Scarborough CentrePROBUS

ISSUE # 154 DEC 2017

Xmas Lunch Dec 14 @ Parkwood Manor

President’s MessageNo other month in the year brings such a mixture of feelings: anticipation, disappointment, celebration, depression, hopefulness, hopelessness, joy, and gloom. In Western literature, Charles Dickensʼ Ebenezer Scrooge embodies all of these emotions during his experiences with the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Many of us enjoy Stuart McLeanʼs rambling tales of Daveʼs Christmas mishaps. What is so appealing and comforting in these stories that we want to read/view them every year? Do we recognize the common human need for companionship and love? Do we recognize the common human frailty of not always achieving high standards set by others or by ourselves?In our secular society, the busiest retail time of the year is Christmas. No matter what religious beliefs we hold, it seems that we can be seduced by the promise of magical moments available with the gifts so attractively presented in print, television, and on-line advertisements. Most of us think that we are careful with our spending, but we hear of people who go into debt because they cannot resist the newest gadgets and gizmos developed for our pleasure. Notice that pleasure has replaced need as the reason for a purchase.This is also the season for increased pressure from charitable organizations relying on the trusty combination of pleasure and guilt. (If I can afford to buy this item for a gift for a loved one, I can also afford a financial gift for someone less fortunate.) We all like to think of ourselves as nice people. See how easy it is to run up the credit card payments? One financial expert

advises having a credit card with a low spending limit for such occasions; when youʼve reached the maximum for charitable gifts or theatre tickets or whatever, you stop spending on that account. Of course, this system will work only if you keep one card for such transactions.When bombarded by messages to save the environment or to help political prisoners or to help homeless teenagers, how does one choose a cause to support? Individuals must choose their own causes and the means by which to support them. During the year, the help can be financial or physical (volunteering oneʼs presence at a local site). At this time of year, many of us empty nesters, beginning to downsize our homes, no longer exchange gifts with friends and relatives, but make donations in one anotherʼs names to the causes they support. Or, we agree to go to a nice restaurant for a meal to celebrate the season and our friendship. Making memories is just as important for older folks as it is for younger ones. And we donʼt have to break the bank to have good times.In the Christian calendar, the season of Advent is beginning. (Latin ad = towards; venire – to come). In these weeks let us create our own adventures and memories, with and for our families and friends. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Pam Lock - President

Speaker’s PodiumNov Dec

Ted Hogan - Coordinator 416-757-6094

Membership

Our Christmas entertainment will be Timothy Clarke, who sings and plays piano and guitar. Mr Clarke was chosen from among several excellent suggestions by club members. We anticipate a really happy Christmas luncheon, as long as the weather cooperates

Our November speaker was Dr Jeffrey Lipsitzʼs assistant Mr Aaron Arkin, who operates sleep clinics in Metro Toronto. He briefly covered the management of a number of aspects of insomnia including cessation of breathing,sleep apnea> sleep duration and snoring.A number of statistics were presented indicating that many of us are sleep deprived which certainly helps to explain some grumpy people.The talk was well presented and suggested that professional followup could be beneficial for some folks.

112 members signed in for the November meeting. Four badges were presented to new members, Irene Anderson, June Bourdon, MaryLou Burt, and Mary Marchut.  Watch for their mini bios in upcoming Newsletters.Three guests were welcomed, and one has been added to our waitlist.Special thanks to Gloria Courtney for filling in for me, I am sorry to have missed our speaker and the topic on sleeping, sure could use some of that.See you soon at our Christmas lunch.

Bonita Campbell - Coordinator - 416-291-5181

Non-fiction BooksOn January 10 the Non-fiction Book Club will meet and discuss ourcurrent book “Travelling To Infinity” by Jane Hawking.If you are interested in joining our group the meetings are held at the McGregor Park Public Library (2219 Lawrence Ave. East) from 1:30 to 3:00 pm. We take a break with coffee, tea, cookies around 2:15.To learn more about our group, please contact;

Gord Blackwell - Coordinator - 416-293-4202

RODEO ROMEO

Brenda Spence - Coordinator 416-497-6950 Walter Elliott - Coordinator 416-291-1404

Social Events

Heather Talbot - Coordinator - 416-265-8930

Christmas Lunch:Iʼm very pleased that 132 people have purchased tickets for our Christmas luncheon at Parkview Manor.  Please bring your turkey or salmon ticket with you.  See you Thursday December 14th at 10:30!

Theatre Group:

On November 1st, the group had a lovely dinner at La Fenice, an Italian restaurant and then saw the play "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" at the Princess of Wales Theatre.  The production was thought-provoking, using strobe lighting and loud sound to simulate what it feels like to have autism.Our next play will be Friday, April 13th at 8:00 p.m., cost $20 to see "The Cemetery Club" at the Scarborough Theatre. It is a funny and touching play about three widows who meet once a month for tea before visiting their husbands' graves.  We will collect the money for this play at the January meeting.On Friday, May 25th at 8:00 p.m., we will see "See How They Run" at the Fairview Library Theatre - cost $27.  We will collect money for this play at the February meetingDoreen & Grant Dickson

RODEO and ROMEOhave eloped.

They will be back in January

Christmas Lunch

Our Christmas Lunch is almost here!When?! ! ! ...! Thursday, December 14, 2017 @ 10:30 am

Where?! ! ! ...! Parkview Manor Banquet Hall

Whereʼs that?! ! ...! 55 Barber Greene Road in Don Mills.

How do I get there?! ...! Glad you asked. See map below.

January submissions by ... December 31, 2017 Kevin Balgopal balgopal@sympatico.ca

Mailing Address: Probus, Scarborough Centre Club #162300 Borough Drive, Box 47027, Scarborough Ont., M1P 4P0

Oct 1, 2017 - Sept 30, 2018

Scarborough Centre(Club # 162 - Chartered May 4, 2004)

Management Team

Management CommitteePresident # # Pam Lock# # 416-499-0101# p2elock@rogers.com#Past President# Jeannette Balgopal# 416-284-0598# jbalgopal@sympatico.caVice Pres# # Carman Chisamore#416-497-5196# carmanjosey@sympatico.caTreasurer# # Ian Harvie# # 416-266-6647# riharvie@sympatico.caSecretary# # Joyce Ostler # 416- 493-1770# joyceostler@rogers.comMembership# Bonita Campbell# 416-291-5181# bonnybraidsdoll@yahoo.com Newsletter# # Kevin Balgopal# 416-284-0598# balgopal@sympatico.ca Speaker Coord# Ted Hogan# # 416-757-6094# tedjhogan@gmail.com Social Coord # Heather Talbot# 416-265-8930# heatalb@rogers.com 

Activities Coordinators

R.O.D.E.O.# # Brenda Spence# 416-497-6950# spencey@sympatico.caR.O.M.E.O.## Wally Elliott# # 416-291-1404# wally.den@gmail.com We Care# # Flo Sanford# # 416-497-5155# floandted@sympatico.caBook club # # Gord Blackwell# 416-293-4202# gblackwell@sympatico.caBook Exchange# Reg Nighswander# 416-293-7067# reg.nighswander@sympatico.caPhotographer# Denise Elliott## 416-291-1404# wally.den@gmail.com Theatre Group# Doreen Dickson# 416-499-8657# g.dickson@sympatico.caHospitality# # Darlene Harvey# 416-494-5816 # darleneharvey1@gmail.com## # # Joyce Needler# 416-438-2088# jyneedler@rogers.com## # # Catherine Camley # 416-759-8587# jaxagle@gmail.com#Tea# # # Marg Crossman# 416-261-6762# margaret.crossman@sympatico.ca## # # Helen Ward# # 416-267-6855# dandt.ward@bell.netCoffee# # Wally/Denise Elliott# 416-291-1404# wally.den@gmail.com #50 / 50 # # Paula Scaffidi# 905-259-3111# pscaffidi@hotmail.com## # # Susan Purcell# 416-266-0265# susan_purcell@rogers.com