2009 Highlights

2009 Officers: Joan Travis-Triumph -- President; Jim Alam -- Vice-President; Lew MacDonald -- Secretary; Walt Ross – Treasurer. Coordinators: Alice Behnke – Activities; Ed & Colette Dubsky -- Host & Hostess; Betty Bolin – Philanthropy; Jan Pekelder & Linda Alam – Refreshments; John & Linda DiPalma – Sunshine; Magda Quiros – Historian; Mike Rebro – Web Master.

January 8: Forty present. (1) Gladys is still in Chicago, looking after her sister. (2) In 2008 we contributed 1,406 pounds of food plus $963 in cash or checks. We also gave $200 cash and about 60 toys to needy Marana school children; Joan T. read a letter of thanks.
January 15: Forty-one present. (1) Bob was back at home but feeling weak. (2) Ed D. had a hip replacement. (3) Frank K. was back at home after a bladder infection. (3) Rich was present after a bout in NMC. (4) In 2008 we also contributed used eye glasses, cell phones and hearing aids. (4) Rocky Point Tours gave a talk about the area.
January 22: Thirty-six present. (1) Bob was present after his surgery. (2) Ed D. is recovering at home after his operation. (3) Former member and co-founder Pearl Thompson had a stroke while undergoing a hip replacement. (4) Don V. was recovering from a very serious fall in which he had hurt his head.
January 29: Forty present. (1) Joan M. returned after a visit to NMC. (2) Bonnie reported that Pearl was paralyzed on her left side. (3) Elaine & Chuck are house-bound (no drivers). (4) 136 lbs went to the Marana Food Bank.
February 5: Forty-one present. (1) Elaine Benn was introduced as a member. (2) Lew had suggested to Jim that we make a brochure for display in libraries, etc. and Jim showed the prototype he had made with a first-run promised for next week. (3) Ed D. was present after his operation. (4) Gladys’s sister died last week. (5) Card tables that we requested are now available. (6) Barbara H. started coupon exchange. (7) JoAnn won the equivalent of $125 at the New Yorker Restaurant.
February 12: Forty-three present. (1) Jim displayed black & white copies of his proposed brochure.
February 19: Forty-one present. (1) Jim presented estimates for the brochure costs.
February 26: Thirty-six present. (1) There will be no meeting on March 5; members go to senior Day at Reid Park Zoo. (2) John & Nancy Lambert observed our meeting. John is HOA president; he remarked that there had been a 25% increase in failure to pay HOA dues.
March 12: Thirty-eight present. (1) Don V. had another serious fall and was in La Canada Care Center. (2) Lew said that he will be posting a lot of newly-found SCRCR photos on our web site.
March 19: Thirty-two present. (1) Don V. is doing OK but is still in care center. (2) Twenty-four enjoyed St. Patrick’s Day lunch at the Foothills Brewery.
March 26: Forty-four present. (1) Don V. was back at home using a walker. (2) Jim showed John Lambert a wheel-chair hazard; John will inform management. Ed A. asked that the ramps be brought up to standard. (3) Joan M. Suggested that a drop-off mailbox be made available. Barbara H. said that the office would be open till Noon each last Saturday of the month.
April 2: Forty-two present. (1) Joan T. presented a summary of Jim’s professional analysis of the wheelchair ramp problem. (2) Twenty-two went to dinner at Roma Caffe; dinner was good, service was so-so! (3) Free tax help is available by AARP in Wheeler Abbett library.
April 9: Twenty-six present – low! (1) (1) Agnes was in NMC with vertigo. (2) Linda D. was in NMC with a new knee. (3) Mary M. in ER at NMC – reason unknown. (4) Mary J. had a leg injury after being run into by a mobile scooter. (5) Betty’s surgery for today was postponed. (5) Dinner was good at Taste of Texas. Grumpy’s Grill opened at the former Monsoon site. (6) Bonnie mentioned that Curves gym was free to holders of the Silver Sneakers attachment to many insurance policies.
April 16: Forty present. (1) Agnes was home after four days in NMC; after many different tests it was suspected that she had an inner ear problem. (2) Linda D. is home with a new knee. (3) Mary J. was OK. (4) Betty was back at home after her back surgery but was having a negative reaction to pain medication.
April 23: Thirty-four present. (1) Agnes is having physical therapy. (2) Linda D. was back after her knee operation. (3) Betty was having a reaction from medication after back surgery. (4) Lunch at Chuy’s was good with some reservations regarding service.
April 30: Thirty-four present. (1) Trip to Old Tucson after the meeting. (2) HOA expressed appreciation for the work Jim A. and Ed A. had done re wheelchair access. (3) Mike Rebro had taken over the web site from Lew. Today’s minutes headings included Mike’s new blog http://coninentalranch.blogspot.com for SCRCR for the first time. To be able to read and/or participate in the blog, visit the following site at: http://blogger.com/i.g?inviteID=8697715543089653140&blogID=6133129524554890101. (4) Ernie had an accident on an RTV and was in a Phoenix hospital.
May 7: Thirty-three present. (1) Ernie was back home. (2) Only six went to Coco’s for dinner. (3) The proposed gas station on Twin Peaks Road was discussed at length. (3) Sun Shuttle started.
May 14: Thirty-six present. (1) Seven had Mothers’ Day at Picacho Peak on a 98 degree day).
May 21: Thirty-five present. (1) Jeanne Lemieux was introduced; her husband will join her in July. (2) Elaine Schwartz was back home after a bout of heart fibrillation. (3) Five members went to the model train museum.
May 28: Forty-four present. (1) Don Brick was very ill after a cruise. (2) Papa Murphy’s provided free samples of pizza. (3) Eighteen had an excellent meal at Miss Saigon.
June 4: Thirty-five present. (1) Elaine went to hospital for bowel blockage; no cancer was found. (2) Only four went to Mission del Blanc.
June 11: Forty-two present. (1) Lilly Obringer joined. (2) A golf-ball sized obstruction was removed from Elaine’s stomach. (2) Fifteen oldest (joining club) members were given red roses. Aug-94, Bonnie & Bob; Sep-94 Betty & Bo; Sep94 Suzanne & Al; Mar-95 Agnes & Lew; Nov-95 Vi; Dec-95 Edna; Nov-98 Magda & Armando; Dec-98 Peggy. Many others in between had dropped out.
June-18: Forty present. (1) Stan is in hospital but is doing OK. (2) Bonnie reported that Pearl had died on 24 May at the age of eight-eight; she had a hip replacement earlier and had suffered a stroke. She was one of the first three founders of SCRCR along with her sister Willie Hubbard and Janet. (2) Twenty-one enjoyed dinner and had excellent food and service at the Outback.
June-25: Thirty-seven present. (1) Fathers Day brunch was enjoyed at Luna Bella.
July-2: Thirty-nine present. (1) Agnes is having surgery.
July-9: Forty-three present. (1) Helen & Herbert Koenig were introduced. (2) Five enjoyed dinner at Pinnacle Peak.
July 16: Thirty-four present. (1) A member since 2003, Chuck Schwartz died. He was a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. A sum of $125 was collected in his memory. (2) Agnes was doing well after surgery for back fracture.
July-23: Forty-three present. (1) Fourteen had a nice lunch at IHOP, served by a great waiter.
July-30: Forty-three present. (1) Betty collected $280 for the school and $20 for the food bank at Gladys’s eightieth birthday on the twenty-fifth. Roma Caffe put on a great show and the party was enjoyed by a large crowd.
August 6: Thirty-six present. (1) Barbara K. was introduced as a new member.
August 13: Thirty-eight present. (1) Barbara K. and her husband joined. (2) Three of our cabinets had been opened by unauthorized people.
August 20: Thirty-seven present. (1) Jeannie’s husband Larry was introduced. (2) Jim was in hospital with a pancreatic attack.
August 27: Thirty-seven present. (1) Magda got a letter from Ronald McDonald House thanking us for our donation of aluminum can tabs.
September 3: Thirty-four present. (1) Ed A. now in La Cañada Care center after a stay in NMC.
September 10: Thirty-four present. (1) Ed Altmann died suddenly on 4-September. Magda played a touching rendition of Amazing Grace. Ed would have been eighty this year and had been married to Carol for fifty-three years. The funeral was in Chicago. A sum of $150 was collected in his memory. (2) Walt bought hasps and locks for the cabinets. (3) John Lambert announced that Stratford Management had resigned effective October-1.
September 17: Thirty-five present. (1) Joan Travis-Triumph’s father died yesterday. $70 was collected in his memory. (2) Bo offered to test the water pressure of our homes.
September 24: Thirty-four present. (1) House water pressure was discussed at length.
October 1: Thirty-three present. (1) It was decided to buy a second plaque when needed. (2) John Lambert mentioned that a new homeowners’ management company had started on Oct-1; it is named HOA Management Solutions.
October 8: Thirty-three present. (1) Carol is recovering from eye surgery. (2) Twenty-two signed up for the trip to Caterpillar Company. (2) Alice, Jorge, and Linda D. volunteered for the 2010 election committee which Joan T. will chair.
October 15: Thirty-nine present. (1) John Lambert introduced Dale De Men who is in charge of the new Management company. (2) Sandy proposed that SCRCR help needy children that she is working with. The motion was passed.
October 22: Forty-five present. (1) Josh, Assistant Manager of the new management committee was introduced as was Dave Cobble from Sunflower who was promoting Community Emergency and Response Teams (CERT). (2) Betty mailed eleven boxes to the military. (3) Bo was recovering from minor surgery.
November 5: Forty-four present. (1) Gary Gustafson was introduced as a new member. (2) HOA management committee members were introduced. (2) We were advised that one of our parcels had arrived just as the soldiers were running out of supplies.
November 12: Forty-five present. (1) John and Nancy Lambert became members. (2) Edna’s sister passed away. (3) Twenty-two signed up for dinner at the White Stallion.
November 19: Forty-four present. (a) Iris has a cancer on her leg. (2) David Glicksman of Sunflower told us about a bus trip to Laughlin. (2) Carol was first to graduate form the TOPS program.
December 3: Forty present. (1) Ruth was still in hospital after her stroke. (2) In lieu of the sparse attendance at the Christmas party there was some discussion about its future. (3) We continued to help with filing 3,400 records at the Windmill office.
December 10: Thirty-four present. Sue Rainey & Dick Jarenski were introduced as new members. (2) Ruth was back in NMC after another stroke. (3) In 2009, Betty had delivered 1,023 lbs of food and $410 in funds to the Food Bank. We also sent 14 boxes to the military, provided supplies to severely challenged children and local schools, collected glasses for the Lions Club, can tabs for Ronald Mcdonald House, etc. (4) A nice article about the Kells appeared in the AZ Daily star.
December 17: Fifty present. (1) Don and Hilde renewed membership. (2) Joan T. and Lew were presented with fruit baskets in recognition of three years in office. (3) Ruth was in La Cañada Care Center. (3) Dan was recovering from a back operation. (4) Members of the Lions Club promoted their achievements and asked for volunteers to start a new club.
Note: Many Thursdays are missed because there was no meeting (on trip days, etc.) or no significant events were recorded and/or forwarded in the minutes of that day.

Minutes of Meeting Held December 17, 2009

1. Call to Order: President Joan Travis-Triumph opened the well-attended meeting at 9:33 a.m. and led the pledge of allegiance. Fifty people were estimated to be present.

2. Host/Hostess: Ed & Colette: Don and Hilde renewed their old membership. Shirley and Barbara were welcomed back. Ed thanked Joan T. and Lew for their last three years in office and presented each of them with a large fruit and goodies basket. They reciprocated with thanks to all.

3. Vice-President: Jim: Mentioned the two new members.

4. Secretary: Lew: Last week’s minutes were accepted as printed.

5. Treasurer: Walt: After writing a check for $117.70 for the Christmas party decorations, the status was: Checking: $238.12; Cash: $22.03; Total: $260.15. Walt thanked Edna and the SCRCR Art & Crafts group for creating the beautiful decorations.

6. Coordinators’ Reports:

6.1 Refreshments: Jan & Linda A.: Today’s refreshments were provided by Betty & Bo with Mary M. Other members also contributed. (If unable to help as scheduled, please let Linda A. or Jan know by Tuesday, if possible.)

6.2 Sunshine: John & Linda D. (a) Ruth moved back to the La Cañada Care Center. ….. (b) Dan St. John is recovering well from a back operation. ….. (c) John is also doing OK. Please call if you hear of any health issues.

6.3 Historian: Magda was absent but the SCRCR albums were on display at the center.

6.4 Philanthropy: Betty: (a) Delivered 56 pounds of food and $70 to the Marana Food Bank. She reminded us of all our other charities.

6.5 Activities: Alice B.: See the attached agenda for events in the next few weeks.

7. Group Concerns: (a) More Christmas cards were distributed. ….. (b) Linda A. announced that all the filing had been completed at the Windmill office and thanked the volunteers for their assistance and all the jolly entertainment that ensued. On behalf of John Lambert and the BOD, John’s wife Nancy thanked the volunteers for a good job, expeditiously done. ….. (c) Betty needs to know how many will attend the Cubs game on 25-March. Cost $18. Twenty-seven had signed up so far. ….. (d) JoAnne said that they had hiked three miles yesterday. ….. Joan read a card from Janet and Frank Wells. Janet is undergoing deep-vein treatment. For new members, Joan said that Janet had founded the SCRCR group and still attends occasionally. ….. (e) Richard Singlevalt spoke on behalf of the Lions Club who are proposing that a branch be set up in this area. He will be providing more detail at a later meeting. Lew mentioned that he had been a charter member of a Lions Club in Canada. ….. (f) Margie related the achievements of a Fountain’s group who had knitted sweaters for over five hundred children. ….. (g) A raffle was held to dispose of surplus gift certificates (left over from the Christmas Party). ….. (h) Alice B. said that she had arranged to hold the private room for us at the Native New Yorker for the big ball game. ….. (i) Frank had booked the Elks club for a Saturday Christmas party but later found out that there would be no bar service that day. A large show of hands requested that it be switched to a Wednesday at which the bar will be open. Frank also advised that he was looking into other locations for the party.

8. Adjournment: 10:20 a.m. A magician show was presented after the meeting.

Frank and Janet Kells - A background on some of our members

Our members do not talk about their accomplishments. But an interesting article appeared in the Arizona Daily Star on 7 Dec. 2009 about Frank and Janet Kells.
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/320352.php

The article tells about the love affair of two people. They met when they were young, went their separate ways for many years and now reunited.

But the article is not just about the love of two people, it tells the story of how Frank started Sun Sounds of Arizona. "Begun in Phoenix in 1979 and expanded to Tucson in 1985, the free radio service is piped 24 hours a day from KUAT-FM into special receivers the blind also get for free."

The article also tells about how Frank started his career by being band director for elementary and high school bands. When his eye sight began to fail him, he became a newspaper editor.
With his eye sight continuing to deteriorate, he visited the Industrial School for the Blind. They promptly hired him. eventually Frank ended up in Arizona continuing his work with the blind.

Now both Frank are suffering from blindness.

The article ends: "Today, Janet Kells also is blind, afflicted with both glaucoma and adult macular degeneration. She can, however, see well enough to use a special computer program to help Frank write his memoirs. "It's called 'Twice Twilight,' " he says."

Dr. Frank Kells is also an accomplished musician and poet, along with his many other talents.

Please read the entire article in the Arizona Daily Star for a wonderful story.

Minutes of Meeting Held December 10, 2009

1. Call to Order: President Joan Travis-Triumph opened the meeting at 9:32 a.m. and led the pledge of allegiance. Thirty-four people were present. Joan read a patriotic poem about a Christmas soldier.
2. Host/Hostess: Ed & Colette: Partners Sue Rainey and Dick Jarenski were introduced as new members; Dick was in the news lately as the person who provided the U.S. flag for the library. Iris and Lilly were welcomed back.
3. Vice-President: Jim: Told a story about Oley and the mule.
4. Secretary: Lew: Last week’s minutes were accepted as printed.
5. Treasurer: Walt: Status after the Christmas party expenditure was: Checking: $283.95; Cash: $22.03; Total: $305.98.
6. Coordinators’ Reports:
6.1 Refreshments: Jan & Linda A.: Today’s refreshments were shared by all members; lots of Christmas goodies were available. (If unable to help as scheduled, please let Linda A. or Jan know by Tuesday, if possible.)
6.2 Sunshine: John & Linda D. (a) Ruth is back in NMC suffering from a third stroke. She had been moved to an urgent care facility on La Cholla. Joan and Frank had visited her but she was asleep at the time so they did not disturb her. ….. (b) John had not been feeling well so he and Linda did not attend the party. Also, Tony had to go to ER so he and Sandy missed the party, but he was present today and feeling OK. Vi and Don missed it too, because Vi felt unwell; they were present today, but Vi was still not feeling very well. Please call if you hear of any health issues.
6.3 Historian: Magda brought several old albums which were perused by a few people. She mentioned that Betty had started them, and then Suzanne took over, then Lew, now she has them.
6.4 Philanthropy: Betty: (a) In 2009, she delivered 1,023 pounds of food and $410 to the food bank from SCRCR. We also sent 14 boxes of goodies to the military and provided supplies to local schools, Sandy’s group of severely challenged kids, soda can tabs to Ronald McDonald House, and eye glasses, etc. to the Lions Club. We are a generous group.
6.5 Activities: Alice B.: See the attached agenda for events in the next few weeks.
7. Group Concerns: (a) Christmas cards were distributed. ….. (b) Linda A. asked for volunteers to help her with more filing at the Windmill office. Alice said they had lots of laughs while filing about 3,400 folders, which were left in disarray by the previous management company. ….. (b) An appeal was made for people to share their talents with the local high school. Gladys said that she has provided tutoring at home and would continue to do so, if asked. ….. (c) Alice thanked those who attended the party last night. Frank mentioned that he had booked the 2010 party already. Crafters Edna, Magda, Mary T., Bonnie, and Margie were thanked for making the nice center pieces. ….. (d) Betty needs to know how many will attend the Cubs game on 25-March. Cost $18. ….. (e) JoAnne said that they had hiked four and a half miles and Bob made it all the way. ….. (f) Joan remarked that Lew had e-mailed everyone about a long article concerning Janet and Frank in the Daily Star. Lew said that, since it was copy-righted, he had asked the Star for permission to include the article and photos in SCRCR’s web site, but that was denied. Cut-outs will be in the album. ….. (g) JoAnne brought our attention to an article in the Windmill about two Marana families in dire need of help for their children; see the requirements in this month’s issue. ….. (h) Don V. told a joke about Santa dropping on the Schmitt House.
8. Adjournment: 10:20 a.m.

Minutes of Meeting Held December 3, 2009

1. Call to Order: President Joan Travis-Triumph opened the meeting at 9:32 a.m. and led the pledge of allegiance. Forty people were present.

2. Host/Hostess: Ed & Colette: Joan T. was welcomed back.

3. Vice-President: Jim: A new roster of seventy-three members was issued. Jim commented that he had joined the hiking group yesterday and commended JoAnne on her prowess.

4. Secretary: Lew: Last week’s minutes were accepted as printed.

5. Treasurer: Walt: Status: Checking: $1,160.41; Cash: $20.03; Total: $1,180.44. He mentioned that only fifty-one members or guests had signed up for the Christmas party.

6. Coordinators’ Reports:

6.1 Refreshments: Jan a Linda A.: Today’s refreshments were by Joan M. and Barbara B. (If unable to help as scheduled, please let Linda A. or Jan know by Tuesday, if possible.)

6.2 Sunshine: John & Linda D. (a) Ruth is still in NMC suffering from a stroke. Linda said that she was aware of things but her mind wandered at times. Jim had visited her. It is not known whether she will return to the Fountains or go to a fuller-care facility. Please call if you hear of any health issues.

6.3 Historian: Magda. Is arranging for an SCRCR album-viewing session at a future meeting.

6.4 Philanthropy: Betty: (a) Delivered twenty-five pounds of food and $105 to the food bank. She reminded us to bring the small education labels from food packaged – CUT! ….. (b) Linda D. told us that one of her grandsons had received some of our goods and was very appreciative of them. Betty reiterated that the son of Hal Fritz, a former SCRCR member, had got a parcel just as their tooth care supplies had run out.

6.5 Activities: Alice B.: Issued a new activities sheet. Joan T. announced that the cancellation of the December 10^th meeting was rescinded and we would meet on that day. Members were asked to bring a small plate of goodies to share. See the attached agenda for events in the next few weeks.

7. Group Concerns: (a) JoAnn has provided a box for Christmas cards. If you want to send cards to members without the cost of stamps, drop them in the box and they will be distributed after the party. It is filling nicely. ….. (b) In lieu of the projected small attendance at the party, there was some discussion about the future of such events. Costs per person for catered parties less than sixty become quite high and Joan T. urged members, who are not going, to consider revising their decisions. Transportation is available for those who do not wish to drive. Guests are always welcome and some consideration was made to invite people from Sunflower. Final arrangements must be made by Saturday for the caterer to know how many to set up for. Call Walt or Alice B to book a place. ….. (c) Sandy said that she would be glad to contribute to the party fund, to make up part of the required amount and intimated that many others would probably also do so. ….. (d) Betty informed us that she had a call from the baseball group, inquiring about our annual spring training outing to the ball park. ….. (e) Linda A. asked for volunteers to help her with the filing at Windmill – more files had been found! ….. (f) Agnes pointed out a misprint re our dates in the Windmill magazine. ….. (g) Frank requested the loan of large round tablecloths for the party; the Elks charge $5 per table; many were volunteered. ….. (h) Magda related a nice experience that she had with a group of foreign (Italian?) soldiers; they were impressed that she had greeted them kindly. ….. (i) John L. advised us that the YMCA were willing to set up events locally, such as aerobatic swimming, Silver Slippers, etc. Let the board know so arrangements can be made.

8. Adjournment: 10:20 a.m.