We grew from 844 to 855 residents
in the park this week.
Welcome home
Welcome home
Winter Ranch residents!
*Changes since this meeting marked in red!Important Information:
- PARKING ON JANUARY 31st: JD announced that we will have people parking cars for the David Church entertainment on January 31st. There will be a very large turnout for it. The area in front of the pool will be reserved for the handicapped. Please don't park ANYTHING in those spaces after 5 PM on the 31st. Also, all golf carts should be parked in golf cart corrals only after 5 PM on that night whether you are coming to the event or not.
- Cathy has talked to a sister park who brings in the McAllen Mobile Car Wash one day a week to do washing of cars, trucks, RV's, golf carts, etc. They seem to like having them there once a week. She will be looking into seeing how this might work for Winter Ranch.
- The Picture Directories
are in and if you purchased one last year, you can pick it up in the
Activity Office. There are also some pictures that were ordered last
year in the Activity Office. JD announced that we would have a different photographer for next year and that should offset some of the problems we've experienced this year.
- The Business Office has some Winter Ranch 25th Anniversary booklets left for $1. Stop in the office.
- The Computer Group is still having Help Sessions on Wednesday mornings right after the park meeting in Activity Room #3 (except for the 1st Wednesday of the month when the room is otherwise occupied). Please don't knock on the doors of our resident Computer Group volunteers or stop them as they are passing by to ask for help with your computer problems. Use the Help Sessions if at all possible and if that won't work for some reason, e-mail or call the person you'd like to speak to and set up an appointment that will be convenient for both of you.
- JD asked us to let him know when we want to use the large screen TV for a sporting event. We will be using it for the Super Bowl but it could be used more often if we want it - like maybe for NASCAR. Just let him know and he will set it up. He also wants to get movies started on Sundays and he hopes to get that started soon.
- Congratulations to Les Patrick who made a hole in one with a nine iron on January 18th!
- Our coordinator for the Golden Age Olympics is Marcia Fabricius, Lot 618. Marcia has been having problems getting the brochures but she will have more available in the small hall later on this week. Take one and sign-up for the event(s) you are interested in using the registration sheet inside the brochure. Literally 1000's of Winter Texans participate in the games over the course of three months (January, February and March). There are contests for about everything you can think of: cards, cooking, bowling, shuffleboard, billiards, etc. etc. Marcia can fill you in. Most contests take one-half to one day. When you enter you receive a t-shirt, a ticket to the sock hop and you have a chance to win a bronze, silver or gold medal! Be sure to let Marcia know if we register for an event because she would like to reserve a table for us at the Awards Ceremony. We now have 12 bikers, 2 billiards players, 2 pickleball players, 10 bowlers, 2 walk and talk, 4 people for the Great Race and a crossword person. We'd love to see more of you involved!
- Alamo Winter Texas Appreciation Day will be on February 14th at 5 PM. It will be at the 9th Street Fire Station. Pick up your tickets at the Chamber of Commerce Building which is now located in a Store Front by the Eldorado Restaurant.
- The Business Office has tickets for the remaining two Symphonic Band Performances on Tuesday, February 12th and March 26th, at the Trinity Worship Center. The theme for the February 12th concert is "Journeys." The tickets are $5. Sign up for a ride on the bus in the Activities Office. The office now has more tickets for the February 12th performance.
- Ladies Luncheon Group fundraiser - buy chances on a GPS with free lifetime updates. They will be sold before and after the Wednesday morning meetings and in the Small Hall during the week. The GPS will be awarded in February.
- There will be a Variety Show Practice on February 8th at 11:30 AM. Carol Early needs to get your music on a CD so get in touch with her as soon as you can to get this done before the practice. Lee Clement stated that he rented a follow spot light which will keep people lit on stage and it cost $65. Because this event isn't funded, we are going to pass the hat this year in order to pay for this years expenses and maybe start a pot for next year.
- The Quilt Show was a big success. Linda Doerschug thanked everyone who brought in quilts or other items to display. They had 160 items on display. She also thanked everyone that worked that day. Lynn reported that the Quilt Show made the first page of the newspaper and that Kristi Collier from KVEO News interviewed Linda Doerschug and Jackie McAuley, Co-hosts for the event. They will air the interview on Channel 23 on Thursday at 5 PM. If you miss it, we will have a link to it on the blog. Lynn thanked Shirley Birlingmair for handling the publicity for the event!
- The Doggie Parade will be held on February 14th, Valentine's Day, at 10 AM at the Dog Walk between Trophy Gardens and Winter Ranch. You can decorate yourselves, your carts, your dogs, cats or birds and join in the fun. There are no prizes just a good time!
- Show & Share will be held on March 3rd from 2 to 4 PM. Bring the arts and crafts that you have made this season in to share with group. The White Elephant Silent Auction will also be held that day. Please donate any items you might have to the Silent Auction. JD will store them until the event.
- The Garage Sale that is open to the public will be on February 22nd* from 8 to 12 noon. Grab a table in Friendship Hall to display the items you have for sale. The public is invited to this sale but all items that are for sale must be in the hall. The public will not be allowed to drive through the park. This is a Wilder Corporation rule.
- Beef Stew Fundraiser for Quilting for the Needy on February 6th at 4:30 PM. $5. Beef stew, french bread, Home-made salads, Home-made desserts, Tea, Coffee and Lemonade. Your table service will be provided. Tickets will be on sale in the Small Hall from Monday-Friday from 10-11 AM.
- Ladies Luncheon on February 11th at Noon. The program will be Ms. South Texas. Brisket, potato salad, sauteed green beans and dessert will be served. February 6th is the last day to purchase tickets.
- The Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on the February 26th at 1:30 PM. A list of the people who will be honored is on the Blog under Blog Archives - Celebration of Life.
- Margarita Party on February 25th at 4 PM - $6 selling tickets now.
- Walking tacos and special margaritas
- Costume Party - Theme Mardi Gras (prizes!!)
- Prizes
- 50/50 Drawing
- Pool Cue Drawing
- Another 4-hour AARP Driving Class will be offered on February 7 and again on March 7th in Friendship Hall from 8 - 11 AM. This course is for those who have not taken the safety course for 55+ to qualify for the insurance discount. 8 hrs of classes is required for the insurance discount and Don will work with you to get in the other 4 hours. No testing is required. Don DeKeyrel is the contact person for questions concerning the course.
- Lee Clement gave an update on the Variety Show which will be held on February 15th at 6:30 PM. The theme will be A Starry Night In Texas. There will be a monitor for singing so if you would like to entertain us either singing or standup comedy (park appropriate, of course), you can sign up an act on the signup list by the mailroom. We will have a backdrop for the performance this year. There will be two rehearsals in February. You also need to let Lynn in the Activities Office know that you are participating.
- The Woodshop's Spaghetti Dinner will be held on February 19th at 4:30 PM. Spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, cake, lemonade, and coffee will be served. Bring your own table service. $5.
- The 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration will be held on February 10th at 2 P:M. Jan and Paul Wilson are the Coordinators for this event. There are three different signup sheets for the event:
- Anyone married between June 62 and May 63 who will be celebrating 50 years of marriage.
- Anyone who is not celebrating their 50th this year but has been married over 50 years.
- Guests who want to share in the celebration. Guests, please do sign up as we don't want to run out of ice cream. We need a head count!
- Volunteers should also sign up on the Guests Sheet so we can get an accurate account for ice cream!
- The Dance this week is Diego on January 25th at 7 PM.
- The Entertainment Line-up is complete and tickets are available in the Activity Office. The Concession Stand will be open for these events. The entertainment schedule is on this blog under Entertainment in the right hand column under CURRENT INFO.
- There will be an Advisory Board Meeting on Friday, February 1st at 9:30 AM.
- Jackie McAuley announced a new Ladies Sewing Group which will be held on Wednesday from 10 AM to Noon in the Arts & Crafts Room. We will be doing a small one day project in most cases and we have something scheduled for all of February. There are some classes that will take two days. Brenda Granger is going to show us how to make her wonderful sweat shirts so for that we will need to do some prep work on Tuesday and the sewing on Wednesday. You do not need to have your own sewing machine. A list of supplies needed will be on the Craft Door. Anyone is the park is welcome to come.
- Super Bowl Party in Friendship Hall on February 3rd beginning at 4 PM. The Concession Stand will be open. Game on the Big Screen TV. Bring you lawn chair and drinks and/or snacks.
- An old-fashioned Barn Dance will be held on February 12th at 3:30 PM in Friendship Hall. We will have a Grand March and community dancing. It should be fun for all!
- The Valentines Dance is scheduled for Valentines Day, February 14th at 7 PM. Jealous Heart is playing. You can reserve your tables and buy your tickets now in the Activities Office. Don DeKeyrel will be taking pictures in the library at the event. You can purchase a 5 x 7 for $5. The proceeds from the pictures will be donated to the Alamo Parade Group so they can buy more parade decorations.
- The Missouri Potluck is on February 1st at noon. Bring a dish to share and your table service. Drinks will be provided.
- The Kansas/Oklahoma Potluck will be on February 2nd at 11:30. Bring your table service and a dish to serve 10 to share. Bring 2 serving spoons for the dish you are sharing. Coffee will be provided.
- Zumba classes are on Mondays from Noon to 1 unless a Ladies Luncheon is scheduled. Then they are on Wednesdays.
- Hardanger is a type of embroidery and the class is held on Mondays from 1 to 3 in the Arts & Crafts Room. You are welcome to join in.
- The Can Am Golf Tournament will be held on Wednesday, February 20th . You need to signup by February 8th. Cost is $2.
- The Call of the States ceremony has been moved to February 27th.
The bus is licensed and running and ready to go! For a current listing of the Bus Trips that are available, see Bus Trips on the right hand column of this blog under CURRENT INFO.
- The Veterans Bus Trip to tour VA facilities has been tentatively rescheduled for February 19th.
- Cathy reported that there is a woman in need of a ride to a town 30 miles South of Dallas on I35E. If you are heading that way, contact Karen Larsen.
- Cathy would be interested in setting up a Ride Program for people that need rides to doctor appointments, etc. If you would be interested in helping out on occasion and based on your schedule, let Cathy know.
- Barb DeGaramo will store anything that you might want to donate for the Christmas stockings for next year. If you have something lying around, just give her a call.
- Cathy Chapin is looking for volunteer flag bearers for our Call of the States during an upcoming Wednesday morning meeting. Please signup in the Business Office.
- Linda Doerschug requested that we save our old t-shirts in any size to give to the Quilting For The Needy group. They are using these to make diapers for Easter Seals. These diapers are given to people with very little and the need is desparate! Ours is the only park that does this so we really need your support!
- Nora Minor is still looking for volunteers on the Decorating Committee. The Committee decorates for all the holidays and special
events. She is looking for both men and women to join her committee.
You can contact her at Lot 567.
- Lynn would like a Coordinator to lead a new Garden Club group that would assist in beautifying the public areas of the park. Talk to Lynn about what would be involved.
- Lynn would like a Co-Coordinator to assist her with the Christmas Party next year. Let her know if you are interested.
- Lynn is also looking for someone to tackle a new position as Coordinator for the Christmas Golf Cart Parade so that the date is set early in December and it can be advertised well.
From the Blog Administrator:
If you see pictures on the blog where I don't have people identified - most of the time they show an xx - and you know who they are, send me an e-mail and I'll remedy the situation. I try hard to identify everyone but knowing everyone in this park is like knowing everyone in a small city!!
If you want to share some news or have pictures from any of the events or bus trips trips that you would like to share on the blog, you can send them to me and I'll post them on the blog. Just send them to my e-mail at : blogwinterranch@yahoo.com
Thanks,
Mary Benfield
