Newcomers of San Antonio

News from The President

News from the President

June marks the official start to summer and the end of our NOSA fiscal year. That means I only have 30 more days to be your president! WOW! It has been an honor to preside over such a wonderful organization whose goal is to welcome newcomers to San Antonio. We sure have fun in the process! Check out our Facebook page to see some of the latest activities including our cruise to Mexico!! Thank you ALL for bringing us through a worldwide pandemic by connecting with each other in every way. I especially want to thank my Board of Directors as your love, hard work, support, and friendship has meant everything to me

If you are new to San Antonio, I sure hope you have felt our welcome! Our coffees and luncheons are wonderful times to check us out. Please reach out to our leaders any time you have a question. 30+ interest groups are back up and running (unless taking off for summer). Thank you, leaders, for providing so much fun that we literally could be busy making friends any day of the week!

Reminders: Our annual renewal period goes through June 30th, so be sure to renew today if you have been putting it off. After July 1st, the annual renewal fee will go up to $35. Renew by filling out a short form and then paying your fee here: https://www.newcomersofsanantonio.org/renewal-membership/

You may notice that we have no luncheon posted. That is because we do not schedule a July luncheon. We will have one on the first Thursday in August so stay tuned!

Your 2022-2023 Board begins their service on July 1st and I know you will be in great hands! From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU to all who served this year in any capacity and to all who will be serving next!! Y’all make it possible for us to Bloom Where We are Planted!

Blessings,

Cindy

News from the President

Happy May y’all!

So much fun is happening this month including our long-awaited cruise!!! Contact Marcia Blalock if you have any questions. Our May 5th Fashion Show luncheon and hat contest is soon underway so remember to wear your hats and post your photos afterward on our Facebook page.

May is the time for membership renewal! Be sure to renew by June 30th to get the $30 rate as it goes up July 1st. To Renew, go to our Newcomers’ Website and find the Membership tab on the top right. Using that tab, click on Renewal Membership 2022/2023 to pay your $30 dues. Fill out the short form and submit; then scroll to the Yellow Pay Now button. You may pay by credit card, PayPal or Zelle. (Note: If you are not yet a member, please use the New Members tab)

Looking ahead: Our June Luncheon at The Menger will be an amazing year-end meeting. Our Board Elections occur at this luncheon and below you can review our slate of nominees.

See the newsletter to find out what our 30+ interest groups are doing this month and note that some schedules/locations have changed. And, as always, if you have an idea to lead your own activity, please contact michelleplazek@gmail.com and she will get you started!

Enjoy this beautiful May weather as you Bloom Where You are Planted!!

Cindy Richards – President

Our 2022-2023 Slated Nominees:

Board of Directors – Executive Officers:

President: Carol Palazzo

1st VP Membership: Susi Baylis-Powell

2nd VPs Luncheons: Christine Martin, Sandy Garrett

Recording Secretary: Cindy Herda

Treasurer: Cindy Kittle

Parliamentarian: Mary Ann Svetlik

Board of Directors – Appointed Officers:

Ambassadors: Erin Schaefer, Margaret Abbott

Coffee Chairs: Lucy Robinson, Kay Hedeen (will also have a sub-committee with helpers)

Interest Group Coordinator: Michelle Plazek

Opportunity Drawings: Alene Lindley, Jill Crump

Publicity: Erin Schaefer (will also have a sub-committee with helpers)

Reservations: Suzy Van Alstyne (handles reservations for luncheons), Roylene Babb (name-tags for luncheons)

Newsletter/Webmaster: Continue to hire Lauren Smith unless a member experienced with Web steps up.

News from the President

Spring has truly arrived, and I love gardening again!! I wish you a Happy Easter and Viva Fiesta! It’s also April Fool’s Day today and I’d love to hear how you prank your friends and family! Send your stories to me for Facebook publication. You can find us on FB at https://www.facebook.com/groups/228687243811677/about Here’s an easy prank I plan to try: Put a small piece of tape the color of your victim’s TV remote sensor. Have fun watching them try to turn it on or change channels – hehe!!

I hope you have the chance to enjoy the wonderful parades and activities that Fiesta has this year!! It’s finally back in full swing and you can learn the history and mission here. Contact Mary Jane Chisholm momjane6@gmail.com to purchase parade tickets (see newsletter article for more details).

Carol Palazzo carolapalazzo@gmail.com has been busy getting nominations for next year’s board and still needs YOU for a few key positions, so be sure to contact her to nominate yourself to our fun-loving board. We will present the slate of officers at the May 5th Fashion Show Luncheon. (election and installation take place at June Luncheon.)

For this May 5th Fashion Show Luncheon at the Dominion Country Club, all attendees are encouraged to dress up and don your derby or Mother’s Day or Fiesta hat to join in the fun! You could even win a prize!! Our Fashion Show will include members who have volunteered to walk the runway in style! We may have a couple of spots left so contact Michelle Plazek michelleplazek@gmail.com if you want to walk the runway too!

Who loves to cruise? This May 13-18 we cruise to Mexico. May 2023, we cruise to Alaska! Contact Marcia Blalock crusaway@yahoo.com for more details.

Almost every day has activity this month and our membership has climbed to pre-covid numbers! I pray you all enjoy a Happy Easter. Thanks for truly making it easy to Bloom Where You are Planted in San Antonio!!

Cindy

News from the President

Happy Mardi Gras!! Can you believe it’s March 1st?

This month marks the beginning of Spring as well as 2 years since the start of the pandemic lockdown. There have been numerous moments throughout these past two years where I was sure we were past it until another strain reared its ugly head. But, Newcomers of San Antonio has been resilient not just to survive, but to THRIVE! I am so proud of all of you for the many ways you have thrived to help the mental well-being of our members through one of our toughest times in recent world history. According to studies, having friends and activities helps our well-being more than we’ll ever know. We have not only sustained almost every Interest Group, but we have added 11 more: Blessing Bags, Creative Adventures with Barbara, Fork & Wine, Genealogy, Hiking, Knit & Crochet Fun, Line Dancing, Lunch Bunch, Pickleball, Puzzlers, Supper Club, and the return of Wine & Spirits Tasting! Mah Jongg and other groups have expanded!

So, kudos to all old and new interest groups alike for not only surviving, but thriving!!

To continue to do so, we need great leaders in each board position and I am pleased that so many new members are stepping up to get involved on the next board! We would love to have even more of you so please fill out your survey and contact me or Carol Palazzo if you would like to be nominated for a position on the 2022-2023 Newcomers of SA Board of Directors.

Looking Ahead:

Our May 5th Luncheon at the Dominion will include our very own Fashion Show emceed by Lynne Govers. Because of the pandemic, we will model our own clothes. Several of you have already stepped up to be models and I still need about 5 more so contact me if you are willing to model your own Spring outfit on May 5th. It’s going to be so fun!! Also, I encourage all to dress up and don a Derby/Easter/Mother’s Day hat which always adds fun fashion flair. You could win a prize for the best hat!

Our May 13-18th Royal Caribbean Cruise from Galveston to Mexico still has cabins available so contact Marcia at crusaway@yahoo.com for more info.

Enjoy the promise of new beginnings this Spring as you Bloom Where You Are Planted in this great city of San Antonio!

Much love,

Cindy

News from the President

Welcome to Winter y’all! While these temps are mild for this Wisconsin native, I understand it seems a bit chilly to most Texans. I have my mom visiting from the north and she loves our “warmth”, so it is all relative, isn’t it? I plan to bring my mom to the February 3rd luncheon at the historic Menger Hotel, so I hope you will get to meet her either there or at some other fun activity coming up!

Thanks to all of you who kept Newcomers going while I traveled in December and dealt with COVID in January. You proved that our board and our Interest group leaders are the best ever!!! I appreciate you all! New groups have even formed this past month! Check out the newsletter and calendar to see what interests you.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Is anyone planning a “Gal”entine get-together with friends? I always thought that sounded so fun, but have never attended one. Perhaps next year we should plan one!

Events Coming soon: 1) We are planning our bi-annual New Member luncheon, so if you are a fairly new member, watch your email for your invite this month for our Non-host February 15th Luncheon just for you! 2) The March 3rd Monthly Luncheon will be at The Meadow and you can make your reservation starting 2/4/22. 3) Note that Line Dancing started up again for every 4th Tuesday! It’s at a new location and costs only $5. 4) Cruise final payments are due soon. Others can reserve as cabins become available. Contact Marcia Blalock for more info. 5) A brand new interest group called Creative Adventures with Barbara will focus on paper crafts at 1 pm on 3rd Wednesdays. 6) For those of you who have been asking for more activities outside the regular work week, we now have a Knit & Crochet Fun group that meets on the 3rd Saturday! See the Newsletter for all the details. And, as always, if you cannot find an interest group to fit your needs, you are always welcome to start one!

Stay warm and healthy!

Cindy Richards

News from President

Happy New Year Newcomers of San Antonio!!!  We are past all the holidays and about to embark on a brand-new year full of possibilities.  Are you one who makes a list of New Year Resolutions?  My resolution for Newcomers is that all feel welcome to the party!  We all play a part in this but as you’ll see from the Outstanding Member of the Month column, we do best when we do it together!  My board sure showed this last month by the countless hours they put in to pull off our fabulous 40th Anniversary Luncheon. 

While things tend to slow down in January, Newcomers certainly has a full calendar, so for those looking for fun and friendship, I hope to see you out at the luncheon, coffee or at your favorite Interest Group offerings this month! Also, don’t forget to call Marcia Blalock to reserve a cabin to join us on the high seas for our May 13-18, 2022 cruise. 

Do you enjoy planning events? We are looking for volunteers to plan an April Fashion Show, so contact any board member if you are interested in working on this committee.

And, as always, if you don’t see your favorite activity offered, please know YOU can start a new group!!  That’s how we best Bloom Where We Are Planted.

Have a wonderful start to a healthy and happy 2022!! 

Cindy 

News from the President

Happy New Year Newcomers of San Antonio!!! We are past all the holidays and about to embark on a brand-new year full of possibilities. Are you one who makes a list of New Year Resolutions?  My resolution for Newcomers is that all feel welcome to the party!  We all play a part in this but as you’ll see from the Outstanding Member of the Month column, we do best when we do it together! My board sure showed this last month by the countless hours they put in to pull off our fabulous 40th Anniversary Luncheon.  Be sure to see the photos captured at that event here: https://danaann.passgallery.com/-_projects_22614785/gallery 

While things tend to slow down in January, Newcomers certainly has a full calendar, so for those looking for fun and friendship, I hope to see you out at the luncheon, coffee or at your favorite Interest Group offerings this month! Also, don’t forget to call Marcia Blalock to reserve a cabin to join us on the high seas for our May 13-18, 2022 cruise. 

Do you enjoy planning events? We are looking for volunteers to plan an April Fashion Show, so contact any board member if you are interested in working on this committee.

And, as always, if you don’t see your favorite activity offered, please know YOU can start a new group!!  That’s how we best Bloom Where We Are Planted.

Have a wonderful start to a healthy and happy 2022!! 

Cindy 

News from the President

Christmas is my favorite time of year! I feel like a little kid when I see the twinkling lights, the nativity scenes and the giving spirit everywhere I go. Newcomers is no exception! Contributions for Blessing Bags items and Community Involvement’s Toy Drive have been pouring in! It’s not too late to join in: Dec 2nd may be the Toy Drive cut-off but Blessing Bags & Mobile Loaves and Fishes will take Hats, Gloves and socks all winter long! Contact their Interest group leaders for how to give. Toys can be brought to the December 2nd 40th Anniversary Luncheon. I look forward to seeing so many of you there as we celebrate Christmas AND 40 years of this fabulous Newcomers of San Antonio group.

Our last coffee of the year will be at Lynne Govers’ home at 10am on December 16th and judging from the large number in November, it’ll be quite the gathering! Come join the fun! No reservation is necessary.

If you find holidays to be a difficult time of year, please know we’d like to be there for you! Our new leader for Helping Hands, Marcia Blalock (crusaway@yahoo.com) wants to know any way we can help our members. Helping Hands is an important part of Newcomers where members help their fellow members with a meal or a ride or a home visit after a surgery or difficult life circumstance. Please let Marcia know if you or another member needs our help in this kind of way.

I hope you saw the e-blast about our May 13-18th Cruise! Marcia (crusaway@yahoo.com) is the one to contact to answer any questions and to ultimately book your cabin to sail to Mexico with us in May!

On behalf of my fabulous board, we’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas / Holiday Season and A Happy New Year!

Peace, Joy & Love,

Cindy Richards

President

News from the President

How appropriate that I feel so thankful this Thanksgiving month! I am thankful for my faith, my family and my friends, including each and every one of you! I am also incredibly thankful for the founders of Newcomers of San Antonio for having the vision in 1981 to launch what is still this thriving recreational and charitable club of 220 members strong!! I have recently spoken to several of these founding members and they cannot wait to tell us all about our newcomer beginnings. Founder and Visionary, Elaine Van Buren, will do just that as our Key Note Speaker for the extraordinary December 2nd Fortieth Anniversary Luncheon at Aldos. Join us as we honor and celebrate our Founder and co-founders, our past 38 presidents and YOU, our current members!

I am also thankful that 66 of you came to our annual Interest Group Luncheon last month and not only signed up for your favorite groups but decided to start some new activities! I look forward to the various community involvement activities on the calendar as well as upcoming groups such as bowling and Learning the Arts with Shiny to name a few. Anyone can contact Michelle Plazek to start your own new interest group!

And I did receive that message in a bottle: Lucy Robinson volunteered to be our new coffee chair and already did a splendid job last month at our fun Oct coffee at Erin’s home overlooking the Riverwalk. Thank you Lucy!! We welcome you with open arms to the board!! You can find Lucy’s bio in this November newsletter. We still have one more Coffee Board position open with duties focusing on the emailing side of our monthly coffees – is that for you? We’d love to have you join our board that meets every 2nd Thursday and coffees that meet every 3rd Thursday. Contact me if interested!

I hope y’all have a chance to show your thankfulness to each other as you attend our activities this month! Maybe send your IG leader(s) a note of thanks. Enjoy this wonderful November of cooler weather, pretty fall sweaters and pumpkin spice everything while you gather, zoom, celebrate and give thanks with family and friends old & new this year!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Cindy Richards

News from the President

It’s October, and excitement is in the air! Not because of ghosts and goblins but because of so many wonderful happenings within Newcomers of San Antonio!

Did you hear we turn 40 this year!?! See the teaser article in this October Newsletter giving you a sneak peek at our 40th Anniversary Celebration plans for December 2nd. Be sure to mark your calendars and remember to reserve your luncheon early for that 12/2/21 Fortieth Anniversary Celebration Luncheon.

Our November Luncheon will be open for reservations on October 7th, and I will be first in line as I already peeked at our Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen menu, and I can’t decide between two of the entrees!

Speaking of luncheons: You probably noticed my excitement for the October Interest Group Luncheon, and now it is just days away! I cannot wait to see all of our Interest Groups on display and will have a blast watching so many of you go home with the amazing drawing prizes! BUY YOUR OPPORTUNITY DRAWING TICKETS – you’ll love all the amazing drawing prizes! I want to give a shout-out to the Corporations who donated gifts: Academy, Ancestry.com, Chicken N Pickle, REI, StoneWerks, Top Golf, and Whiskey Cake. Remember to thank them if you visit and thank your Interest Group Leaders who organize and host such fun things for us to do each month. Many leaders also donated AMAZING gift baskets for this luncheon. Thank you all! And, If you have an interest you’d like to lead or if you cannot participate in it on the day(s) offered or because its full, please find the What Group Do You Want to Start? table on October 7th as we will assist you in starting your very own group!

We have a new Board Member! Please join me in welcoming Susi Baylis-Powell to our Newcomers Board! She joined Newcomers and jumped right in. Check out her Bio in the Oct Newsletter. On that note, we still have two board vacancies: 2 Coffee Chairs. You can email, call, text, or send a message in a bottle if you’d like to join our board!! I think we’re rather fun!

I’ve never received so many positive comments, emails and texts thanking me for the final note in my September message, so I will reprint below as it certainly still applies:

While some of us have decided to stay away from gatherings, many are finding the need to make new friends and be active again. I support each group leader deciding how to run their groups in this difficult time and ask that we all respect each other’s decisions on gathering safely. When gathering in a private residence, it is up to the host to set the guidelines for their home. When we enter a restaurant, it is up to the restaurant owner. No one should feel pressured into participating, and I ask that no one ostracize those making decisions different from their own. My goal is to encourage you to bloom where you are planted in a friendly environment as you continue to make San Antonio your home.

Blessings,

Cindy Richards