Vol 16 Issue 3 • November 2007 1 Newcomers

Volume 14, Issue 1 • January 2002 EDITORS: Jan and Mike White - mwhite@ntelos.net 261-2119

WEB SITE: Dorothy Coker www.lexvanewcomers.org

Greater Lexington Newcomers

Meetings are held at 10:00 am on the first Wednesday of the month at the Horse Center on Rt. 39

Calendar

See Activities or Interest Groups for details.

Nov 7 General meeting @ 10:00 am 8 Bridge #1 9 Hiking 13 Bridge #2 @ 12:00 pm 16 Book Club #3 @ 1:00 pm 16 Hiking 26 Book Club #2 @ 1:30 pm 27 Canasta @12:00 pm 28 Couples Bridge #2 @ 7:00 pm 29 Activity: Alleghany Highlands Arts & Crafts Center 30 Hiking

Dec 4 Activity: Music for the Holi- days at W&L Lenfest Center 5 Book Club #2 & #3 @ 12:00 pm Holiday luncheon 7 Hiking 9 Holiday Party 3-5pm 11 Bridge #2 @ 12 pm 13 Bridge # 1 @1:00 pm 14 Hiking 18 Canasta Cookie exchange @12:00 pm 19 Couples Bridge #2 @ 7:00 pm

Activities Response to the October Hands and Harvest Festival in Highland County waslow, possibly due to many conflicting events that particular weekend. Thanks toKathy & Pat Patterson for their leadership. Thursday, November 29th, we will carpool to Clifton Forge where we will enjoythe Alleghany Highlands Arts & Crafts Center, have lunch at the Club Car, andpossibly visit the C & O Rail Museum. Great opportunity for holiday shopping atspecialty shops. Meet behind Peebles at 9:30. Call Sally Nunnely at 463-7938. Tuesday evening, December 4th, we will enjoy appetizers at the home of a new-comer and then attend Music for the Holidays at W & L’s Lenfest Center. Limited to

first 20 Newcomers. Call Susan & Ed Bauer at 463-2018 for reservations. Note: If for some reason you cannot attend an event for which you signed up,

please notify the event leader or someone who will be go-ing. At the monthly meeting Activities Table a “Save the

Date” form will allow you to make a note of upcomingevents, dates, times, etc, in case you forget your

calendar. Carpool driver compensation is: upto 35 miles = $3, up to 60 miles = $5, over60 miles = $8.

It’s hard to believe that the holiday season is here.What better way to begin this joyous season than withNewcomers at the Holiday Party in Moody Hall , VMIon December 9 from 3:00 to 5:00. I hope you all havemade reservations for this event. Please notify Kate andTed Jenks if you still need to reserve your place. Their

committee has worked for months to make this a very special event for us andI want to say a special thanks to Ann and Jerry Plante, Ann and Lynn Jones,Faye and Bob Welch and Pat and John Rafferty for your effort and enthusiasm The new directories will be available at the November meeting. Jan andMike White have done a fantastic job getting these together, and FrankHarrelson assisted by gathering all the important information necessary forthe booklets. Please be sure to give them a special thank you for all of theirhard work. As is our custom, we will not have a meeting in December. Our next meet-ing will take place on Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at the Lexington HorseCenter. Best wishes to each of you for a safe, happy and healthy holidayseason and new year.

President’s Message

Vol 16 Issue 3 • November 2007 2 Newcomers

Announcements

The November general meeting was attended by 40 members and 6 guests. New members included Nipper and Sandy Meroand Mary Quarles. The 2008 Newcomers’ Directory was handed out to all members present. Activity Chair, Ed Bauer announcedthe upcoming activities, Nov 29 at the Alleghany Arts and Craft Center at Clifton Forge and Dec. 4, “Music for the Holidays”at W&L Lenfest Center. Ann Jones reminded everyone who would like to attend the Holiday Party, Dec. 9, to get their moneyin by Dec 1. The door prize was won by Nancy Patrick. President Mary Brooks announced the next general meeting will be heldJan 2, as there is no meeting in Dec. After the interest group reports and general announcements the meeting was adjourned forlunch at Franks for the Memories in Buena Vista.

The first new member coffee was canceled due to a low response. The next coffee is planned for January at the home of Ronand Nancy Patrick. If you have joined recently, you will receive an invitation. If you have been a member for less than a yearand have still not attended a coffee, please send an e-mail to either Jane Auciello or Nancy Vallance and they will get back toyou with the details. These coffee events are a good way to meet some of your fellow Newcomers in a smaller and informalsetting.

Newcomers’ 2007 Holiday Party – December 9

The Greater Lexington Newcomers’ Club will host its annual Holiday Party on Sunday December 9 from3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Moody Hall Banquet Room on the VMI campus. Cost is $15 per person or $30a couple. Payment must be received no later than December 1. Please make checks payable to GreaterLexington Newcomers’ Club and mail to Margaret Skovira, 85 Kennedy Wades Mill Loop, Raphine, VA24472. Since the club does not have a general meeting in December you will not be able to sign up or pay ata meeting, you must mail in your money.

This is our big social event of the season. Comeand mingle with old friends and make some new.Bill McCorkle will be entertaining us on the pi-ano while we mingle. Please note this is not a din-ner, but heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served.There will be a carving station with roast beef andsmoked turkey, rolls and condiments. Also offeredwill be crab dip, chicken satay, stuffed mush-rooms, phyllo triangles, baked brie, and scallopswrapped in bacon, along with a fresh vegetableplatter and cheese board with crackers. Dessertswill include mini lemon bars, chocolate browniesand chocolate covered strawberries. Beveragesinclude cider, tea and coffee. Each person willreceive tickets good for two glasses of wine. Ad-ditional wine may be purchased by the glass. Welook forward to having you join us for this festiveoccasion. Our holiday party committee shown at last year’s festivities.

Vol 16 Issue 3 • November 2007 3 Newcomers

After a good dinner at the homeof Ron and Nancy Patrick.

Enjoying a friendly gameof bridge at the home ofGwen Howe.

Book ClubsBook Club #2 - Norma Combs (463-2745,nacombs@ntelos.net) - filled for now. 3rd Monof the month at 1:30 PM. Nov. 26th, at the homeof Nora Gaty (The Innocent Man” by John

Grisham).Book Club #3 - Evelyn Caldwell (464-5571, ebcaldwell@embarqmail.com) - open. Friday, 11/16 - 1 pm at JaneAuciello’s to discuss books for 2008 reading list.Book Clubs 2&3: Wed, 12/5 - noon, Holiday luncheon atLexington Country Club; bring children/young adult booksfor donating to the shelter house.

BridgeBridge #1 - Faye Welch (463-5320) - call tosubstitute. 2nd Thurs of the month at 1 PM.Bridge #2 -

Marlies Aldridge (464-3080), 2nd Tue of themonth at Lexington Golf &Country Club. 12 NoonLunch, 1 PM game.Seeking new members forfriendly games.Couples Bridge #2 - CathyBroach (261-3141) - 3rdWed of the month at 7:00PM - Substitutes welcome. 11/28 at Susan Bushnell & JohnMurphy’s. 12/19 at Susan Bushnell & John Murphy’s.

CanastaContact: Shirley Dent (348-1048). Call to joinor substitute. Meets 12 noon, 4th Tuesday ofevery month. Nov. 27th, at Aline McKenna’s.Dec. 18th at Marlies Aldridge. A cookieexchange will be held.

Interest GroupsInterest group participants must be members of Newcomers. To join an interest group, call the contact person.

Dining OutContact Lynne & Gary Sullivan, 261-2826(lynnemsullivan@wmconnect.com) The DiningOut Club visited seven different restaurantsduring October. Overall, approximately 50people signed up for the different restaurants

which were hosted by Jan & Mike White, Lucy & BillThornburgh, Ed & Sue Bauer, Cathy & Bill Broach, PatteWood, Bruce & Sue Boller, Norma & Wayne Combs and Pat& Bob Kovach. Reports from the hosts were very favorable asto restaurants and the fun experienced by each group. The next Dining Out will take place in February. At this point,two couples have volunteered to host a restaurant and a thirdis willing but unable to make a commitment at this time. Gary& I hope that everyone who is signed up for the Dining Outclub will consider when they might host a group and let usknow whether they would like February, April or June to host.We would also like to present the idea of a lunch group asmany people have expressed the idea that they would like totry restaurants outside of Lexington but do not feel comfortabledriving at night or during inclement weather.

Baseball ClubContact: Jerry Plante (463-4032). Call to get onthe email list. We attend Salem Avalanchegames.

Fine Dining GroupContact Linda or Bob Textor (348-1919),ltextor@hughes.net, or refer to the websitewww.lexvanewcomers.org/finedining.html.

The first (Oct/Nov) of our three dining rounds have beenorganized. Newmembers maycontinue to sign upfor this group byfilling in the sign-up sheet at amonthly meeting orby contacting thecoordinators byphone or email.You will beincluded in thesecond roundwhich is Feb/March. For more information or to sign up as asubstitute, please contact the Fine Dining Group coordinators(noted above).

Hiking Nov. 9 Cold Mt and Old Hotel Trail: 1.2 milesto the top and then turn around to return. This isa great hike. We’ll meet at the BV Visitors’ Cen-ter at 9:30.Nov. 16 Flat Top Mt: A hike in the Peaks of

Otter area. 4.4 miles moderate to difficult. This hike is mainlyswitchbacks up to an rock overlook. In and outNov. 30 Lake Robertson: 2 to 4 miles in the area. An easywalk around the lake with a few side trails. One wayDec. 7 Buena Vista Levy: A 5 mile easy walk along the levy.You can walk as far as you wish. In and outDec. 14 Woods creek Trail: An easy 3 to 4 mile hike aroundtown.If you are interested in hiking and not on the e-mail list con-tact Lucy Thornburgh (434-922-7544).

Vol 16 Issue 3 • November 2007 4 Newcomers

Wine Tasting Groupwww.histomin.com/wineclub/pgindex.htmContact Kate Jenks at 463-4722 or email her:katejenks@comcast.net. Our fall Shiraz/Merlottasting was completed on October 14. A merlot

won first place, a shiraz second place and a blend won third.The McWilliams merlot won first place by a wide margin.

And, until the final 3 tastings, the Wolf Blass merlot was inlast place by an equally large margin. Its low placement in theranking surprised our supplier, Lester at Kroger, who thoughtit would be at the top of the heap. I think everyone had funand learned a little along the way. Here is the final ranking from our “blind” tastings:

McWilliams merlot ($10) = First placeRosemount shiraz ($9) = Second placeBlack Swan blend ($6) = Third placeGreg Norman shiraz ($13) = Fourth placeLuna di Luna blend ($9) = Fifth placeWolf Blass merlot ($11) = Sixth place

For full details please visit George Grasse’s excellent WineClub link on the Lexington Newcomers’ website.

ScrabbleScrabble #1 - Ellen Charske (463-7971), 3rdor 4th Thursday at 1 PM.Scrabble #3 will not meet in November or inDecember because of conflicting holidays and

travel among the members. The next meeting of thisscrabble group will be in January at the home of MargaretSkovira. A notice will appear in the January newsletter.

The following cards were sentby Sandy Harrelson, ourCorresponding Secretary:

Carol Silk, Thinking of You

Ava Hughes, Sympathy on the death ofher husband Harry

Fred Massey, Get Well

Lucy Thornburgh, Sympathy on thedeath of her husband Bill

Members are requested to please keepSandy informed either by email atfharrelson@embarqmail.com, or bycalling her at 261-1141 of any member towhich a card should be sent.

Get Well/Sympathy

MEMBERSHIP

Please note: Frank Harrelson, MembershipChairperson, has changed his email address tofharrelson@embarqmail.com, The mailbox set up earlier for contact on mattersregarding membership has been closed. Thus, theemail address at embarqmail.com is the only onewhich he is using for Newcomers’ business. Youmail also contact him at 261-1141 or by mail at2631 Edgewood Road, Buena Vista, VA 24416.Frank requests that all members be vigilant in no-tifying him of changes of address, telephone num-bers, and very importantly, all changes in emailaddress.

Status of MembershipFrom Year 2006/2007 to 2007/2008, the Newcom-ers’ Club had 15 memberships which did not re-new. However, we gained 24 new membershipsduring the past year. Presently, the Club has 160memberships and 287 total members.

Vol 16 Issue 3 • November 2007 5 Newcomers

9/1/2007 through 10/31/2007

BEGINNING BALANCE $3,135.44

INFLOWS

Dues 3,200.00Holiday Party (43) 645.00

TOTAL INFLOWS 3,845.00

OUTFLOWS

Door Prize 13.74Gifts & Memorials 25.00Holiday Party Expense 250.00Newsletter 18.00Office Supplies 54.70Rent 200.00Special Events Art Show Reception 134.90

TOTAL OUTFLOWS 696.34

ENDING BALANCE $6,284.10

Greater Lexington

Newcomers ClubTreasurer’s Report, Oct 2007

NEWCOMERS CLUB OFFICERSPRESIDENT Mary Brooks 463-6643VICE PRESIDENT Shelley Undercoffer 463-9218C. SECRETARY Sandy Harrelson 261-1141TREASURER Margaret Skovira 348-1093PAST PRESIDENT Glenda Grasse 463-4267

STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRMENACTIVITIES Susan and Ed Bauer 463-2018DIRECTORY Jan and Mike White 261-2119HISTORIAN Carole Elmore 463-3594HOSPITALITY Jane Auciello 377-5332

Nancy Vallance 463-4423MEMBERSHIP Frank Harrelson 261-1141NAME TAGS Linda Regel 264-0174NEWSLETTER Jan and Mike White 261-2119PUBLICITY Lynne Sullivan 261-2826WEB SITE Dorothy Coker 348-6248WELCOME Cathy Broach 261-3141

Directory

All members who were not at the Nov.meeting will receive their directory bymail. If you do not receive yours, letus know. Please change the followingemail addresses:Sandy and Frank Harrelson tofharrelson@embarqmail.com,Judy & Dick Halseth tojahalseth@embarqmail.com,Maryfrances Davis tomaryfrances1@embarqmail.com.