INTEREST GROUPS
May 2023 – Interest Groups Report
May flowers - Lily of the Valley, Bleeding Heart &
Grape Hyacinth and Lilac photos by Dale Schustyk
On May 10, 2023, the next General meeting as usual will be at the Uxbridge Legion. There will be Interest Group sign-up sheets at the back of the meeting room. If you are interested in joining any of the groups, add your name & contact information to the sign-up sheets!
Please print! As well you can contact me, Betty Bignell at interestgroups.uxbridgeprobus@gmail.com.
During our coffee break, I’ll be at the back of the room with the sign-up sheets hopefully able to answer any questions. Coordinators all have their Group name tags and may be sitting with me, or somewhere in the room available to answer any questions. Everyone joining an Interest Group must be a Club member!
There usually isn’t a charge to join an Interest Group, but some may have a minimal fee to pay for using the venue.
POTENTIAL INTEREST GROUPS:
Animals (Horses & Dogs), Astrology, Bowling, Card & Board Games, Cooking, Current Events, Fitness, History, Home Reno, Mah-jong, Music, Sports: (Pole Walking, Running, Biking, Skiing, Skating, Swimming), Photography, Sailing, Yoga and more.
*If you have an idea of another potential new group, or want to join one of the above suggested groups, please contact me at the General Meetings or send me a message at interestgroups.uxbridgeprobus@gmail.com
*We need Coordinators to make the following groups active: Art Club, Book Lovers, and Meditation .
Teamwork Makes the Dreams work!
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Current Interest Groups:
BANNED BOOK CLUB
The next meeting will be on May 16, 2023. The group will have read, “The Handmaid's Tale,” by Margaret Atwood, with the option of also reading, “The Testaments”. Nancy Emo will lead the discussion.
In April the group discussed “The Stone Angel,” by Margaret Laurence. This book generated an excellent discussion, led by Brett Moore.
Currently the group has a spot for one new Club member. If interested in joining contact me, Betty Bignell at interestgroups.uxbridgeprobus@gmail.com.
The group will meet monthly on the third Tuesday at 1:30.
Coordinator: Camille Scarlett
BOOK LOVERS – Coordinator Required
The Book Lovers had been meeting on Wednesdays from 1:30-3:00. The last booked discussed was “The Clockmaker’s Daughter” by Kate Morton.
If you are interested in joining this group when it becomes active again, contact me, Betty Bignell at interestgroups.uxbridgeprobus@gmail.com.
BOOK CLUB
This group has reached its maximum number of members and has a waiting list.
Please contact me if you want to be added to the wait list, Betty Bignell, interestgroups.uxbridgeprobus@gmail.com
Coordinators: Lyn May, Lenore Moore
CASINO VISITS
Hopefully the group will be going to Casino Rama in May. Several members of the group had planned to go to Casino Rama in April, however there was a technical problem with the casino computers and the visit was cancelled.
If you are interested in joining the Casino Visits Group, please contact me, Betty Bignell, at interestgroups.uxbridgeprobus@gmail.com.
Coordinator: Jim Boyle
EUCHRE
The Euchre group meets on the first Tuesday of the month, at 10:00 am.
Coordinator: Carolyn Hicken
GARDENING
In May the group will be visiting Udora Community Hall Gardens as well as fellow gardener Anne Linkruus’ garden in Udora.
The group had a wonderful trip to Richter’s Herbs in April, followed by lunch where they talked ‘dirt’ on their gardens. Summer plans are to visit local gardens and gardeners, aiming to learn more about each others’ gardens and to share tips and ideas from each other. Hands on Learning at it’s best!
Depending on where the group meets, there may be a very small initial charge and weekly charge for members of this group.
For more information or to join the group, please contact me, Betty Bignell at interest.groups.uxbridgeprobus@gmail.com.
Coordinator: Sally Kotsopoulos
GENEALOGY
There is now a Wait List for Club members to join this group.
The Genealogy Group will meet on May 18 to discuss their progress and think about next steps. Both traditional family tree records and modern DNA techniques are explored.
The group will meet on the third Thursday of each month from 1:30-3:30.
Coordinator – Bernie Beales
HANDICRAFT
Hoping to be working with dry clay, the group is scheduled to meet on Friday, May 19 at 1:00. Because of the May Victoria Day holiday, the meeting may be cancelled if members aren’t available. Group members are always invited to bring their own projects to share with others.
There will be a small initial charge and weekly charge for members of this group.
For more information or to join the group, please contact me, Betty Bignell at interest.groups.uxbridgeprobus@gmail.com .
Coordinator: Sally Kotsopoulos
HIKING
Our Goodwood/Uxbridge area has a wonderful series of trails through a variety of forests and meadows, some quite flat, some with gentle hills. The group explores these forest trails near Uxbridge in the Durham and York Regions for 1 ½ to 2 hours. Join them for lively discussions, interesting views and leisurely treks!
Hike details are emailed to members for pre-registration. The Hiking Group meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 9:30 am.
If you are interested in joining this Interest Group, send your request to Betty Bignell at interestgroups.uxbridgeprobus@gmail.com
Hikes in May hikes will be Thursday May 4 and Thursday May18.
Coordinators: Carol Fraser, John Willcock
KITCHEN BRIDGE – A Group for Both Women and Men!
The Kitchen Bridge group will be taking a break until September.
New members will always be welcome!
If you are interested in joining this group, contact Betty Bignell at interestgroups.uxbridgeprobus@gmail.com.
Kitchen Bridge will meet on the first Thursday of each month.
Coordinators: Margaret & Rene Blanchet
LADIES BRIDGE CLUB
The Ladies Bridge group will be getting together on Wednesday, May 17.
The group meets on the third Wednesday of each month.
Online Bridge continues every Monday at 1:00.
Coordinators: Carol Chillman, Caren Narvet
LET’S EAT OUT
Meeting monthly to enjoy dinner with other Club members, this group has enjoyed dining in a great variety of restaurants.
In April the group enjoyed dinner at the Old Country Inn, Unionville.
If you would like to join them, next month, please contact me at interestgroups.uxbridgeptobus@gmail.com.
The group meets monthly on the fourth Thursday.
Coordinators: Gail & Chuck Heroux
LUNCH GROUP
The Lunch Group will meet next on May 29. Group members are contacted monthly with the name of the restaurant where they will meet.
In April the group enjoyed lunch at Eastside Mario’s.
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If interested in joining this group, contact me, Betty Bignell at interestgroups.uxbridgeprobus@gmail.com.
The Lunch Group meets on the last Monday of the month at 12:00.
Coordinators: Betty Bignell & Joy Freemantle
MOVIES
This group periodically meets tow watch movies together.
If you would like to be a member of this group, please contact me at interestgroupsuxbridgeprobus@gmail.com.
Coordinators: Gail & Chuck Heroux
PICKLEBALL
The Pickleball season has begun! Group members will be playing on Tuesdays and Fridays.
If interested in joining this group, please contact Betty Bignell at interestgroups.uxbridgeprobus@gmail.com.
Coordinators: Gerry Bignell, Barry Scarlett
SCRABBLE
The Scrabble group will be gathering on May 10th at 1:00.
There will not be a Scrabble session in June due to the PROBUS Club annual meeting.
The group welcomes new players and encourages cooperation and laughter as they expand vocabularies and make new friends.
This is a cooperative group interested in having a good time and stretching their brains (at least a little bit). New members are welcome.
if interested contact Betty at interestgroups.uxbridgeprobus@gmail.com
The group meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 1:00 pm.
Coordinator: Judy Fink
SMALL TOWN THEATRE GROUP
The last Small Town Theatre lunch and theatre matinee for this season will be on June 11, 2023. at the Richmond Hill Curtain Club to see Jonas and Barry in the Home.
In April the group met for lunch at Jester’s Court and enjoyed the excellent food, service and the chance to chat with each other. After lunch the group saw the musical GREASE at the Port Perry Music Hall. They enjoyed hearing nostalgic music sung by very talented performers.
Small Town Theatre members may be interested in attending comedies, musicals, or plays in the Durham and York regions.
If you want to join this group, please contact me, Betty Bignell at interestgroups.uxbridgeprobus@gmail.com
Coordinators: Steve Fryzuk, Peggy Kennedy
TRAVEL - *New Coordinator -– Anne-Marie Sacco!
We are grateful that Anne-Marie has offered to be our Travel Group Coordinator! Thank you, Anne-Marie!
Group members will be receiving a message from Anne-Marie some time during the next few weeks.
If you are interested in joining this newly activated group, please contact me at interestgroups.uxbridgeprobus@gmail.com.
Coordinator: Anne-Marie Sacco
URBAN WALKING
The next walk will be on May 18th. A social group, they walk at a moderate pace for about an hour. Group members will be notified monthly of when and where the next walk will be.
New members will always be welcome!
If you are interested in joining this group, please contact Betty Bignell interestgroups.uxbridgeprobus@gmail.com.
Urban Walking is the third Thursday monthly.
Coordinator: June O’Donnell
WINE CLUB - This group now has a waiting list
The next meeting will be May 10th at 7:00. At this meeting members will celebrate Spring by exploring 'The Big Four' white wine varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio. There will a chance to compare the wines and discuss how these might be used in Spring entertaining.
Please contact me if you want to be added to the wait list. Betty Bignell,
This group meets monthly on the second Wednesday.
Coordinators: Margaret & Rene Blanchet, Sherrill Burns
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“There’s an Interest Group for that!” (Debra Revie Lippay)
Betty Bignell
Interest Group Chair
interestgroups.uxbridgeprobus@gmail.com
