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This Newsletter is going to all VRMNC Paid-Up Members.
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DECEMBER GENERAL NEWSLETTER
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"All the VRMNC News that's fit to print"
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Message from the President
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Welcome to 2026 !! Let’s all hope it is a good year. Many of us make or plans for the year and also some New Years Resolutions. Why not explore some of our 20+ activities and sign up for one, or if you’re passionate about an activity and the club does not offer it, why not start a new group. Our team can we can help set it all up for you. There are openings for golf, tennis and there's always space in the Hiking and Ramblers groups.
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Wishing you and yours a healthy and Happy New Year.
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Editors Note
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There's a lot happening in the VRMNC activities. You can check some of them out in the Newsletter below. Aside from the regular activity updates we have a new detailed update from the Financial Forum Group. You might want to check that out if your interested in increasing your wealth in 2026. Also in this edition a special interest article submitted by Ken Brown on "Passwords and Passwords Angst" If you're like me I'm constantly hitting the "Forgot Password" button. This may help you out. Finally if you're into resolutions and want to make a Major Life Plan going forward then Wally Lazaruk's article at the end of the Newsletter is a wonderful guide.
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Membership Report
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Our club continues to attract a steady flow of new members. We have had 6 new members join VRMNC since November 6, 2025 for a total of 24 from July 1,2025. This brings our total membership to 294 paid members as of January 3, 2026.
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Please welcome the following new members who have joined us over the past couple of months:
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Bruce Pollard Mike Barton
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For the new members please feel free to ask any questions you may have about our club by contacting myself at the email address noted below.
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For the new members please feel free to ask any questions you may have about our club by contacting myself at the email address noted below.
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It is also important to take this opportunity to remind our members that for the Club to continue to operate in a manner acceptable to all members, we must be aware and understand our Bylaws. Here is a quick link to the VRMNC Bylaws so you can remain up to date. https://www.vrmnc,ca/bylaws
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Members are also asked to notify the Membership Director (membership@vrmnc.ca) if they are no longer interested in participating in the VRMNC which will allow us to maintain an accurate membership list. If you know of Members that have left the area, please notify the Membership Director.
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In the unfortunate situation where a Member has passed away, please let us know so we may take appropriate actions.
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Activities Updates
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Is there an activity your passionate about that is not part of the current VRMNC activities?
You might consider starting a new group. We're here to help and coach you on how to set up for a new activity.
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New Activity:
AD-HOC PICKLEBALL
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3 Games Played Todate, 2 More Planned
NEW ACTIVITY SIGN-UP
We are a large club scattered across wide Victoria Region, several already playing Pickleball and their partners or want to try/learn, why not have a VRMNC Pickleball Activity?
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1) Members and their partners who also want to learn or play sign up for the Activity Email.
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2) Anyone on email list can book an Ad-Hoc court ie Henderson, or Pearkes or outdoors etc, on any day / time and is that Game's Host.
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3) That Game's Host emails time / location / cost ie $5 pp to ahpickleball@vrmnc.ca which auto-forwards to the group.
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4) Players who want to play reply Just To The Host Yes.
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4) When full, that Game's Host re-emails ahpickleball@vrmnc.ca that full / closed, and lists the players.
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THREE SOCIAL BRIDGE GROUPS
New Members Welcome
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Bridge Group: The Unconventionals.
Our bridge group, The Unconventionals, Continue to get together at a member's home on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month.
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Sometimes we do not have enough for 2 tables but always at least one and the host provides some kind of snack or refreshment.
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We have a number of regular players each of whom would host on a semiannual basis. We also have a number of spares to fill in. We play a very basic bridge but have knowledge of basic conventions.
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We welcome new players either as regulars or as spares
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VRMNC has three social Bridge Clubs: The focus of all three is on the social side of bridge, not the competitive side. New members are welcome in all the groups. Some playing experience is preferred.
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The first group plays on the every Monday afternoon, from 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm .... Coordinator Fred Stepchuk <stepchuk.fred@shaw.ca>
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The second group plays on the every Tuesday evening, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm .... Coordinator Bruce Thomson <bthomson99@gmail.com>
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The third group plays on the every "other" Thursday afternoon, from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm .... Coordinator Dave Nicholds <jdnicholds@gmail.com>
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Keith Beange, Overall VRMNC Bridge Coordinator
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Appy Gang
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We have had 11 appie events this past year. For 2026 we are now scheduled for all months excluding February and December.
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Our next evening will be held on Thursday, January 22nd at Paul and Isobel St. Georges.
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Tim Allen
Appy Gang & Golf Tournament
Email: aggt@vrmnc.ca
Phone: +1 (416) 540-8782
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Financial Forum
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As the focus of our group is geopolitics and the resulting financial implications, the subjects sometime change dramatically from meeting to meeting based upon speaker availability or the completion of research necessary for a member to present their thinking
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In September, 2025, to prepare attendees for our October meeting we had a real-time demonstration of Artificial Intelligence using Perplexity.
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In October one of members provided a comprehensive history of the development of AI - an update on the state of play in the AI space from one he completed for the group 18 months before. At the close of the meeting a sample portfolio of companies that displayed strong fundamentals and prospects for share price appreciation was distributed. We will follow up on this at further meetings.
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In November, another of our members, a retired geologist, provided a high level review of the complex area of critical minerals. At the close of the meeting a sample portfolio of companies that displayed strong fundamentals and prospects for share price appreciation was distributed. We will follow up on this at further meetings.
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In January, 2026 Don Dony will be returning to provide us with a look back on 2025 and his views for equities, fixed income and commodities for 2026.
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Donald Dony is a leading Canadian technical analyst and the principal of D.W. Dony & Associates, based in Victoria, BC, with over 30 years of experience in financial markets. He is the author and publisher of "The Technical Speculator" and holds the Master of Financial Technical Analysis (MFTA) designation, which is recognized internationally as a top credential in the field. Dony’s professional focus includes providing research, market commentary, and investment analysis, leveraging his extensive background as both a former stockbroker and seasoned analyst.
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In February, 2026 Steve Gaskin will be speaking to us on the relatively new asset management process referred to as: Total Portfolio Approach (TPA).
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Steve Gaskin is a seasoned financial professional with over 15 years of experience in financial markets, holding an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Western Ontario, a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Victoria, and the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®) designation completed in 2021. He began his career in 2010 as a financial market economist at one of Canada’s largest asset managers, supporting portfolio managers and clients with economic and market research, before moving into a Wealth Advisor role at a major bank-owned firm in 2014 to work directly with clients. In 2016 he joined an established independent practice that evolved into Lighthouse Wealth Management in 2017, where he is now Senior Wealth Advisor leading a team that advises on approximately $130 million in assets. Steve and his team also author The Financial Monitor, a weekly financial and economic newsletter that provides ongoing commentary and guidance to clients and readers.
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In March 2026, we are considering a number of subjects: The implications and status of the US National Security Strategy and very recent invasion of Venezuela and arrest of Maduro by the US, might be our focus.
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In April, 2026 Ian Johnson who is well known to earlier Financial Forum members will be retuning to speak about hedging strategies and using options to hedge risks and mitigate portfolio volatility. I have also asked Ian to comment on the Total Portfolio Approach (TPA).
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Ian Johnson is the Director of Investments at the Victoria Foundation in Victoria, BC, where he leverages over two decades of investment management and risk analysis experience—including roles launching a Vancouver hedge fund and managing institutional assets for organizations like the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan—to steward the Foundation’s endowment portfolio. A graduate of Queen’s University and a CFA charter holder since 2015, Ian is deeply committed to professional education, teaching investment courses at the University of Victoria, and brings a passion for strengthening community foundations through innovative, risk-managed investment strategies.
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For the months of May and June, I am in discussion with Financial Forum group members and outside speakers on several subjects.
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- Critical Dependencies/Supply Chains
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- Global Disasters; Causes and Consequences
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- Inter-Provincial Trade; how are we doing?
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We do not meet formally in July and August - simply meeting for a light lunch to catch up on current events and socialize.
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We are open to new members. Our regular meetings on the third Friday of each month at the Uplands Golf Club generally attract 20 to 35 of our growing group of VRMNC members
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Field Trips
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Three field trips were organized in late November and early December to cap off a busy year.
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On November 27th, thirteen members visited the Architectural Heritage Museum at Wentworth Villa on Fort Street where we learned about several prominent Victoria architects, including of course the infamous Sir Francis Rattenbury.
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On December 5th, a group of 15 members and guests enjoyed a guided tour of Craigdarroch Castle, which was splendidly decorated for the Holiday Season.
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On December 18th, sixteen members and guests saw the Vancouver Giants defeat the home side Victoria Royals by a score of 7-4.
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Next up will be a tour and tasting session at the Driftwood Brewery in Esquimalt on January 13th. Registration is now open and filling up fast.
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Our policy for these field trips is to prioritize members first, with guests welcome to join if space allows.
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VRMNC History Book Club.
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The VRMNC History Book Club met on December 10 to discuss Churchill and Orwell: The Fight for Freedom by Thomas Ricks. This 2017 book is a dual biography of two of the most consequential personalities of the 20th Century. Introducing the book, Terry Carson pointed out that, superficially, Winston Churchill and George Orwell appear to have little in common. Churchill was born to a life of privilege, politically conservative and held elected office at various times for more than half a century, most notably as Britain's heroic wartime prime minister. Orwell was of the middle class, a committed socialist and a writer known for his critical commentary on the social conditions of depression era Britain. He is best known for two literary masterpieces, Animal Farm (1945) and 1984 (published in 1949).
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While their individual biographies were quite different a dual biography of Churchill and Orwell offers important insights into their commonalities. Both shared an unwavering commitment to individual freedoms and human rights, and both were acutely aware of the threat that communism and fascism present to democracy. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s Churchill and Orwell acted courageously to counter the forces of authoritarianism in the face of prevailing indifference and appeasement in Britain and beyond. Our discussion focused on the continuing relevance of this fight for democracy in the 21st Century and the present dangers of appeasement. We noted that George Orwell seems especially significant today as reflected in a continuing contemporary reference to his ideas as well as to the publication of several new biographies.
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Next Up in the History Book Club
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January begins a fresh set of books for the History Book Club. We have selected 10 books for the coming year. First up is Madeline Drohan's 2025 book, He Did Not Conquer: Benjamin Franklin's Failure to Annex Canada, which will be presented by Jack Mulkins on January 15.
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History & Historical Fiction Book Club
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The History: Fact or Fiction Book Club meets 10 times per year with a hiatus in July and August when many of the members are vacationing. The membership is limited to 10 members at any one time. Those interested in joining are welcome to add their name to the waiting list.
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In December David Riley and David Buffett will co-hosted and lead the discussion on Caste: The Origins of Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson. A lively discussion around the origins of caste versus racism not only in the USA but also Canada and the reversal of many progressive policies in the United States. The discussion could have gone on well into the evening.
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Selected Titles and Reviewer
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· January – Rick Holm- Chocolate Wars by Debrorah Cadbury
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· February –Cam Berry – Clear by Carys Davies
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· March – Orlie Reese – Say Nothing by Erin Kinsley
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· April – Geoff Holdway- Latitude by Nicholas Crane
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· May – Ian Gledhill – Murder Most Foul by Guy Jenkin
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· June – John Archibald – All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
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Coordinator: Cameron Berry
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Luncheon Speakers Series
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Our next speaker lunch will be on Thursday, January 22, at the Oak Bay Rec Centre, doors opening at 1130 am. Our speaker will be John Ducker, former Deputy Chief of Police of the Victoria PD who now writes a regular driving column for the Times-Colonist. John will talk on "Seniors and Driving: What You Need To Know".
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John will provide tips on safe driving as well as address the issue of licence renewals after the age of 80.
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The new price for lunch, reflecting increased charges from the Rec Centre, is $42.50 per head. Registration will close on Monday, January 19.
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Password Angst
Submitted by Ken Brown
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Computer glitches are the bane of existence for most of us, and perhaps the most common for us is forgotten passwords. A cursory review of solutions suggests that a “Password Vault” may be the gold standard for safely storing our “one-of-a-kind” password combinations.
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But this raises a question: why don’t we all use a vault trusted website to house them therefore? Perhaps, to quote a well-known behavioural economist, Dan Airely, the answer is that we are “Predicably Irrational”.
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If so, might we lessen our burden with a rather simple solution to password recall – one which permits us to ‘memorize’ a hundred passwords in three minutes. Before we continue, I must share the usual disclaimer for you; follow this advice as you see fit.
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First, make a sentence, unique to you, one you can recall without fail.
For example,
My cat Fluffy is the most enjoyable cat I have owned in 50 years.
or My wife has endured my habits since 1976!
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Now, take the first letter of each word, to which you’ll add numbers, capitalization and punctuation.
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My wife has endured my habits since 1976!
as in ........ Mwhemhs1976!
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Next, add to this unique combo, the first three or four letters of the website you wish to
log into, capitalize its first letter, to form a strong, but easily remembered password.
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For example, to log into
WestJet WesMwhemhs1976!
Air Canada AirMwhemhs1976!
Google GooMwhemhs1976!
….. and so on, for the next 100+ unique Pwords.
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You can instantly enter an email for any site from memory alone.
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Addendum
For even greater security, such as when logging into your bank(s), I use a completely different sentence plus the first three letters of the name of the bank .
For example,
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Royal Bank + My paintings are getting better each time I paint!
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Of course, you can still add numbers, such as your street number, the last four digits of your cell phone number or home number.
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Tennis
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Newcomers men’s tennis group is now back inside right through Early April in Oak Bay’s indoor tennis bubbles. We have the use of programmed courts on both Monday and Fridays with 90 minutes Monday and sixty minutes Friday.
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Our group has grown now to eighteen with the addition of two new members who have fitted in quickly and are welcome additions.
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An inexpensive way to get a great physical workout with just $14 on Friday and $9 for the shorter period on Friday.
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Today’s post game coffee shop discussion solved the brief invasion of Venezuela, the stock market, apartment rental rates and inflation as opposed to deflation so come join us and bring your expertise.
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Tuesday Hikers
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Tuesday hikes begin at 9:00 a.m. and are approximately three hours in duration. The number of participants tends to range from six and 15.
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We had variable weather for Tuesday hikes throughout December, with the December 16 hike being cancelled due to heavy rain. Our hikes included a wide variety of settings at the following locations:
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Alec Road to Pickles Bluff in John Dean Provincial Park- led by Frank Gibson
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Dallas Road beach front and Beacon Hill Park - led by Bob McKechnie
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High Rock Park, Veterans Cemetery, Saxe Point Park and McCauley Point - led by Allen Meyer
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Charlie’s Trail and the forested areas of the Royal Roads University grounds - led by Keith Knowles
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Monday Ramblers
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The Monday Ramblers group have been enjoying various areas around greater Victoria over the past month including hikes at Royal Roads, Saxe Point, Mystic Vale and Esquimalt Gorge park. As is often the case, our numbers increase in the winter, when fewer people are travelling. We have had up to 17 members participating weekly.
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Each week, our hikes are led by various volunteers, coordinated by Ted Mathie (mathie@uregina.ca, if you wish to join our activity). Typically we hike for 2 to 2.5 hrs, about eight km distance, starting out at 09:30 Mondays. An invitation is prepared by the volunteer leader three days ahead of each hike and sent to the whole ramblers mailing list. The invitation includes the exact meeting location and some advice about the hike. Those who want to participate, register with the leader, who normally follows up the evening before the hike with a note listing those registered in case anyone wants to sort out car pooling.
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Wednesday Nine Hole Golf
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Open for additional players !
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We are had a year end luncheon on December the 12th to wrap up our 2025 season and plan for 2026.
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We have room for more golfers next season. We are a very casual social group. All levels of golf abilities are welcome.
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You can also contact Garry Shaw by phone at 778-584-4171.
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Sunday Hike and Pub for Members/Couples
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Our first hike of 2026 is coming up fast and our leaders will be John and Eva Archibald!
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We are tackling an urban hike, starting at Cedar Hills Golf Course, proceeding as far as Mount Tolmie, circuitous return, and then a stop-off at McRae's Restaurant.
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Note: This hike has filled up! In this case we are limiting the hike to 25 participants, and lunch is limited to 23.
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Also we have one couple on the wait-list.
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This Activity is not just for couples; individual VRMNC members are absolutely welcome. If you would like to be on the mailing list, contact Coordinator Greg Bosecker at gregorybosecker@gmail.com
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Friday Coffee Chat Group
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A great opportunity to meet some fellow members and enjoy some stimulating conversations over coffee. The Coffee Chat Group meets every Friday at 10:00am on the second floor at Quality Foods in View Royal. (just next to the Victoria General Hospital). There's ample free parking and a separate quiet space where we meet on the 2nd floor above the deli. Come out and enjoy the comradery and conversation.
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We talk about a lot of topics and solve all the world's problems. Given the different backgrounds of everyone the discussions can be very informative. There are also a lot of laughs.
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E-Bike Brigade
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Wine Making Group
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Hello to all wine lovers.
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Cheers from your wine maker,
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Billiards Group
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Enjoy the fun and camaraderie of shooting pool with fellow Members! Ability ranges from beginner to experienced. After the games we socialize over an optional light lunch in the Legion lounge.
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We play billiards at the Pro Patrica Legion at the corner of Gorge and Jutland. A legion membership will be required if you join the Billiards club.
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Tuesday Billiards are full. We have 3 full size tables reserved for use. (12 players when all are in attendance). There are 3 smaller 8 ball tables for overflow which have not been used to date.
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On Friday we play Ukrainian Billiard (learn the rules as you play). Currently we have several openings available. We have no reserved tables, first come gets a table. We usually have 2 full size tables in use (8 players, sometimes less than 8)
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For both days, play starts at 11:00 am to ensure we get the necessary tables (for Friday’s only). We play until 1:00 pm and then have a lunch and refreshments (optional) in the main lounge.
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We play billiards on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:00 am sharp. We can accommodate a total of 16 players.
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We play at the Trafalgar Pro Patria Legion on Gorge Road at Jutland. New members are welcome. (New members may require to be signed in at the Legion).
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WHERE: Royal Canadian Legion, 411 Gorge Road E. (corner of Gorge and Jutland). PARKING: At Legion, free. WHEN: Weekly every Friday at 11:00am – 2:30pm. WHO: Open to all.
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Article Submitted by Wally Lazaruk
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Creating your Life Plan: Key Elements
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Introduction
Are you searching for redirection and enrichment of your life? Do you desire to create a new life chapter that is more fully aligned with your priorities and passions? Are you seeking renewal and resilience or imaginative alternatives to conventional retirement plans? If you have answered “yes” to one of these questions, you will benefit from creating a life plan.
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Creating your life plan will help you to examine your life’s priorities, assess what’s most important for you at this time in your life and prepare the journey ahead.
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Topics in your Life Plan
Such a plan could address your preferred future, core values, attitudes, life purpose, roles and activities in life, managing decline, closing years, legacy, learning agenda and action plan:
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· What are your expectations and goals for next five years? (e.g. stay healthy, enjoy family, move to different accommodations, travel more, and manage your financial resources…)
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· What’s most important in life for you during the next five years? (e.g., career, good health, spiritual development, work, relationships, creativity, financial stability, contribution to community)
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· What attitudes do you want to practice during the next five years? (e.g., acceptance, appreciation, gratitude, letting go, flexibility, optimism, forgiveness).
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· What will be your life purpose during the next five years? (e.g., to help others by modeling good health and generosity).
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5. Roles and activities in life
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· What will be your major roles and activities in the next chapter? How much time will you spend in these roles and activities? (e.g., personal, couple or partner, family, friends, work, leisure, learning and community).
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· How will you manage decline in life? (e.g., healthy lifestyle, learning, letting go, adapting and living arrangements).
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· How do you get ready for the closing years? (e.g., legal preparation, living fully, dealing with unfinished business, planning for death).
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· What are your major achievements in life?
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· How have you contributed to making this a better world?
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· What do you need to learn to realize your preferred future?
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· What is your plan to get from where you are today to five years from now? Ten years from now?
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· What are your goals, strategies, action steps and timelines? What will be your living accommodations?
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Assumptions
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Your life plan is based on four assumptions:
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1. Life is a self-renewing process, measured by cycles and chapters.
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2. Values and purpose help you to stay “on course”.
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3. Learning is a life-long process.
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4. Life is continuous change.
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Renewal Cycle
As a self-renewing process, the renewal cycle has four phases. In the first phase “going for it”, you are positive, you have goals, you are committed. In the second phase “being stuck in the doldrums”, you are negative, reactive, you feel trapped. In the third phase “cocooning”, you turn inward, you focus on your core values, and you awaken. Finally in the fourth phase “getting ready for the next chapter”, you explore, network, train.
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Values are driving forces which influence your actions and help you to make better choices. Core values help you to live with integrity, being true to yourself.
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The following set of core values was developed by the Hudson Institute of Coaching:
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1. Personal mastery – claiming yourself
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2. Achievement – proving yourself
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3. Intimacy –sharing yourself
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4. Play and creativity – expressing yourself
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5. Search for meaning – integrating yourself
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6. Compassion and contribution – giving of yourself
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The following are examples of strategies that can be used to further develop your core values:
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• Being assertive and clear
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• Balancing the parts of your lives
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• Staying committed to your personal goals
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• Taking good care of your body
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• Using your leadership skills
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• Committing to a financial plan
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• Maintaining clear goals and objectives
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• Using time-management planning
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• Joining network groups in goal areas
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• Learning on an ongoing basis
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• Speaking from the heart
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• Facing conflict and seeking solutions
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• Offering intimacy and risking rejection
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• Following your feelings
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• Learning simple ways to express yourself
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• Walking the beach or a forest path
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• Taking classes in areas of interest
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• Listening to your inner self
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• Walking alone in nature
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Compassion and Contribution
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• Pursuing peace at every level of your life
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• Joining a board or a cause you believe in
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• Mentoring younger professionals
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Attitudes
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The following are examples of attitudes:
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1. Acceptance - accepting your age and adapting to it.
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2. Appreciation/gratitude - enjoying each moment and each breath, being grateful for simple things: e.g., the air you breathe, a walk in nature, giving thanks for everything and counting your blessings.
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3. Forgiveness - forgiving and wishing the best for other people.
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4. Flexibility - being flexible and able to deal well with challenges.
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5. Optimism - embracing creative, resilient perspectives on challenges you face, staying engaged in life and searching for solutions.
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What is your purpose in life? Your purpose refers to your ultimate concern, your sense of destiny. It is your answer to “Why am I here?
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Life’s Roles and Activities
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Six areas of life’s roles and activities have been identified by the Hudson Institute of Coaching:
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1. Personal – self-care, nutrition, exercise, spiritual development, budgeting and managing money, managing priorities.
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2. Couple or Partner – care and nurturing of your primary relationship, sharing roles, tasks and fun, managing conflicts.
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3. Family – relationships, responsibilities and activities with caring for children and parents.
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4. Friends – care and nurturing of close friendships.
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5. Work – job, career, volunteer efforts and making a living.
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6. Community and Volunteer – involvement in community activities
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Activities in each of life’s roles are identified below:
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1. Personal – care and feeding of yourself; act as your own best friend, a major source of affirmation, best critic. Fulfilling activities:
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· Budgeting and managing money
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· Training for personal growth
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· Use of personal space and areas
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2. Couple or Partner– nurture fun, intimate contact, management of conflict with significant other or best friend
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· Create regular time for talking through the challenges
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· Shared roles, tasks, and fun
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· Shared projects and activities, outside home
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· Separate projects and activities outside home
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· Interfacing with each other’s work commitments
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· Management of shared health needs
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· Budgeting and managing money
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· Recreation and leisure activities
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· Adventuring, learning and traveling together
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3. Family – extended intimate relationships and responsibilities that come from caring for children and parents
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· Maintaining a home – changing homes
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· Cooking and eating together
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· Management of health needs
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· Sports activities and hobbies
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4. Friends – care and nurturing of close friendships
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· An evening outing, dinner, movies
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· An at-a-distance telephone conversation
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· Attending cultural and sports events
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· Participating in leisure activities
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5. Work - Job, career, volunteer efforts
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· Interpersonal and decision making skills
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· Relationships with authorities, with friends
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· Continuous goal setting, time management and achieved results
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· Leadership, retirement planning, nurturing creative projects
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6. Community and Volunteer – involvement in community activities
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· Participating in community groups
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· Membership in professional organizations
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· Commitment to neighbourhood
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· Participation in social causes and political groups
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· Volunteer activities in the community
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Adult Life Cycle
In each decade of life, you travel around the renewal cycle, with a life structure, mini-transition or a life transition. You can adopt a growth model for your life, envisioning yourself maturing into fullness, always adding value to your life. Each decade has its positive characteristics which can be nurtured.
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For example, you can maximize your 50s by:
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· Developing more inner-driven behaviors
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· Focusing on the here and now
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· Broadening and deepening your expressions of intimacy and caring
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· Taking on new leadership roles
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· Developing deeper dimensions of personal meaning from travel and leisure
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· Creating a simple and more fulfilling time schedule
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· Enriching your spiritual sensitivity to the world around them
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· Enjoying living one day at a time
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You can maximize your 60s by:
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· Visioning and dreaming again
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· Reducing external necessities to a minimum
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· Deepening intimacy through friendships
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· Cultivating hobbies and travel
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· Deepening your personal spirituality
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· Engaging in any part of life that keeps adding meaning to your future. You can mentor and share your acquired competence as a professional and as a human being with others.
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You can maximize your 70s by:
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· Rearranging your priorities and taking advantage of opportunities to connect to the world
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· Continuing leadership roles in your community
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· Living your hopes and expectations, on a daily basis
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· Reminding yourself that your life is worthy, purposive, and important and that there is always something of value you can be thinking or doing every day
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· Transcending ordinary problems with humor, perspective, and trust
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· Endorsing younger people
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· Sustaining healthy social networks for support and expression.
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Adult Learning Agenda
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You can choose emerging priorities, review your roles and activities, select areas to improve your skills and re-invent your future through learning. You could ask:
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· What do I need to unlearn?
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· What new information do I need?
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· How do I increase my personal competence?
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· What new technical skills do I need?
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· How can I stay anchored in my values?
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· Where are my best learning environments?
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· What can I learn from a challenging experience that will serve me to be stronger and more resilient in the future?
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Based on answers to the above questions, you would create a learning plan.
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Prepared by Wally Lazaruk, December 2025
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Reference: Lifelaunch: A Passionate Guide to the Rest of Your Life (5th edition) Paperback – Revised 2011; by Pamela D. McLean and Frederic M. Hudson
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Webmaster’s Corner! Did-You-Know:
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Re-Newed Website Feature: CLUB CHAT
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VRMNC has reinstalled our Chat feature on our website but on a dedicated webpage. To access it just click on Club Chat in Menu Bar and type away!!
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We encourage all members to sign into our website and check out this newest feature. Note that you need to sign in to post a chat.
If you stay signed in you will not need to repeat this step in the future. If you make a post and a fellow member replies it will be forwarded to your email.
Please give it a try and let your Coordinators and club Executive know your thoughts.
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1) car pool to a Field Trip
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2) discuss an existing Activity
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3) brain-storm / start a new regular or one off activity (ie Happy Hour Group, Cooking Class, Volunteer with Our Place, travel ideas to Portugal, Nova Scotia . . . ).
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4) New Joiner just posted asking for interest in Trip to Phoenix for Baseball Spring Training.
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NOTE: If you are logged-in when post, you can tick the small Bell button beside "Post Comment" button to be notified of responses.
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PRO-TRICK: When logging-in to our website, tick the "Remember Me" tick box so you stay logged in and don't have to next time visit. You can tell if you are logged in as top right beside Menu will say "Welcome Back Orlie".
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QUESTIONS: Please contact:
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OTHER WEBSITE INFO:
- New arrival to Victoria? Check out our Members Area > Useful Web Links webpage.
- VRMNC Branding - Need our Logo? Several formats available at Members Area > Branding.
- VRMNC Assets / Signage - Need a screen projector or pull-up banners or other signage, see all our assets and their custodian in Members Area > Assets.
- CONTACT DETAILS CHANGE: Please contact Membership@VRMNC.ca with any email, phone number or address change (no need to make these changes yourself).
- MISSED / LOST A NEWSLETTER: Go to website > News > Newsletters to see all of them.
- EXEC MEETING MINUTES: are published on Website > Members Area > Meeting Minutes.
- CONTACT LIST: This is maintained and updated on website by Membership Director Dennis Aitken just Log-In to website and go to Members Area > Contact Book. Please do not share this outside the club!
- FAQS: These have been updated on our website under Members Area, have a look, and please suggest any additions / changes!
- VRMNC GROUPS: Anyone can start a new VRMNC Group, just email email Activity Coordinator Bruce Shore at bruceshore@gmail.com with your ideas!
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