2024 Annual Report

2024 was a year in which most “regular” activities resumed in this post Covid era. Now Covid vaccines are becoming the norm for many along with flu shots. We had an active year with many other activities along with our monthly dinners. Our membership numbers increased this year and our lifetime membership is growing as well. Some members attend many of our monthly dinners while some participate only once or twice a year depending on the activity and the weather.

Our executive this year was the same as 2023. We worked well together and enjoyed planning our activities. Only three members of the executive are returning in 2025, Gale, Jean and myself. Thanks to Jean Libby, our Past President who also picked up the bulk of the Social Committee planning and who will take up the role of Director of the Dining Committee. Val is staying on a Newsletter (At a Glance) Coordinator but she has given up her role as Secretary to take on an executive position on the Senior Games (OSGA) executive. Robert Lavallée has “retired” after several years as treasurer. After many years of serving on the Club 55+ Executive, Denise has also given up her role as Membership Director to join the executive of the Senior Games. Lori has left to join the Women’s Golf executive as well as the OSGA executive.

Elsewhere in this report you will find a list of our dinners and activities and I thank the members of the outgoing executive for their dedication and commitment to provide good programming for our membership.

On November 23rd, the Greater Madawaska Township held the Township Showcase. Gale and Sue attended on behalf of the club. The intention was to show seniors what is available in Greater Madawaska. We both felt that the event was useful and we should attend next year. It was invaluable as we even signed up three (3) couples at this event!!

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge some special contributions. Gale worked very hard on a grant application and we received $5,000 to upgrade the garden at Barnet Park. Denise and Jean worked diligently with Renee Mask at the Township office on a grant application for a grant to use for improving services for seniors in our community. At the end of December 2024 and as we were writing this report, we had not yet received a response on the application status. We will continue to update you once we get any news.

Secretarial Report – Val Trotter

Calabogie 55+ Club meets monthly and typically at the home of one of the executives. In 2024, the executive met ten (10) times between January through to the end of October 2024. These meetings are typically held the week after our monthly dinner meetings to review the dinner meeting per se as well as to review any action items, discuss future dinner meetings and scheduled events, etc. Our last meeting in 2024 was held on Thursday, October 31st. This was the last official meeting that the 2024 executive participated in as Denise, Robert, Lori and myself (Val) have all since retired from the club executive, leaving the executive in the capable hands of the newly formed 2025 executive.

Bogie Lights – Jean Libbey

Bogie Lights was held on Nov 15th at 6:30 pm at Heritage Point. It was a wonderful evening with approximately 120 people in attendance. We sang Christmas Carols led by Peggy Williams and Alison Fay, roasted marshmallows, enjoyed hot chocolate & apple cider and home-made cookies donated by club members. The Christmas tree Tripods were erected by club members using poles supplied by Dan Trotter attached to “T” bars from Marilyn Warnock. Lights were stung around them creating a small forest. Thank you to all who helped make this a great community event.

Christmas Float – Lorna Johnston

Our theme for this year’s float was ‘Elf on the Shelf’. Many members of our club participated in making this event successful and fun – from designing and constructing the props, painting, making costumes, packaging candy, being on the float, and assembling and disassembling the float. Thanks as always to Val and Dan Trotter who prepare the platform and space to decorate the float. Also, a Thank You to Calabogie Highlands for providing us with a flatbed and driver. (Aside from Sue – thanks to Lorna and Jean who purchased tights and sewed costumes for the elves.)

Barnett Gardens – Joanne Levitsky and Gale McRae

Over the past few months I have consulted with landscaping companies, a native plant expert and the municipality. I aimed high, and applied for a hefty grant that would have allowed a major overhaul.

The garden looked beautiful this year and was full of flowers, some of which were cut to decorate Barnet Cottage for our summer dinner meetings. While it was extremely beautiful, closer examination revealed that a lot of grass, weeds, and trees were slowly invading the space. Over the growing season, we tried to get out each month and spend an hour or so maintaining it, but it was impossible to do it all.

Over the past few months Gale consulted with landscaping companies, a native plant expert and the municipality. When OPG awarded us a $5,000 grant toward the garden, it was decided that spending a good portion on hiring someone to do the bulk of the heavy renovation would be a wise investment. Fortunately for us, this work was completed in the fall. Many of the invasive plants were removed, mulch was put down, the stones of the path through the garden were raised, and a stone edging was installed. In March, I will be ordering approximately 100 native plants. We will be seeking help in May to plant them, and also assistance with watering them over the dry months of summer and fall. A big thanks to everyone who helped out last season, and hopefully, there will be many more volunteers this year as the garden will be much easier to work in now. (Aside from Sue: Thanks to Gale for the hours spent to apply for this grant)

Nine and Dine – Sue Beaton

We had a very successful nine and dine program. We golfed and dined at Calabogie Highlands, every month, May to September with no rainouts. The number of participants varied between 25 and 42. I understand that it isn’t always helpful to have the golf run the same week as the 55 plus dinner and I will continue to try not to have that happen, but there are other groups that use the course which effects the course availability. Looking forward to next year.

Bowling – Rick Copely and Debbie Murphy

Bowling Annual Report for 2024 A bowling league runs from September to May on Tuesday mornings from 9:30 AM to around noon at the Opeongo Bowling Alley in Renfrew. It is currently organized by Club 55+ member Rick Copely. Over the past few years, as members of Club 55+ dropped out, non-members were recruited by word-of-mouth. Currently, 10 club members are joined by bowlers from anywhere between Petawawa and Arnprior. The league is always on the lookout for participants, and because it is a non-competitive, fun league, beginners are welcomed. While all of the teams have a full roster and there is a list of spare bowlers, there are still spots available most, if not all weeks. If you have any questions, Dan Ventresca will be the liaison between Club 55+ and the bowling league going forward in 2025.