Zumba is rocking the MRC

Merry Christmas to all!

Thanks to everyone who came out to the annual Christmas Dinner & Dance at the club on December 17th. A good time was had by all, we were treated to a fabulous meal and fellowship and the music offered an eclectic mix to please us.

A bit of sad news to share with those who may have left the community for the winter months and may not have heard. The MRC lost a very dear friend on November 28th. Bev Stevens had been president of the MRC for several years and was active in many of our activities. She enjoyed bingo and planning our annual Canada Day and Breakfast with Santa celebrations over the years.

Bev is pictured above (front, left) with her husband, Rick and friends at the 2009 Christmas Dinner at the MRC.

Bev fought a hard battle with cancer and lost and we all lost a very good friend when she said goodbye and moved on to a better place. Our hearts go out to her husband, Rick, who supported Bev with love and devotion through her health difficulties over the past year.

On a brighter note, Zumba is gearing up to resume after the holidays on January 6th. If you've joined us in the past, but have not been for awhile, please come back! We have a terrific group, a lot of fun and the pleasure of shaking it under the direction of instructor, Ruth Burse, who keeps us hopping with all types of multi-cultural music.

If you haven't yet tried Zumba ... give it a whirl! It's loads of fun and is suitable for anyone. Those who can do more, do. Those who get tired take a seat for a moment to catch their breath. The cost is $6/class for MRC members and $7/class for non-members.

We wrapped up the season with a Christmas potluck with a Mexican theme. Ruth cooked us up a batch of fresh quesadillas and everyone brought something to share. We'll do it again after another six weeks of Zumba (under a different theme) so do join us at 11:15 am on January 6th and shape up your body with a little shaking and stretching. You'll be glad you did!

Here's wishing you all the best for 2012, whether you spend winters here with us, in the city or somewhere warm on a beach. Enjoy!

welcome to fall at the MRC

We hope you all had a terrific summer. The weather couldn't have been better!

Have you got all your yardwork done? There are still a few colourful leaves left on the trees and a few geese and gulls hanging out at Matlock Beach. Too bad they'll soon all be gone!

As will many of you snowbirds who head south for the winters! We'll miss you.

But for those of staying behind, there are plenty of fun activities at the MRC to help pass the time, keep you fit and introduce you to new friends.

Zumba is rocking the MRC on Friday mornings from 11 am until noon. Please join us! Ruth Burse takes us through lots of tantalizing moves as we sway and shake it to Latin music. Don't worry! This is a 55+ version of Zumba, so it's not too difficult and still helps give your body and cardio a good workout. Cost is $6 for members and $7 for non-members each session. Call Donnie at 389-4604 for more info.

Mark your calendars for the October 29th Craft and Bake Sale. We have 22 tables confirmed. Come early for the best selection! And the ladies are preparing a fabulous lunch of perogies, kulbassa and coleslaw. A steal of a deal at $4.50! It will be served around noon.

If you attend Bingo regularly, you'll already know that we're collecting donations for the "Breakfast with Santa" fund. If you haven't attended Friday night Bingo lately, drop in! Doors open at 6:00 pm. There's always something exciting happening, and you may just get lucky!

Our last bit of news is that the date for the Christmas Dinner & Dance has been changed to December 17th. Be sure to spread the word. We look forward to seeing you there. Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members and will be available from Darlene at 389-3593.

Enjoy what's left of the fall weather!
Your friends at the Matlock Rec Club

summer highlights at the MRC

Well summer is finally into full swing and Matlock and area residents are enjoying it!

Here are a few recent highlights, and news about some upcoming area events.

We had a terrific turnout at the July 1st Canada Day celebrations. In the picture below, MRC vice-president, Kate Roed, welcomes residents and dignitaries to get things started.

Another highlight of the day was recognizing the efforts of Matlock resident, Vic Clayton, who won the Volunteer of the Year Award as selected by the R.M. of St. Andrews. Vic had been away, fishing on Vancouver Island when the award was presented at the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner in St. Andrews, so we were happy to present it to him on July 1st. Vic was awarded this honour for his tireless efforts on behalf of the community. He helps out at the MRC whenever he is asked, he participates in most community events, is an active volunteer and member of the Winnipeg Beach Legion, and is an inspiration to us all.

Doreen Pendgracs presents Vic with a lovely clock as thanks for the numerous hours he has volunteered for the community. At age 85, Vic continues to inspire us all. We need more volunteers like him! Do you know any?

Following the formal presentations and speeches, there were various activities inside and out for all ages.

A silent auction and bake sale, card games and a beer garden entertained the adults while various games outdoors entertained the kids.

     MRC volunteer, Ann Kwiatek, shows off the new canteen at the MRC.

Thanks to Ruth Burse who is leading us every Tuesday morning at 11 for a hour's worth of smiles during the Zumba classes. If you haven't tried it yet, join us next Tuesday! Young and old, male or female, all are welcome!

A note to all: Betty Jackson of the Ponemah Arts Centre is looking for "artful accessories" as part of their annual fundraiser. Drop in & see what they've got so far at 300 Railway Street in Ponemah. You'll be amazed at the creativity in our local community!

Did you know that the Second Annual Matlock Music, Art & Nature Festival will be held August 27 & 28? Be there or be square. Information about the program, and a call for volunteers can be found on their
website at: http://www.matlockfestival.ca/. See you there!

looking ahead

It was wonderful to see so many members come out to the Annual General Meeting on May 1st. It's amazing what a little food will do!

In all seriousness, we did have a terrific meal following our meeting. Thanks to everyone who brought desserts and to everyone who helped put it all together.

Here are the highlights from  the AGM:

1) A new board was elected as follows:
Bev Stevens continuing on as President & Darlene Muron continuing on as Treasurer. These 2 positions are in the second year of a two-year term and will be up for election in 2012.

Kate Roed has agreed to serve as Vice-President. Georgeanne Schau has agreed to continue serving as Secretary.

Donnie Alexander and Jean Picklyk were re-elected as directors and Doris Yanchishyn has joined the board as a new director. The board may appoint one or two additional directors as the need arises.

Marilyn Roy and Doreen Pendgracs retired from the board and were thanked for their years of service.

2) Renovations to the canteen will begin on May 16th. Here's a pic of the existing canteen. We'll post a pic of the new and improved version after the renovations have been completed.

3) Zumba classes begin on Tuesday May 24th and will run for 6 weeks. This will be a senior-friendly version of Zumba and will accommodate all ages and abilities. Join us for some fun and fitness beginning at 11 am on May 24th. Cost is $5 for members; $6 for non-members. Drop-ins welcome.  

4) We have discontinued Crib until further notice.

5) Our Christmas Craft Sale will be held on Saturday, October 29th. Call Darlene at 389-3593 if you would like to book a table.

Stay tuned to this blog for further activity updates. We'll be looking for volunteers to help with the July 1st celebrations. Contact Kate at 389-4305 if you'd like to help out.

Here's hoping the water recedes, the sun shines and your spring is filled with optimism and joy.

spring has finally sprung in Matlock

The snow on the weekend was a bit of a setback, but nothing compared to the dozens of tornadoes felt in the southern US! We are indeed fortunate to live in this beautiful and relatively safe part of the continent.

With spring finally showing its smiling face (I've noticed some green grass showing up in dry, sunny spots!) we're pleased to provide you with a few updates.

1) the RSVP date for the May 1st Annual General Meeting and dinner has been extended to April 27th. Please join us to share ideas and a tasty cold buffet meal, free to members. (Nominal cost of $5 for non-members.)

2) We are going ahead with the Zumba classes at the MRC beginning next month. Please call Darlene at 389-3593 ASAP if you'd like to participate. The charge for members will be only $5 for a one-hour class. The program will run for 6 weeks beginning Tuesday, May 24th from 11 am until noon. Tell your friends! Zumba is great fun and exercise for anyone.

3) We've booked the date of December 17th for our annual Christmas Dinner. Please mark you calendars, and stay tuned to this blog for updates.

See you May 1st, and keep smiling!

spring is here!

That was quite the winter! We're envious of those of you who escaped it and headed south for the bulk of the winter. Looks like most of our snowbirds have now flown north and are back with us in Matlock and Dunnottar. Welcome home!

Your board of directors have been busy making plans for the upcoming Annual General Meeting, which will be held on Sunday, May 1st at 3 pm. Our constitution and by-laws have recently been amended to state that our AGM will hereby be held annually on the first Sunday of May, so please mark your calendars accordingly.

We hope you'll join us. Following the meeting, there will be a complimentary cold plate meal for all members in good standing. Guests are welcome, and guests can purchase a meal for $5.

As we'll be preparing the meal ourselves, we'll require an RSVP by April 21st. Please e-mail our secretary, Georgeanne Schau at georgeanneschau9@gmail.com or our president, Bev Stevens at 389-4340 or e-mail stevensb@mts.net to let them know you'll be joining us.

At the meeting, we'll be giving a full report of the club's happenings over the past year. We will also be looking for volunteers to help with various activities and members to step forward and take on board positions. It's fun and rewarding to serve your community. Please help us keep the MRC a dynamic and active place to be. We can only do it with YOUR help.

Other news:

* The MRC received a Poppy Appreciation Award from the Winnipeg Beach Legion for our 2010 poppy campaign.

* There will be no bingo on Friday, April 22nd as it is Good Friday.

* Our traditional Canada Day dinner will be moved up to 4:30 pm to facilitate bingo, as July 1st is on a Friday this year.

That's all the news for now. Stay tuned to the blog (and please subscribe) to ensure you hear all the updates and don't miss any fun events.

See you on Sunday, May 1st for the Annual General Meeting & election of the 2011-2012 Board of Directors.  

friends old and new meet at the Matlock Rec Club

Welcome to all our new members! It's wonderful to see our membership growing.

And for anyone who hasn't paid their membership dues for 2011, please note that they are now due. It's a steal at $10 per person. Membership at the MRC gets you reduced prices on our activities, and a lovely free cold plate at our July 1st celebrations.

Festivities during our annual Christmas Dinner and Dance were enjoyed by all. Here are some pictures of the event.

You can be sure that there are many more fun activities planned for 2011. We'll be flying at half-mast over the next few months as so many of our members fly (and drive!) to warmer climes. Stay tuned for updates come March, and be sure to mark Sunday, May 1st as the date for the Annual General Meeting of the MRC. The meeting will begin at 2 pm. Please plan to be there, as the club can only be as strong as the members that help build and maintain it.  

As this year comes to a close, best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year from the Board of the Matlock Rec Club. See you in 2011!

Less than 3 weeks to the Christmas party!

We're getting excited about the upcoming Christmas Dinner & Dance! Have you got your tickets?

The menu is looking fantastic. Take a look:

CEASAR SALAD

BROCCOLI SALAD

BABY CARROTS

MASHED POTATOES

ROAST BEEF & GRAVY

HORSERADISH

SWEET& SOUR MEATBALLS

CABBAGE ROLLS

HEAD CHEESE

PEROGIES

PICKLES

DINNER ROLLS & BUTTER

COFFEE /TEA

DESSERT 

VARIETY OF CHEESECAKES

Any of you who have had a meal by Jane's Catering (and yes, they catered our Christmas Dinner last year) know that we're in for a great meal and a terrific evening of fun and friendship with members of the Matlock (and area) community.

And Operation Red Nose is standing by to drive you to the party and pick you up for a reasonable donation. Just call 642-9000 to arrange your ride.

See you on December 18th! Call Darlene at 389-3593 for tickets. They're going fast!

What's on tap at the MRC?

We're gearing up for Christmas and the festive season at the Matlock Rec Club. Here are a few updates to note and mention to your friends:

* We'll be decorating the hall at 7 pm on November 16th. If you have some time and would like to help out, please drop by and share your creativity!

* We'll be hosting Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec 4th from 9-11 am (silver collection.) In addition to a tasty breakfast of sausages and pancakes, there will be crafts and goodies for the kids, a draw for a gingerbread house made by one of our favourite local gals and more! Please bring your camera if you'd like to have a pic of your little one with Santa as we will not have an official photographer on hand this year.

* We have to place the order with the caterer one week prior to the event, so please get your tickets for the Christmas Dinner and Dance by December 10th from any board member. (Our contact info is in the previous blog post.) Please join us Saturday, December 18th for a great meal and some smiles with your friends and neighbours. Cocktails at 5:00 pm; dinner served at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $20 for members; $25 for non-members.

* Please note that crib will not be offered during the winter months at the MRC. It seems that most of the members who play crib will be taking their talent south to warmer locales after Christmas. Last crib games here will be on Dec 13th. Stay tuned for details on activities for the new year.

* Speaking of activities for the new year, we have a certified Zumba instructor who has offered to hold classes at the MRC beginning in April. Her approach is for a 55+ rhythm, so everyone (regardless of age or fitness level) will be welcome to join in, have some fun and improve your fitness level. We are looking for a show of hands as to who might be interested in taking part. If you'd like to sign up for Thursday evening Zumba at the MRC beginning in April, reply with a comment to this blog or call Darlene at 389-3593.

* And please remember that your annual dues as a member of the MRC are due on January 1st. Dues are just $10 per person, and get you a number of member benefits including reduced prices to our list of activities.      

Mark Your Calendars!

Happy Fall to everyone in the area!

We've got plenty of fun activities planned for your fall and early winter.

First up is the Matlock Trade & Craft Show, to be held at the MRC on Saturday, November 13th. If you are interested in having a table at the show to sell your handcrafted or baked goods, or if you would like to promote a homebased business like Epicure, Norwex, Avon, etc., please call Darlene before October 23rd to reserve yourself a table. Cost for tables is $20. Darlene can be reached at 389-3593.

Breakfast with Santa will be held on Saturday, December 4th. Our regular Santa has moved back to the North Pole. We need a replacement! If you know where we can find Santa, please call Doreen at 389-4177 asap!

Our annual Christmas Dinner & Dance will be held on Saturday, December 18th. Every board member has been given 10 tickets to sell, so contact any one of us for tickets. Don't wait as they go fast every year. Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Cocktails at 5 pm. Dinner at 6:30 pm. The dinner will be catered by Joan's catering, who did last year's Christmas dinner for us and this year's volunteer dinner. We can always count on Joan and crew to provide us with an excellent meal, so come join us for fun and fellowship.

Best of the season to you from all of us on the board:

Bev Stevens, President 389-4340.
Marilyn Roy, Vice-President 389-2904.
Georgeanne Schau, Secretary 389-5375.
Darlene Muron, Treasurer 389-3593.
Doreen Pendgracs, Blog 389-4177.
Kate Roed 389-4305.
Jean Picklyk 389-4284.
Donnie Alexander 389-4604.
Cathy Whitehead, Bingo Chairperson 389-4423.