*Information in red was obtained after the Morning Meeting.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
We grew from 365 to 397
residents in the park this week. Welcome home Winter Ranch
residents!
Important Information:
Thanksgiving Dinner starts at 1 PM
in Friendship Hall. Setting up tables
can begin after Bingo tonight. Please
wait to start setting up until Bingo is over.
Water Restrictions – Cathy
thanked the people that have been following the water restriction policies that
are in place. She has noticed that a lot
less water has been going down the street.
She hopes everyone will follow suit.
The information on water restrictions in the valley are in your Welcome
Packet. The main things to remember is that we can use water on
Mondays and Thursdays for your sprinkling systems or to wash your house, rig or
vehicle. Washing your car, shed, rig or house is limited to once a
month. If you want it done more often, there are services available
that will come in and bring their own water. There is a list of these
places available in the Business Office. Hand watering of plants or grass
can be done any day or time. Just don't let the water overflow into the
street and waste it.
Bring a Friend Campaign is going on now. If you bring a friend
that stays at Winter Ranch at least one month, you can earn $50. The
rules are in your Winter Ranch Welcome Packet. This is for people that
are brand new to Winter Ranch or who haven’t been here for at least three
years.
If you are planning on doing any enhancements to
your site including: cement work, installing rock, planting trees or
bushes, you need to check with Larry first. Don't put yourself in the
position where you need to remove what you just put in because you did not
check!
 |
| Our Manager, Larry Chapin, enforcing the rules! | | |
|
Jerry Ritchie,
You better watch out
You better not pout
You better not let that RV hang over your site
Larry Chapin is out and about!!
Driving in the Park – Remember that
the speed limit for ALL moving vehicles on the park roads is 10 MPH. This includes cars, trucks, golf carts,
scooters and bicycles. We have a lot of
people in the park now and we don’t want anyone hurt.
Breakfasts will no longer be offered on
Wednesday mornings. We will continue to serve donuts and/or rolls in the
morning. Unfortunately, it was a money losing situation.
The
Alamo Prayer Breakfast was a
tremendous success. We had over 100
people attend including a lot of Winter Ranchers.
Veterans – If your picture is not on the Veterans’ Board on
the stage end of Friendship Hall, please get your picture to Donna Ritchie at Lot
689. Donna Ritchie will see that it is
placed on the board.
Rio Propane – Rio comes on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. This information was incorrect in some of the
information handed out.
The Large Hall will be decorated for
the Christmas Season on December 2nd. It is a big
job and we have a lot of people helping out.
Please give them some leeway as they need space to get the place
decorated. You may be asked to move for
a short period so they can get something up.
Please be courteous and let them get their work done!
Coffee Area – We are not doing a very good job of cleaning up
after ourselves at the coffee area. We
don’t have any maids here so you need to clean up after yourselves. Our housekeepers clean the large hall, the
small hall, the Activity Room and the flower gardens. They do not get back to the hall often enough
to clean up the coffee area.
Communications – We have had people tell us that they miss out on
stuff because they don’t know it is happening.
We do our best to keep you informed.
We have the Wednesday morning meeting.
There are many displays around the hall and on the Bulletin Boards
announcing what is happening. We also
have the Winter Ranch Activities Blog which is very thorough and
up-to-date. These are the methods for
obtaining information so please make use of those opportunities. There is a lot going on in this park!
Swimming Pool – Please rinse off before entering the pool or the
hot tub. This takes off lotions and body
oils that affect the pool filters and the quality of the water.
Caring for Others Project - Cathy has
Knights of Columbus car magnets on sale for $5 in the Business Office. The $3 in profit for these magnets goes to
food for the needy. The food will be
dispersed within a five mile radius of Alamo. The car magnets are white with
black trim depicting a Nativity Scene and they say “Keep Christ in Christmas”.
Wilder Parks has a real estate agent that is authorized to work with you whether you are
buying, selling or renting. Her name is
Donna Schroeder. They will show your
park model or mobile home for you, put the information on the internet and it
will be advertised in the Monitor. If
you want to get in touch with her, her information is available in the Business
Office.
Thank Yous:
Cathy thanked Diana
Mollerus and Patty Ellison for
setting up the Angel Tree in Friendship Hall. (See Volunteers and Donations Needed Section at the Bottom of this page)
General News:
The Winter Texan Insert in the Monitor - They are looking for
articles to put in the Winter Texan. If you have something that you would
like to contribute, please see Lynn in the Activities Office.
Symphonic Band tickets are now on sale in the Business Office. The
Christmas Symphony “Tis The Season” will be on December 17th.
Tickets are $5 each. You can purchase tickets in the Business
Office. The bus is full and there is a waiting list for people that
cancel on the bus, however, you can drive over.
It will held at The Trinity Worship Center and they have a lot of
parking available.
Social Dance Classes will be offered beginning December 6th
from 1 to 3 in Friendship Hall. The classes will be taught by Steve and
Gail Larner. They have been competition dancers. The charge is $5
per person per lesson which is REALLY reasonable. There is a signup sheet
in Friendship Hall across from the Mail Room. We will start out with the
Country Two Step and the Rumba as we feel these two dances will offer you the
most opportunity with the bands we have this season. As the class
progresses, the class can help the instructors decide what to try next.
This is a great time to start. Everyone will be starting out and it will
be new to all of you. If you ever have wanted to take dance classes this
is your time!
Golfers, you can join us for Co-Ed
Golf at Village Executive Golf Course on Highway 1015 South of
Weslaco. This will be Thursdays at 11:00 AM. We'll meet at their Big Hall. Sign up on the Bulletin Board
in Friendship Hall.
Event News:
Ladies' Luncheon will be held in Friendship Hall on Monday, December 9th
at noon. Lunch will be Maui Chicken, Brocolli
Casserole, Mashed Potatoes, Salad and Dessert for $8. Myra Green will be
our entertainment. She puts on a one-woman musical play. You can
sign up after the Wednesday morning meetings. There will also be someone
in the Small Hall selling tickets this week Wednesday through Friday. A
box for donations to the Christmas Stocking Project will also be available at
the luncheon. As usual, donated door prize gifts are greatly
appreciated. See info in the Volunteer/Donations Section below.
Men’s Luncheon – The Video Group is sponsoring a Men’s Luncheon on
December 3rd. They will be serving a pork roast dinner with
scalloped potatoes, green beans, jello, a roll, dessert and a beverage.
All for $6.00. They will be selling tickets in Friendship Hall after the
Wednesday Morning meeting and in the small hall most days. Signup ends on
November 27th.
Blood Drive –We will
have a blood drive on December 12th from 9 AM to 1:30.
Our goal is 35 units of blood which takes 50 people to sign up. If we get
more than 50, we'll extend the hours.
New Year’s Dance - Tickets and reserved tables for the New Year’s Dance
are available in the Activities Office. The reserved tables are going
fast! 208 people have already reserved
their seats.
Christmas Lighting Contest - Remember to plan on a Christmas Lighting
Contest again this season. There is information on the wall in Friendship
Hall as well as a page here on the blog.
Anyone interested in participating needs to sign up in the Activity
Office by noon on December 12.
Prizes will be awarded in several categories:
Silent Night, Holy Night
(most religious display)
Martha Steward Would Be Proud
(most elegant display)
Charlie Browniest (most
whimsical display)
Clark Griswold (most lights
display)
Making Spirits Bright (most
festive RV – motor home, trailer or fifth wheel only)
Life After Loss Workshop – People who have lost loved ones are invited to
attend a Life After Loss Workshop on December 19th from 10-12 in the
Loft. There are people that went two
years ago and really enjoyed it. They
can attend again if they desire. There
will be a follow-up session in January.
See Rita Huether, Lot 258 for more information.
Calendar Updates:
The first Craft Show
will be December 10th at 8
AM. A
volunteer signup sheet is posted on the easels in Friendship Hall.
Video Rentals start
on Monday.
Horseshoes – start on December 2nd.
Ladies is Monday and Wednesday at 10 AM and Men’s is Monday at 1 PM and
Thursday at 9:30 AM.
The Life After Loss Group
will have a Christmas Eve Gathering in Activity Room #3 on December 24th.
Please see Dianna Mollerus at Lot
508 or Bobby Louge at Lot
526.
Sunday Sundae will
be served this Sunday evening at 5 PM
in Friendship Hall. Bring your own bowl and spoon. It is $1 per scoop and toppings will be provided.
AARP Drivers Safety Class – will be held on January 23rd from 8 AM – 10 AM in Friendship Hall.
The cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members. Another session will be scheduled later. See information on the boards in Friendship
Hall.
Craft Class will be held on December 4th from 10-12 AM in the Arts and Crafts Room. Brenda Granger
is the Coordinator and we will be making a Reindeer, You will need to
bring $1 and a towel and washcloth. Signup sheet is on the door of
the Arts and Crafts Room.
Craft Class will also be held on December 11th from 10-12 AM in the Arts and Crafts Room. Rita Huether is
the Coordinator and we will be making a Christmas Ornament Wreath. Signup sheet is on the Bulletin Board across
from the Mail Room. A supply list can be
obtained in the Activity Office..
Billiards Double Shots will be on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month
starting at 2 PM. This is
one man and one woman per team taking alternate shots.
Dance to Wild Side on November 29th at 7 PM. Tickets are purchased at the
door. We still need kitchen helpers for the evening.
Dance to Sweet Water on December 6th
at 7
PM. Tickets can be purchased at the door. There is a signup sheet for volunteers on the
bulletin board across from the mail room.
Bingo on Wednesdays has
started. Bingo on Saturdays will start in December.
No Roundup on December 3rd!
The Roundup on December 10th will be Karoake. Tamales will be available at the Chuck Wagon.
The next Roundup will be on December 10th. On December 17, the
Roundup will be a Taste of the Valley. You can come on over and sample
foods from various places in the Valley. We'll have the Chuck Wagon open
also.
Bus Trips:
Saturday, November 30th - Greyhound Racing in Harlingen on South Ed Carey Drive - The Bus will leave at 11AM and will return after the last race about 5 or 6 PM. $2 at the gate plus what you bet. We have filled our seats for this trip but
Trophy has some seats left so stop in the Activity Office if you are
interested.
December 6th, Killer Bees Hockey Tickets $10
each. The bus will leave at 6 PM and return after the game. There are still some seats left.,
December 9th - Hidalgo Lights and Dinner, Cost $12 per person. Bus will leave at 4:30 PM and return around 8:30 or 9 PM.
Information on the trip is on the wall outside the Activity Office. Sign
up and pay in the Activity Office.
Tuesday,
December 3rd - Mercedes Shopping Mall The bus will
leave and 11:00 AM and return at 3:30 PM. Lunch is on your own.
Wednesday,
December 4th – Hidalgo Lights (no
meal). The bus will leave at 5:30 and return at 8:30 PM.
Saturday,
December 7th – South Padre
Lighted Boat Parade. The bus will
leave at 4
PM and return after the
parade is over. We will be watching the
parade and having dinner (on your own) at Louie’s Back Yard.
Thursday,
December 12th – Mystery Bus
Trip (free). The bus will leave at 9 AM and return at 2 PM. Lunch is on your own.
Tours and Cruises:
Gail
Field is our Coordinator for Tours and Cruises. She has posted a booklet on the
Travel Board as well as a page of Go with Jo Tours. Get in touch with
Gail for more information or to sign up for one of the trips. I don’t
post phone numbers on the blog but hers is on the Travel Board in Friendship
Hall.
There are a lot of new
cruises available out of Galveston.
Gail has tickets for an over-night
trip to the Kickapoo Casino on Thursday, January 9th. The cost is $90 per person and you get $25
back in casino money when you arrive. 12
people from Trophy are signed up and we need 20 to have the bus pick us up in
the park. Please see Gail before
Fridayl She is on Lot
300 in Trophy Gardens.
Volunteers and/or Donations Needed:
Angel Tree - The
Angel Tree has tags on it for children on South
Tower Road that are very
needy. Take a tag or two off the three
and purchase a gift ranging from $5 to $10 for the child. We will get information out later on when to
bring in the gifts.
Good Samaritan Program
– You received an envelope for this project with your Welcome Packet. Two families have been selected by the local
school for our park. They are chose
because of their needs. We will post
pictures of these families on the Church Bulletin Board shortly.
Christmas Stockings Project
– Barb DeGaramo is the Coordinator for the Christmas Stockings
Project. The Christmas Stockings are given to the ARISE organization and
sometimes these are the only gifts these children get at Christmas. Barb
says she can use school supplies, small match box cars, small dolls, and
Christmas Stockings from the Dollar Store. They do also make some of the
stockings. They would like to make 300 this year. Last year we
donated 200 stockings but they ran short so we will be increasing our efforts
this Christmas. There is a donation box for this project by the Activities
Office. These children are 8 years and younger.
Ronald McDonald House - If you have any soaps and shampoos from hotels,
you can donate those to this project until after the stockings are
delivered. After that we can still use the shampoos and soaps. We
donate them to the Ronald McDonald House.
A Salvation Army Coordinator for bell ringing at Walgreens is needed
as the person who did it last year won't be here in time this season. See
Lynn in the Activity Office.
Ironing and Putting Up New Drapes –
Lynn
is looking for volunteers to help iron and put up new drapes behind the stage
in Friendship Hall. We’ll put these up
on Friday around 9:30-10:00 AM. We’ll use the irons in the Arts and Crafts
Room.
Ice Cream Scoopers and Cashiers are needed for the Sunday Ice Cream Social. Please sign up on the Bulletin Board across
from the Mail Room.
Playing Cards are needed. If you are going to visit a casino, see Lynn in the
Activity Office and get her begging letter.
Hopefully, we can get more playing cards for the park.
Door Prize Donations for the Ladies Luncheons - If you have something
that you would like to donate as a Door Prize for one of the Ladies' Luncheons,
please take them over to Marsha Bender at Lot
592 or Kathy Loerch at Lot 438. Please get them there a week ahead so
they know if they need to buy any.
Sound System Operators are needed. Dave and Jody Nunn are leaving us after 14 years and
we need some volunteers to step up. We can train you!!! We need sound
system people to cover for the jams and other events that use the system.
See Lynn and JD in the Activities Office.
Exercise Classes - Pam Hoppe and Judy Teply are looking for a couple of
people to act as their alternates to lead the Exercise Classes in the
morning. Contact one of them if you are interested.
Bikers Escort Needed - Flo Reed is looking for some drivers to
excort the bikers. Please contact Flo if you are interested. You
will be reimbursed for mileage.
********
The 50/50 Drawing this morning raised $65 for the Shuffleboard Group. Kathy Loerch won the drawing.
