dec08

December 2008

PROBUS CLUB OF KANATA

SERVING OTTAWA WEST

GUEST SPEAKER

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Diane Farley, Shepherds of Good Hope.

In keeping with our December tradition of featuring a speaker from a local charity, our December speaker is Diane Farley, public relations manager for the Shepherds of Good Hope. A relatively recent addition to the charity’s staff, Diane is a very keen and personable spokesperson for this unique charity.

The Shepherds of Good Hope operates a Soup Kitchen 365 days of the year and 860 sandwiches are distributed daily as ‘take aways’. As well, toiletries, linens, towels, blankets and food supplies are distributed. The Grocery Program provides assistance with emergency food supplies. Emergency shelters offer a total of 156 men and women a bed in a safe environment away from the elements of the streets. Other programs offer a wide range of assistance to individuals, particularly in relation to alcoholism and substance abuse.

Probus members who wish to support the Shepherds of Good Hope with financial donations will have an opportunity to do so.

Meeting Location - Date –TimeWhere and When: Kanata United Church, 33 Leacock Drive, Kanata - December 9^th (Probus meets here on the second Tuesday of each month) . The Social Time, with tea and coffee being served, will begin at 10:00 a.m. The meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. with a short business meeting followed by the speaker. The meeting will finish shortly before 12:00.

We extend a warm welcome to new members Peggy Burton and Desna Sulway, who joined in November.

Name Badges

Members are encouraged to purchase name badges. Cost, in advance, is $12.00. Please see Barbara Stafford, Membership Coordinator. All cheques should be payable to the Probus Club of Kanata. Barbara has badges for those who ordered them at previous meetings. Please pick them up at the meeting on Tuesday.

Annual Membership Fees

Annual membership fees are now payable to the Treasurer, Kathy Pope. Fees remain unchanged for the 2008-2009 Probus year - $25 individual or $ 35 for couples. Dues may be paid by cheque or cash. Fees may also be mailed to Kathy Pope at 183 Withrow Ave., Nepean, ON. K2G 3N6. Please ensure that your name is printed on your cheque.

The lucky winners of the Nov 08 early-bird draw for a refund of membership fees were Boyd and Ruth Hiscock, Eunice Brown, Ian and Ruth Howes, Sheila Smith, David and Barbara Stafford and Joyce Shaheen.

Future Meetings

Tuesday, January 13, 2009: Last June, members enjoyed a presentation on fraud so much that we invited Detective Linda Ogilvie of the Ottawa Police back to tell us more. Unfortunately (but only for us and the non law-abiding members of society!) Linda has been promoted and transferred to other duties and cannot be with us. Detective Bob Arbour of the OPS Organized Fraud Division has kindly offered to replace her. More about Bob and his presentation in the next newsletter.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009: In the past months, we have read that every windy hilltop in Lanark and Renfrew are about to become populated by wind-powered electrical generators. Our February speaker will be Mr. Graham Findlay, Vice President of 3-G Energy Corporation, which installs wind-powered generators across Canada. He will discuss the exciting potential of this energy source and how it is turning consumers of electricity into producers. Come and find out how you, too, can sell hydro to Hydro!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009 : We are hoping to have a gardening expert as our March speaker.

In the event of a sudden cancellation of a scheduled speaker, Harry Needham will present “A Tale of Six Grandfathers; or how a bunch of vets started up a place called Ontario.”

Social Activities

Coffee Time: Many thanks to Kay and Gerry Sutherland who have been doing a great job making the coffee for the period September to December 2008. Thanks also to Yvonne and Don Ludlow, who will do the period January to March 2009.

Euchre: The Euchre Club meets at Bells Corners United Church at 1:00 p.m. on the first Friday of each month. The next meeting will be on Friday, December 5^th and will include a Pot Luck Hot and Cold Luncheon. Instruction for beginners is readily available. If you require additional information contact Ruth Howes at 613-726-9540.

Correof the Pot Luck Luncheon, the Euchre Club will meet at 12:00 noon on Friday rather than 1:00pm as stated above.

December Outing: Monday, December 15^th at The Dickens Restaurant, Merrickville, 6:30 p.m. Those who have signed up for the theatre dinner in Merrickville are reminded to please bring your chequebooks to the December meeting to pay for the dinner. The cost, including taxes, is $51.75 per person. Cheques should be made payable to the Probus Club of Kanata.

Probus Ottawa Spring Fling ‘09: For your advance planning, please note that the Probus Ottawa Spring Fling ‘09 is scheduled for Tuesday, May 26^th, 2009 and will be held at the Hellenic Centre on Prince of Wales Drive. This is a luncheon event. More information will be forthcoming in due course.