I have been asked to re-cap my message I shared at our general meeting last month. We’ve had a drop in our membership over the last couple of years due to Covid, people moving away, change of priorities and also the fear of socializing again. Remember when we used to have a waiting list? In order to recruit more members, we’ve taken on a multi-pronged strategy which includes: a new brochure, posting meetings on social media and links to several senior’s websites and much more. We also publicized that we no longer have a wait-list. As to the budget, we felt that our members preferred our current location and we were able to make the following changes. We made a small increase in dues. The management team has eliminated the cost of a room by meeting at our homes. Our budget for snacks was reduced so that we could continue to have time to socialize at our meetings. That’s the purpose of our meeting after all!! Jessie has helped us get a reduction on the facility costs. This does come with a caveat, that being, that we now need to set up and take down some of the tables like sign in, refreshments, and events. Can we count on a few volunteers to arrive around 9:15 a.m to help? The result of all of this means that we are going to be able to stay at Faith Baptist Church for the foreseeable future. Our budget is now balanced with a small cushion to deal with any unexpected costs. A big thankyou to your management team!
Let’s move through the month of MARCH and enjoy the first run of fresh maple syrup.
March 8th we recognize International Women’s Day.
March 12th - DAYLIGHT Savings Time - Spring Forward
March Break 13-17 - check out all the fun activities available for your family and friends
March 17th - St. Patrick’s Day
March 20th - SPRING ARRIVES - many animals start to wake up from hibernation. …and the month moves on ….
See you all on March 9th at Faith Baptist.
Lynne Kay, President
Hello Fellow PROBUS Members I would like to introduce myself to you as your President for the upcoming year. I am Lynne Kay and with my husband Ted we arrived here May 2019 to be closer to family. We were ready to retire from the busy Barrie area.
Our daughter Wendy introduced us to her yoga group and then friends invited us to PROBUS and our adventure began. Little did we know how these connections would become our lifeline when the pandemic hit.
Throughout my entrepreneurial career I really enjoyed motivating people to do whatever it was they desired. As time went on I decided to semi-retire and drove a 72 passenger school bus for school, community events, and training exercises at Base Borden. I felt like the” Queen of the Road “in my big yellow bus.
I was a little nervous to say I was going to retire back in 2019. This was a new phase in our life and we were moving away from our home of over 40 years.
After some reflection I created this guideline to help keep us focussed.
RETIRE:
R - relationships - developing new ones
E - entertainment- an opportunity to discover what we really enjoy doing
T - the art of talking - sometimes people go days without speaking to another human
I - involve - finding something new to try and if not for you try something else
R - remember - the opportunity to chat and laugh with others about “remember when”
E - enjoy the moment and s t r e t c h it o u t
A big thank you to PROBUS Club for providing this safe environment for all of us to enjoy our retirement years.
See you all on October 13th.
Lynne
Hello Fellow PROBUS Members:
It is hard to believe that summer is coming to an end and that we are unofficially beginning autumn. I for one am looking forward to the fantastic colour display in our landscape, the cool nights and the crisp and clear air during the day. It is an awesome time of year here in beautiful Muskoka.
I would like to thank all of our Management Team for their contributions in ensuring that we were able to provide monthly meetings with stimulating speakers both on Zoom (starting in February 2022) and then at in person meetings (starting in April 2022). Covid really had us change the way we would normally function.
In particular, I would like to thank Michael Walmsley for his sage advice this past year and for keeping our club together during the height of covid. He kept us entertained and informed with his monthly emails. His mandate as president lasted from January of 2020 to September of 2021, and then as past president from September 2021 to September 2022 , an exceptionally longer term than normal. It was much appreciated by all members.
As you know, a new management team will begin for the 2022-2023 year in September. The new team will be introduced at our next meeting. As of September 1st, we are still seeking volunteers for two positions, an Audio Visual Technician and a Webmaster/Zoom Coordinator.
I am very excited to announce that at our AGM, Philip and Patricia Morehead have offered to entertain us with their wonderful music. We are so very lucky to count Phil and Pat, such accomplished musicians, as two of our members.
I will remind you that membership dues can be paid at the upcoming meeting with a September 15th deadline for membership.
Thank-you in advance. See you on September 8th,
Gabrielle
A few reminders for the upcoming in person meeting
We will be following the latest Provincial Guidelines regarding proof of vaccination at all PROBUS events.
It continues to be strongly recommended by Public Health Ontario that masks be worn in indoor settings.
Don’t forget your cheque book and name tag.
Coffee and Tea will be served.
Please bring your own cup as none will be provided. No food will be served this month.
Hello Fellow PROBUS Members:
Summer is finally here and I hope that you are enjoying your time with family and friends in beautiful Muskoka.
It has been wonderful to see so many of you at our monthly meetings. I suspect this is because covid has given us a bit of a reprieve and we are all fully vaccinated, not to mention that we were all tired of being “locked down”. Let's hope this reprieve lasts way into the fall.
I wish everyone well. Stay safe!
Hope you have a great Canada Day celebration!
Continue to enjoy the summer, Gabrielle
A few reminders for the upcoming in person meeting
We will be following the latest Provincial Guidelines regarding proof of vaccination at all PROBUS events.
It continues to be strongly recommended by Public Health Ontario that masks be worn in indoor settings.
Don’t forget your cheque book and name tag.
Coffee and Tea will be served.
Please bring your own cup as none will be provided. No food will be served this month.
Hello Fellow PROBUS Members:
It's June and summer is nearly here! June is a beautiful month!
We will all be enjoying the great outdoors. Many of us will be out golfing, canoeing, kayaking, hiking and swimming. We are fortunate to be living in such a beautiful area of the province with so many different opportunities for enjoying outdoor activities!
Did you know that Centennial Ridges in Algonquin Park is considered to be one of the top ten hikes in Canada? People from all over the world come to hike there, especially in the fall when the leaves exhibit their beautiful colours.
This is the month of the summer solstice which occurs on June 20 , the longest day of the year. I am always amazed how light it is, even close to 10:00 p.m.
On June 21 , Canada celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day and on June 19 , we pay tribute to our fathers on Father's Day. I will leave you with two quotes:
“ I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June ?”- Lucy Maud Montgomery
“ Shall I compare thee to a summer's day ?” - William Shakespeare
Happy Father's Day to all our fathers,
Gabrielle
Hello Fellow PROBUS Members:
May is here and spring has finally sprung. The snow drops and crocuses are blooming in my garden, the daffodils are sprouting and soon we will see trout lilies, Dutchmen's britches, spring beauties and trillium in the woods. In the midst of all this splendour, the black flies will soon be back to irritate us. So no dancing around the May pole for me!
Nonetheless it is a lovely time of year for renewal.
May is named after the Greek goddess Maia who oversaw the growth of plants. The month is known for love and success. In May we demonstrate our love for our mothers by celebrating Mother's Day. We also celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday on May 24th. This is always on the Monday preceding May 25th, so the actual daye varies, and many canadians simply celebrate the May 2-4 weekand, implying that lots of beer will be consumed!
Our club is also undergoing somewhat of a renewal as we cautiously resume our in person meetings during the ongoing pandemic.
I wish all of our mothers a Happy Mother's Day and everyone good health.
Stay safe, Gabrielle
Hello Fellow PROBUS Members:
It's finally April and April showers bring May flowers. I am looking forward to the burgeoning crocuses and daffodils in my garden. More importantly, I am also looking forward to seeing many of you at our first in person meeting in two years at Faith Baptist Church on the 14th of April at 10:00 a.m.
We have an exciting meeting planned with opportunity to sign up for various social activities.
I wish everyone well and hope you continue to stay safe. Have a Happy Easter,
Gabrielle
A few reminders for the upcoming in person meeting
Face Masks will be required until you are seated.
You will be asked to show your QR code proving full vaccination when you sign in. Don’t forget your cheque book and name tag.
Please bring your own beverage. No food or beverage will be served this month.
If you are feeling unwell—PLEASE stay at home.
Hello Fellow PROBUS Members:
March is here! The days are getting longer and warmer (hopefully!). The sun is so much stronger making it pleasant to be outside. Spring is in the air, as evidenced by the red squirrels chasing one another outside our house and the song of the white throated sparrow, which I heard for the first time today.
Our March meeting will be on Zoom, but get ready for some good news. Our April 14th meeting will be an in person meeting at Faith Baptist Church which is welcoming us back, So dust off those name tags and look for exciting things to come. It will be great to see everyone again!
Our fiscal year will run from Aug. 31, 2021 to Sept.1, 2022 as per instructions from PROBUS Canada. This is to ensure that our fiscal year aligns as closely as possible with the AGM held in September of every year.
Dues for membership will be collected at our first meeting in April, by cheque in the amount of $22.50 ( half of the dues for a year) since this year ends August 31. Starting in September, we will again ask for the full dues to be paid for the following year.
Enjoy the month of March and Happy St. Patrick's Day, Gabrielle
Hello Fellow PROBUS Members,
Happy February! While it's nippy outside, the fire inside is delightful. The sunny and longer days are a welcome relief to the cold.
February is the month when we celebrate Valentine's Day, Groundhog Day and Flag Day.
Valentine's Day on February 14th is celebrated as a day of romance and love by exchanging gifts and cards. This is to honour St. Valentine. There were three different saints with the name Valentine recognized by the Catholic Church. The saints date back to Roman times and St. Valentine's Day com- memorates the death of one of these saints around 270 A.D. The date of February 14th may have been chosen by the Christian Church to coincide with the pagan celebration of Lupercalia in order to Christianize it.
Groundhog Day on February 2nd has its origins with German settlers who ar- rived in Pennsylvania in the 1700's. These settlers brought with them the tra- dition of forecasting spring around the middle of February using badgers and other small animals. I for one, am looking forward to our rodent's forecast, six more weeks until spring or only four more weeks. Hopefully, Wiarton Willie will not see his shadow!
Flag Day occurs on February 15th . Canada's red and white maple leaf flag was raised on Parliament Hill for the very first time on February 15th 1965. The search for a new national flag was spearheaded by Lester B. Pearson, our former Prime Minister. It certainly is widely recognized and well respect- ed around the world.
Continue to stay safe,
Gabrielle
President's Message (December 2021)
Hello Fellow PROBUS Members:
The snow is starting to fall and winter is rearing its inevitable head. Hopefully you will be able to bundle up and get out- side to enjoy the beauty of Muskoka in winter. Or perhaps you would just enjoy relaxing indoors in front of a crackling fire. In any event, let's make the most out of a wonderful time of year.
Your management team has made some decisions regarding our monthly meetings. Faith Baptist Church has informed us that they will not rent their space to us while covid-19 is still active. The pandemic might well be with us well into 2022. Therefore we have booked the Huntsville Legion for our meetings in 2022. We will abide by all health protocols for our meetings and depending on how the pandemic progresses, we may or may not have in person meetings. We will proceed with caution.
Given that covid numbers have been rising, we will have our first meeting on Thursday February 10th , most likely via Zoom.
'Tis the Season so here is some pertinent information!
The Origin of the Christmas Tree:
Most people will know that Germany is credited with the practice of decorating an evergreen tree and bringing it into the house. In the 16th century, Martin Luther was walking home one evening through a forest and looked up at the stars. He found this so beautiful that he recreated the effect in his home by decorating a fir tree with candles and voila the Christmas tree.
Another Story on the Origin of the Christmas Tree:
Once on a cold Christmas Eve night, a forester and his family were in their cottage gathered round the fire to keep warm. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. When the forester opened the door, he found a poor little boy stand- ing on the door step, lost and alone. The forester welcomed him into his house and the family fed and washed him and put him to bed in the youngest sons own bed (he had to share with his brother that night!). The next morning, Christ- mas Morning, the family were woken up by a choir of angels, and the poor little boy had turned into Jesus, the Christ Child. The Christ Child went into the front garden of the cottage and broke a branch off a Fir tree and gave it to the family as a present to say thank you for looking after him. So ever since then, people have remembered that night by bringing a Christmas Tree into their homes.
Many ancient peoples including the Romans, Egyptians and Druids decorated their homes and temples with evergreen boughs at the winter solstice, so the Christmas tree is not an entirely modern invention!
I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year. Enjoy the festive season with family and friends.
Continue to stay safe,
Gabrielle
President's Message (November 2021)
Hello Fellow PROBUS Members:
November is the month when we honour our veterans and the sacrifices they have made on our behalf.
This year is the 100th anniversary of the poppy as a symbol of remembrance. This symbol was inspired by John MacCrae's famous poem “In Flanders Fields”. Beautiful ceramic poppies, created by Muskoka students, are for sale this year in support of Muskoka's Legions. They are available at various venues in town, including the Huntsville Legion. Keep an eye out for them!
Your Management Team is meeting regularly in order to establish the best way for- ward for our club, and to that end, the newsletter describes some of the decisions we have made in order to keep everyone safe. I am afraid we are not out of the woods yet in regards to Covid-19.
We hope to ease into our monthly meetings in the new year taking into account all Public Health Guidelines.
I wish everyone well and continue to stay safe,
Gabrielle
President's Message (October 2021)
Hello Everyone:
The autumn leaves are falling. Soon the trees will be bare and winter will bring the stillness of falling snow. Covid-19 is still with us, an insidious interloper in our society.
While vaccinations are more and more prevalent, and in this regard Ontario is doing very well, we must still be cognizant of the fact that the delta variant continues to be a threat. To this end, your management team is meeting in order to establish clear guidelines as to when it will be safe to reopen our monthly meetings and activity groups. Some activity groups such as Travel and Photography are currently meeting on Zoom. Face to face meetings are not preferred at this time unless it is outdoors.
Please stay connected to your PROBUS friends via phone, e-mail and ZOOM. Continue to stay safe,
Gabrielle
The following are the words to the song “ Autumn Leaves”, one of my favourite songs, which somehow seems appropriate to the times we find ourselves in.
Autumn Leaves
The falling leaves drift by the window The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips the summer kisses
The sunburned hands I used to hold
Since you went away the days grow long And soon I'll hear old winter's song
But I miss you most of all my darling When autumn leaves start to fall
I miss you most of all my darling When autumn leaves start to fall
composed by Joseph Kosma, lyrics by Jacques Prevert