The Mountain Top Welcome Club Newsletter

September 2009

PRESIDENT'S REPORT - Elaine Bernstein (474-5984/814-0286 or elaine.bernstein@earthlink.net)

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome to a new Welcome Club year!

I want to extend a huge thank-you to our immediate Past President, Shannon Williams. Shannon did an outstanding job leading us last year, for which we are all extremely grateful. On a personal level, I was so fortunate to have the benefit of Shannon's wisdom, patience, advice and unflappable demeanor last year as I learned the nuts and bolts of the Auction; and now I feel extremely lucky to have her as a mentor in yet another role. (Don't worry, Shannon - I promise that one of these days I will be taking you off my speed dial.)

I am very excited to be taking on the exciting challenge of serving as President this year. I am so glad to have "found" the Welcome Club right after my daughter was born (thanks, Lisa Davidson). It really has opened up a whole new world of friends and opportunities for me, for which I will be forever grateful.

If I had to pick a "theme" for this year, it would be "Back to Basics - With a Twist." Since the Welcome Club has been such a huge part of my becoming a part of the Mountain Top Community, I would like to be able to help us continue to "pay it forward" to a whole new group of women, and to even help in a small way to "pay it back" to all of those who welcomed me to the club and shaped it into the wonderful group that it has become.

Here are some of the ways I am hoping to do that:

1. New Members. Thank you very much to all of our current members who are spreading the word about us. I have received several leads on some great possible new members. Please keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities to invite your friends, neighbors and colleagues to join us. Kim Carpenter has done a wonderful job as Vice-President for Membership, and we are very lucky to have her serving in that role again this year.
2. New Connections. Let's use the opportunities we have to make some new connection with your fellow existing members. Our Club had over 100 members last year, but do you find that you seem to spend most of your Welcome Club time with the same small group of people? Some of that is natural, but it is always a good time to meet a new friend! At our September General Meeting, we will be having a "Meet and Greet" session, rather than inviting a speaker. We have all sorts of fun activities planned to help you step "outside of your circle" and get to know some your fellow members better.
3. New Groups. In order to make the Welcome Club appeal to a wider variety of women, we are kicking off a "Working Women's Group" that will plan activities to be held on evenings and weekends so that women who cannot attend our daytime meetings can still feel included. (Please, no one take offense at the name. This is not to say that we all don't work very hard currently, no matter what our family and/or job situations might be. We sure do!!!! It is just that no one has come up with a better name yet. Suggestions are welcomed.) We are still in the process of getting this together. Please stay tuned for more details which will be coming very soon.
4. New Programs. We are always looking for new ways to benefit our members. Please note the following:
a. Magazine Exchange. Heather Cole has suggested a wonderful new program where we help each other save money, save precious storage space in our homes, and save the environment by bringing in our old magazines to the meetings each month to exchange. Please watch your email for further information on this, but in the meantime, feel free to start setting aside any already-read magazines to bring to the September Meeting.
b. Halloween Costume Exchange. Mary Ellen McFarland proposed that we help each other by bringing in any Halloween Costumes from prior years that are no longer needed. Any costumes that you would like to donate will be made available to the group on a first-come, first-served basis. We will happily accept not only children's costumes, but also those for adults or even pets, at both the September and October Meetings.
c. Other Programs. What other ideas do you have that could be win-win for the group? Please bring your thoughts to the September Meeting, or feel free to call or email me at any time with suggestions.
Whew! I think I have taken more than my share of newsletter space for this edition. Congratulations if you have made it this far.

I look forward to a wonderful Welcome Club Year! I am honored but the trust that has been placed in me to serve in this role, and I look forward to seeing you all soon!

1st VICE PRESIDENT - Kerri Fey (479-2739 or Kerrifey0723@aol.com )

Our first meeting will be Thursday, September 24th at noon. The cost of the meeting is $7 and babysitting will be available for $3 per child. This will be a "Meet and Greet event," so please come prepared to greet your old friends and meet some new ones.
****PLEASE NOTE***This is a changed date from our regular schedule of meeting on the third Thursday of the month. The meeting had to be pushed back one week from the expected date, due to a scheduling conflict with the Church.

Also, as Elaine mentioned above, please bring any donations of magazines and/or Halloween costumes with you to the meeting for our new exchange programs.

2nd VICE PRESIDENT ­ Membership ­ Kim Carpenter (474-9020 or kimwc@yahoo.com)

HOSTESS COORDINATOR ­ Khris Fox (906-8159 or khrisfox@hotmail.com)

The first meeting is quickly approaching. I need 3 volunteers to donate a dessert. If you are interested, please email me at khrisfox@hotmail.com or call 570/906-8159.

Help! Our previous babysitter is unable to continue her services this year. We are in need of a babysitter for our general
Meetings. If you know if someone who may be interested call or email Khris Fox. Thanks!

SECRETARY ­ Corinne Rodman (474-9501 or sasseboo@ptd.net)

Hello everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful summer! Please let me know if any of our members are in need of a card for a birth, get well, death in the family, et al. This is a nice way to let members know that they are always in our thoughts and prayers!

WAYS & MEANS - (Mary-Ellen Mcfarland 868-6467 or mcfarland12@epix.net and Corinne Racicky 474-6951 or corinneelizabeth23@yahoo.com)

Please welcome Pam McGovern to the Ways & Means Committee! We are very glad to have her work with us this year. We are considering new ideas for fundraising this year, including a Night at the Races Event.

TREASURER - Mary Kate Finney (682-2389 or therapy97@yahoo.com)

If you have any expenses, please let me know and I'll be happy to reimburse you. Also, remember to pay your $20 dues as soon as possible! Fill out and mail the membership form to our PO box or bring it to the meeting

SERVICES - Shannon Williams (474-5570 or richslani@verizon.net)

Once again, the club will provide a snack or baked good (homemade or bought) for our local volunteer fire departments monthly meetings. I will have a sign-up sheet at September's general meeting. Please contact me if you have an interest in helping.

Stay tuned for a date for our highway clean up and our hats and mittens collection for the people at St. Paul's Food Bank.

PUBLICITY / HISTORIAN - Ann Papciak (403-0488 or kgnfakp@aol.com)

Greetings! As Publicity/ Historian, I'm looking for photos of all events such as playgroups and fieldtrips, dinner clubs, special events, adopt-a-highway, picnics, children's parties and any other events pertaining to our Welcome Club. I need your help to cover all of our special interest groups. These photos will also be used 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. Make sure to label all participants featured in the photo. My email address is Kgnfakp@aol.com. Let's have a great year promoting our Welcome Club!

NEWSLETTER - Diane Keating (474-6166 or mountain92@verizon.net)

I am so pleased to be working on the newsletter this year. Mary Thomas did such a wonderful job and I hope that I can fill such big shoes. Please send me your submissions for the October newsletter as soon as possible so that we may send out the newsletter in a timely fashion. Thanks!

MEALS THAT HEAL - Mary Thomas (868-7737 or Vandert5@pa.metrocast.net)

Please contact Mary if anyone needs this service, which provides meals to members experiencing an illness, birth or death in the family.

MOMS AND TOTS - ( Lori Urosevich 868-5852 or Lurosevich@aol.com and Shannon Williams 474-5570 or richshan1@verizon.net)

FAIRVIEW MEMORIAL PARK
Friday, 9/11
11:30 - ?
Join us for some playground fun! Remember to pack a lunch. Call or email Lori if you have questions.

BLOOMSBURG FAIR
Thursday, 10/1
Meet at Mr. Z's/Weis at 10AM. We will try to carpool.
Please RSVP to Shannon by 9/30.

Please feel free to contact Lori or Shannon if you have ideas for future activities!

CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUP - Tricia Russell (403-7785 or tricia.russell@wilkes.edu) and Elizabeth Shipton (474-5481 or lshipton@verizon.net)

We are trying something new this year and combining the preschool playgroup and coffee & babies playgroup. The first children's playgroup is listed below. Please contact either Tricia or Liz if you are interested in hosting a play date this fall or spring. Looking forward to seeing everyone with little children at these playgroups.

Date: Friday, September 25th

Time: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Place: Tricia Russell's home at 477 Strawberry Lane, Bow Creek Estates, Mountaintop
RSVP to Tricia at 403-7785 by Wednesday, September 23th

DINNER CLUB - Marie Duclos (678-7332 or duclosmarie@hotmail.com )

The dinner club will have its first function, a cocktail party, on Saturday evening September 26th at Karen and Mike Filchak's Please bring an appetizer or a dessert. Please call Karen at 868-1109 or Marie at 678-7332 and let us know

if you are planning to come and what you will be bringing. This is a good way to meet the members and see if you are interested in joining. During the year each couple hosts a small group dinner, and we have a large group comfort food dinner in January and another cocktail party in May. We also have a picnic in the summer.

WHAT'S COOKING? COOKING GROUP - Bobbi-Jo Romanishan (371-4317 or bojorom@yahoo.com)

The Cooking Group will get things rolling in October with details at the September meeting. If you are interested in hosting a cooking event this year, please let me know. We'll also have our cookie exchange the first week of December.

NEEDLEWORK ­ Jan Pagodin (647-3908 or pagodin@pa.metrocast.net)

We are a small friendly group who meet every other Wednesday morning. You don't have to have a needlework project to attend, just come for the company and conversation. We love to welcome new members. Please contact the hostess or myself if you will be able to join us.
Our September meetings will be:
Wednesday, September 9th at Jan Pagodin's, 60 Ice Lake Dr at 10 am, 647 3908 / pagodin@ pa.metrocast.net
Wednesday, September 21st at Mae Schuler's, 85 Karin Dr at 10 am, 678 5925/ maemal1@aol.com

SCRAPBOOKING - Khris Fox (906-8159 or khrisfox@hotmail.com)

The first scrapbook gathering will be October 8th, from 1-3 at my house. The address is 228 Circle Drive. Circle Drive is located in the back of the Greystone subdivision. If you are interested in attending please let me know. You can
email me at khrisfox@hotmail.com or call 570/906-8159. I hope to see you there.

BOOK CLUB ­ Carol McGowan (868-6876)

The book club will begin meeting in October.

RELAY FOR LIFE ­ Lisa Davidson (lisa1122@hotmail.com, 474-0285) and Christine Strage (474-5026, Christine@strage.com)

RECIPE CLUB ­ Jen Glowacki (malinows@juno.com)