RVE CLUB MEETING –Chair Judy Nordquist called meeting to order. We recited “Pledge to the Flag” & sang “God Bless America”. Meeting closed by singing club song.
Accompanist – Cathy Probst
Invocation – Mark Probst – “Be Content”
Secretary – Dana Daves, sub for Virginia Baker
Treasurer – Sandy Olson
If you’d like your blood pressure checked, Nancy Gonnerman is behind the stage (quilt room) on Mondays 8:30-9 a.m. before our morning meeting.
Managers’ Report – None today. . Website for park is riovalleyestates.com,
Board Members -- Properties – George Morgan, Lynn Stamp, Jose Ponce; Finance – Vicki Davis, Janel Baker, Sandy Olson. If you have issues to present, contact any board member. They sit in a group toward the right front of Friendship Hall prior to Monday meeting.
Dana Daves gave Secretary report in absence of Virginia Baker who hasn’t arrived at RVE yet, approved.
Sandy Olson gave Treasurer’s report, accepted.
Lynn Stamp reported for Properties Committee. Please note the 3 Properties committee members shown above have keys to buildings, kitchen, etc. If you are chairing an event, you may sign out a set of keys from them, then sign keys back in when returned after event. Dance chairs & Entertainment chairs have a set for the season.
TY to Patty Lamp & Sharon Sprague who served coffee & donuts today.
Dances are scheduled for 2023 according to chairs Craig & Dana Daves. First dance will be Jan. 2 to celebrate New Year’s Eve. Each month there will be a “special theme” dance that Dana will announce. Schedules are on back wall.
Marylyn Mason & Lucy Johnson, Entertainment chairs, report all Friday night shows are scheduled with no cancellations this season. Marylyn will chair a Christmas Eve Social on Friday, Dec. 23. The Cleckler Elementary School Children’s Choir will perform at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16. We’re asking for $5 at the door/pp. All money will be given to the school.
If you don’t have an RVE name tag, check with Donna Gabbert who makes these, $3 each. We encourage folks to purchase & wear them.
Donna Gabbert puts cards in office area for your signature. If you know of someone needing card due to illness or death in family, call her at 956-968-6684. This week, cards were up for: Jackie Jacobs, gallbladder surgery, in Minnesota; Judy DeKoning, surgery for broken shoulder after a fall.
Donna Gabbert keeps us informed with a blog. Find it at www.donnasramblingsatrve.blogspot.com Her email is bodogabby@aol.com.
Upcoming Events:
Nov. 24 – Thanksgiving Dinner, Noon, Gonnermans chair
Dec. 2 – Park Patio Sale, 8 a.m. to noon
Dec. 6-7-8 – Directory pictures, sign up sheet
Dec. 8 – Chicken Dinner, Kunkels chair, $10 tickets next week
Dec. 10 – Puppy Pics on decorated stage, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Editor Note: Here’s a history lesson about Rio Valley Estates newsletter. In 1971, Rio Valley Estates was opened for occupancy of mobile homes only. I assume the notation across top of this page that reads “Volume 50” means this is YEAR NUMBER 50 a park newsletter has been written. Current editor Mary Lou Benson inherited the job in 1997
(25 years ago) when Tom & I purchased mobile at Lot #67. Owners prior to that were Canadians Ross & Phyllis Caruthers. Phyllis gave me an electric typewriter & said “This goes with the trailer .. I’m the news editor .. it’s your job now!” So that’s how I got “hired” for job as editor 😊 Got this pattern I use from Dale Cleland who some of you may remember?
For residents’ information, code to unlock all doors is 7157. Last one out locks up.
For those interested in a non-denominational church until our church starts having services .. Cowboy Church of the Valley holds Sunday services at Victoria Palms main hall, 8:30 a.m. each week. We understand services in Friendship Hall will begin after the holidays.
Doug Novak reports Executive Golf Course has been sold & property will be used for something else.
No Happy Hour this week due to Thanksgiving set-up.
One of our residents is missing a black jacket? If this is you, contact chair Judy Nordquist.
If you are in need of a Christmas gift, consider looking at the assortment of quilts on display at next Monday meeting, says Maxine Topel. They are offered at a reasonable price & after next week will be given to organizations & folks in need.
Ed at #281 has extra Amaryllis bulbs, want some, come get. These grow well in south Texas!
David Johnson at #93 has done our park directory for many years & we give him a big thank you! He has announced Mark Probst has stepped up to help with this project. If you have any changes to contact info, etc. you may contact Dave by completing a form available at office or from Dave.
Many games have begun. If you see something you like or would like to learn, don’t be afraid to show up. Here are a few notes we’ve picked up about various games.
Interested in Chess? Check with Dan O’Dell, #5.
How about Bridge? See Joyce Brown at #154.
Want to Shuffle? Come join these folks on Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday each week, 9 a.m. If you haven’t done this, Dave Johnson will be happy to show you how.
Cribbage is in card room Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. Needing more players.
Thursday Dealer’s Choice Poker is at 7 p.m. in back room. Bring 25 cents.
Texas Hold-Em is held in poker room, Fridays, 1 p.m. Lynn Stamp chairs. It’s a $10 buy-in & open to all.
Head to Friendship Hall on Saturdays, 7 p.m., for Bingo. Chair is Catherine Gibbs,
Do you have items you wish to sell? Sort through your “valuables” as the Park Patio Sale is Friday, Dec. 2, 8 a.m. to noon.
Mark Probst takes items to Recycling Center Tuesday afternoons. Residents may drop these off at #54. Most plastics, newspapers may be included. For more info on what qualifies. contact Mark.
TY to George Morgan who will pick up your trash bags at end of your driveway if you are unable to take these to the dumpsters yourself. He does this Fridays about 9 a.m.
Sign up sheets for upcoming Thanksgiving Day Dinner are located at back of Friendship Hall according to chair Nancy Gonnerman. Tables will be set up Wed. at 9 a.m. Tables are for parties of 12. Each table group will bring what they wish to share at their table. Someone from the table needs to provide a platter for turkey. Turkeys will be cooked by Gonnermans & committee. Lemonade & water provided. Plastic covers will be placed on the tables. You can put your own table coverings & decorations after 2 p.m. on Wed. If you’d like giblets, these will be available after 2 p.m. Wednesday. Help is needed for clean-up of roasters after the meal.
A Christmas Toy Drive Box will be placed in the office lobby soon. Organized annually by the Weslaco Police Dept., park residents may donate for this drive.
Donna Gabbert reports a Park Pictorial Directory will be done this season. First group will be taken Dec. 6-7-8. Any questions, Donna can be reached at 956-968-6684. There is a sign up sheet so you can choose your own time.
Mark & Linda Kunkel have announced they will chair a Chicken Dinner Dec. 8 in Friendship Hall. Tickets at $10 pp will go on sale next Monday.
Marylyn Mason has scheduled a “Puppy (Cat?) Pics with Santa Claus” that will be open to our residents and those from other parks as well. There is a 25 lb. limit with pictures to be taken on our decorated stage in big hall on Dec. 10, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more info, call her at 816-616-8320.
Marylyn Mason is needing 100 wine bottle corks for a craft project. She is also requesting that 5-6 ladies might volunteer to assist her in various activities while her co-chair Lucy is gone over the holidays. Contact her at #417.
Memory Book is located in card room. If anyone notices a name/obituary is not included of someone we lost this past year, contact John Norris.
Looking Ahead ..
Get ready for the Kentucky Derby Dance Party to be held Thursday, Jan. 19, with Robert & Mary Norby chairing. Tickets will be available after Christmas. There will be food, horse races and much fun .. wear your Derby hats. Steven May will entertain.
Our annual Craft Sale is scheduled Thursday, Feb. 2. We have a new chair, Julie Lawrence. More info will be announced soon.
The past few years a Corn Beef Dinner has been held in March, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. Previous chair Chuck Gonnerman can give you info on this. He declines to chair so we are needing new chairperson. Don’t be afraid to step up, even if you are new. Others will help you.
All activities in Friendship Hall should be cleared with Virginia Baker on Club Secretary’s Calendar. Until she arrives in December, Dana Daves has the Calendar. Judi DeKoning posts monthly activities on back bulletin board.
Editor Mary Lou Benson sends info to news media including Winter Texan Times, Monitor, Winter Texan Connection & Welcome Home, Winter Texan to announce activities that are OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Get written info to editor 3 weeks before event please. PAID ads are sent to media by the chairperson of the activity.
News editor thanks all for written notes for park newsletter. Some items are edited for content & size. Newsletters are available Monday mid-afternoon by back door in card room. Some may be found in office lobby area.
GAME RESULTS: Place scores, winner names, complete info on dates & name of game in the plastic container back of Friendship Hall. Please write legibly.
BEAN BAG –
CANASTA – Table of 3 – (no scores shown)
Nov. 16 – Mardell Blom Nov. 18 – Mardell Blom
CRIBBAGE -
DOMINOES – Mexican Train – Nov. 15 – Mardell Blom, Dick Topel, Patty Lamp, Marge Reishus
DUMMY RUMMY – Nov. 19 –
1st – Paul Sprague 218 2nd – John Norris 225
3rd – Vic Greenlee 226 4th – Mardell Blom 229
GOLF –
PINOCHLE – Single Deck
SHUFFLING –
TEXAS HOLD’EM POKER
TIC – Nov. 16 –
1st – Sharon Sprague 152 2nd – Lynn Stamp 171
3rd – Nancy Argo 176 4th – Al Lenius 178
Smile for the Day
Due to a power outage, the house was very dark .. so the paramedic asked Kathleen, a 3 yr. old girl to hold a flashlight high over her Mommy so he could see while he helped deliver the baby. Little Connor was born. The paramedic lifted him by his feet & spanked him on his bottom. He began to cry.
The paramedic asked the wide-eyed 3 yr. old what she thought about what she had just witnessed. She quickly responded “He shouldn’t have crawled in there in the first place. Spank him again!”
