Jan. 9th

 RVE CLUB MEETING –Chair Judy Nordquist calledmeeting to order. We recited “Pledge to the Flag” & sang “God Bless America”. Meeting closed by singing club song.

Accompanist – Jan Delashmit

Invocation – Irene Quail

Secretary –Virginia Baker .. TY to Dana Daves who filled in as Secretary until Virginia arrived this past week.

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.

Thanks to these donut gals for serving at Monday morning meetings .. Patty Lamp & Phyllis Branstetter; and to George Morgan who brews our coffee If anyone is interested in buying donuts for any particular Monday meeting, see chair Judy Nordquist.

Chairperson Judy said it is a rule that no one is allowed to come to our Monday meetings who is promoting/soliciting a product. However, you may wish to be in back room AFTER our Jan. 23 meeting for a presentation.

An uncomfortable situation was found in men’s bathroom. Do NOT use wastebasket for “you know what”!! Nuf said!

Managers’ Report – Manager Jan O’Dell told us the least favorite thing she does is collecting contact info. However, it is important. If an emergency comes up, they can’t legally go into your unit. Management is requesting everyone complete an emergency contact sheet so they know who to call as resident’s contact person. She distributed forms all are asked to complete & turn into office. Residents are asked to not leave rent checks dated later than March 1 in case there is a lot rent increase. Folks who have indicated they want white poinsettias may pick them up at office. 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.

Virginia Baker gave Secretary report. It was approved.

Sandy Olson gave Treasurer’s report& it was approved.

Properties committee chair Lynn Stamp reported we are still waiting for refrigerator/freezer repairs.

Dances are scheduled for 2023 according to chairs Craig & Dana Daves. Cost is $8 pp. Craig tells us last Monday was one of the best crowds we’ve had. Roger Kenaston is the band tonight, 7 to 9:30 p.m. Schedules are on back wall.

Marylyn Mason, Entertainment chair, thanked those who attended last Friday night program. She said Naomi Bristow from Canada will provide traditional country/gospel music as our program this Friday, Jan. 23, $8 pp. 50-50 draw will be held.

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. Cards up this week: Henry Hryniw in Canada for medical tests; family of former resident Janice Philipp who passed away last week.

Donna Gabbert keeps us informed with a blog. Read her entry dated Jan. 8, it was something we can all relate to. Find her blog at www.donnasramblingsatrve.blogspot.com Her email is bodogabby@aol.com

A board member for Finance & Properties will be elected in March. These are 3 year terms.

Upcoming Events:

Jan. 11 – Park Pizza Party, Mr. Gatti’s, 11:30 a.m.

Jan. 19 – Kentucky Derby Dance Party, $10 pp tickets on sale, doors open at 5 p.m.

Jan. 24 – “Painting With Pals”, 1:30 p.m. see sign up sheet

Feb. 2 – Craft Sale, 8-noon

Feb. 9 – Italian Dinner, $10 pp, Lasagna is on the menu!

Feb. 14 – Bus Trip to Space X Rocket Ranch, $50 pp

Feb. 22 – 2nd Bus Trip to Space X, see sign up sheet

March 9 – Women’s Salad Luncheon, Judy Shively chairs

We welcome Steve St. Clair as pastor for 9 a.m. Sunday church services beginning Jan. 8 until end of season.

Newsletters are available mid-afternoon on Mondays by back door in card room. A few may be found in office area.

David Johnson at #93 has done our park directory for many years. Mark Probst has stepped up to help with this project. If you have any changes to contact info, etc. you may contact Mark by completing a form available at office.

Have you missed Saturday Morning Breakfasts in Friendship Hall? Sandy Olson announces our RVE Club Board will be preparing breakfast for you soon .. dates to be announced next week. This will be offered with a change in time to 8-10 a.m.

It was mentioned “possibly?” the Iowa group would do this as well .. think so?

Would you be interested in helping residents with Federal taxes? You can volunteer; they will train you. Sharon Sprague & Judy Nordquist can give you more info on this. This is through AARP.

Maxine Topel read a thank you from “Emily’s Meals” for items we’ve donated? This little girl began her project when she was 6 years old & has been doing it for several years. Isn’t it nice to know work done & donated by our park is appreciated? Did you know it takes 800 plastic bags for the mats we’ve been making?

Mark Probst takes items to Recycling Center Tuesday afternoons. Residents may drop these off at #54 or #55. Most plastics, newspapers may be included. Mark asks all to break down cardboard boxes before putting into truck.

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. No one has taken advantage of this yet. George does this Fridays about 9 a.m.

Social Hour has been moved to card room hall as often large hall is busy setting up for other activities. Pool tables are covered to protect them. Gordon Amos most often sets up for Social Hour & will write up what the chair does .. so possibly others will help with these duties. See Gordon or our chair Judy if you would chair.

Donna Gabbert thanks all who got their pictures taken for the 2022-23 pictorial album. The rest of the photos are being scheduled for Jan. 17, 18 & 19. It’s free to have your picture taken & put in album. You may purchase a CD with your photos for $20. You can take the CD anywhere you choose & get pictures made. The photo album is $20. Be sure to bring money at the time of the sitting. Directories should be available April 1.

Dean Ricke who organizes our twice a month Park Pizza Party announced Jan. 11 is the next party. He has east room reserved at Mr. Gatti’s. Plan to eat at 11:30 a.m. & wear your name tags.

Mary Norby reminds all of the Kentucky Derby Dance Party on Thursday, Jan. 19. Pictures will be taken in a photo booth by John Norris beginning at 5 p.m.. Ken Barnhart is emcee. Del Hickey will be bugler. Tickets at $10 pp will still be available next Monday. If tables are not sold to RVE residents, sales will open up to out of park folks. Kathy Cochran is handling ticket sales. Committee is selling tickets by entire table of 8. Please have one person in charge of each table with the $80 in hand. Individual tickets may be purchased & will be located at a table where you can meet new friends. There will be food, mint juleps, horse races, much fun. Table service is provided. BYOB. Steven May will entertain. Decorate your table if you wish but no prizes for best table. There will be prizes for best Derby hats. The horse races at $5 each have all been sold! There will be prizes for a Parade of Hats. Itinerary of activities at Derby Night is posted on back bulletin board.

“Painting with Pals” has been planned by Vickie Carlson, Lot 74, on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 1:30 p.m. Artist is Amy Baldridge with cost at $20 pp due at the time of class. Cost includes all supplies & mat. This will be held in the card room. You may sign up in the back of big hall. Bring your own wine & glass if you want to paint-n-sip. *Volunteers are needed to bringcheese & crackers.

Our annual Craft Sale is scheduled Thursday, Feb. 2. We have a new chair, Julie Lawrence. More info will be announced soon. Will you be looking for pies for noon lunch, Julie?

Happy to announce Feb. 9 we can again enjoy Lasagna at the Italian Dinner. Judi DeKoning will have more on this later.

Bill Jones has set up a Rocket Ranch Space X Bus Trip on Tuesday, Feb. 14. Since first bus is FULL, a second trip is being offered on Feb. 22, with 15-20 seats available. Busses will pick up residents at 6:30 a.m.The bus will pick us up here at RVE, return us … $50 pp. They will stop for “pay for your own lunch”.

Judy Shively is chairing this year’s Women’s Salad Luncheon on Thursday, March 9. Cost is $1 pp plus a salad.

Looking ahead .. a Midwest Reunion of RVE folks will be held in Galena, Illinois with Aug. 3-7 set as tentative dates. Steve St.Clair says this is being hosted by some of the same folks who planned the Cobden Peach Festival last summer. Wineries, many tours, reasonable prices of places to stay are available in Galena. Kathy Cochran has promised to transport some of those delicious Illinois peaches to Galena for our enjoyment. More on this later. If you attended the fun time in Cobden last summer, you know it was so much fun!!

All activities in Friendship Hall should be cleared with Virginia Baker on Club Secretary’s Calendar.

Judi DeKoning posts monthly activities on back bulletin board.

Editor 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.

Editor thanks all for written notes for 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.