Owen Sound And Area Branch News

Welcome To  RWTO Owen Sound And Area Branch!

We are an active group of young at heart retired teachers who enjoy Sharing and Caring within our community.

We meet four times a year for a Branch Meeting, which includes a delicious lunch, business and entertainment or speakers.  We also have many activities we can choose to participate in between the Branch Meetings.  Each September we start the new school year with a Back to School Breakfast on the first day of School.  We meet at Harrison Park Inn to catch up over the summer and enjoy this meal together.

Our activities between our four Branch Meetings vary.  Sometimes we will enjoy a movie afternoon together, participate in a craft session or even take a day trip to a local attraction.  In June, we usually enjoy a potluck luncheon at one of the rural homes of our members.  We have many senior retired teachers who are just happy to come for lunch and socialize with their friends at the Branch Meetings.

We have a very active Goodwill Committee who visit and provide small gifts for those who are ill or can no longer attend meetings, and we send many cards of celebration and caring to our members.

Please read the other sections – About Us, Events and Charities and take a look at our Picture Gallery

We encourage and welcome retired teachers to join us.  You will be our guest at your first luncheon and we do hope you will enjoy our group.  Please call our Membership Coordinator, Penny at 519-794-2837 to let us know you will be joining us.

Our very active executive meets 5 times annually at the beautiful Grey Roots Museum. This is where we conduct a lot of business and plan for our Branch Meetings and additional activities.

Executive

Executive 2019-2020
Honorary PresidentSuzanne Vamplew
Past PresidentConnie Morris
PresidentSue Lloyst
First ViceVacant
Second ViceVacant
SecretaryJan Chamberlain
Alternate Secretary
TreasurerMarg Abra
Assistant Treasurer Kay Simpson
Insurance RepRhonda Riley
Assistant Insurance RepCathy McCoy

Convenors

MembershipPennie McKay
GoodwillLorraine Dunning and Barb Schwartz
ArchivistMary Mackenzie
Public RelationsSuzanne Vamplew
Communication-WebsiteConnie Morris, Laurie James
Communication-NewsletterLaurie James, Rebecca Hlynialuk
SocialSuzanne Vamplew, Marilyn Goldie Louise Lipsett, Bobbie Harris Louise Dobson, Cathy McCoy

September Meeting 2019


Click on individual photos below to enlarge each one.

Branch Meetings

This past year, during COVID, our executive has made an extra effort to keep in touch with our members.  Phones have been ringing, emails and texts sent and Christmas Cards were mailed to every member.  As well, cards go out regularly to our over 90s.  We purchased a Zoom Account to have executive and general meetings virtually.  At Christmas many of us gathered for a really nice visit and cup of tea!  Our Newsletters have been sent out every second month, and are very informative.  One of our members has shared many of her thoughtful poems and we’ve kept members up to date with executive meeting decisions.
Wednesday, March 24, we will have a Zoom Meeting featuring Motivational Speaker, Judy Suke who will entertain us with her humour and wit.  In addition, there will be a Slide Show titled “What I’ve Been Doing To Put In Time During the Covid Lockdown”
We are currently looking for new executive members as President, 1st and 2nd Vice are vacant.  We have a new member letting her name stand for Treasurer, and are so pleased with that.
Let’s hope we can meet in person in May or maybe next September!!
PRIOR TO COVID, we met four times a year at Georgian Shores United Church, 4th Avenue East, Owen Sound, beginning at 11:00am and finishing about 2:00pm New members are always welcome.  To learn more about our Branch, or to become a member, please email: pogo@bmts.com or phone 519-794-2837
 We revamped our meetings to begin with an opportunity to socialize for half hour.  We have had raffles, scarf demonstrations, holiday table settings to look at, displays of members hobbies such as quilting and one month brought in our baby pictures!  This allows us to meet and greet each others, and to find common interests
 A half hour Business Meeting and announcements follow the social time at 11:30. This is followed by a delicious lunch prepared by the ladies of the church. After lunch, we have an enjoyable program or entertainment.  Often we include music and have had local community choirs and handbells entertain us.  Programs are varied and may include speakers on topics of interest. Oh, how we miss these outings and look forward to when we can gather again!!

June 2021

April 2021

February 2021

December 2020

October 2020

September 2020

June 2020

May 2020

March 2020

November 2019

September 2019

Each year we ask our membership what charities they would like us to support.  The list varies from year to year, but we feel very fortunate to make a difference in our community.  In 2019-2020, we will make donations to the following:

We Support the Following Organizations

  • Salvation Army Food Bank
  • Royal Canadian Legion (wreath for Remembrance Day)
  • Grey Root Museum
  • Grey Bruce Regional Hospital
  • Keystone Child, Youth and Family Services
  • Chapman House, Grey Bruce Hospice
  • Georgian Bay Riding Association for Challenged Equestrians