Grand Junction Newcomers Club

Activities
Just for YOU

Go to our CALENDAR,
there you can see what
is going on,

March Election

The club doesn’t have a problem with voter apathy so much as candidate apathy. We vote for officers at the March 11 coffee, but the slate of candidates is not full. President Bob Noble and Treasurer Susan Norton have agreed to stay on for another term. 1stVice President Reid Worlton and 2nd Wayne McCalla have both served two years and will be taking a break. Dennis Pretti has said he’ll run for 1st VP. That leaves open the 2nd VP and secretary, which has been vacant for two years.

We know members do step up for the community.

Please consider making the club one of those volunteer jobs by running for office. The positions demand very little time, just a willingness to help out. And
our elections are about as pain-free of politicking as possible.

volunteering

It’s time for a fresh look at our club members’ involvement in the community. Back in 2010 we asked members to tell us what organizations they volunteered for in the past year and how many hours they put in. Sixty-five respondents gave the
answer: over 16,000 hours. Translated into a 40-hour work week, that’s more than 71⁄2 years!

Organizations included Gray Gourmet, Hospice, Friends of the Library, CASA, Kiwanis, Visitors and Convention Bureau, Spellbinders, the Art Center, Symphony Guild and a great range of
others.

So watch for an email soon that will ask where you volunteered in 2014. When you tally up the hours you gave, you’ll most likely surprise yourself. And the club can continue to boast that we’re a committed, get-it-done group with the numbers to back up that claim.

REMINDER

Except for new members who joined in the last quarter of 2014, membership dues should be paid NOW. To date only about half of our members have taken the time to send in their renewal. The grace period ends with the March newsletter.

So far renewal forms have shown a lot of email and phone changes. These will all be reflected in the membership directory distributed in April. When
completing the form, be sure to Indicate your preference for delivery of the newsletter and directory—digital or
regular mail. Remember that “both” is not an option, and if you opt for an emailed directory you’ll receive a six-
month update as well.

About Grand Junction Newcomers Club

Our Motto :
"Where Newcomers become old friends"
And, we mean it!
We are an active, fun, friendly organization of men and women striving to make your stay in the community a long and happy one. Click to go to the CALENDAR. to see the wide range of Club activities, and, by the way, if you have an activity you like that is missing form the list, bring it up at the next coffee, and you might be surprised. A new activity group may form!

From the the Presidnt

February, 2015

The mild winter continues. It makes some folks happy and some not so happy. The
agribusiness folks like the warmth but would like a bit more moisture in the form of rain. The ski resort folks want more cold and a lot more snow. Water conservationists want more snow and rain. Just can’t make everyone happy. Now if there were some way to move that excess snow from Massachusetts out here...

The club seems to be on a smooth track. Our finances are flush. Our sub-groups all
seem to be thriving. Armchair Traveler continues to draw large audiences, even on dates with competing community activities. Linda Ash has announced we all avoided serious illnesses and accidents in the last month. Way to go folks! Let’s continue the trend.

March shows every sign of being as lovely as February. May you all have a good month, no matter what you do or plan.

Bob Noble, President

editor's note

For a short trip to Chicago, I’m about to take out of the closet my full-length down coat, the one I’ve worn only a couple of times since leaving that city. It got downright embarrassing how much attention it attracted here. With our weather the coat really is overkill. You have to love our balmy winter this
year, especially considering the brutal weather most of the rest of the country has experienced. And by most standards every winter in the Grand Valley is better than almost anywhere else. Spring, summer and fall here also have their abundant charms.

The folks at Kiplinger’s agree. In addition to lifestyle,
recreational opportunities, healthcare, taxation and other factors, that’s one reason we were named as a top retiree destination. (More information is on one of the pages here.)

We certainly have bragging rights!

Carolyn White, Editor

Not a member of Newcomers? There’s an easy fix tor that. You don’t even have to be new to the area. Annual dues are just $15 or $25 for a couple. You can download the membership form by clicking here, and then send the completed form and a check to Grand Junction Newcomers Club, PO Box 3222, GJ 81502. Or better yet, come to the next monthly coffee, get to know us a bit, and sign up then. You’ll meet some great people, get a copy of our member directory, begin receiving our monthly newsletter and timely email alerts, can join any of our regular activity groups, and participate in special events such as our pig roast and potlucks.