Wrangler January 2013

January 2013

Vol. 1, Edition 8

Wishing everyone a happy and HEALTHY 2013! The new bus arrived on January 17^th. You can't miss it – it's a bright blue color and Jack says the ride is way better than on the old bus. Other good news – it won't need a fuel pump for a very long time. Got a new one on the way home from Norfolk, VA. 

Other good news is that it has bench seats with seat belts! Trips will be starting next Tuesday, with the long-delayed shopping trip to the Mercedes Outlet Mall. Check with the Activity Office for the other trips that are coming up. JD will be trying to fit in the trips that we have already missed. If you were signed up for a trip and still want to go, please let JD know ASAP.

As of January 16^th, our population was at 829, so our winter friends are slowly coming back to us. Take a moment to say a prayer for those who are not here due to health issues. We wish them well and hope that they will return to us next year. You can keep track of them by checking the WR web site or the bulletin board by the craft room.

The Annual Quilt Show will be on Tuesday, January 29^th from 9 a.m to 1 p.m in Friendship Hall. There are some interesting changes this year. There will be vendors present, selling fabrics, supplies, beads for making jewelry, and scissor/knife sharpening. Quilts, wall-hangings, purses, wearable art, and much more will be on display. The $2.00 admission will also include refreshments and door prizes, with proceeds going to the Quilting for the Needy project. There will also be a quilters' boutique and Second Hand Rose table. Anyone who has something they'd like to display, contact Linda Doershug, Deborah Blackbourn, or any of the other quilters. This date is fast approaching, so do it now! 

This is only a small sampling of the beautiful work you will be treated to at the show on Jan. 29^th. When presented with the CD of last year's show, I was hard-pressed to choose from the 18 pictures, but because the office printer is not color, I knew the newsletter wouldn't do them justice anyway. You will have to let your imagination run wild, and you will still have to actually GO to the Quilt Show to understand what I'm talking about.

After a successful “audition”, the Church Board has hired Jim Frisby to be our new pastor next season. He will be doing the sermon on February 10^th and possibly another date as well. Check with Jan Howard for those dates.

Plans are underway for the 50^th Anniversary party, which will be on Sunday, Feb 10^th, starting at 2 p.m. Everyone is invited to join the party for socializing and cake. There is a sign-up sheet on the

board, so if you will be hitting that magic mark this year, be sure to sign up. I believe Paul and Janet Wilson are in charge of the party, if you have any questions.

Flag Day is going to be February 20^th. This is always an inspiring day. It's fun to see how many states are represented here in the park. If you are interested in carrying a flag for your state, or any other state, stop in the office to see Cathy.

The annual Memorial Service for those residents who have passed away in 2012 will be held on February 26^th, starting at 1 p.m in the big hall. If you know of someone we've lost this past year, be sure to check with Jeanine Helmer (Lot 503) or let Cathy in the office know, so no one is overlooked.  The service is a time to reflect on our losses and remember those friends of Winter Ranch.

The Talent Show is going to be held February 15^th this year, as so many people were gone already last March. Lee Clement is the coordinator this year. He is on Lot 158 and welcomes talent of all kinds. If you can sing, dance, do comedy or magic tricks, (or anything else that entertains) be sure to contact Lee. There is no admission charge and if past shows are any indication, you will have a ball laughing at and with your WR friends. There are also plenty of amazing singers here too. The synchronized swimming skit was a big hit last year!

In old news, Christmas was a festive and enjoyable time here at the Ranch. The Christmas Eve party was well-attended and loads of fun for all.

Larry and Cathy Chapin Were Present

Santa and Mrs. Claus Delivered The Gifts

The Tables Were Beautifully Decorated For The Christmas Dinner and the Food Was Scrumptious

Judy & Dennis Foley enjoyed the pool on Christmas Day. Take that, all of our northern stay-at-homes!

Christmas Lighting Contest had many participants. Winners were: Religious – Bill & Barb Lester on Lot 1; Martha Stewart display – Darrell & Betty Luster on Lot 711; Charley Brown (most whimsical) Donna & Dwain Steward on Lot 30; Most lights – JA & Carole Carmack on Lot 553. The street with the most decorations was Bunkhouse Rd, and best overall display was Donna & Dwain Steward. The two pictures directly below are Donna & Dwain's place.

 These were not officially winners, but I thought they were very good. Above is a motor home that caught my eye. Maybe next year we should have a category of motor homes/campers. This motor home belongs to our good friends, Albert and Laura, from Canada. The other display was at Ralph & Shirley Ress' park model.

The following piece on Christmas spirit here at the Ranch was contributed by Mary Benfield, who also does such an excellent job on our blog.

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT THRIVES AT WINTER RANCH

All of us Winter Ranchers should be mighty proud of our park and the generosity that thrives here. Several Christmas Projects were a part of our 2012-2013 Season at Winter Ranch.

The Good Samaritan Project:

Through your generous donations, ARISE was given $300 for Christmas meals for the families in their area.  ARISE is a program based in the community that works with low income immigrant families to help them to create the future they want and to give them opportunities to become contributing members of society.

We also provided a nice Christmas for two disadvantaged families:

• The Rodriguez Family: Angel and Bertha are the parents of Angel, age 12; Abraham, Age 5; Hiromy, Age 8; and Nazly, 1½ months. 

• The Moreno Family: Maria is a single mother who has four children: Eloy, Age 13; Sergio, Age 12; Mario, Age 10 and Edna, Age 6.

Each family member was given $50 in Christmas gifts and each of the 7 children received a bicycle.  One of the little boys exclaimed that "This is the best Christmas ever!"

Ray and Sandy Tester (Coordinators for the Good Samaritan Project) and many of our Winter Ranch people helped to deliver the gifts.  Patti Cuellar helped to interpret for the group!  

The Quilters For The Needy also made a quilt for each member of the Moreno and Rodriguez families!    The Quilters also made a quilt for a homeless man who was living in his car this Christmas. 

Our Quilters are busy all year making quilts for the newborns in the hospital so they go home in something warm and also for the Easter Seals organization.  The Easter Seal organization runs a Day Care and each child receives a quilt.  Easter Seals also does some home health care and when they visit a child who is in need of something to keep them warm at night, they use quilts made by our Winter Ranch quilters!The Stocking Drive:

Would you believe that 233 Full Stockings were filled and given to ARISE to be distributed in the Little Mexico area of Alamo this year for their Posada Celebration!  Stockings were also given to all of the members of the Good Samaritan families.  Barb DeGaramo, the Stocking Drive Coordinator, also gave a smaller stocking to all 24 of the grade school Folk Dancers that couldn't entertain us this year because of illness.  What a wonderful project!!

Our Knitters and Crocheters made an enormous impact. They made approximately 200 Stocking Caps, Head Bands and Scarves. All of them were used for either our Christmas Stocking Drive or our Good Samaritan Project

The Angel Tree:

We provided Christmas gifts to many children in the ARISE neighborhood "Little Mexico" who may otherwise not have received anything this Christmas.    We took tags off our Angel Tree in Friendship Hall and then we purchased and wrapped gifts, and put them on the stage to be delivered on the 19th of December.  The Coordinators for our Angel Tree Project are Diana Mollerus and Patty Ellison.  We didn't get a count, but the stage looked like we did a great job of sending out our Christmas spirit!

 I'd say our park spread a lot of love and happiness around this Christmas season!!  And, not only did we distribute a lot of gifts, we also helped the Salvation Army raise money by ringing bells this year at the Walgreens Store in Alamo!  Karen Hockemeir was the Coordinator for this very worthwhile project.

God Bless Us Everyone!

THINGS TO REMEMBER

SPEED LIMIT – Please remember the speed limit within the park is 10 MPH. Stopping at stop signs is not optional. It is the law. That means all vehicles, including golf carts and bicycles.

VOLUNTEERS are to be treated with respect. They are doing what they are told, and yelling at them because you are unhappy with something doesn't change a thing. Take your complaints to the Activity Office or the park managers. It's already hard enough to get volunteers for all the activities that we have in the park. This includes the mail room. Mail isn't ready until the flag is out. Make sure that your correspondents have your mail box number. Mail without numbers slows the process and makes life more difficult for the mail room people. 

AARP Driving class is Feb 7 at 8:30 a.m. Some insurance companies give a discount if you've taken this class.

MEN'S LUNCHEON was rescheduled to February 7^th It was first advertised as a “Gentlemen's” luncheon, so maybe....well, no, better not speculate.

Goldwing Express entertainment for Feb. 3^rd as been canceled due to a scheduling conflict. That is also the date of our Super Bowl party, so you will still have something to do.

LOT IMPROVEMENTS including plantings must be approved by the office before you do them.

Until next time, be safe and be kind. I kind of stole that from Cathy. She says that at the end of every park meeting. Sometimes I think we get to feeling entitled to be ornery just cause we have lived so long. Smile, you will live longer.

Donna Hulsey
Wrangler Editor