Jan.7th

RVE CLUB MEETING – Chair John Geer called meeting to order. We recited “Pledge to the Flag” & sang “God Bless America”. Meeting closed by singing club song, ”We Love Our Valley Home”.

Accompanist – Jan Delashmit

Invocation – Mark Probst – “Precious Lord Take My Hand”

Secretary Report – Maxine Topel

Treasurer Report – Sandy Novak

MANAGEMENT REPORT: Manager Craig Daves talked about recent break-ins reminding us to lock our homes. Rear gate that was damaged will be replaced with a stronger one. Golf cart was recovered. A ring & key have been found, if yours, check at office. Two metal plates are being placed across entrance to front of office & in golf cart parking area to prevent falls. Needing stamps? Office has 1st class stamps. R.J.Brodal at #275 mentioned possibility of residents patroling during the night. He volunteered to chair this. Website for park is riovalleyestates.com

Treasurer Sandy Novak's gave her report. It was approved.

Properties chair Ron Zoeller reported committee is looking into cleaning of chairs, may replace instead. He said residents should wash and drain dishes, not leave in kitchen sink. Heater in card room will be repaired today. If you have recycling items, he's going Tuesday (tomorrow) this week. Committee is researching blinds for kitchen; and rope light replacement in Friendship Hall, evaluating per Brock's ideas. Board Members -- Properties – Ron Zoeller, Mike Reiff, Larry Pavlis; Finance – Sandy Novak, Gordon Amos, Jim Moeller.

Brock Laing said 120 attended entertainment Friday night. Come enjoy The Punches Family Jan. 11, $6 pp. This is a good family show with Mom, Dad, 2 daughters performing. Brock is “soliciting”, editor thinks! He advertised D-9 as being for sale, you may pay in Canadian dollars!

Come for potluck 5 p.m. prior to Friday entertainment with Mary Nelson & Red Tyler chairing. Good crowd last week!

What a turnout for Sunday afternoon ice cream yesterday. Laings & their committee invite all to come next Sunday!

Monday Night Dances begin tonight with Country Roland Jr., $6 pp .. 7-9:30 p.m. Craig & Dana Daves chair. Residents should stay away from hall noon to 3 p.m. for crew to set up  floor cleaning. If you don't know, dances are BYOB.

Free Thursday night movies will begin January 17.

Helen Curtis asks you to call 603-674-3869, when you know of someone needing card due to illness/death in family. Sam is filling in this week &; next. Cards to sign are in office area. If you call Helen, leave message & name. She will return calls if she knows who called. Cards this week up for Ken Barnhart, hospitalization, now home; Tom Cassidy, encouragement; Ed Marcukaitis, pacemarker implanted. Stacey Johnson was at ER last night, now a patient; Catherine Donovan in hospital. Cards will be put up for both. Former resident Marilyn Babbitt (#104) is at retirement home with health issues. If you wish to send card, her address is Brookdale Retirement Center, 2562 Pierce St., Sioux City, IA 51104.

Donna Gabbert keeps us informed with a blog. Find it at www.donnasramblingsatrve.blogspot.com ..

Club website by Judi DeKoning is RVEWTC.com .. for “members only”, the password is riovalley.



Upcoming Events:

Jan. 7 – Dance to Country Roland, 7-9:30 p.m.

Jan. 9 – Park Pizza Party, Peter Piper Pizza, 11:30 a.m.

Jan. 11 – Flea Market, 8 a.m. - noon .. pies needed

Jan. 16 – Ladies Salad Luncheon, noon

Jan. 18 – Wellness Screening, Blood Draw, 6:30 a.m.

Jan. 24 – Sock Hop, doors open 5:15, kitchen opens 5:30 p.m.

Feb. 7 – Craft Sale, 8 a.m. to noon .. pies needed

Feb. 13 – Cancer Tea, Dianna Bruce chairs – time?

Feb. 18 – Farewell for Brock & Adrienne Laing, 3 p.m.

Feb. 21 – Old West Party, more info on this later



Editor says “THANK YOU” to Donna Gabbert who

stepped up to do newsletters before Bensons arrived....

and to Judi DeKoning for her help!!

That's the great thing about Rio Valley Estates. If you need a helping hand whether it be to help on a committee, serve on the board, whatever, you can count on folks here to help.

Don't be afraid to volunteer!

TY to Phyllis Branstetter/George Morgan who agreed to serve the donuts/coffee on Mondays. Anyone wishing to donate donuts should let chair John Geer know.

Chair John Geer asked who were the volunteers who said they would review park rules. Talk to John if it's YOU. John read rules that stated “no solicitation” at club meetings, only concerning health & wellness. He will be looking into someone who wants to talk about hearing aids, will let us know about this next Monday meeting.

A question from Betty Brodal #275 if they could bring brochure on health/wellness to flea market. They may check with chair Lucy Johnson at #93.

Dave Johnson #93 has park directories, $1.50 each.

Activity Calendars available per Judi DeKoning. If supply is depleted, office will print one for you. Give any changes to Judi.

Notify editor (written notes appreciated) Mary Lou Benson, Lot #103, 956-532-9665, of items you wish to be printed in weekly newsletter. Also appreciate being notified of changes in chairman, times of activities, etc.

Judy Shively asked how many are interested in playing Hand & Foot as she was wondering if this could be scheduled on Tuesday or Thursday afternoons. No interest so remains on Wed. evenings. Needing players!

Park Breakfast is at Fiesta Tex-Mex Thursdays, 8 a.m.

Wednesday Social Hours continue .. all invited to join in. Bring snacks & choice of beverage.

No Bean Bags this afternoon, but this begins Wed.

Would you be willing to give invocation at a Monday meeting? If so, contact Chair John Geer.

Dean Ricke invites residents to the Park Pizza Party which is Wed., Jan. 9, 11:30 a.m. at Peter Piper Pizza. Wear your name tags, receive free pop & ice cream. If you need a Peter Piper mug, see Dean at #72. Rickes & Goodwins chair.

Flea Market will be held 8-noon on Friday, Jan. 11. See Lucy Johnson at #93 if you wish a table .. sign up to bring a pie. You may set up your table on Thursday between 4 & 6 p.m. Be sure to cover your tables.

Ladies Salad Luncheon is scheduled Wed., Jan. 16, with “The 3 J's” .. Janean Geer, Judy Greenlee, Judy Shivley .. chairing. It begins at noon & all should bring a salad. Theme is Snow White & 7 Dwarfs. See sign up sheet on back board in Friendship Hall.

Rio Grande Wellness Blood Draws will be 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 18. Pay with cash or check, no debit/credit cards. You must fast for 12 hours prior to testing.

Tickets at $6 pp (table of 8/$48) are going fast for the 9th annual Sock Hop! It is scheduled for Jan. 24. Get tickets at Barnhart's Lot #276, Ken's office or Monday meetings. Ken's “sister from another mother” Kathy Cochran filled in this morning in Ken's absence. Doors open 5 p.m. & not sooner, kitchen opens 5:30. Hot dogs will be sold 25 cents each, 10 cent sodas & chips. Bring small change, no large bills, for your purchases. Decorate your table, win a prize. Decorate tables beginning at noon on Thursday. Games & great entertainment by Fred Goldsberry.

Craft Sale Chair Mary Norby says only 4 tables remain for the Feb. 7 sale. Let her know if you want one, must be homemade items. She's at Lot #179, her phone # is 952-237-9717. There will be a sign up sheet for pie donations.

Beginning today you may purchase tickets for the Cancer Tea to be held ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​February 13. This year's theme is “Lots of Love”. Chair is Dianna Bruce. Editor didn't catch time & cost of tea.

According to Joyce Amos, a “farewell party” will be held for Brock & Adrienne Laing on Feb. 17, 3 p.m. in Friendship Hall. Everyone is urged to attend as we will surely miss this couple next season!

Thanks to Marylyn Mason & Lucy Johnson who have agreed to serve as Friday Entertainment chairs next season. They'll be attending showcases with Laings soon.

Pat Printy announced she will chair ROPA Style Show with date of March 14, 1 p.m. If you have anything you would like to model from ROPA, thrift store, Good Will, wherever, see sign up sheets.

Welcome chair is Sharon Sprague. She delivers a basket to new folks in our park.



Some quotes from MAXINE cartoons:

On Lawn Care .. “The key to a nice looking lawn is a good mower. I recommend one who is muscular & shirtless.”

On Technology .. “My idea of rebooting is kicking somebody in the butt twice.”

On Aging .. “Take each birthday with a grain of salt. This works much better if the salt accompanies a Margarita.”

“Do you realize that in about 40 years, we'll have millions of old ladies running around with tattoos & pierced navels?”

(Not that's scary!)

“After a certain age, if you don't wake up aching somewhere .. You may be dead.”



GAME RESULTS - Place scores, winner names, complete info on dates & name of game in plastic container back of Friendship Hall. WRITE LEGIBLY!

BOWLING – Jan. 4 – Pins 'n' Cues

Women's High Game/Series – Venita Lingle 130/381

BRIDGE – Jan. 1 - 1st – Dick Gibson 4,690

2nd – Sue Shaffer 4,040

Jan. 3 - 1st – Dolores Mason 2,480

2nd – Catherine Donovan 2,280

Jan. 5 – 1st – Catherine Donovan 3,210

2nd – Maud Fisher 2,610

CANASTA – Table of 4 –

Dec. 31 – Janean Geer, Mary Jean Steward 30,725

Jan. 2 – Nancy Argo, Fran Hryniw Score?

Jan. 4- Jean Stamp, Patty Lamp 24,525

Table of 6 – Jan. 2 -

Marge Rexroad, Jewel Kruckman, Grace Thornton 38,515

CRIBBAGE – Jan. 2 -

1st – Verna Fischer 702 2nd – Jewel Kruckman 697

3rd (tie) – Grace Thornton & Dean Ricke 678

DOMINOS – Mexican Train – Jan. 1 – Dick Topel, Ken Borah, Virginia Baker, Dan Bryant, Catherine Donovan, Ron Baker

Jan. 6 – Mary Lou Sirovy, Janel Baker, Allen Swanson, Patty Lamp, Virginia Baker, Mary Lou Benson, Ann Johnson, Diane Branstetter, Adrienne Laing

DUMMY RUMMY – Jan. 6 -

1st – Venita Lingle 211 2nd– Arwin VanWyk 218

3rd – Tom Benson 220 4th – Jim Goodwin 226

EUCHRE –

GOLF – Jan. 4 – Executive Course

Men's Low – Henry Hryniw 30

Tie for 2nd – Virgil White, Jim Moeller 37

PINOCHLE – Single Deck – Jan. 5 -

1st – Ed Hover 452 2nd – Margaret Davis 396

TEXAS HOLD'EM POKER – Dec. 31 -

1st – David Clement 2nd – Arwin VanWyk

Jan. 5 - 1st – David Clement

2nd – June Clement 3rd – Lynn Stamp

TIC – Jan. 2 -

1st – Ron Zoeller 134 2nd – Paul Sprague 146

3rd – Nancy Argo 148 4th – Patty Lamp 168



How can you tell if you're in TX .. or CLOSE?!!

Menard's withdrawal !!

No more Braum's ice cream, now it's DQ, the TX stop sign ...

No more Buc-ees, you passed Slovacheks already ..

Fireworks stand at EVERY corner, Sonic every other corner ..

Cerveza & Tequila .. Duty-free & Progreso, Mexico ..

Oil wells, wind generators .. ROPA & Don-Wes ..

What-A-Burger, H.E.B. and Valero gas ..

Lots of BBQ .. Potlucks, Patio & Craft Sales, Happy Hours ..

SPI, Sand Castles and Turtle Rescues ..

TIC, Dummy Rummy, Dominoes, Pinochle, TX Hold-um, Entertainments, Dances, Mariachi .. you name it !!

BEST OF ALL YOU FIND FOLKS WHO KNOW HOW TO BE RETIRED, WHO HUG & GREET YOU WARMLY .. ESPECIALLY AT RVE .. THEY ARE LIKE FAMILY!

We are GLAD to be HOME !!


HAPPY NEW YEAR !!
Wishing you all:
12 Months of Happiness,
52 Weeks of Fun,
365 Days of Good Health,
8,760 Hours of LOVE,
525,600 Minutes of Blessings &
3,153,000 Seconds of Joy.