October 28th Wednesday Morning Meeting Minutes

THANK YOUS:

A Big Thank You goes out to Betty Luster for coordinating the pie sales for our craft events for the last several years. She did an outstanding job of making sure there were pies on hand for all of our craft sales.

Betty called me the other day to let me know that she was stepping down from this position because of health issues. She also said that she thought the time had come to discontinue doing the pies for the craft sales. She has had a terrible time getting volunteers to help out and even more trouble getting people to make the pies. She also said that the profit these days is just not worth the effort of doing it. We believe that she is correct and so we will be discontinuing this from now on. We just wanted to let all of you know about this decision before the first craft show.

Thanks also to Mary Jane Jensen for helping out with registrations for the photo sessions last Wednesday.

WARNING: MYSTERY GORILLA TERRORIZES WINTER RANCH!

This huge gorilla creeped up on Cathy yesterday and nearly scared her to death!  However, as you can see, they kissed and made up in the end.  Can you guess who it is?  Check it out later in this post!

EVENTS:

Roundup & Battle of the Sexes Game: We didn’t have very large audience yesterday but we think everyone had a great time. Thanks to Dick Larson, Marlene Miska, Marvin and Della Orndorff, Chuck and Pat Cullett, Al Priem, Judith Simpson and Howard and Debbie McDaniels for being our contestants yesterday. Congratulations to the Women who won by a score of 70 to 135!! The men just keep insisting that the women’s questions were easier but I think we had some pretty savvy women on the team. I couldn’t believe how they knew all the sports questions!!  The men weren’t much into fashion, cooking or classic romanantic novels!

Judith Simpson, Marlene Miska, Pat Cullett, Deb Daniels and Della Orndorff

Marv Orndorff, Dick Larson, Chuck Cullett, Howard Daniels and Al Priem

THE WINNERS

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Welcome Packets – Welcome Packets are being distributed to those people already in the park so if you are here and don’t have them yet, stop in the office. As new residents arrive, they will be receiving their packets at check in. If you need a second sticker for your car, stop in the Business Office. Those that are full time residents or anyone that is now in the park that hasn’t picked up their Welcome Packets, please stop in the office to do so. There is a lot of information that you need to know.

Forms – The Business Office really needs everyone to return the forms that were in your Welcome Packet. There are some for emergency information, back up keys and golf cart forms. You are used to the emergency forms and the other forms are from the Corporate Office and are new. We really need to get all of yours in soon before the office gets really crazy with more returning to Winter Ranch.

UPDATE ON WIFI: CORE will be attaching access points to MVEC Poles and possibly putting a few poles in where needed to get the ignal out to the park. They are a little behind because of the code issues with Utility Companies. Rick said to thank you for your patience. We are making progress. Larry and Cathy thank you too! For those of you have questions on the Wifi, we will have a representative of CORE come in and answer any questions for you.

Time Change: Make sure you set your clocks back before you go to bed on Halloween night. We gain an hour of sleep this time.

Activities Welcome Packet – If you are new to the resort in the 2015-2016 Season, please stop in the office to pick up your Activities Welcome Packet. It includes a lot of valuable information that we’ve put together for you. It also includes some free tickets to entice you to join in some of our activities. There is a price for the packet. We need your picture for the Blog so if you are a couple, you both need to stop in. We’ll take your picture and then hand you the packet. I can guarantee that it is worth it!

Veterans Day Celebration: We will be celebrating Veterans’ Day on November 11^th, Wednesday. The program will start at 11 AM followed by a luncheon. We’ll have the menu for lunch planned out by next Wednesday and we’ll fill you in on that then. The menu for the day will be Baked Ziti, Garlic Bread, and Salad with a patriotic dessert. The price is $5 per person. Veterans eat free (but need to get a ticket so we know how many we are cooking for. The tickets will go on sale after the meeting today and then will be available in the Activities Office.

Vaccinations – If your vaccinations are not up-to-date, then you’ll be happy to hear that Walgreens Pharmacy from here in Alamo will be giving vaccinations for the flu, pneumonia, the 2^nd pneumonia shot, and  tetanus here in our Library. We have scheduled them to come in once a month on November 4^th, December 9^th and January 13^th after the park meeting. Vaccinations will be in the Library. Video Checkouts will use the back door. You will need to stop in the Activities Office with your health insurance cards. We’ll make a copy of them and give them and another form to the Pharmacist so that you will be all set to go on the day you have your vaccinations.

November Calendars – They should be in your Mail Box in the next day or so!

Craft Sales – If you are a crafter and want to sell items at our Craft Sales, please see me in the Activities Office as soon as you can. We have four open spots and I’ve had people calling every week to get in. The price for a resident is $5 per month per space.

Photo Directory – We would like to get as many people as we can registered for the November sittings. Marlene Miska signed people up today after the meeting and we will be doing it again next week. We still need some people to register others for their photo times and dates. The volunteer sheet is on the Bulletin Board across from the Mail Room. The first photos will be taken on November 9^th and 10^th. When you are registering, please fill those slots up first. We need to use all of the available time slots to keep me out of trouble with Life Touch!

Out of the Office – We will be out of the Activity Office on November 3^rd, 5^th and 6^th next week. We’ll be at a Trade Show on the 3^rd and then going to a Boot Camp for Activity Directors on the 5^th and 6^th. Karen Larson has graciously agreed to man our office for us. She will answer phones and will be able to register you for bus trips and the veterans’ dinner.

Non-denominational Worship Services – Fellowship starts at 8:30 AM on November 1^st with coffee and treats. The worship services with Pastor Frisby begins at 9 AM. This will be a communion Sunday.

Singles Group –Shirley Smith and Marcy DeSchamp has volunteered to Co-coordinate a Singles Group for both men and women at Winter Ranch. We thought it would be fun for the singles to get out and meet all the other singles in the park. We’ve offered to let the singles use the bus a couple of times a month for an outing and those involved can come up with lots of things that they can do to have fun which might include a traveling Happy Hour and bus trips.   There is a signup sheet to show interest on the board across from the Mail Room. If there is enough to form a nice group, which I truly think there will be, then we’ll have an organizational meeting that will be announced at the next park meeting. The only requirements to belong to this group are that you are a resident at least during the winter at Winter Ranch and that you are single and not in a committed relationship.

Wendell Knight’s 85^th Birthday: Wendell has invited everyone to his birthday party which will be on Sunday, November 8^th from 2 to 4 PM in the Large Hall. He doesn’t want any cards or gifts. He just wants you to come and share the day with him. There will be coffee, iced tea, cake and ice cream. Also, David Lopez’s Blue Country Express will be playing for the event.   Since they need to know how many will be attending, there is a signup sheet on the bulletin board near the Mail Room.

Roundup on November 10^th: Weather permitting, we’ll gather by the pool. We’ll serve hamburgers, potato salad and chips. The Concession will be open for drink or BYOB.

Halloween Events: We will again be celebrating Halloween with our friends from Trophy Gardens. Your monthly calendar has a list of the events and times on it.

• Pumpkin Dessert Contest: We are going to start out with a Pumpkin Dessert Contest. The categories will be: Pies, Cakes, Cookies or Bars, and Other. There will be prizes and certificates awarded to the winners. And, their desserts will be a part of the potluck lunch that will be served at 12:30 when the prizes will be awarded.

• Golf Tournament: The Golf Tournament will start at 9 AM at the Winter Gardens Course. If you have questions on this, contact Vicki Miller. I know this has been a really fun event in the past and the golfing techniques are a bit different than usual!! Vicki has posters in the halls that explain everything going on at the Golf Course for Halloween.

• Scavenger Hunt: The Scavenger Hunt will start in the Large Hall at 10:30 AM. You’ll probably need a golf cart to enter since the items you’ll be searching for are located in both Winter Ranch and Trophy Gardens.

• Potluck Lunch: We’ll have a potluck lunch at 12:30 in the Large Hall. Coffee and Iced Tea will be provided.   And, remember, we’ll have some desserts from the Pumpkin Contest. This will be a real potluck – bring what you want. If you’d like to bring something that looks scary or like Halloween food, all the better. Prizes for the Scavenger Hunt and the Pumpkin Dessert Contest will be awarded.

• Bean Bag Baseball: The contest is on at 2:30 PM in the Large Hall. We’ll be fighting to keep the treasured Squash Trophy which is now on display in front of the Activity Office window. A signup sheet is on the Bulletin Board across from the Mail Room.

• Golf Cart Parade: It will start at the front of the Large Hall at Winter Ranch at 5:15 PM. We changed this because one of the dance attendees at Trophy told us we need to be at the dance by 6 PM for seats. There will be a prize awarded for the best decorated Golf Cart. We’ll run through the parks and then those that are attending the dance and costume party at Trophy can park their carts and go to the dance.

• SweetWater Dance and Costume Contest:   Trophy has a scheduled dance for Saturday night so we’re going to join them as the finale of the evening. There will be a prize or prizes for the best costume.

ACTIVITIES START UP:

Please let the office know as you start up activities so that we can announce them and post them on the blog.

These Activities have notified us that they are now in progress:

500 – Sundays at 6:30 PM in the Large Hall

Billiards Fun Night – Sundays at 6:30 PM in the Small Hall

Mixed Scotch Doubles – Sundays at 2 PM in the Small Hall.

Beginning Billiards – Mondays at 9 AM in the Small Hall

Ladies Billiards – Tuesdays from 1 to 3 in the Small Hall

Nine Ball – No Call Shot $1 – Wednesdays at 6:30 PM in the Small Hall

In House 8 Ball Tournament – Call Shots at 6:30 PM in the Small Hall

Bridge – Tuesdays at 6:30 PM in the Library.

Cribbage – Wednesdays at 6:30 PM in the Library.

Gentle Yoga – Monday-Friday 8 – 8:30 AM (November-March) with Pam Hoppe

Pinochle – Mondays at 6:30 PM in the Large Hall

Pitch – On Tuesdays at 6:30 in the Large Hall.

ICE CREAM SOCIALS:

We asked for opinions on whether to continue with the Ice Cream Socials on Sunday evenings at 5 PM. We will not be able to have them during January, February and most of March due to other activities. We asked if people were interested enough in them to have them in November and December and the consensus was to discontinue the Ice Cream Socials. We will have the Sundae Sundays on the first Sunday of the month.

BUS TRIPS:

WR Bus Trip to Riverside Dreamer: The first one was a real success and everyone really seemed to enjoy it so we’ll be sending another group out on Friday, November 6^th This will be after the time change so we’ll probably leave at 3:30 PM, have dinner (on your own) and then go on the boat ride. It will be getting darker sooner. By the way, the tenderloins and onion rings are to die for.

This will be followed by a Sunset Cruise on the Riverside Dreamer on the Rio Grande River. The cruise is $10 and we will collect the cruise money at registration. Stop in the Activity Office to register. There is still room.

WR BUS Trip to Birding Center in South Padre followed by lunch on your own at Dirty Al’s at Pelican Station on Monday, November 9th. The Birding Center is reduced to $3 because of the number of us going. Bus will leave at 8:30 AM from Winter Ranch.   There is still plenty of room on the bus.

WR/TG Bus Trip to The McAllen Symphonic Band “An American Celebration” on November 10^th at 7:30 PM at the Trinity Worship Center in Pharr.   The Bus can take 22 of us to this symphony and will leave Winter Ranch at 6:30 PM. Whether you take the bus or drive on your own, the tickets are $5 and can be purchased in the Business Office.

WR Bus Trip to First Baptist Church of McAllen – Celebration Choir and Orchestra with Jason Crabb on December 13^th   at 5:15 PM. Jason is an award winning gospel artist. He earned a grammy for his first solo album in 2009. Since then he has earned numerous other awards. It sounds like a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas. You need to tell us if you want $5, $10 or $15 tickets. They are based on seat location.   We’ll pick them for you. We will have to pay for tickets in advance so they will not be refundable. If you can’t use the ticket, you will be responsible for finding someone else to buy it from you. Stop in the office by November 5th. If you aren’t here yet, call the office, e-mail or Facebook Mary by November 5^th.   We will need to get the tickets by then in order to get the seats you would want. We are only buying the tickets for the bus.

WR Bus Trip to the Nikki Rowe Musical “How To Succeed In Business Without Even Trying” for January 23, 2016 at 12:30 for performance at 2 PM will be on sale after the meeting. The tickets are $12. We have two seats left on the bus so come see us or contact us via FB or e-mail. The first one to contact us will get the seats. If you want tickets to this musical and want to drive yourselves, we have a contact for you. You can call her and still get tickets to go on your own.

Bus Trip Procedures and Etiquette – We have worked with the Activity Directors at Trophy Gardens and have come up with a list of procedures and etiquette. The Bus Trips Procedures and Etiquette are posted on the blog and on the Tours Board and near the Coffee Machine. In the past, we have had a lot of complaints about “no-shows” on the bus trips and we have come up with what we hope will be a solution to that problem.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

Veterans Day Celebration: We will be needing several volunteers to help us with lunch for the celebration. We still need to 4 veterans carry the flags for the ceremony. We still need a veteran to carry the Coast Guard and another to carry the USA Flag. You can stop by the Activity Office and let us know if you would like to carry one. We have prep and servers but we need some cleanup people afterwards. We clean as we go and do dishes but after it is over there is still some work to do and the team is about beat by that time. We also need someone to wipe off the tables and put the chairs back in order after the event Since this celebration is for veterans, we’d really like to have people who are not veterans help us out with those tasks. There is a signup sheet in the Large Hall across from the Mail Room.

Sundae Sunday: is coming up the 1^st of November. There are signup sheets on the board across from the hall for volunteers for November 1^st. We need a person to watch the toppings table yet.

Ticket Sales Coordinator: This season we plan on selling tickets to our entertainment and dances whenever we have an event that is open to the public such as our jams, craft sales, entertainment and dances. We figure there is no better time to sell a ticket than when we have a captive audience. To do this we’d like to have a Ticket Coordinator who would line up two people to do ticket sales at each event and show them what they need to do. When the season gets busier, it is going to be harder and harder for us to have the time to train and schedule everything and everyone. This would be a big help to us. This Coordinator could use the bulletin board as we do to get volunteers but then make sure that there are two bodies in place for each event. If you interested in getting more information about doing this and how we plan to do it, see us in the office.

Tour Director for the non-Wilder bus tours is needed. You could volunteer to do just our park or perhaps our park and Trophy Gardens. These are normally “Go With Jo” tours. You do receive a commission for tours. Just stop in the Business Office and talk to Cathy about it.

Assigning Times for Life Touch Portraits for the 2015-2016 Picture Directory: Volunteers are needed to schedule portrait sittings for the 2015-2016 Directory. This is what Marlene is doing today. It isn’t difficult so please don’t be shy about signing up to help with this. It is on the Bulletin Board across from the Mail Room.

Portrait Registration on the Day of the Pictures Being Taken: We will also need a person to sign in people as they arrive for their portraits. We had some people sign up so we have November, December and January taken care of. We still need people for February and March. The only requirement for this position is that we need a person who prints legibly.   We are going to try and reduce the amount of errors in the Directory and this will help. Please see Mary in the Activities Office. She can show you what is involved and you can decide whether you could help us out with it. It isn’t difficult.

Zumba Coordinator – Pam Hoppe is looking for a person to be the Coordinator for Zumba exercises this season. Mary Sifuente is willing to come back to Winter Ranch and give classes. What the Coordinator needs to do is to advertise when and where to Winter Ranch, Trophy and the Alamo Country Club.   This person will also handle the money from the students and pay Mary. Pam cannot manage doing this again this season with all the other activities that she is involved with. You can contact her for more details.

The Big Gorilla is Dick Miller!