ganaraska currents CELEBRATING OLYMPIC Sports GANARASKA VALLEY PROBUS CLUB NEWSLETTER

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1 ` GANARASKA VALLEY PROBUS CLUB NEWSLETTER ganaraska currents April 2010 Volume 4 Number 4 CELEBRATING OLYMPIC Sports Dorothy Giddings asked us all to show some Olympic spirit for our 25 February meeting. Dave and Lyn Bradshaw jumped right in and got all wrapped up in Olympic spirit. Many other members joined them by wearing Canadian Olympic hats and mittens Here is the whole Olympic-spirited bunch. Keeping up the Olympic momentum at the same meeting, Marshall JohnstoneJ very proudly presented our members with our very own first place bowling trophy won at the tournament with the four other Probus teams from Cobourg and Port Hope and even gold ring neckwear. and Ken O Neill awarded President Eileen with the Package Of Chicken Legs From The Independent trophy for bowling a chicken. A turkey is three strikes in a row. Ken invented the chicken trophy just for Eileen for bowling three spares in a row. Five of her unsung nameless team members actually did bowl turkeys.

2 an Olympic Volunteer Story & photos by Raymond Williams On February 2 nd I left for Vancouver on what I hoped would be the experience of a lifetime, a chance to be part of the Olympics. I picked up my vibrant blue uniform and was now part of what became known as the smurf cult I was assigned to the Vancouver Olympic Centre, home of the curling venue. I was lucky enough to work at the opening ceremonies on February 12 th as well since the curling did not start till the 15 th. I have to say that during the opening I had a lump in my throat more than once. The lump in my throat became a regular thing. From strangers stopping you to thank you and all the people in blue for helping out, to seeing our athletes perform so well, to hearing groups on the street break out in singing the national anthem (I am sure large quantities of alcohol helped), and seeing gold medal winning performances as well as the medal ceremonies all contributed to keeping a smile on your face for the entire month. I was so lucky and proud to be part of such a great event. projected on to them. Zip lines were set up to allow free zip lining across Robson Square and talented street buskers were everywhere to keep people entertained. What was destined to be a success story was pushed over the top with the gold medal hockey game on the last day. The city exploded with celebration. The experience far exceeded any of my expectations. Although the people of Vancouver, VANOC, the thousands of volunteers who traveled a very long way to be part of this, and of course the athletes, were the heroes, I think all of Canada benefited. In many ways these were Canada s games and we should all be very proud of this success story. I have never seen so much patriotism and flag waving anywhere in Canada. Flags were everywhere, waving in the streets, hanging in every window, wrapping large buildings, flying from condo balconies, worn as clothing and painted on people s faces. Although it was good to come home I could not help but feel a little sad to be leaving. I developed a bond with the other blue coats over this short time and to have it come to an end was disheartening. But the memories of having been part of this, to have been in the middle of this and to have played a very tiny part in the success of the games will be treasured forever. The people of Vancouver did a wonderful job in welcoming the world. I had the privilege of talking to so many people from Vancouver and received the same story over and over. What started out as a 50/50 split in approval rate was now more like 80/20 split. People who were opposed to the games could not help but get caught up in the celebration. This was not, as some were saying at the beginning, a party for the rich. There were free events and concerts every day, and as the Canadian athletes began to pile up the medals all of Vancouver would celebrate. Store fronts became large TV screens as Olympic highlights were 2

3 LUCKY US!! Spring has sprung! Thanks to Lacey and Roger Ingram---our shamrock makers---every one of us had a lucky homemade shamrock for the 11 March meeting. Joan Bebee looking definitely spring-like in her chapeau trimmed with a gold scarf and flowers Bright smiles, shamrocks and lots of luck. More spring beauties! 3 Barb Tiffin brought along her rabbit family sitting in the grass, and pussy willows too!

4 MAKING HISTORY At our 25 March meeting, our speaker was Charles Taws, Chairman of the Port Hope Archives board of directors. Charles is a professional archivist for the Clarington Museum and the Archives in Bowmanville. How Does Your Garden Grow? By Lyn Bradshaw Betty Delong of the Port Hope Horticultural Society was our speaker on April 8. The topic was Spring Gardening although Betty addressed all season garden concerns. Erin Walsh & Charles Taws Charles explained what archives are a collection of primary resource materials such as historical documents and how these are now stored as digital records. The difference between archives and museums is that the former does not collect 3-D objects but a museum does. Archives have been around since Egyptian papyrus rolls or clay tablets, also found in Greece and Rome. The first archives for English Canada began in Nova Scotia. The Port Hope Archives were created in 1994 as Ganaraska Region Archives but the name was changed in 2005 to the Port Hope Archives making them easier to find. The Port Hope Archives have 3,500 photos. Erin Walsh, Master Archivist, is presently creating a database to search these photos. The collection also contains deeds, genealogy documents and maps. In closing, Charles introduced a new program called Making History. It will be a collection of information on current houses in Port Hope which will be useful to future historians. Please note that the Archives are looking for board members as well as members. For details get in touch with the PHA office on Mill St. Betty has been gardening for 50 years and has been awarded the title of Master Gardener from the University of Guelph. For this citation, Betty took a two year course and had to sit a two hour open book exam. Master Gardeners must donate 20 hours per year of direct contact with the public and must report this work along with having their certification renewed every two years. This work could be talking to Probus Clubs, helping members of the public with their gardening problems in person or over a hot-line. Betty took many questions from our group from worries about spring bulbs, magnolia trees, soil, to tips on planting dahlias and roses and how to kill all forms of fungus and bugs now that commercial pesticides are prohibited. Now all we have to do is paint our thumbs green! MAY SPEAKERS 13 May Richard Looye, our own member, will give an illustrated history of Joseph Scrivener, a one time Port Hope resident who wrote the famous hymn What A Friend We Have In Jesus and for whom a monument has recently been erected in the park across from the Port Hope library May Sarah Cook from the Alzheimer s Society will give a presentation entitled Keeping Your Brain Healthy.

5 50-50 WINNERS PROBUS CLOTHING FASHION SHOW 25 March: Joyce Ferguson won $ April: Elaine Simmons won $43.50 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Captain: Joan Bebee MAY CREW CATERERS 13 May: Nora & Mark Holmes Henrietta Mills 27 May: Lois & Verne Meadows Joyce Prince If unavailable please find a substitute or call Betty Curtis presented the new Probus clothing line at our 8 April meeting. For purchases, see Betty at our next meeting. If you can t find Betty, ask Urban Cowboy Garry GREETERS Captain: Muriel Cornelius 13 May: Dorothy Giddings June Lentir 27 May: Henrietta and Robert Mills If unavailable please find a substitute or call ************************************* GANARASKA CURRENTS website: OUR NEW CLUB BANNER EDITOR: George Grimes Tel georgegrimes@kos.net ASSISTANT EDITOR: Michèle Duval Lane Tel mdlane@cogeco.ca 5 We now have our very own banner which we will inaugurate at the Canada Day parade on the 1 st of July.

6 UPCOMING EVENTS SPRING FLING IS COMING The Spirit Of Quinte 26 May 2010 Maranatha Church 100 College St. W., Belleville Doors open at 8:15 AM Program begins at 9:30 AM Door prizes & 50/50 draws Buffet Luncheon with a cash bar Live entertainment Tickets will be $35.00 per person Garry Curtis GOLF TOURNAMENT 17 June :00 PM Port Hope Golf & Country Club 18 Holes of golf $41.00 Dinner $17.00 John Wright Sam Rawson st of July Parade March with our club behind our New Club Banner 4 th Line Theatre 22 July Dinner at Centreville Presbyterian Church Annual General Meeting 1 st meeting in September Car Rally 30 September HERE S A SUGGESTION Where you sign in for meetings is a bright red suggestion box. Put any suggestions that you have for the management committee into this box. This could include suggestions for speakers, club activities or how to run our meetings better. Let us know 6 ONGOING EVENTS PUB NITE Join us for dinner, conversation, drinks and a very nice door prize Last Tuesday of the month 6:30 PM at the Beamish House Eileen Mountain APPS & DRINKS Bring an appetizer and your own drinks Steve Snell EUCHRE 1 st & 3 rd Tuesday from 2 to 4 PM Ruth Clarke Senior Centre 81 Mill Street Reg Colborne BOWLING 1 st Monday of the month at 1:30 PM Northshore Bowling Lanes Marshall Johnstone LUNCH BUNCH After the last meeting of the month at 12:30 PM Betty Curtis CONTACT INFORMATION Ganaraska Valley Probus Club Executive President Eileen Mountain russmountain@sympatico.ca Vice President Garry Curtis g.curtis@sympatico.ca Secretary Linda Goldie hugh.linda@sympatico.ca Treasurer Leo Spicer No Assistant Treasurer Hugh Parker hugh.linda@sympatico.ca Membership Don Newington dnewington@sympatico.ca Meeting Arrangements Ken O Neill oneillky@sympatico.ca Programme Carolyn Ray cray@eagle.ca Special Events Dorothy Giddings No Assistant Special Events Stephen Snell stephen.snell2@sympatico.ca Communications George Grimes georgegrimes@kos.net Assistant Communications Michele Duval Lane mdlane@cogeco.ca