April Social at the Botanical Garden

Our speaker Wilf Nicholls:



We had a fabulous turn-out and everyone, even the non-gardeners, enjoyed Wilf's informative and entertainingly delivered talk.


In the absence of our president Peggy, Ann winged the information part of our meeting.




And adorable little Mathew was so good.

Message from our president

Hi there!

Wow, did you enjoy the Social at the Botanical Gardens? Hope you went and got some great new ideas for your gardens. I know I am inspired each time I go there.

Speaking of inspirations, I had another chance to travel last week (imagine that!) and was struck by just how MANY of us are away at any given time. Our attendance has been quite low at the past few socials and I just thought that the winter weather had gotten the best of us. I guess that could be one reason but then I remembered a certain group of GOLFERS that ventured to Norway to get some Scandinavian sunshine. Then I heard about the beach in Cuba that was the greatest beach on earth to take one's SCHOOLCHILDREN on winter holiday. I saw an ad for the Dominican Republic whose beaches were also supposed to attract many a Newfoundlander this time of year! And then so-and-so was house hunting out West, you-know-who was visiting her grandchildren in Australia, and what's-her-name just had to go on a “shopping and see her daughter” trip to Nova Scotia. Oh yes, a DYNAMIC DUO WE KNOW is off to Spain and Portugal next week, and the seasoned campers escape off to the gravel pits in a few weeks! Another member is on a CRUISE! YOU get the picture. If I were a gossip columnist I would be very busy indeed. However, I am just the President of a very important Club in Newfoundland, which likes to help its members keep busy. Well, I realize now that our members are busy enough.

Maybe what we need to provide for our Membership is a place to have some peace and quiet! Now there's an interest group. How’s about we gather for a spa day? Maybe just a manicure and pedicure? How about taking a picnic out to the LIGHTHOUSE to escape the hectic pace of city life? What, a hike on the East Coast Trail? A WHALE watching cruise? A tour of the RAILWAY MUSEUM? Why don't we go down to Middle Cove and collect some rocks and have a hot dog roast by the bonfire? Let's visit Portugal Cove and have some fish and chips. Usually I rave on about our Club and all we offer to "DO".

Today I offer up the entire Avalon as a place to have a peaceful moment away from the bustle of our usual routine. Since we will have a couple of months off during the summer.....maybe a Hi Tea or two, but not the regular interest groups or socials…… go ahead and explore what our wonderful province has to offer for your daily dose of solitude/relaxation.

However you must BE HERE to do it! Enjoy YOUR summer holiday wherever you may be!

Peggy

ANNUAL SPRING DINNER

Ladies,
Your old and new Newcomers’ Executive and Friends hope you can join us for our annual Spring Dinner on May 29th.

Our Christmas Cocktail at Peggy's was so successful that we would like to have a "home" party again, this time at Mary-Ellen's. As you know we are planning to publish our very own Newcomers of St John's Cookbook this year and as a special kick-off we are planning that the Spring Dinner be a "Share your Favorite Recipe Party".

What: Bring your favorite recipe, prepared to share and written on the cookbook form (fork only, would be great !)

When: May 29th @ 7pm Where: Mary-Ellen's

For those of you who don't like to cook or who are too busy this time of year please, come anyway! Bring just yourself or a simple item like bread & butter, salad, veggies & dip or a fruit tray.

Please RSVP to Gaye ASAP or by Friday May 19th, and let her know what you plan to bring. Bring $5 (optional) as we have a fun little game planned for you.

Message from the 1st VP

A final message from me, for this Newcomers’ year.

I trust that you all enjoyed our Social this month, at the Botanical Gardens. We had a fantastic turnout, maybe the weather inspired us all. I am not a very avid gardener (and if my husband was reading this he would say that was an understatement), however I thoroughly enjoyed our presentation from Wilf Nicholls, he was informative and also had a great sense of humour to help lighten things up. I came home feeling very inspired and with our glorious weather on Monday, thought right I must get those bulbs planted I bought 2 weeks ago. All good intentions, I carried them in from my front porch and dumped them inside on the daily paper and as usual found something else to do! (I found my husband in the garden at 6pm that evening planting my spring bulbs. As I approached him, he said “Just thought I would finish what you had started”!)

Oh well! Maybe one day I will catch the gardening bug, until then I guess my husband will just have to continue on as Head Gardener. I hadn’t realized that we had such a wonderland of amazing and rare flora and fauna in Newfoundland and if nothing else I will certainly be making some visits to the Botanical Gardens this summer to see the gardens, in their various stages of bloom or not, of course I will need my Head gardener in attendance!

Just rounding off for the year I hope you have enjoyed our various Social Meetings for 2005/2006 and I certainly hope that we shall all make one last effort for our final Social Meeting at Mary-Ellen Brown’s on 29th May. Please all come, we will have a fun and relaxed evening. I hope you all have wonderful summer holidays and for those of you leaving St. John’s have a safe move and settle into a wonderful new life in your new cities/countries. Thank you all for your friendship and a great 2005/2006.

Gaye

May Interest Groups

Community Volunteers
Co-conveners: Ann G. & Jaime

Here we are half way through the busiest part of spring for this group. Of late, we have completed our sales of Daffodils for the Cancer Society, and made one family very happy with our Easter donation. The staff and residents of Naomi Centre also sent a nice thank you note to the Newcomers Club for all the “delicious meals you so generously prepare for us”. Violet went on to say, our labour of love is a reminder to the young women how much caring there is in the world. That in turn is a reminder how important it is for us to continue to share with those in our present community.

Up Coming Events:
Blind Date with a Star- The annual fundraiser for The Learning Disabled Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, on June 13th at 6:30 pm at The Fairmont. We are hoping to make up a table of Newcomers to be joined by a “star” and at the assigned restaurant. The cost is $100.00 per person with a tax receipt for at least $40.00. To book at the Newcomers’ table call Ann.

Relay for Life- This annual national event for Cancer will be on June 3rd from 7:00pm to 7:00am at the Field House. There is still need of volunteers for filling gift bags and various other needs, as well as to join those who have started a Newcomers team. Come join us for a lot of laughs and great fun while taking turns walking the track, call Jaime to join the team.

Golf Tournament- This fundraiser for the School Lunch Program is on June 17th at the Willows Golf Course. Cost is $75.00 / person with a $50.00 tax receipt. This is a best ball tournament, great for all levels of golfers. The tournament is followed by a BBQ at the Masonic Temple on Cathedral St., St. John’s. Call Ann to add your name to the men’s or women’s teams. Connie will be making up the teams again this year.

Rugby Game- International Rugby comes to St John’s on August 12th. Canada will host U.S.A. in a qualifying match for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. For ticket information including VIP reservations, call Ann G.

Naomi Centre Supper Club Schedule:
May 29th volunteers needed

Hi Tea
Convener: Peggy

This first Wednesday HI TEA will be held at Hana on Wednesday May 3rd at 1pm. Join the ladies for a warm, cozy spot of tea or coffee and most certainly some stimulating conversation! Everyone is welcome, but please let Hana know if you will attend. Hi Tea is a great place to unwind after a busy morning. Bring a new neighbour if you have one. RSVP to Hana 738-0266.

Winter Walkers
Convener:Peggy
Since the weather is nicer Winter Walkers will be discontinued for lack of winter weather, however if anyone wants to walk ANY morning, please call Peggy and I will be happy to go anywhere!

Golf Gang
Convener: Marie
Lessons will have started May 2nd and will continue every Tuesday throughout May. The Ladies’ League at the Woods will start every Tuesday afternoon starting on May 23rd for those of you who are interested and have registered. We will try to have our Newcomers’ tournament at the Black Duck at Clovelly in late May or very early in June. Watch for further info coming to you via e-mail. Meanwhile, practice your short game.




Book Notes
Convener: Roberta
Tuesday May 9th @ 9:30am

Our book in April was The Wreckage by Michael Crummy. The story begins at the onset of the Second World War in rural Newfoundland. Wish Furey travels the coast of Newfoundland screening Hollywood films in churches and meets Sadie Parsons who is Protestant. Wish is Catholic and they begin an intense affair that ultimately translates into him being driven from the Cove by the disapproval of the locals and the prejudice of Sadie’s mother. Wish enlists in the British army and suffers through the brutality and deprivation of a Japanese POW camp. Sadie also leaves the Cove to travel to St. John’s and wait for Wish to return from the War. Do Wish and Sadie ever reunite? Read the book and find out for yourself.

Our group rated this book a 6 out of 10. Most people said they enjoyed it, and found it to be a nice love story, historical fiction, and fun to read about Newfoundland during WWII. Some comments were: “the writing was distracting, and “not particularly memorable”, “enjoyed the Characters of Wish and Sadie and was soon caught up in their lives.”

Get ahead on reading Book Notes reads
May: Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
June: An Equal Music by Vikram Seth


Newcomers Tennis
Conveners: Sandi & Roberta
Please join us for some social tennis and a coffee at Greenbelt Tennis Centre every Friday from 9 am-10:30 am. We are a friendly group and welcome players of all abilities. We will set up a clinic or series of lessons for those who are new to tennis or haven't played in years. If you are a seasoned player we can facilitate matches and introduce you to the Tennis leagues at the club. If you are interested please contact Roberta or Sandi so we can get your name on the email list and organize any clinic or lessons as needed.


Friday Adventure Touring Group
Also known as the Walkie-Talkie-Munchie Group. This is not a Newcomers’ interest group, but open to anyone who wishes to take part. It is a wonderful way to get to know St. John’s and the surrounding areas. The group meets every Friday morning at 10 a.m. in the lobby of the Holiday Inn, Portugal Cove Road, next to the kiosk. Just show up and explore!

Get Together Crafts
Convener: Jaime
The Craft Group continues to meet every Thursday morning from 9 to 12 at Sobey’s at Merrymeeting Road. Andrea will be leading us into another amazing quilting project, a lighthouse picture. We will start this project around the middle of May. All of our projects are open to all and no previous experience is necessary! Join us anytime, you can bring your own projects or join us for a group project. Not into crafting? Just come for a cup of coffee and a chat!

Film Group
Convener: Karen
Film Group will meet at 12 noon at the Avalon Mall on Tuesday 16th May.
Please contact Basia on 726-1611 if you are interested in attending.

Bible Study
Convener: Marie
9.30 a.m. Tuesday, April 9th
Newcomers’ of St. John’s has offered an informal Bible study ever since I joined in 1998 and I can’t imagine that the need to fill our spiritual selves up once a week will change over the next years. I have enjoyed convening this group so much and am enriched by the women who have attended. If there are one or two of our members who would feel led to head up this wonderful group, please let the executive know as soon as possible. I will be praying for you and know that whoever gets involved will be greatly blessed for their efforts. I will be moving back to Calgary September 1st and after 10 years in this beautiful province, there will be tears! Bless you all and keep looking up!