March 2008

PRESIDENT'S REPORT - Karin Caporuscio (474-1199 kacap66@yahoo.com)
Spring is just around the corner! It is the time of year for us to start thinking about our Auction. Our board members have been busy soliciting businesses and members for donations. This is our primary fundraiser for our three charities. Again, all of the money we raise is given back into our community. Please review the email sent by Tricia Russell if you need ideas on what to donate. Once again, mark the date on your calendar: Thursday, April 24th at The Stage Coach Inn. I hope you can all attend!

I would also like to say how wonderful it has been to see so many of you attend our general meetings each month. It is nice when we have a full room for our speakers when they take time out of their schedule to speak to us. Thank you again!

Finally, as many of you know, we lost one of our long-time members, Suzie Rademan this past month. She sure was a lovely lady and will sadly be missed by many. I know the Rademan family has appreciated the donations and warm wishes that were given by so many of our members.

The next board meeting will be Thursday, March 6th at Tricia Russell's house.

1st VICE PRESIDENT - Lisa Charton (868-0180, charton@epix.net)
After listening to our master gardeners I know I can't wait for Spring so that I can start on my herb garden and my landscaping, plus the fact that I can't wait for Spring! This month will be special on a couple of accounts. The meeting this month will be on the last Thursday of the month (March 27th) and will be held in the morning, starting at 9:30AM.

This month's speaker will be Paul Nikom who is a brown belt in Karate and an instructor in Mountaintop. Paul will be teaching us self-defense, so please dress in comfortable, exercise clothes because we will be up and moving! We will be enjoying breakfast fare consisting of coffee, danish, and bagels.

DETAILS:
GENERAL MEETING: Thursday, March 27, 2008
TIME: 9:30 am
WHERE: Presbyterian Church, 6 Chestnut Street, Mountain Top
BREAKFAST COST: $5.00 per person
BABYSITTING: $3.00 per child for your first one and $2.00 for every child thereafter
RSVP: By March 20th using the reservation form at the back of the newsletter or by email to me at charton@epix.net

2nd VICE PRESIDENT - Membership - Kim Carpenter (474-9020 or kimwc@yahoo.com)
Remember that new neighbor that just moved inthe woman who you see regularly at the gymthe preschool mom they need you! A main purpose of our club is to help people acclimate to our community. But most people need someone to reach out to them. You may be the person who makes the difference in their life! You're also welcome to give their information to me and I can get in touch with them.

To make our guests feel extra welcome, at the next meeting, we will have a gift for each new guest and also a gift for the person who brings the most guests! So think about the person who may need a friend and we'll see both at the next meeting!

HOSTESS COORDINATOR - Tracie Pratt & Lisa Davidson (474-9542 or 474-0285)
We hope everyone enjoyed February's meeting. We would like to thank Elizabeth Montanino for bringing the dessert to February's meeting. We would also like to thank Terry Cahill for donating the centerpieces. If you have any suggestions for March's meeting please let us know. Thanks!

SECRETARY -Lorraine Novinger (474-1002 or lcnovinger@aol.com) Corinne Rossi (474-2181, gabeandgigi@msn.com)
A Sympathy card was sent to The Rademan Family. We will all miss Suzie tremendously. As always, anyone who knows of a member in need of a card for a birth, get well, death in the family etc. please contact Lorraine. For membership information, please contact Corinne.

Please add the following new members to your directories. Thanks!

Debra Bolus Grosek 474-5966 dbgrosekesq@juno.com

Julie Bolus 474-6431 (no e-mail)

Lorraine Marchakitus 788-4788 LMARCH@epix.net

Eleanore & Kevin Jones 403-5188 joneskejj@aol.com

WAYS & MEANS -Tricia Russell (403-7785, tricia.russell@wilkes.edu -please note new email address) and Shannon Williams (474-5570, shannon.williams@flsmidth.com)

AUCTION, AUCTION, AUCTION!!!! Reminder about the auction. The annual Charity Auction will again be held in the Crystal Ballroom at the Stage Coach Inn. Please save the date! It will be on Thursday, April 24th at 6 pm. All proceeds will benefit our three charities selected by the Welcome Club members at the beginning of the year - the Kirby Library, the Mountain Top Youth Soccer Association, and the Wright Township Park Expansion Project.

The board is beginning to contact local businesses and members of the Club for donations. So, expect to hear from one of us soon! We especially want to increase our membership support and attendance at this year's auction. The auction was a great success last year and we have high hopes again this year. We are excited that we have already received some donations and have heard some great ideas with enthusiasm from some members. Great news!! We will be keeping track of member donations and providing you with regular updates on our success as we go forward.

Donations can be almost anything- homemade crafts, bought items, baked goods, services, theme baskets, or monetary contributions. Donations don't have to be individual-you can consider teaming up with a friend as well. Board members can help with ideas when you are contacted.

Also, if you or someone you know, work for or own a business that would be willing to contribute, a donation would be greatly appreciated. All businesses who donate are recognized, both at the Auction, and in the newsletter - so it is great advertisement! If anyone has any questions about the auction, please contact one of us.

TREASURER - Terry Cahill (474-0592, tcahill@ptd.net)
If you have any expenses, please let me know and I'll be happy to reimburse you.

SERVICES - Beth LaMarca (474-6320, bethdoug@ptd.net) and Mary Thomas (868-7737, vandert5@pa.metrocast.net)

Thanks to those who donated items for Easter baskets this year. We know it felt early for Easter, but you know how time flies! We are also grateful to have the Girl Scouts assemble the baskets again this year. It's nice to see the future leaders of the Mountain Top area starting so young with community service!
Fire Department Appreciation Bakers: Thanks to our Club members that provided baked goods for the fire companies in Mountain Top. February Volunteers were Tracey Lapinski & Kim Carpenter who braved the AWFUL weather to deliver to Rice Twp! And for Mountain Top Hose and Wright Twp we had Elizabeth Montanino, Deb Grosek, Rene Rymar and Lorraine Novinger... Thanks Ladies! For those of you who haven't signed up yet - please contact Mary or Beth - there are still a few available spots, and we have also added a second baker to Rice Township.

PUBLICITY / HISTORIAN - Lael Swank (868-5040, rrswank@msn.com)
I'm looking for photos of all events such as playgroups and field trips, dinner clubs, special events, adopt-a-highway, picnics, children's parties and any other events that our Welcome Club participates in. I need your help to cover all of our special interest groups. These photos will also be use for our president's album at the end of her term. Please send me any photos you would like published and I will send them to the newspapers.

NEWSLETTER - Kim Kovalchik (403-1353, ejk2@verizon.net)
Please email newsletter articles for the April issue to me by Friday, March 14, 2008. Also, please send me the email addresses of any new members so I can add them to the newsletter distribution list. If your email changes during the year, please let me know. Thank you!

MEALS THAT HEAL - Christine Strage (474-5026, Christine@strage.com)
Please contact Christine is anyone needs this service, which provides meals to members experiencing an illness, birth or death in the family

"MOMS & TOTS"- Ann Papciak (403-0488, kgnfakp@aol.com)
Details on upcoming activities will be announced soon.

UPDATE: After the newsletter was sent out, the following event was scheduled:

I apologize for missing the newsletter deadline again, but more tests and appointments have kept me busy.
 
The Irem Shrine Circus is coming into town March 24-29. I am assuming that most of your children will have off Easter Monday, so I thought that may be the best time to go. There is a 1:30pm show on Monday the 24th. I can pre-order tickets, but I need to do that soon. If you are interested, please let me know by February 27.
 
Thanks!!
Ann
 
P.S. I'm not sure about the cost. I was told that in the past we didn't have to pay for the kids, but in the letter it talked about a $4.00 cost for adult if we exceed the 1 chaperone for each 5 kids. So I'll let you know once I know. 

PRESCHOOL PLAYGROUP - Elisa Colo (403-5374, Ekcolox2@aol.com)
Preschool playgroup is for children older than 2. Siblings are always welcome. If you would like to host, or have any questions, please contact me.
Day: Tuesday, March 25th
Time: 10:30a.m.-12:30p.m.
Place: Elisa Colo's Home
19 Aleksander Blvd. (Polonia Estates)
RSVP: 403-5374

COFFEE & BABIES - Rachel Boellmann (868-6002 or boell912@epix.net)
Cabin Fever? Get out and join us for coffee and babies this month! This playgroup is primarily for parents and caregivers with children younger than two years of age. Siblings are welcome!
A Coffee and Babies coordinator is needed for next year (beginning in Sept.). Please contact me if you are interested.
Day: Wednesday, March 12th
Time: 10a.m.-12p.m.
Place: Tracey Lapinski's Home
33 General Pulaski Dr. (Polonia Estates)
RSVP: 474-9595

OTHER SPECIAL INTEREST ACTIVITIES:

DINNER CLUB - Marie Duclos (678-7332)
Details on upcoming activities will be announced soon.

ARTS & CRAFTS- Judy Grimm (403-6194, jacg715@ptd.net)

The next meeting of the Arts and Crafts will be Monday, March 10, 2008 at the home of Beth LaMarca. 11 Old Orchard Lane (Highland Woods). If you would like to attend please contact Beth at 474-6320 or Judy Grimm at 403-6194 (home) or 574-2124 (cell). The cost will be about $5.00. We will be experimenting with different kinds of egg decorating that we can enjoy with our children, or make a centerpiece for our tables. I will have available different tips and suggestions. If you want to bring finger foods to nibble on while working that is fine. Keep it light.

NEEDLEWORK - Roye Brunnenmeyer (868-3071)
We meet every other Wednesday morning and members bring their own needlework projects to work on. We always welcome new members to join this fun-loving group. Please call the hostess if you plan to attend.

Wed., March 5th at Roye Brunnenmeyer's, 135 Cherrywood Drive, at 10:00 a.m. (868-3071)
Wed., March 19th at Joanne Rushton's, 115 Coplay Place (Laurel Lakes), at 10:00 a.m. (868-1066)

SCRAPBOOKING - Deana Pickett (474-6048, dpickett01@aol.com)
Please note that we will be meeting on a Wednesday this month!

Beth LaMarca's Home on WEDNESDAY, March 12th 1pm-3pm
11 Old Orchard Lane, Highland Woods
Please RSVP to Deana 474-6048 or to Beth 474-6320

BOOK CLUB - Carol McGowan (868-6876)
February's book club meeting is on Feb. 28th at 9:30 at Mary Thomas' house, 39 Waterman Dr. We are reading The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Give Mary a quick call if you plan on attending at 868-7737.

We will be reading Whoopi Goldberg: Her Journey from Poverty to Megastardom" by James Robert Parish. We will meet at Susan Hagenbuch's, 16 N. Birch Lane in Brookview Estates on Friday, March 28th at 9:30. Give Susan a call if you plan on attending at 239-5133.

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