Wednesday, March 11th, Morning News

 We went from 778 to 731 Residents this week!

They're Heading Out!

                          Any Items marked in red are new information since the meeting.

Our Winter Ranch Billiards Winners!

Bob Wilson
Winner of the 9 Ball Tournament 2014-2015 Season

 Bob Wilson and Roger Bronkhorst
Winners of the 8 Ball Doubles Tournament 2014-2015 Season

Dick DeGaramo
Winner of the 8 Ball Singles Tournament 2014-2015 Season

Lost and Found:

Someone left a cane at the Craft Sale yesterday.  It is in the Business Office Lost and Found. Also, someone left a patriotic water bottle on the bus after the Walk and Talk.  It was one of the winner’s prizes.  If it is yours, you can pick it up in the Business Office

Thank yous! 

Mary thanked all of you who have helped us out this past week.  We’ve made other commitments before we signed on and were representing the park at a couple of Golden Olympics events that couldn’t have come at worse times.  We had the Walk and Talk the day before the jam and then yesterday we had the Great Chase during the Craft Show.  We managed with your help setting up and tearing down, watching the office for us, keeping us aware of what was needed in the kitchen and on and on.  Without your help this past week, I think we would have collapsed from utter fatigue.  We realize that it is taking us longer than Lynn and JD to accomplish some things so we appreciate your patience as we get a handle on everything we have to do.  However, we’ve learned a lot which will help us next year and it really has helped to get started this year.  We’ll be much more able to go forward then season.

Lee gave a big BIG thank you to all who helped with the jam last Saturday and the craft show yesterday.  I apologize we weren’t around much yesterday – as Mary said, we had committed to participating in the Golden Age Olympics before having the mantle of Activities leadership thrust upon us and we didn’t feel we could bail on that commitment. There were a few glitches but all in all it was a very successful craft show. Likewise, Saturday’s jam was very successful thanks to the knowledge and flexibility of all those involved. These events are very important to keeping the Activities fund solvent so thanks to all who helped before, during and after these events.

Important Information:

Mailing Labels:  As you are getting ready to return North, please make sure you leave labels for the Mail Room to forward your mail.  They cannot use the really small labels.  You must have labels that will cover the address on the envelope.  If you need mailing labels, you can order them in the Business Office from the Computer Group.  There is a small charge for the service.

Leaving the Park:  Remember when you get ready to head North, you need to have all your stuff put away and battened down.  We do experience hurricane winds once in awhile and your grills, bicycles, plant and pots should all be secured.  If they are not secured they can fly off and damage other property in the park or hurt someone.

Site Switching:  On Monday, March 9^th, the site switching process will begin. If you need more information on how this works, stop and see Cathy in the Business Office.

Monday the 9^th, those who want a site for a permanent RV on the 6+ plans 

Tuesday, the 10^th – RV’s staying 6 months

Wednesday, the 11^th – RV’s staying 5 months

Thursday, the 12^th – RV’s staying 4 months

Friday, the 13^th – RV’s staying 3 months

Saturday, the 14^th – Sites are open to the public.

Dogs in the Park:  One of the residents asked what is being done about the dogs carrying on in the park.  Larry Chapin responded that his guys are out trying to catch them and that we've had Animal Control out several times.  So far, the dogs are outsmarting us.  Larry asked that if anyone is feeding animals in the park to please stop.  If there is a ready food supply, they are not going to leave. 

Picture Directories:  The directories are now available.  Pick yours up in the Activities Office.  There are still 35 people who have not picked theirs up.  There are also some extra directories if you need another one.  They are $10 per book.  The counting has been done and there are extra copies of the directories that may be purchased now.

Golden Olympics:  The final events of the Golden Olympics are winding down and we were really thrilled to see so many people participate in the Walk and Talk event.  We had over 40 people that went.  The weather was so lousy that we ended up dancing inside instead of walking but the park got participation points for it.  Tropic Star out did us by a long shot though so we will have to get more people involved if we want to win a medal for participation! 

And, we are happy to report that the MapleHawks team of Bob and Linda Campbell and us  won a bronze medal yesterday for the Great Chase.  We have to say it was really a lot of fun so next year we hope some of you will decide to team up and try it.  We all want to represent Winter Ranch and try it again next year.      

Speaking of the Golden Olympics, remember to wear your t-shirt and medals if you won one to the next Wednesday morning meeting.  We’d like to get a picture of the group of Winter Ranchers that participated!

Our Bus Drivers:  Lee asked that we treat our bus drivers right as we are really fortunate to have two faithful drivers who drive well!  He asked that we all remember that they are volunteers and receive no other compensation other than what you put in the tip jar.  He feels really guilty when he doesn’t have a $5 to put in the jar when we take a trip.  Remember our bus drivers go to the same places many times and spend several hours twiddling their thumbs while they wait for you to return.  It is not unreasonable to expect a couple to donate $5 for the trip and $2 to $3 for a single.  Let’s all try to keep them happy as we want to keep them!!

CALENDAR:

Border Patrol Presentation will be held on March 12^th from 9 to 11 AM at the stage end of the Large Hall.   He will be using the DVD player so if the exercisers could either start early that day or end early that would be great.  You could leave the DVD player on after you are done and we won’t have to set it back up.   Quilters, if you could start at 11 AM that work out well for today.

Bus Trip to Ol’D’s Soda Shop in Harlingen will leave at 4 PM on March 12^th.

Dance to Diego at 7 PM on Friday, March 13th-  $5.

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

St. Patricks Day Events (March 17^th, Tuesday): 

• 5 Card Stud Poker Run (Winter Ranch):  Entry fee is $2 per person.  You can use your golf carts, your bikes or your two feet.  We’ll have eight sites in the park where you can pick up a card.  The best hand takes all the winnings.  You can pick up your card in the Activity Office on the 17^th at 1 PM.  If you are walking it won't be a problem, you have until 4 PM to turn in your cards!

• Trophy Gardens Golf Cart Parade:  Will begin at 4 PM.  Lineup is at Trophy Gardens at 3:30 PM at Lot 333.   Decorate you, your cart, your pet whatever for the parade.  Others of us can sit and watch you go by.

• St. Patrick’s Day Roundup (Winter Ranch):  Wear your green and bring green food to share at your table.  The Chuck Wagon will be open for snacks, ice and soda too.  Carlos Canos will be performing for us. 

• Corned Beef and Cabbage Meal (Trophy Gardens):    If you have previously attended the St. Patrick’s Dinner at Lynn and Carol Martin’s at Trophy Gardens you are invited again.  If you help with their dinner or ride in the Golf Parade, you are invited.  If you attend, bring a covered dish, drinks and a chair.  They will serve corned beef and cabbage.  Questions, please call Lynn or Carol Martin at Trophy Gardens:  913-731-4490.  You now know what we know. 

There will be a Bus Trip to the Art Studio By Design for an Art Party on March 18^th at 6 PM.  You bring whatever you want to drink and snack(s) of your choice.  The have a break in between the painting so you can snack.  The charge is $30 each and you come home with a completed painting.  I will have it posted on the Bulletin Boards later on today. I’ve been to one of these with my daughter and we had a ball.  The signup for the trip will be on Thursday, March 12^th at 1 PM in the Small Hall.  The party is limited to 20!!  

This is the painting that we will be doing.

There will be a Bus Trip to the Hockey Game on March 19^th at 6:30 PM.  Veterans can go for free (bring some ID) and everyone else pays $7.  Signup is Thursday, March 12^th at 1 PM in the Small Hall.  We are sharing the bus with Trophy Gardens so we have 22 seats.

We dance to Sweet Water on March 20^th at 7 PM in the Large Hall.  $5 per person.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We will need some help setting up chairs  on Thursday, March 12^th at 9 AM. I also appreciate the cooperation of the pickle ball players in delaying their time until the presentation is over and we can get the chairs picked up.

The dance Friday night will feature Diego, a favorite of many of us so come up here then and enjoy. We still need kitchen help so here’s your chance to help out and get into the dance for free to boot. Sign up on the sheet on the volunteer bulletin board.

Jam crew for the last jam of this season on Saturday will be the Doddridge crew and I’d appreciate knowing if anyone can’t make it so we can arrange substitutes.  Ron Jensen has volunteered to do the brats.

Need help with ice cream on Sunday. Still need a couple of dippers – sign up on the volunteer board.

We’ll need three people to work concession for the St Patrick’s Day Round-up. This is a BYOB as well as green food so we’ll sell ice and set-ups and ice cream – no popcorn so you don’t have to worry about making popcorn. Sign up on the volunteer board.

Clean kitchen on the 19^th from 9 to Noon:   Any of the groups who’ve used the kitchen for their fundraisers, etc. we’d appreciate your help in this endeavor. This is your kitchen, not ours. We used to have a sign in the break room where I worked that said ‘Your mother doesn’t work here so please clean up after yourself.’ This is the annual time to clean up after a very active and successful season in preparation for next season. So please help.

If you are adept at data entry (really just a good typist), we have a new data base that Lee put together for Volunteer Help.  We’d love it if someone could help us fill it.  We haven’t had a chance to start on it yet.