It was another lovely Spring Day, last Thursday for our members to gather for luncheon at the RiverBend Clubhouse. The meal was tomato soup, and a chicken-in-sauce crepe, dessert was a delicious slice of cheesecake.
Jen Pastorious (daughter of one of our members) and Karen Bailey talked about Clayworx which is a Ceramics Arts Learning Centre located in a beautifully restored old east village building. They offer a variety of Programs to children, youth and adults teaching how to work and enjoy the tactile pleasure of working in clay to produce a decorative piece of art or useful item. Working in clay has proved to be beneficial socially, emotionally and mentally to people of all ages and abilities.
As members know London-Middlesex Branch is working on a special project called the 70 Sisters by which a hand-made cloth bag will be filled with personal-care items for 70 mothers in the community which will be given around Mother’s Day in May. This luncheon’s Outreach was collecting money to pay for the items as well as for the Kiwanis Award. We are very happy to announce that $1110.00 was collected. Thank you so much for your generosity.
Since this is RWTO/OERO’s 70th anniversary year and we are reflecting back on those 70 years, another project is in the creation of our Branch “History Highlights” cards which are on display at each table during the six lunches that we have in 2026, so seven decades of history in six chapters with a new chapter at each lunch. All six cards will be collated in November for those members wishing to have a Branch memoire.
Jane Macdonald gave a reminder to members to register for the Annual Convention being held in London at Western’s Clare Hall. Members can find the registration form online at rwto.org. Click on the word CONVENTION and then the 3rd selection RWTO/OERO JUBILEE ONLINE REGISTRATION. Fill in all your information and click the submit button at the end. Remember to send an E-Transfer or cheque for the total amount including the cost of any Tour that you want to take. Staycations are Free, BUT Jane still needs to know the number of people attending.
Lynda Faulkner presented the budget which will be voted on at our May 21st AGM. Unfortunately, some members have called her to say they will attend a luncheon but then don’t show up and haven’t paid for the luncheon that was ordered which means a financial loss for our Branch. The members present on Thursday agreed that if this happens, the member will be billed for the lunch.
The “Share the Wealth” draw meant two people received $112.75 each and then two donated bags of goodies were also drawn to be won.
The next Luncheon/AGM is on May 21st – a week earlier than usual. The change of date and the cost of the Spring luncheons was announced in the February newsletter, Chalk Talk. Since prices of everything is going up, the May Banquet is being subsidized by the Branch. It is $45.00 which is due no later than May 7th. If a member mistakenly only prepaid $40.00, they owe the remaining $5.00.
Call Lynda Faulkner at 519-474-0620 if you intend to be at the luncheon and will pay by cash or cheque at the door and thus avoid e-transfer costs for the Branch. REMEMBER if you say you will attend, a lunch will be ordered for you and MUST be PAID for by you.
By:- Janice Thielenhaus
Email:- jthielenhaus@hotmail.com
