Volume 4 Issue 8 December 2019 ____

Probus Club of Clarington

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ken Shaw…Amazing guest speaker.

Our Probus club was very fortunate to be able to have Ken Shaw as our guest speaker in November. Attendance was especially high (156 including 22 guests) as members came to hear him speak about “Fake News”. We discovered that there is a lot of it out there. Basically, we shouldn’t believe anything on the news or newspapers if it seems suspicious – and he encouraged us to always check out the veracity of the news. He gave many examples of “news” that was taken as fact and resulted in most unfortunate circumstances. Ken was a captivating, humorous, warm and informative speaker.

Share the Wealth:

The November winner was Angela Tibbles, who won $99.00. Angela kindly donated her winnings to the food bank. Congratulations and thank you, Angela!

From our President:

At our Probus meeting in November, our Club hit three significant milestones. First, we had the largest attendance ever for a meeting, with almost 160 people on hand to hear Ken Shaw, CTV co-anchor, speak about Fake News. Additionally, we had the highest number of first-time visitors. 23 attended the meeting and 12 joined that very day. Finally, and most significantly, our Club membership reached 200 members, a stretch goal at best established at the beginning of the year. These three milestones speak directly to the health and strength of our Club. With an exceptional Management Team giving leadership, many active interest groups, a large variety of social activities and outstanding members who

clearly enjoy their association with Probus and are bringing their family and friends to the meetings, we are a Club moving forward and well positioned for 2020.

Our speaker in December will be Myno Van Dyke, a former Durham Region Police Officer and well-known historian in the Newcastle area. I have had the privilege of knowing Myno for many years, and can attest that he is an excellent speaker. He is going to give us information on a cold case which happened in Bowmanville in the 60’s. Maybe he has solved the case?

Do you remember watching or attending the Santa Claus parade when you were a child? If so, you likely also remember the joy and the excitement of seeing the bands, the floats, the Christmas characters and of course Santa Claus, all coming down Yonge Street. You probably also remember the thrill of leafing through the Eaton's catalogue, searching for the perfect toy to add to your Christmas wish list.

Did you know that it was Eaton's who established The Santa Claus Parade back in 1905 and sponsored it for almost 100 years? At the time, the Eaton's store on Yonge Street was an innovative wonder. It was the first Canadian store to have an elevator and electric lights. Remember dressing up to go and see the Christmas windows at both Eaton’s and Simpson’s department stores? What wonderful memories, and how times have changed.

At this time of the year we start preparing for the Christmas season. The lights, decorations and tree go up, and of course there is the shopping, the VISA bills, the many special events of the season and just spending time with family and friends. Christmas is a magical time. Most of us at Probus have been truly blessed, but please remember that for some in our community, Christmas can be a lonely, difficult time filled with many challenges. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers, and God bless those who give of their time, their talent and their treasures to help those in need. Let us also remember the real meaning of Christmas, the birth of a baby.

Peace, Joy, Love and Prosperity are my prayer for you this Christmas Season. May you end the year with a smile and start the New Year with much hope.

“Merry Christmas”.

Jim Bamford

There are two muffins baking in the oven. One muffin says to the

other, “Phew, is it getting hot in here or is it just me?”

The other muffin yells, “AAAAHHH!! A TALKING MUFFIN!”

Introducing our Speaker for December: Myno Van Dyke

Myno Van Dyke is a retired Police Officer who personally knew a member of the Greenley Family. He is very active in the Newcastle Village & District Historical Society and is currently serving as the society’s Vice-President. Additionally, he was been writing stories for local newspapers, newsletters and magazines since he retired in 1998.

The presentation is about a local cold case. It outlines the

disappearance of an eleven-year-old girl, Noreen Greeley, from

Bowmanville, Ontario in 1963. There will also be a discussion about

how the investigation proceeded and what has happened in this

case more recently followed by a question and answer session!

Membership Report:

Welcome to 12 new Clarington Probus members: Judy Landry Dave Lizon Pat Lizon Beverly Daniels Betty Dahl Jane Elizabeth Delaney Madonna Lomas Marian Johnston Lana Beard Rietta Pithie Karen Sheridan Fred Kelloway

FYI: By the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas song,

your home is crammed with 23 flying Birds and

50 hyperactive Humans!!

Speaker’s Group – Behind the Scenes

So much work goes on behind the scenes at our meetings. The planning and work done by the Speaker’s committee and the Audio-Visual group does not go unnoticed. Thank you for all that you do. The members of the Speakers Committee are: Al Davidson, Bev Palmer, Brian Reid, Frank Wu, Linda Davidson, Liola Limeback, Nancy Rodrigues and Phil Palmer. The audio-visual team is a more fluid group

that includes John Windatt, Carolyn Adams, Nancy Muzik, Stuart Brear, Rick McKey, Mike Townsend and Al Davidson. Operating the mics, lights and audio-visual equipment is very complex and in fact, Stuart Brear is planning to create a manual as well as a check list for future use. We want to acknowledge and thank all these behind the scenes volunteers. Paul Halliday

News from your Social Committee:

The Social table was very busy in November and your committee was happy to see a great response to our offerings. Trivia Night on January 14th sold out immediately but there is still an opportunity to attend the Games Afternoon on the 28th.

The Ontario Legislature Tour and Tea on April 17th is proving very popular and additional tickets have been obtained. However, you are urged to sign up next week to avoid missing out.

For the sports fans, don't forget the Marlies Game on March 21st at the Coca-Cola Coliseum. A new event a little closer to home will be promoted this month; the Harlem Globetrotters are coming to the Tribute Centre in Oshawa on April 10th. To receive the discounted group rate we must sell ten tickets.

Finally, 139 members will be gathering on December 18th at the BOAA for our annual Christmas Lunch. We are looking forward to a wonderful time together.

Stella Dorsman

Q: What do you call a kid who doesn’t believe in Santa?

A: A rebel without a Claus.

Q: What do you get when you combine a Christmas tree with an iPad?

A: A pineapple.

Decorative Urn Making On November 21st , fourteen of our Probus members enjoyed time together creating beautiful Christmas urns with lush fresh greens from the forest on Brookside B&B’s country property. Owner Corrine encouraged us to make lovely arrangements which would have impressed even Martha Stewart. Once the urns were completed we enjoyed tea and sweets inside Corrine’s art-filled home. Another fabulous Probus activity organized by your Social Committee. Special thanks to Linda Bray! AnneMarie Halliday

Interest Groups:

Merry Christmas everyone. Interest groups are back up and running for the Winter Season, with the exception of Golf, Urban Walking, and Hiking, which have stopped for the winter. (A little cold to be outside). Bridge is having trouble getting started, but once the busy Christmas season is over, I am sure they will be up and running. Stay tuned for more information. We are so looking forward to hearing the amazing, new Melody Makers at our Holiday Luncheon. Pool is meeting at Riley’s this year, check website for times. Thank you to all the organizers of the interest groups. Our club would not be as great without your diligence. Kathleen Brear

The “Melody Makers” (Choir) needs your help:

If anyone has a copy of last year’s Metroland Carol Book, please bring to the General

Meeting and give to Anna Huston. The choir needs extra copies for their Bowmanville

Creek carol sing with residents.

Many thanks,

Angela Tibbles

Did you hear that Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer never went to school?

That’s right—he was elf taught.

Billiards Group

Billiards at the new venue, Riley’s. Fun times!

Photos by Eleanor Zadlo

Bird Watching - These pictures by Brian Reid were taken at the last Bird Watching outing for 2019. It

was held October 24th at the Darlington Nuclear Waterfront Trail. We had a good turnout of members of the Bird Watching Interest group. The highlight was the Trumpeter Swan family that swam right up to us all. The

Bird Watching Interest group will resume outings in the new year. John and Nancy Muzik

Euchre Group Christmas Party Pics… sent from Kevin Pumphrey

Website Report:

Visitors per page – Most recent month (October)

FYI: There were 212 visitors to the website this month – mostly from mobile devices and mostly to the Social

and Interest groups. Lynn Hooper

FYI - Community Information:

Q. You find me in December, but not in any other month. What am I?

A. The letter D! HO HO HO!

For more information Contact DeNure Tours.

Suzanne Elston and her daughter Sarah (and maybe others?)

will be performing at this event.

Remember to show us your mug!

PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN MUG

AND HELP SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT