Working on getting the Centre open again: Board members Rick Hine, Laura Ritchie, Dot Muir, Marcia McKay, Dos Mancell, and Maureen Nelson. Missing are Genevieve Hambalek and Elaine Hulford

Our doors are opening again!

Starting on Wednesday, June 2^nd, we will be re-opening as a restaurant.   Not only are you welcome to come back to the Centre, but we will be having some special visitors – neighbours from nearby Ironwood who have to leave their homes during those days. So for a limited time only, we will be opening at 8 am with muffins, tea, and coffee available and then at 11:30 there will be soup and sandwiches on offer. We won’t be serving dinner, but we will have individual servings of lasagna and similar entrees available for you to purchase and take home. Our doors will close at 5:00.

First of all, I’d like to thank Linda and her team for getting us through the Covid 19 year and some very uncertain times. Linda is going to take a leave of absence, and VP Jean is stepping down to take care of things at home. Bob is going to ‘be around’ but won’t be on the board again.

Thank you to everyone who attended the AGM in person or via Zoom. You’ve probably heard that I am your new President, and yes, I am both delighted and slightly terrified. We’ve got a great team and I think we can accomplish some even greater things at the Centre. Genevieve Hambalek has agreed to stay on as director responsible for Membership, and Rick Hine has agreed to continue to deal with By-Laws and Parliamentary Procedure. Maureen Nelson will assume the position of Vice President, and will be assisting our new and yet to be confirmed Treasurer Elaine Hulford. Dos Mancell is our Kitchen Liaison, so great soups are in our future. Laura Ritchie, who used to be a kitchen volunteer, is stepping up as our new Secretary, and Dot Muir has agreed to look after Special Events. We will try to remember to get a group photo at our next meeting!

In the mean time, please consider joining the board – we need help with communications/marketing, facilities, and with fundraising. We will gladly accept whatever time you are able to give!

Marcia McKay

At our last board meeting, we agreed to extend memberships by an extra two months, so they will now expire on July 1^st. That leaves us with half of 2021, so you can renew your membership until the end of the calendar year for only $15! Membership for 2022 will be $25. Please renew as soon as you can at the front desk! And be sure to let us know of any changes to your e-mail address!

In spending so much time at home isolating or in quarantine, I’ve come to the realization that I HAVE TOO MUCH STUFF! Fortunately one of our board members, Laura, has come up with the idea of holding a never-ending indoor sale. Members are welcome to donate their ‘stuff’ to the Centre, and we will offer it for sale from the area just inside the main entrance. We will do the pricing, and the Centre will retain all the proceeds. Monies raised will be put towards projects in the Centre. Please talk to Laura first – leave a message for her at the front desk – before you bring in your donations.

With the Community Centre tied up with vaccinations, the City is looking for space to resume programming. We are in discussions with them about offering some of those programs at the Centre! And we are investigating having a joint membership card so that our members will have full access to their programs! If their classes are off interest to you, and you would like to see them offered at our Centre on Ironwood, please talk to any board member, or put it in writing and drop your suggestion in the suggestion box next to the door of the kitchen.