The Headline photo for the month is courtesy of Susan and Jerry Norton.  Thanks.

Activities
Just for YOU

Go to our CALENDAR,
there you can see what
 is going on,
And, there is a
 good bit going on.
If you can't find what you want on the calendar, come to a monthly coffee, and suggest a new activity.  That is the way most of the activities originated at Newcomers

4TH ANNUAL NEW YEAR’S EVE POTLUCK

One more year, the annual NYE potluck was a great success.  Thanks for those who participated!:

Wine Tasting is Back

One of the club's more popular special events in previous years was a wine tasting. We’re bringing back this enjoyable event. The date is Tuesday, March 11, the appointed hour is 6 pm and the location is Fisher's Market, located just north of Fisher's Liquor Barn on 24 ½ Road.

The cost of the tasting, which will include appetizers, is $10 per person. Don't tarry in making reservations as our group limit is 30. Please email Dennis Pretti at pdpretti@bresnan.net if you want to attend. Payment will be due by Feb. 12, the club's next coffee. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to call Dennis
(263-4473).

Upcoming Election

Voting for officers for the new club year will be at the March 12 coffee. Current officers will stand for re-election, but other members are encouraged to step up as well. The position of secretary has gone vacant for far too long.

If you’re interested in joining the executive board, contact any of the current officers (President Bob Noble, First Vice President Reid Worlton, Second Vice President Wayne McCalla, Treasurer Susan Norton) so that a complete slate can be presented to our membership.

Remember it’s not an election without candidates.

The Grand Valley Health Fair will be held March 21-22. Before then you may want to schedule a blood draw for low-cost colon cancer screening, PSA, lipid profile or other tests. Blood draws will be done at St. Mary’s East Campus Feb. 3 through March 7. For full information and to schedule an appointment call 244-8400 or go to http://grandvalleyhealthfair.org/. You can pick up your results at the fair.

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 President

---

February 22, 2014

As spring approaches it’s time for an assessment of the state of the club.

We’ve had a number of new members join in the past year, due to several factors. The amazing exposure we get through the Armchair Traveler partnership with the Mesa County Library is one. A heart-felt thanks to Janice Shepherd for forging that. We have also had some media coverage this year, also been valuable in getting our name more attention. Our financial health is sound, thanks to Susan Norton’s hard work and some sound decisions made by former president John Mayerek. We are in a position to contribute to some community organizations, if we wish. The opinion survey now available online will give us an indication of what direction our members want us to take. Our members are involved actively in a variety of subgroups (dinner club, golf, tennis, hiking/snowshoeing, and card games, for example). Our special events, potlucks and the lunch and tour programs are all very well planned, interesting and well attended.

We need some fresh officers, and some of our committees need new volunteers. I would particularly like to see new members step up and get involved. Many of our long-term members have done their service and are not ready to re-up just yet. Old or new, your club needs you.

Bob Noble, President

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 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 special e-mail alerts, can join any of our regular activity groups, and participate in special events such as our pig roast and pot lucks.

Bob Noble, President

editor's note

The older mind may just be a fuller mind. So concludes a study reported in the New York Times recently. This is such great news I have to share. We have a more positive reason to account for memory that’s sometimes slower and less accurate than when our years were fewer.

A data-mining experiment used learning models to search enormous databases of words and phrases. When it factored in that educated older people generally know more words, an aging “deficit” largely disappeared. The conclusion:  the more words in your brain, the longer it takes to fish out a particular word or phrase.

Scientists talk about “fluid” and “crystallized” intelligence. Fluid includes short-term memory, analytical reasoning and the ability to tune out distractions, like background conversation. Accumulated knowledge, vocabulary and expertise are crystallized. We’ve got more of that.

So it’s not that we’re slow. It’s that we know so much.

 

Carolyn White, Editor

reminders!

The survey on what to do with excess club funds will be available on our website through Feb. 28. If you haven’t voted already, take a minute to voice your opinion.

Annual club dues must be paid by March 31. The contact information on the membership form will be used for the updated membership directory available in April. You may also change your preferences for how to receive the newsletter and directory. Receiving the newsletter by both email and regular mail is not an option. Members who have not renewed will no longer receive the newsletter and directory, and cannot participate in club events. If you have a question of whether you’ve paid, send an email to gjnewcomers@gmail.com

members in the news

Click to go to the page.  Too much to post here!