February 2012 Wrangler

February 2012 Vol. 1, Edition 3

Now we've got all the holiday doings out of the way and we can get down to the business of doing our regular “stuff”. As of Feb 1 meeting we have 952 residents.

The New Year's Eve dance was fun. We got together with a few hundred of our favorite people – had some adult beverages and snacks, even danced a little. A little disappointed that the band didn't know Auld Lang Syne, but we've probably all heard it enough times in our lives. A good time was had by all and we got to enjoy the panorama of fireworks around the Valley from the fence, bringing 2012 in with a bang – literally!

What about New Year's Resolutions? Anyone out there make any? Anyone out there NOT broken them yet? I looked around and found a couple of brave people who would admit to making one. Kathy Maynard of Grand Rapids, MI, says she is trying to be a calmer person this year. Scott, her husband,just smiled when I asked if she was succeeding. Most people I talked to said they don't bother with resolutions anymore since they know they won't keep them anyway. Gordon Glock from Lincoln, NE made the best resolution I've ever heard – he resolves to eat more, and his wife, Jolene says he definitely will keep it.

HALBROOK FAMILY DINNER THEATER was a bus trip in January. What can I say about them?

OH, the chicken dinner was delicious. And if you were a Hee Haw fan, or liked the Chicken Opry, you will love this show. Bluegrass is alive and well in Alamo and only a short bus ride away.

LADIES LUNCHEON on January 16^th was a big hit, as always. Regency Caterers did a great job with the food and the entertainment, Magic by Paula, was sensational. (That's Paula Sheridan from Pekin, IL., in real life.)

COUNTRY JAMS on Saturdays feature local singers and musicians, 50/50 drawings, and delicious food from Donna Lewis' kitchen. As always, volunteeers keep everything running smoothly. You notice how much fun the volunteers are always having? Big smiles and laughing all the time. Do they really even work? Guess you'll have to join them to find out.

WINK'S SALOON AND CALF ROPING, was a bus trip in January. They all had such a good time, the bus is headed back there on Feb. 2^nd. I understand the band was good, and you could order a meal off the menu, or partake of the delicious buffet they had set up for only $10.00. I'm definitely going to the next one. Ask Betsy about her horseback ride. (She says it wasn't really a ride – it was more “hanging on for dear life”.) You can find her, along with a bunch of other fun-seekers, in the hot tub almost every evening around 7 P.M.

You may recognize him as the “guy who gets the free stuff for us”; he gets donations from local businesses for the park's many activities. Now he needs our help. His name is Dale Loerch and his church (Clearwater United Baptist) back in Piedmont, MO has a mission. They sent a group to the Honduras back in May to help out after a big earthquake that occurred three years ago. At that time they went to three small villages and gave medical assistance.

Dale is going back there on Feb. 18^th and staying until March 10^th. They will be rebuilding one of the dormitories at Faith Home, (a children's orphanage) as well as teaching the older boys how to make wooden bowls and other wooden items, such as wooden benches for the churches. If you are interested in learning more about this humanitarian project, be present on February 3^rd in Activity Room 3 at ll:15 a.m., when Dale will be doing a presentation with film and information.

The area is poverty-stricken and even though it has been three years since the earthquake, the rebuilding goes slowly. Everything that is needed has to be donated. The cost to rebuild the dormitory is $42,000 and everything is done with manual labor – there are no concrete mixers or other large machinery to do the work. The first week that Dale is there he will be working alone; the last two weeks two construction groups from Indiana will be there. All of the volunteers stay in one of the dormitories on the Faith Home campus. Winter Ranch has shown its generosity in the past, and Dale is hoping to tap into it now. Donations to help cover his costs will be much appreciated. Contact Dale at Lot #438, mailbox #1269, or phone him at 314-541-5422 if you would like to be a part of this project.

MEMORIAL SERVICE CELEBRATION OF LIFE will be held on February 28 at 1:30 PM in the big hall, honoring residents who have passed away between January 2010 and January 2012. Check the list on the bulletin board and if you know of anyone who is not listed there, please let the office know. If you keep track during the summer while you are gone from WR, as we do, you will know that we lost many many good friends this past year. (This is another area where that picture directory is invaluable.) In addition, so many of our number had a rough summer, health-wise. Thank you, Charles Kroll, for keeping us informed, and we are praying for your swift recovery as well. For more information about the service, contact Jeanine Helmer at 956-783-6421.

The sixth annual FLAG DAY is February 15^th. All the states and provinces will be recognized, so extra flag bearers will be needed. Let Cathy in the office know if you would like to carry a flag. This is always an impressive ceremony and it's an honor to be a part of it. More flag bearers are needed, as of Feb. 1 meeting.

FANTASY TOURS hosted a presentation on Alaska tours, complete with wine and cheese, on January 12^th, and I missed it, darn it. Hope you didn't forget, and had a good time.

GOSPEL CONCERT on January 22, with Joe Stice, Carol Earley, Kathy Loerch and Ron Berg doing the singing honors, was beautiful. Hope they will do it again. We got a little preview in the morning, as they rehearsed before our Wisconsin potluck. Admission was a food item for the food bank and 170 pounds of food was collected. Way to go! We have so much talent in this park it's hard to comprehend sometimes.

DAVID CHURCH show had 491 paid attendance. You missed a terrific entertainer if you weren't there.

1^st RESPONDERS fundraiser dinner was a sell-out as usual. 553 dinners were served. Everyone wants to help support this worthy cause because we never know when we're going to need their services. Besides, the food is pretty darn good too. 
 

CAN-AM GOLF TOURNAMENT sign up day is Friday, Feb. 3. The tournament will be Feb. 22^nd. This tournament has been going on for 13 years. It is a hard-fought battle for bragging rights. There are always 45 Americans and 45 Canadians, from Trophy Garden and Winter Ranch. See Dick DeGaramo here in WR if you want to participate. Everyone always has a great time and the winning country leads a golf cart parade around the two parks. The Canadians won in 2008 and 2010.

VIDEO ROOM is open Monday and Weds from 10 A.M. - 11 A.M., and Fridays until 11:30. For a 50 cent donation you can check out a dvd for two days. The film library is growing all the time and they have many recent releases, including The Help and The Ides of March, both nominated for Oscars this year. If you still have a VHS player, they do have a few movies on VHS left that you can have for free. See Rosie Ewald if you have questions.

VALENTINE'S DAY DANCE is February 14^th. The band will be Jealous Heart, so bring your sweetheart and spend a romantic night together. Tickets are $10 a couple or $6 each.

50^th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY celebration is Sunday February 12 at 2 P.M. Janet and Paul Wilson are in charge of details. If you have been married longer than 50 years, please contact them before the party.

CHARITY GOLF SCRAMBLE will be Feb. 17. See Vicki Miller for more information.

MARGARITA PARTY fundraiser for the pool hall will be on February 27^th, starting at 4 P.M. Tickets are $6.00 in advance and will be sold every week day in the small hall from 10 to 11 A.M. It will be held out by the swimming pool, so a limited number of tickets are being sold. Admission includes brats, kraut, beans and 2 margarita drink tickets. Blooming Onions will also be available for an additional $7.00. 

KITE FEST bus is going on Saturday. Bring your lawn chairs and a lunch, and remember, NO glass is allowed on the beach.

SOME OF THE FEBRUARY BUS TRIPS include National Butterfly Center, Feb 7; Iwo Jima memorial, Feb. 16^th; Basilica, Feb. 17^th; Pioneer Ranching Days, Feb. 18^th; Resaca de la Palma State Park Birding Center, Feb. 21; Market Day, Feb.24; and Brownsville Channel on Feb. 27. See JD and Lynn in the Activity office for times and costs.

REMINDERS:

Speed limit in the park is still 10 mph! And stop signs mean stop! For ALL vehicles on wheels. I confess that I don't always come to a full stop at stop signs when I'm on my bicycle, but I'm trying to do better. It's those Rio Propane, concrete mixers and UPS trucks that scare me the most – they have the pedal to the metal and don't stop at any stop signs.

GOLF COURSE is closed on Tuesdays until 3:30 P.M. Please remember to wear your name badges when on the golf course. The caretaker is trying hard to get the course back in shape, so do your part by replacing your divots.

IMPROVEMENTS on your lot, such as concrete, planting, or bringing in a park model, all require the approval of the office. See Larry Chapin if you have something in mind.

SUGAR CANE GROWERS ASSN will be here Feb. 20^th at 9 A.M for a presentation. There will be no bus trips there, since all they do is show a film. It's a very interesting process, so try to attend.

SUNDAY ICE CREAM SOCIAL will be at 4 PM on Feb. 5^th and 26^th because of entertainment.

SPOTLIGHT ON QUILTERS

We've all seen the quilters working their little fingers to the bone on Thursdays in the big hall. We've all heard about their donations to the 1^st Responders when someone gets taken to the hospital in an ambulance; each patient gets a quilt to keep them warm in the ER. What we all may not know is all the other donations they make.

Last season 371 quilts were donated to various organizations, including the needy, McAllen Medical Center, Easter Seal in McAllen, San Antonio Veterans Hospital, plus the 1^st Responders. In addition, they made ten or eleven other quilts to sell for fundraisers. They have also checked with the Veterans Nursing Home in Mission to see if lap quilts are needed for the wheelchair-bound vets. They are waiting to hear back about that.

ANNUAL QUILT SHOW is the biggest fundraiser for the quilters. This year that event will be on Friday, February 10^th from 9 A.M. To 1 P.M. in Friendship Hall. Tickets are $2.00, which includes the show itself and coffee, tea and cookies. Proceeds will go towards the Quilting for the Needy project.

Residents of Winter Ranch are invited to participate in the quilt show by submitting quilts and quilted items. (All will be returned after the show.) Categories include Modern and Antique quilts, Wall hangings, Quilted Art, Quilted Clothing and Household Items, Baby Quilts, along with works in progress, such as quilt tops. Holidays Throughout the Year will be a special category this year.

In addition to the quilts, the Craft Room is available to many other sewing projects. It is in there that Swedish Weaving and Hardangering are taught. The room is also used by the watercolor and oil painters.  Check the schedule on the door to see what is being done and when. Many beautiful creations have come from the Craft Room.

Even if you are not a quilter, you should try to attend the Quilt Show on the 10^th. There will be a variety of quilts and quilted objects and you will be impressed at the creativity presented. Besides, there will be cookies and door prizes! How can you go wrong?