Interest Groups
Interest Groups - July 2020
Hi Everyone:
Another month has gone by and summer is officially here. There is no question on it being summer if you gauge by the temperatures we have been having. I have to say even I have found it just “too hot” to do things. It’s easy to become lethargic and do nothing in the heat wave.
Brian and I decided to go camping in our little trailer. In past years we would have already been away by now but everything was closed until recently. We can be self contained, therefore I am feeling comfortable enough. I will say its nice to have a change of scenery. We back onto a creek and enjoy watching the ducks, geese and otters swim by. I also saw a turtle sunning itself on a log. The most interesting thing was seeing a large heron come and roost for the night on a dead tree right across on the other bank. I sat and watched it for at least an hour. I am currently sitting at the picnic table composing my bit of the newsletter. Thank goodness for cell service and data,Don’t forget to join the Port Perry PROBUS Facebook group if you haven’t done so already. What have you all been up to? Please be sure to share any interesting/funny outings, happenings or stories. We are all looking for some interesting diversion in our lives right now.
What has everyone been up to? The group would love to hear about any outings or activities you have found to keep busy. Have you taken up a new hobby? Perhaps you’ve taken some nice drives? Found some interesting online courses? Please be sure to share either on our great Facebook page or send me the info and perhaps we can put it in our next newsletter.
Melodie Scott
Remote Group Get Togethers:
Our group has a zoom account should you wish to set up a virtual meeting! No time restraints! We are here to help should you want to try a meeting virtually!
If you would like to coordinate a new remote group or shared experience, please let Melodie know at interestgroups.portperryprobus@gmail.com. Note: In-person meet ups are on hold during the ‘shelter in place’ directive. Options for keeping engaged are noted next.
Click here to see some of the work of our Open Studio Artists.
"Shelter in Place" Interest Group Updates:
NOTE - In the case of all Interest Groups, If you have questions or wish to join, please contact the Coordinator
ACTING FOR FUN - Evelyn McKenzie at evsurfing@gmail.com or 905-985-2587
The Acting For Fun Interest Group is continuing to do practices with Zoom as mentioned last month, we have a lot of fun.
ART - OPEN STUDIO – ART - Margaret Adamson at madamson905@gmail.com or 905-773-7828
This group will keep in touch with each other via emails. Hopefully, members who have been working on their own creations/works of art during the COVID shutdown, can share their new creations or art works as an attachment in joint emails. At a later date it might be possible to post them on the website.
BOARD GAMES - Jenny Yorgason at j.yorgason@xplornet.ca or 905-986-5441 and Bill Morrison at billandmaryare@gmail.com or 905-985-2624
The Board Games Group continues to be on hold. There is nothing new to report. The Board Games Interest group is not meeting as there is no way we can observe social distancing rules at this time. If you have any questions on how to enjoy games on your computer or tablet, please see the Port Perry Probus Facebook group for details.
BOOK CLUB - Mary Arlt at arltmary21@gmail.com or 905-982-0159
Our book club is keeping in touch via email. Everyone is doing well and we are considering a group meeting via Zoom. We will not be adding any readers to our group. However, from time to time there could be changes to our numbers and I will keep you informed. Here is a heads up on upcoming books for 2020; The Lost Letter by Jillian Cantor; Born A Crime by Trevor Noah; and, The Silent Patient By Alex Michaelides.
BOOKWORMS BOOK CLUB Brenda Manns at mannsx2@sympatico.ca and Agnes Shaw at theshaw@sympatico.ca or 905-982-1558
Like all other gatherings the Bookworms meetings have been suspended for the past months of isolation. Our regular meeting days are the fourth Tuesday of each month in the afternoons. The books on our list to still be discussed are Born a Crime by Trevor Noah; Becoming by Michele Obama; The Giver of Stars by Jo Jo Moyes; The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena; and, Recipe for a Perfect Wife by Karma Brown. If you’re interested in joining our group please contact Brenda.
BOWLING FOR FUN - Ann Skinner at skinntj@gmail.com and Pat McDougall at patmcdougall@yahoo.com or 905-982-8865
Bowling For Fun is on the ‘shelter in place’ hiatus. Typically we bowl the last Thursday of every month. When we start back up and if you would like to join in the fun and enjoy social time contact please contact Ann by email.
BREAKFAST CLUBS - Mary-Anne Unwin c/o interestgroups.portperryprobus@gmail.com
Both the Tuesday and Thursday Breakfast Clubs are closed to new members and are currently suspended until the Provincial Government lifts the restrictions on restaurants and group gatherings. Note that even when restaurants reopen, they most likely will be obligated to reduce their capacity to 25 or 50% of normal in order to obey “social distancing” rules. Therefore, it will be awhile after that before groups will be permitted. Membership lists and email addresses have been sent to everyone and I encourage members to reach out and keep in touch with each other. Since some members do not have internet or email, it would be unfair to them to set up virtual meetings. For everyone else, feel free to join the Port Perry PROBUS group on Facebook for insightful comments, humour, and community goings-on. Hang in there, someday we will be able to resume our enjoyable breakfasts together!
BRIDGE - BEGINNERS/INTERMEDIATE - Judy Anderson at judykins999@yahoo.ca
Our group is in a hiatus. If anyone has suggestions for online games we might join, please be in touch. When we start back up, this group will meet on a weekly basis on Tuesday afternoons. With the basics of bidding and play of the hand covered, we’ve moved to a shuffle and play format. This allows the group to feel comfortable with playing traditional kitchen bridge which incorporates scoring. Occasional discussions come up regarding bidding, but for the most part players have become independent. Although our group is currently full, we anticipate adding new members.
Facebook has games such as Scrabble, Words with Friends, Yahtzee With Buddies just to name a few that you can play against friends or a random computer opponent. Facebook has a lot of online games you can play interactively with others.
CREATE & CHAT – Lou Ellen Clement-Hobbs at chichi@persona.ca or 705 432 3229
This group is off and running! When we are back to meeting in person, note that there is still room to join and take pleasure in good company and yummy treats. Please contact Lou at the above email address for more information.
CRIBBAGE Barb Rootham at brb.rootham@gmail.com or 905-985-9066
“The Fifteen For Two Crew” meets bi-weekly on Thursday afternoons at alternating members’ homes. Cribbage can be played with 2, 3, or 4 players, so there is never a challenge of not enough players to enjoy the afternoon games. We currently have 9 members, and new members are always welcome when we can meet in person again. Most of the group has an App where they play against a computer opponent. Barb reports that the computer has NO interesting stories to tell! Contact Barb for more information.
CURRENT EVENTS - Linda Schell at lindaschellconsulting@gmail.com or 905-242-8877
We are working at fostering remote meetings – either with FactTime, FaceBook messages or with Zoom, depending upon the group members. Join us if you are interested in delving into the news of the day. We explore global, national, and community topics at each meeting. Please contact Linda if you are interested in joining our discussions about news and views.
FUN DARTS - John Leahy at jleahy6@gmail.com or 905-982-2695 and and Ken Crossley at magentis@checkmail.ca or 705-786-1707
When the ‘shelter in place’ directive is lifted, the club will start getting together in person every Tuesday 2:15-4:30p.m. at The Canadian Legion Branch 419 at 484 Bay St. (basement) corner of Bay and Old Simcoe St, in Port Perry. A Legion Membership is not required. Ladies are welcome. Don't worry about your skill level this is not a league, it’s just for fun only. We also have a 50/50 draw. P.S. Please remove your hat when entering the Legion out of respect for the fallen. For information please contact John or Ken.
DINNER - GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER (GWCTD) - Carole Matthews at dandcm43@yahoo.ca or 905-982-2702
Note that this group is currently in a holding pattern pending lifting of the current ‘shelter in place’ guidelines. Please note for you future planning that this group is open and meets once a month on a Saturday evening. We send an email to the group with details of our next meeting. We expect a lot of members to attend our dinners throughout the spring and summer, and many restaurants in the area only have a limited amount of room, so when you get the notice of the dinner, please RSVP early. If we get more interest than the number of seats available, we do keep a wait list in the event of cancellations. New members are always welcome! Please contact Carole for questions.
DINNER - THE MUNCHKINS – Marg Miller at margandrodmiller@gmail.com or 226-229-9073 and Marilyn Hanna at jf.hanna@powergate.ca, or
905-985-6322
The Munchkins Dinner Group typically meets monthly on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. We are on hold right now and checking the menus of all our favourite haunts!
EUCHRE – AFTERNOON - Linda Parry at parrylk@gmail.com 905-985-8602
This Group is on a hiatus, probably until Ontario is declared “Covid-free” or until a vaccine is available. Due to the nature of the group, i.e. meeting on alternate Friday afternoons in each other’s homes to play a few friendly games of euchre and then crowd around the dining table for some lovely refreshments and chat – and the ages of the group members - it is unlikely that this activity will resume for a some time
BID EUCHRE – AFTERNOON - Jayne Rees at rees.jayne@gmail.com or 905-985-8602
The Bid Euchre Group is also on hiatus. The schedule will start up when we have the nod from our government. The group plays on alternate Fridays and usually has good attendance and a lot of fun. We have lots of regular players, but we are looking for a couple of spares. If you know the game, or would like to learn it, please give Jayne a quick call.
EUCHRE THE TABLE TAKERS - AFTERNOON - Barb Rootham at brb.rootham@gmail.com or 905-985-9066 and Susan Merriman at susan.j.merriman@gmail.com or 416-892- 2127
Stay tuned for when we start up after the hiatus. The group did meet monthly on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 1:30 PM in members’ homes. Please contact Barb or Susan for information.
EUCHRE – EVENING - Margaret Adamson at madamson905@gmail.com or 905-773-2878
These monthly evening euchre games are played at 7:00 p.m. on the Tuesday evening of our Probus General Meeting. We have started a waiting list for spares. The 2020 rotating schedule for the members to host in their homes will be revised when we are able to meet again.
FOODIES! – Melodie Scott at bmgscott101@gmail.com or 905-767-1505
The Foodies had a “Cook Together” zoom meeting. We chose a recipe ahead of time. We all joined zoom and cooked together at the same time. It was a lot of fun and culminated in us all eating our dinner together enjoying each others company. We have also hosted a “Virtual Wine and Cheese” We all joined via zoom, had a nice chat and discussed our choices in cheese and wine. We are planning on doing something else soon.
GARDENING - BLOOMERS! - Heather Hill Gibson at hhillgibson17@gmail.com or 905-985-9108
COORDINATOR NEEDED!!!
Well, we are having quite a hot spell! Our gardens seem to need watering twice a day now.
But regardless, please put your garden pics up on face book or email to me to share via email or Facebook for you! Just specify which or both. Because of the weather, our last three events did not really happen! They were Century Gardens Tour, Helen’s Trilliums and JoAnne's Garden visit. So for now we are suggesting that visits for July and August will be postponed, due to the heat and Covid restrictions. We are still asking for someone to step up and be the Co-ordinator - I would be willing to stay on and help, working alongside with another member to continue our wonderful garden visits! Please let me know if you are willing to help!
GENEALOGY – Heather Hill-Gibson at hhillgibson17@gmail.com or 905-985-9108
Genealogists hello - Sorry we have not be able to meet up !If anyone would like to make a time appointment you can email to do so! I’m willing to give you some time and help talk by phone or Skype! I would be glad to make suggestions or referrals for help with archives and web sites for each of you individually on your projects.
GOLF -
COORDINATOR NEEDED!!!
Do you golf? Have you been out enjoying the links now that it is allowed? How would you like to head up the golf group? It’s a great way for PROBUS members to get together while practicing social distancing. Please contact Melodie Scott at interestgroups.portperryprobus@gmail.com
HIKING - Bill Morrison at billandmaryare@gmail.com or (h) 905-985-2624
Typically the hiking group meets twice monthly, on the first and third Fridays. Hikes usually start at 9:25 am; particulars for each hike are emailed to group members a few days before the planned hike date. To join the group, or for any questions, please contact Bill. Bill emphasizes that social distancing is being adhered to on the hikes and meals have been suspended until the guidelines are lifted.
INVESTMENT - PORT INVESTMENT GROUP - Ann Skinner at skinntj@gmail.com or 905-982-8865
The club is not meeting in person. Our treasurer is circulating our regular monthly updates of our portfolio holdings.
JAZZ -
COORDINATOR NEEDED!!!
Jazz is best enjoyed in a reflective mood. Now is the time to listen to some Miles Davis. Just Google his name and you can find some wonderful videos to enjoy.
LAWN BOWLING - Dennis Bayley at dennis.bayley@icloud.com or 289-989-0178
Lawn Bowls Canada has cancelled all club activities. Let us know if anyone has set up a bowling lane in the living room!
LUNCH MEETUP - Melodie Scott at interestgroups.portperryprobus@gmail.com
Once our meetings resume, we will resume with this lunch group. I look forward to seeing you then!
LUNCH - THE LUNCH BUNCH – Susan Barber at susan_barber_4@live.com or 905-854-5771
The lunch group is on hold until we may enjoy lunch together in person.
MODEL BOATS -
COORDINATOR NEEDED!!!
If you are interested in models boats, you can find designs and ‘how to’ by using Google searches. Note that we have several members interested in building model boats. We just need a coordinator to get the group going. If you’re interested in Model Boats and possibly to join the interest group, please sign up at the next in-person member’s meeting.
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MOVIE GROUP – Denise Throp at deniset1954@gmail.com
Our in-person movie nights are on hold right now. The group has been sharing their movie lists via email. Denise is also enjoying complex jigsaw puzzles and reading new ebooks. You can still get on the distribution list to hear about all the movies on offer that PROBUS friends are likely to attend.
PHOTOGRAPHY – Jim Wakeford at jrwakeford@yahoo.ca or 905-985-2030
We are navigating such an unusual time. If you have a smart phone, you might try some of the filters and the different features available. Perhaps you can do a study of the sky – with and without colour, saturation levels etc. You may just catch the photography bug!
SINGLETONS - Denise Throp at deniset1954@gmail.com and Cathy Jeffrey at cjef@bell.net
We are getting creative by enjoying the various remote activities available to us from the museums and streaming services.
THEATRE TOWN HALL - Judy L. Anderson at or 905-985-4257
The Town Hall is dark. All productions are cancelled or postponed indefinitely. SCSMusicals has rescheduled "The Little Mermaid", to late November with the same cast. They meet on Zoom to keep in touch and to be prepared for the day the Town Hall Theatre opens again.
TRAVEL - Judy Spring at judith.spring@outlook.com or 905-447-4557
For now we are all just dreaming and researching places we are interested in seeing once advisories have been lifted and its safe to travel again. Judy has said she will set up another virtual meeting sometime in the future.
WINE TASTING I – Jim Adamson at jim.adamson07@aol.com or 905-773-2878
Sheltering in place can mean enjoying a nice new wine. We recommend you consider a ‘stay at home’ tasting. There are some terrific YouTube tutorials for how to’ taste’ a wine and what you might consider.