Newcomers of San Antonio

President

News from the President


Hello Newcomers—Welcome to August! I hope you are all managing to stay cool and well. After our break from our monthly luncheon in July, we look forward to seeing you at the August Luncheon this week.  A big thank you to Christine Martin and Sandy Garrett for working so hard to get all of our luncheons set up for the year.  In the current economic climate, that has been no small feat! Hopefully, you saw our e-blast about the Community Involvement School Supply Drive.  Those items can be brought to the luncheon for Emilia Westney to pick up.  Thank you, Emilia! 

We are gearing up to have the new directory printed, and copies will be available at the September luncheon. Before that, Susi Baylis-Powell will send out a draft so that you can ensure your information is correct. Please get back to her in a timely manner so she can make any needed changes. 

Also coming up at our September luncheon will be our Interest Group Showcase.  All of our interest group leaders will have information on what they are doing and how to join.  Have you got an idea for a group you’d like to start? We would be glad to help you get it going! All ideas are welcome—and multiples of the same type of group are fine. Sometimes schedules don’t work for the current group meeting, and you might just have the time slot that will attract different members. Michelle Plazek is our go-to for all things Interest Groups. Thanks, Michelle! 

A new feature going forward in our newsletter will be a member spotlight. Especially after the last couple of years, we don’t all know each other.  Longer tenure members don’t know the newbies and the newbies don’t know our longer tenure members, so I hope this will be a small way to introduce you to various club members. See below for our very first member spotlight!

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me or any board member if there is something we can help you with.  We are here to serve and will do our best to address your needs.  

Hope to see you soon at the luncheon, coffee, or any of our great interest group activities! 

Carol Palazzo
President

News from the President

Welcome to the new year of Newcomers! I want to give a huge shout-out and thank you to our past president, Cindy Richards, and all of the board members who served so well. It takes a lot of dedication to keep everything running so smoothly and they did a fantastic job. We had a wonderful year, with many highlights, including our 40th anniversary celebration. I hope our members at large will take the opportunity to thank these board members whenever you have the chance. Well done, Friends! Also, a big welcome and thank you to those who are continuing on the board and those who are joining us to serve this year! 

We will strive to continue to meet the needs of our members and we welcome your thoughts and ideas. We have so many Interest Groups meeting regularly—it is exciting to see the participation after the last difficult couple of years. We welcome new Interest Groups, so if you have an idea for an additional group of any kind, let us know! 

Have a wonderful summer—enjoy your travel, time with family, and whatever comes your way! Stay cool! We will see you officially at our July coffee and August luncheon.

Carol Palazzo
President

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

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

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

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

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