Newcomers of San Antonio

News from The President

News from the President

Happy August everyone! I hope you all are enjoying visiting family and friends this summer. I just returned from my mid-west roots visiting everyone I could. What a whirlwind! I missed Line Dancing and Pickleball while I was gone but cannot wait to get right back at it! I hope you are checking out our interest groups again and joining new ones. It is in these smaller settings we can make friendships that last. And remember, you can always start a new group that interests you – FORM IT AND THEY WILL COME! Michelle Plazek, our Interest Group Coordinator, is here to show you how. Huge applause to Christine Martin who is keeping Wine & Spirits Tasting alive! Stay tuned to hear more on when that will start-up as well as Learn the Arts with Shiny a brand new group starting later this Fall!

After no monthly luncheon last month, I am looking forward to seeing you at Luce’s on August 5th. I have never been, but hear it is delicious. Thank you Christine & Jill for arranging our wonderful Luncheons! Soon after our August Luncheon at Luce’s, be sure to make your September Luncheon reservation at Silo for our September 2nd monthly luncheon where we receive our NEW DIRECTORIES!! Thank you Carol Palazzo for all your hard work in getting our directories published this month. I so appreciate our Board and all the hard work they do to keep these activities going strong for us. We have a few board positions still open, so please call me if you’d like to know more about these openings to co-chair with Sheila on Coffees or with Suzy on Reservations. We’d love to have you join us!  Have a blessed rest of your summer and keep on blooming where you are planted! 

Cindy Richards

News from the President

On July 4th, our nation is 245 years old! Have a safe and wonderful time traveling and celebrating with your family and friends. That is why there is no luncheon in July. Newcomers of San Antonio turns 40 this year! WOW! That is remarkable! Let’s find ways to celebrate our wonderful club all year long!!

I’d first like to thank our past NOSA leaders who birthed and nurtured this club to become what it is today. I especially want to acknowledge Sue Ellen Smith and Margaret Kidd for keeping this club up and running throughout the pandemic – not an easy task! Likewise, I’d like to thank and encourage our newly elected/appointed board and over 25 Interest Groups and their leaders who are hitting the ground running to keep our wonderfully diverse activities going strong. Six brand new Interest Groups were started DURING the pandemic!! Interest Groups are the backbone of our club and I believe you bettered the mental wellness for those needing to meet whether on Zoom or in person.

As your president, I am determined we welcome each newcomer as she joins us for fun and friendship. I humbly ask you to reach out and do so whenever possible. Together we can do great things to serve our community, support and welcome newcomers, and form lasting friendships as we explore, play and eat our way through San Antonio. I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together in this 40th year of Newcomers of San Antonio. Let the celebrations begin!!

Cindy Richards

News from the President

It is said that all good things must come to an end. And this past year has been good, in spite of the pandemic, and this is the end of my monthly messages to you. It was good because our board met every month and continued with the work of Newcomers. Our interest groups continued to meet, some virtually, some face to face, and we added six new groups this year that are very active! We held luncheons each month, save one, and coffees each month except when snowmageddon interfered! So I think we had a good year as a group. A big thank you to the Board who worked tirelessly, to the Interest Group Leaders, to the Luncheon Chairs, to the Coffee Chairs, and to those who opened their homes for the coffees, and a huge thank you to all of you who have been participating all year. We could have thrown up our hands and quit everything, but we are stronger than that so we grew and flourished this year!

It is time to renew your membership for next year. You will find the form on our website. This year we are asking everyone to fill out the long-form so the interest groups membership will be correct. Dues have been held to $30 for the year. Renewal continues through June 30th. After that, dues will increase and there is a possibility that your information will not get included in the directory. Next year will be fabulous as there is an enthusiastic board who are full of ideas and energy. Please give them the same level of support you have given me!

So, the good year has come to an end for me but it is just the beginning of another good year for Newcomers! Have fun and enjoy each other!!!

Margaret Kidd

News from the President

Welcome to the merry month of May! For those of you new to south Texas, the difference between spring and summer is that it doesn’t get to 100 degrees in the spring, only 90!

It looks like we are finally coming out of the pandemic. More and more interest groups are meeting in person and we are getting back to normal numbers for luncheons. It’s wonderful to see each other in person!

The May luncheon will be a symbol of a return to normalcy. It is at the Tower of the Americas, a fabulous restaurant if you have not had a chance to eat there. All of the ladies are encouraged to wear their loveliest spring hat in deference to the Kentucky Derby and Mothers Day! Don’t forget your pearls, either! Prizes will be awarded for the best hats!

May is the time for membership renewal! This year we are asking you to fill out the complete form again. Since this was done in 2018, there are many more interest groups and some have outlived their purpose. A current version of who belongs to which interest group is needed. Also, some people neglect to notify NOSA when they move so we need current addresses and phone numbers.

To Renew, go to the Newcomers’ Website, newcomersofsanantonio.org and Membership is on the top right. Under that tab, you will find the form to fill out and Submit. Then the PayPal button is below that. You do not need PayPal to pay, but all of the choices are found there. Remember, you have to click on two buttons in order to renew!

The June luncheon will be at Meadows in the Alley, another wonderful restaurant. At that luncheon, the Board for 2021-2022 will be installed. However, we will not have coffees starting in July unless two people step up to be coffee chairs. We will also be discussing and voting on an amendment to the bylaws. This amendment would be to remove the three-year requirement to become a member. This requirement was included when there was a sister organization ladies joined after five years. Now that that organization is no longer in existence, ladies are staying as members for as long as thirty years, so of course, they are no longer new to the city like they were during the first five years.

I look forward to seeing more and more of you at Newcomers functions…especially in your hats and pearls!

Margaret

News from the President

Welcome to April! And I hope you have a very Happy Easter!

It is nice to have pleasant weather and to have restaurants and bars fully open! Vaccines are more readily available and it seems more and more of us are fully protected. So much different than the past year!

With that in mind, I’m hoping more and more of you will be able to attend our luncheons, at Tower of the Americas on May 6th and Meadow on June 3rd! Both establishments are extraordinary and we are fortunate that Pink has been able to secure them.

As for our coffees…we will have a redo of the snowed out February coffee at Sharon Gehr’s on April 15th and will be at Carole Palazzo’s on May 20th.

It’s difficult to believe we have survived and thrived this past year and it is almost time for our new year to start. Renewals will start May 1st and continue through June. The board is almost set for the new year, two chairwomen for the coffees are all that are needed.

Have a gorgeous spring and hopefully get out and enjoy the beautiful weather!

Margaret

News from the President

Whoever would imagine the circumstances we are still in! Almost a year ago we were told to isolate for two weeks and we would be fine! What a year it has been. Hopefully, with vaccines in greater supply and more readily available, businesses reopening we will be out of this soon. So, let’s look forward to next year. We will start renewing memberships the first of May and continue through June. Our new board will be elected in May and installed in June

Membership and Interest Groups continue to grow and meet, both virtually and in person. We continue to offer opportunities to our members including luncheons, coffees, girlfriends, bridge, walking, Pickleball, and an occasional On On The Road Again adventure! Everything is voluntary for those who are ready to get out and smell our springtime flowers!

Now that snowtopia is passed, we can look forward to nice warmer weather. I hope no one has any lasting damage from that terrible week!

We can look forward to Easter as a new beginning!

Stay safe and get vaccinated!

Margaret

News from the President

Welcome to February! The month of hearts and love. I am sending all of you lots of love this month.

With more of us receiving the Covid vaccination, hopefully, we will be able to get out more and finally give our friends a big hug!! It’s been a long time.

Newcomers of San Antonio is still having activities for those who are comfortable going out. None of our events are mandatory but are offered to those who need human contact. The reports of increasing depression demonstrate one of the results of the lockdown. Please reach out to any of the board members, if you just want to talk or hear a friendly voice. We are always here for you.

Speaking of the Board, it is time to start planning for next year. Cindy Richards, the 1st Vice-President, will be holding a nominating committee on February 18th. Please let her know if you would like to be a part of this fun and hard-working group next year prior to that time. Elsewhere in this newsletter is a list and description of the various offices. These are also found in the bylaws at the back of your directory. Being on the board is a great way to meet fellow newcomers in a smaller setting.

We are looking forward to lunch at Basil Mediterranean this Thursday and at Pappadeux Seafood Kitchen on March 4th. This month’s coffee will be held at Sharon Gehr’s lovely home on February 18th.

Stay safe, stay well, and spread lots of love this month!

Margaret

News from the President

Welcome, 2021! May you treat us better than 2020!

I hope you had an enjoyable, if low key, Christmas. With the new vaccines, we will hopefully be able to get out more soon!

Looking ahead, it is getting close to the time to select next year’s board. It’s hard to believe this year has gone by so fast!  Being a board member offers unique opportunities to get to know other members in a small group setting while doing the important work of keeping this organization going. The Nominating Committee will meet in February, so please let Cindy Richards know if you are interested in a position or willing to be on the Nominating Committee. The description of each position can be found elsewhere in this newsletter!

If you have seen any minor changes in the ByLaws, please contact Sue Ellen Smith. The ByLaws committee will be meeting in January.

Our next coffee will be on January 21 at Carole Laubach’s home.  Remember, all activities are voluntary, and all COVID guidelines will be in place. No one will be offended if you are still not going out. We want to stay as vibrant and inviting as we can!  We are looking forward to our coffees and luncheons growing again.

Until then, stay safe and keep well!

Margaret

News from the President

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Time seems to be passing so slowly this year with all of the cancellations. We, at Newcomers, are trying to offer some opportunities for those who do want to get out. Keep in mind, all health directives are followed and all of the events are strictly voluntary.

I hope you had a good Thanksgiving and are looking forward to some positive events for Christmas, no matter how isolated or small. Looking forward to a Happy New Year!

We look forward to seeing you at our holiday luncheon at Chama Gaucha along with your spouse or significant other on December 3. The whole array of food will be served for the regular price of a luncheon…and there will be a surprise dessert!

Coats, hats, gloves, socks, and blankets will be collected at the luncheon and December coffee at Lorraine Verhagen’s home. These will be distributed to the homeless through our various charities.

If you haven’t heard, we have three new Interest Groups…Lunch Bunch has been revived, Puzzlers is in full swing and Genealogy will begin in January. I also am delighted to announce that Cherie Masters has volunteered to be the leader of Soldiers Angels, a group many of us enjoy helping out.

Stay safe, but have some fun over the holidays! And enjoy “winter” in South Texas!

Margaret
President

News from the President

Hello November! As the smell of pumpkin spice and cinnamon fill the air, November is the perfect month to reflect on the year and give thanks for all of the wonderful blessings we have. Veterans Day is just around the corner on November 11, so be on the lookout for various events throughout Military City USA to honor the men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces who protect and keep us safe. 

November has a full month of fun Newcomers activities to enjoy! Our directories are out, so if you haven’t gotten yours at a coffee or luncheon, reach out to Cindy Richards to get yours. There is also an online version on our website, NewcomersofSanAntonio.org in the Members Corner with the password Welcome1819.

It is exciting to let you know that we have three new Interest Groups. Carol Palazzo is resurrecting Lunch Ladies now known as Lunch Bunch! We are so happy to have this back as we have missed it so much! Carol is also hosting a new group on Genealogy. Kay Hedeen has started another group called Puzzlers! For all jigsaw lovers. Please refer to the eblast sent out last week for details or elsewhere in this newsletter. We are still in need of a leader for Soldiers Angels. This is such a worthwhile group, I would hate to see it disappear. They are not meeting in person at this time but there are important messages that need to be forwarded to the group. Please step up and take over this great group!

More members are coming out to the coffees and luncheons as the quarantine is getting longer! We hope to see you there, if you are not in a high risk group!

November is also the month of Thanksgiving. We hope you enjoy seeing your extended family and friends!

And don’t forget to vote!

Margaret. Kidd

President