WINTER RANCH ACTIVITIES: Wednesday, February 18th, Morning News

We went from 831 to 816 Residents this week!

The full Calendar of Events from now until the end of the season

is located under the Minutes of this Meeting for your convenience.

Changes and additions to these Minutes are posted in red

and there have been some since the meeting.

New Residents

Peggy and Jim Esser

From Rockford, Iowa

They are visiting with us for a couple of weeks and thinking about coming down for the season next year!

The Call of the States was held this morning.

Tom Foxton carrying the Canadian Flag

Dick Toman Carrying the United States Flag

Ron Jensen carrying the Colorado Flag

Faye Campbell carrying the Yukon Territory flag

Part of the final presentation

Dick Toman (American Flag) and Ted Foxton (Canadian Flag)

shaking hands in the spirit of good will among nations.

More of the final presentation

The five states having the largest populations at Winter Ranch are:

Iowa 160

Missouri 118

Texas 115

Illinois 101

Minnesota 90

The Drawing is being held for the Billiard's cue.

Larry Anenson helping to draw the winning ticket.

Leon Green is the Winner!

Important Information:

Picture Directories: The directories are now available. Pick yours up in the Activities Office between 1 and 3 PM, Monday through Friday.

Advisory Board New Board Members: The Board Members will be announced at next week’s meeting. There will be no election because we only had three people who came forward to serve.

Lot Rates: Cathy has been getting questions about any changes in rates for next year. As soon as she knows, we’ll know.

Suggestion Box: A new Suggestion Box has been placed in front of the Activity Room which is a lock box that will be opened only by the Wilder Division Manager, Rick Spielman. These suggestions are not relative to the Activities Department but are recommendations for Wilder Corporation on the general operation and condition of the park. If you offer any suggestions and fill out the card with your name and Lot No., you will be eligible to win a $25 gift certificate toward a dinner. This is a way for you to get your comments to The Wilder Corporation without going through the Business Office so take advantage of this opportunity.

Gluten-free Group: There are some individuals who would like to form a Gluten-free Group here at Winter Ranch to get together and share recipes. If you are interested, see Lynn in the Activities Office. If there is enough interest, she will find a place and time for the meetings.

Church Members: There is a listing on the Church Bulletin Board of items needed for the needy. Please stop and check the board and give generously to those in need.

Bus Drivers: Just a friendly reminders - Our bus drivers are strictly volunteers. They receive no compensation other than what you put in the tip jar. We are very fortunate to have two really good drivers here so please do your best to show how much you appreciate them!

Golden Olympics – Marsha Fabricus said we are one-half of the way through the event. There are still several different categories at various times during the month or so that you can participate in. Marcia just won a 1^st Place ribbon for the Crossword Puzzle event. There is a newspaper flyer available in the Activities Office for anyone wanting to participate or see what all the categories are. You can be a contest for baking, golfing, walking, biking, any card game you can name, jig saw puzzles, etc. etc.

Flo Reed registered people for the Biking Event and the Walk and Talk Event after the Wednesday morning meeting today. For both of these events we get Park participation points so we’d love to have a whole bunch of our residents sign up. The park with the most participants wins those events.

The Bike and Birding Tour is a leisurely ride through the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park on Wednesday, March 4^th from 9 to 11 AM. The fee is $3 due at time of registration. T-shirts for this event are $5 each.

The Walk and Talk Event is March 6^th at 10 AM at Town Lake at Fireman’s Park. The fee is two cans of food. T-shirts for this event are $5 each. The bus will be leaving here at 9:30 AM for those that register for it.

If you take part in any of the Golden Olympics events and have pictures, Mary Benfield would appreciate receiving them on a Flash Drive which will be returned so that they can be posted on the Winter Ranch Blog.

Billiards Cue Raffle – The Billiards Group awarded the hand-made cue to Leon Green . Congratulations Leon!

Terry Smith Entertainment on February 19^th at 7 PM. Nashville singer/songwriter, Terry S. Smith, is famous for Johnny Cash's recording of "Far Side Banks of Jordan". He is a singer as well as a songwriter. His music has been recorded by Johnny and June Carter Cash, Roy Acuff, The Oak Ridge Boys, Kitty Wells, Chris Le Doux, The Statler Brothers, Kris Kristofferson, Patty Loveless and others. His website is www.terrysmith.us.com.
Bob Ross Art Class: The Bob Ross Art Class for this week has been cancelled.

Dance to Swing Tyme (Ballroom Dancing) on February 20^th at 7 PM in the Large Hall - $5.

Canadian Potluck will be on February 22^nd from Noon to 2 PM at the Kitchen end of the Large Hall.

Full Dress rehearsal for Razzle Dazzle will be on Sunday, February 22^nd at 1:30 PM in the Large Hall.

The Winter Ranch Variety Show “Razzle Dazzle” will be held on February 22^nd at 7 PM. Mark your calendars. Lee Clement and JoAnn Sullivan are the Coordinators of the event. They have posted a sign-up sheet to be in the show on the Bulletin Board by the Arts and Crafts Room. If you think you’d like to perform at the show, you have a few more days to sign up. They will be taking down the signup sheets next Thursday, February 12^th.

The Memorial Service will be held on February 24^th at 1:30 PM in the Large Hall. We will be remember the residents who passed away during 2014. There is information on it on the Church Bulletin Board in the Large Hall.

Roundup (Social Hours) on February 24^th at 3:30 to 5 PM with Dave Lopez. Chuck Wagon will be open. Dave has done some work in the park but on the side he has a band. This will be the last Roundup of the season!

Ladies Golf Luncheon is on February 26^th from Noon to 2 PM.

Wilder Parks Shuffleboard Tournament will be held on February 27^th at Trophy Gardens with overflow here and on February 28^th . See the Activity Office for time and details. . (IF SOMEONE COULD TAKE PICTURES AND GET THEM TO LEE OR MARY BENFIELD FOR THE BLOG ON A FLASH DRIVE IT WOULD BE APPRECIATED.)

Dance to SweetWater at 7 PM on February 27^th – $5.

The Alamo Parade has a change of date. It will be held on February 28^th at 11 AM. Winter Ranch has participated in this event for many years and we’ve come home with lots of trophies. Sometimes we are half of the parade. It’s been a lot of fun. This year the theme is Super Heros and here at Winter Ranch we are expanding that meaning to include our military, our veterans, 1^st Responders, police, firemen, etc. A bus will take our veterans to the parade. Need to be in front of the Large Hall at 10:20 AM on February 28^th. You should be returned home by noon. If you are interested in learning more about this parade or being involved, contact Don DeKeyrel. Even if you aren’t participating, you can attend the parade and support all our Winter Ranch people that will be participating. Our parade group is desperately in need of candy (nothing chocolate) so the paraders can hand it out to children during the parade. Just take the candy to the Business Office or to Don DeKeyrel at Lot 658.

Choir Concert – Mark your calendars for March 1^st at 6 PM in the Large Hall.

The Woodshop Baked Potato Dinner will be held on March 3^rd at 4:30 PM. Tickets will go on sale shortly.

The Winter Ranch Resident Appreciation Day will be on March 5^th at 7 PM in the Large Hall. Vance Greek will be performing for us and there will be ice cream afterwards. This is a free concert.

Dance to Jealous Heart at 7 PM on March 6^th - $5.

Golf Tournament (Winter Ranch vs Trophy Gardens) will be held on March 11^th at 9 AM. This event is limited to 45 golfers plus 3-4 alternates. The cost is $2 per person. Sign up after the park meeting in the Large Hall on February 25^th. (IF SOMEONE COULD TAKE PICTURES AND GET THEM TO LEE OR MARY BENFIELD FOR THE BLOG ON A FLASH DRIVE IT WOULD BE APPRECIATED.)

Dance to Diego at 7 PM on March 17^th- $5.

Dance to Sweet Water on March 20^th at 7 PM - $5.

Computer Classes (Sign up for these classes on the Bulletin Board across from the Mail Room:

Iphone Tips and Tricks / Donna Ritchie, Instructor / Activity Room #3
Monday	February 23^rd	1:30-3:30 PM

iPad Tips and Tricks / Donna Ritchie, Instructor / Activity Room #3
Monday	March 2nd	1:30-3:30 PM

Trips:

Gail needs one more couple for the Houston Rodeo Trip on March 10^th in order for the bus to pick us up in the park. The same situation applies to the Eagle Pass Trip on March 11^th.

Bus Trips:

Sign up for these trips in the Activity Office
Feb 20	5:45 PM	Mariachi Concert at the Basilica – Donation of $7 at the door.
Feb 21	9 AM	Pioneer and Ranching Crafts Day at Edinburg Museum of South Texas History. $5 at the gate.
Feb 23	12:30 PM	Texas Gold Shrimp (if JD gets enough interested) $15 each.
Feb 28	7 PM	Hockey Game - $7 each
Mar 3^rd	10:00 AM	Port of Brownsville Tour $33 includes lunch (if JD gets enough interested)
Mar 6^th	9 AM	Bus trip to Golden Olympics Walk and Talk $3 per person – must be registered - $5 for shirt
Mar 11^th	12:15 PM	Riverside Boat Trip 1:30 – 3:30 PM with dinner following - $30

Note: If you have an idea for a bus trip, let JD know. He’ll see what can be arranged.

Volunteers and/or Donations Needed:

Jeanine Helmer is looking for UPC and Box Top Labels. They are used by the Children’s Haven International Mission in Pharr. The Pharr location serves as the main headquarters. It has a thrift store which sells donated items to raise money for the orphanage in Reynosa, Mexico. They are using the box tops to purchase a van and are half way there. Take your box tops to Jeanine at Lot 503.

Dale Loerch will again be collecting furniture or household goods for the needy in the Little Mexico section of Alamo. He will be collecting large items such as appliances for furniture on Wednesdays. Small items can be delivered to him at any time at their lot which is Lot 438. If you have large items, give him a call so he can schedule picking up your items. He is currently helping one of the families we adopted for Christmas and an elderly woman who had a house fire. If you have anything that would be useful, please give him a call – anything from dishes and bedding to furniture.

The Quilters for the Needy are in need of people to iron, sew or knot. If you want to help out, just come to the Large Hall from 9 to 3 on Thursdays.

Calendar of Events:

(Unless otherwise noted the event will be held in Friendship Hall aka The Large Hall)

All additions/changes/cancellations will be in red

*Feb 19*	*1-4 PM*	*Dress Rehearsal for Variety Show*
*Feb 19*	*7 – 9:30 PM*	*The Terry Smith Band – Entertainment*	$6
*Feb 20*	*9-Noon*	*Bob Ross Art Class- Arts & Crafts Room*	*CANCELLED*
*Feb 20*	*1 -4 PM*	*Bob Ross Art Class- Arts & Crafts Room*	*CANCELLED*
*Feb 20*	*7 PM*	*Dance to Swing Tyme*	$5
*Feb 20*	*5:45 PM*	*Bus to Mariachi Concert at Basilica*	*$7 donation at door*
*Feb 21*	*9 AM*	*Bus to Pioneer and Ranching Crafts Day at* *Edinburg* *Museum of South* *Texas* *History*	*$5 at gate*
*Feb 22*	*1:30 PM*	*Full Dress Rehearsal for Variety Show – NO COSTUMES BUT PROPS, SOUND SYSTEM AND PIANO*
*Feb 22*	*Noon-2 PM*	*Canadian Potluck*
*Feb 22*	*7 PM*	*Variety Show/All other activities in Big Hall cancelled from* *5 PM* on	*Pass the Hat*
*Feb 23*	*12:30 PM*	*Bus to* *Texas* *Gold Shrimp*
*Feb 23*	*7 PM*	*Razz Ma Tazz - Entertainment*	$5
*Feb 24*	*1:30-3 PM*	*Memorial Service*
*Feb 24*	*3:30 PM*	*Roundup with Dave Lopez*	*Pass the Hat*
*Feb 25*	*10:00 AM*	*Sign up for Winter Ranch vs* *Trophy* *Gardens* *Golf Tournament on March 11^th at* *9 AM*.	$2
*Feb 26*	*Noon-2 PM*	*Ladies Golf Luncheon*
*Feb 27*		*Wilder* *Park* *Shuffleboard Tournament at Trophy*
*Feb 27*	*7 PM*	*Dance to Sweet Water*	$5
*Feb 28*	*6:30 PM*	*Hockey Game*	*$7 each*
*Mar 1*		*Alamo* *Parade*	*Free*
*Mar 1*	*6 PM*	*Choir Concert*	*Free*
*Mar 3*	*4:30-6 PM*	*Woodshop Dinner/No activities in Large Hall until after cleanup from the Woodshop Dinner*
*Mar 5*	*7 PM*	*Residents Appreciation Day – Vance Greek and ice cream*	*free*
*Mar 6*	*9:30 AM*	*Bus Golden Age Olympics Walk and Talk at* *Town* *Lake* *at Fireman’s Park in* *McAllen* *(Park Points awarded for each participant) - YOU NEED TO HAVE REGISTERED FOR THE WALK AND TALK*	*2 cans of food*
*Mar 6* *Mar 10*	*7 PM* *8 - Noon*	*Dance to Jealous Heart* *Craft Show/No Roundup*	$5
*Mar 11*	*12:15 PM*	*Riverside Boat Trip at 1:30-3:30 and dinner following ride*	*$30*
*Mar 11*	*9 AM*	*Golf Tournament Winter Ranch vs* *Trophy* *Gardens* *(limited to 45 golfers) Sign up on February 25^th after the Wednesday meeting.*	$2
*Mar 13*	*10 AM*	*Gold Age Olympics Awards Ceremony at* *Palm* *View* *Community Center*	*$3 – tickets must be purchased at least 1 week in advance*
*Mar 13*	*7 PM*	*Dance to Diego*	$5
*Mar 20*	*7 PM*	*Dance to Sweet Water*	$5