Street Luncheon, noon, Friendship Hall

March 5 – Illinois Lunch, Harold's Supper Club, Donna, 11:30 a.m.

March 6 – Park Patio Sale, 8 a.m. - Noon

March 7 – Gary Philipp Celebration of Life, Friendship Hall, 1 p.m.

March 7 & 8 – Open House of mobiles for sale in park

March 10 – Baked Potato Bar, 5 p.m. $5 pp tickets

March 12 – ROPA Style Show, 1 p.m. $1 to be paid at the door

March 19 – Soup of the Day, 5 p.m. $3 pp tickets

Celebration of Life for Gary Philipp will be held in Friendship Hall next Saturday, 1 p.m. All who knew this neat guy are encouraged to come. Gary & Jan's daughters Kelly & Kari will be present with spouses & the Philipp's 5 grandsons, plus other family members. Conducting the service is Tom Cassidy. Refreshments will be served following the service. Thanks to Pat Printy for organizing kitchen volunteers. Family requests please no flowers. For more info, contact Sue Barnhart at #276 or Mary Lou Benson at #103.

Our sympathy & prayers go out to Catherine Donovan on the loss of Mac this past week. We lost another friend.

If you have items or announcements you wish printed in the weekly newsletter, give these IN WRITING to editor at #103 or at Monday meeting. Thanks.

Dave Johnson, #93, & Sharon Sprague, #244, have park directories for sale, $1.50 each. Write any changes on sheet in back of Friendship Hall. No changes this week.

Judi DeKoning has placed a tentative schedule of next year's activities/events on board in Friendship Hall. Residents can note any changes that need to be made.

Barnharts have volunteered to chair Easter Dinner on April 5th. It'll be ham with potluck from the rest of you.

Please note there is a sign up sheet in Friendship Hall for those who will be celebrating special Anniversaries next season (March 1, 2015 to March 1, 2016).

Thanks to Marilyn Loutzenhiser who served Sunday afternoon ice cream in February. Since she's headed to Missouri this week, we need someone to serve in March. Volunteer? Let Marilyn or club chair Judy know.

All are invited to Thursday breakfasts, 8:00 a.m. at Fiesta Tex-Mex (this is weekly get-together).

Don't forget Happy Hour at Friendship Hall every Wednesday afternoon at 4 o'clock. Bring snacks to share plus your choice of beverage.

Rio Valley Drive residents are invited to a street luncheon on Tuesday, March 3, at 12 noon. Pork loin & drinks will be furnished by Rita & Daryl Henningsen. Please bring a covered dish to pass and your table service to dine at Friendship Hall.

There will be Illinois Luncheon on Thursday, March 5, at Harold's Supper Club, 11:30 a.m. This is located on Bus. 83 in Donna. $9.95 buffet. There is sign up sheet in back of hall as they need to verify numbers. ?? contact Ron Zoeller/Donna Granath at #153.

Do you have items you wish to sell at the Patio Sale? We'll have our spring sale at the park on March 6. Get to sorting your valuable items!

Baked Potato Bar tickets on sale, $5 ea. Dinner is March 10, 5 p.m. Will limit ticket sales to 200 persons.

Ladies .. attend or participate in the ROPA Style Show on March 12, 1 p.m. Since chair Judy Shively had to leave suddenly, Pat Printy #219 &Arlene Fisher #H-1 have stepped up to take this over. There is a model sign up sheet on board. If you wish to help, let one of these gals know. $1 will be paid at the door. Model ANY item, not just ROPA. It could be from garage or yard sale, anything you purchased “cheap”.

A committee is planning a Soup of the Day event, $3 pp gets you sample of 10 different kinds of soup! Dinner is March 19, 5 p.m. Final day to purchase your ticket is next Monday, March 16. No tickets will be sold at the door. Organizing the dinner are Bobby & Donna Gabbert.

Is anyone interested in information concerning “robotic surgery”? If so, Nancy Argo would line up someone to talk about this.

A barbecue grill will be built over the summer with Ken Barnhart currently working on plans. This will hold all the steaks, chicken, chops, ribs, brisket, whatever you could ever want to grill! More on this later.

How about summer activities up north? Editor will print dates on these if she receives info on it ..

Iowa Potluck is in Story City at noon on July 8, Janean Berhow/John Geer chairing.

The annual Clermont (Iowa) Campout is set for August 2-9. For info you can contact Bensons who host that.

NOTICE.. Newsletter editor will be gone part of March, so there will be NO NEWSLETTER March 16. Thanks to Judi DeKoning who has agreed to take over the duties for March 23 edition. If someone else would “like” to do newsletter on the 16^th, let editor know at #103! As always, thanks to Cheryl Costley who delivers copy to the printer each Monday.