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GENERAL NEWSLETTER

March opening shot
Sets the mood! Once again, our marvellous west-coast. Photo credit: Michael Lawrence

This Newsletter is going to all VRMNC Paid-Up Members.

March is a long-Newsletter month...

My thanks to all the contributors of this month's Newsletter. Not to take away from the other worthy content, but I'd like to highlight some must-read material for keen VRMNC members:
  • An update from the Nominating Committee (anyone up for a position on the Executive?)
  • Fun special events: check out "Save the Date!"
The theme this month seems to be get busy, get involved (in a Covid-safe fashion). There are lots of benefits to this; just check out the very next article for a really good reason.

And as always, I am looking for items of interest to our Membership. The next 'big' Newsletter is scheduled for May! Just drop me a line.

Greg Bosecker
VRMNC Newsletter Editor
NewsEditor@VRMNC.ca
First and rather important: here's another good reason to enjoy those VRMNC activities! Read on... - Editor

Build a Better Brain at Any Age!

A Review of Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s book: Keep Sharp

Article Courtesy: Ken Brown

What incredible years we Baby Boomers have lived through! In just the past twenty-five years, we have all witnessed a series of dramatic developments, including the rise of the Internet and social media, the establishment of the cell phone and the arrival of electric and autonomous vehicles. …

Read more
Keep Sharp

Nominations for Executive Positions

Message from Chair of the Nominating Committee:

Our club has approximately 250 members but a small group of volunteers do the heavy lifting. Their efforts make the Club work for all of us. For the past year, we have operated without a President or Vice President but thanks to the leadership of Allen Meyer as Secretary, backed up by Greg Bosecker, and the executive team of Tom Glenn as Treasurer, Bruce Thomson as Membership Director, Bruce Shore as New Member Liaison, John Pierce as Webmaster and Keith Knowles as Field Trip Director, plus several Directors at Large (Rick Jess, Garry Shaw, Ed Wojczynski, and Orlie Reese) we have managed to have a year of active socialization and activities despite the challenges of COVID. This year we are looking forward to having many more in-person events.

I want to thank all of the above, especially since they have agreed to stay on for another year. I also want to thank those who lead various activity groups. But we are still looking for someone interested in filling the position of President, or Vice President, in order to relieve Allen and Greg of dual responsibility. Volunteers willing to consider nomination should know that there is a dedicated team of active members in place to support the President or Vice President. However, it would be very helpful to have someone take on the leadership role. In addition, if anyone is interested in becoming a Director at Large, additional hands on deck would be welcome.

If any member is interested in discussing open roles on the executive committee, please contact me at principal@tpconnections.com or at 250 544 4980.

Thanks,

Hugh Stephens
Chair, Nominating Committee and sometime Hiking Group Leader
volunteered

SAVE THE DATE !

Fun events for 2022

The organizing committees are working on details. But here are the dates to put on the calendar:

  1. June 23rd (Thursday) - The Summer Fest at the University Club. Music by Groove Kitchen. A new fun event - mixing, dining, dancing.

  2. August 18th (Thursday) – Annual Golf Tournament, Arbutus Ridge Golf Club. Like last year but even better.

  3. December 02nd (Friday) – Christmas Gala, University Club. Music by BackBeat. Back by popular demand.

More will be announced when timely. Watch for John’s bulletins.

- George Barnhart
dancing golf meme

Check out the historical aspect of the following recipe!

Chicken Cacciatore

cc4
Article (recipe) courtesy: Gerry Delval

Who doesn't like chicken? It's a favourite meat for many people. So, I thought that this month, I would share with you the best authentic Italian chicken cacciatore recipe that you will ever find. It comes from Chef Gérard's Italian side of the family - Chef Gérard being the world famous but reclusive chef. Chef …

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Activities Updates

(In no particular order)

Newcomers Tennis Group: We are back to strength at Newcomers Tennis with two back from California and another from being temporarily occupied elsewhere. The courts are tough to book as there is much competition but we will soon be back outdoors so that will help ease supply. We are still welcoming new players! Play is on Monday and Thursday mornings. Coordinator: Des Carpenter 250-721-1496
Tennis
Created by our own Brian Tate.

Tuesday Hiking: Tuesday hikes are now led by volunteers. Roger Love keeps the notice list and coordinates the hike schedule.
Tuesday Hiking2
From recent Tuesday hike... starting point St. Stephen's (historic) Church.
Photo courtesy: Hugh Stephens

VRMNC Tuesday Golfers: Mt Doug has invited booking requests for the 2022 season to be submitted on March 21. We will initially be limited to 16 players (four foursomes), though more than 16 may want to play. If necessary, we will run a lottery each week, like that of the Wednesday golf group. Play will start in the week of May 1; I will submit the booking forms on March 21. Questions? Call me at 250-208-3246, or email me at abreaks@magma.ca. Coordinator: Alan Breakspear

Ramblers: We meet at 9 am on Mondays for 2 - 3 hours, led by various members. Since May 2021 we ventured to return after COVID restrictions lifted somewhat, and have enjoyed an outing rain or shine from then on with the exceptions of when the Provincial Holidays fall on Mondays. From 35 registered interested members we generally have 6 – 12 each time. Coordinator: Michael Randerson michaeldiana@shaw.ca

Social Bridge: The Unconventionals continue to play using BBO on Thursday evenings and will take names as spares. Coordinator: Dave Nicholds.

Pub Lunches: Every second Thursday, rain or shine! Great event for new Members to meet others! See next Pub Lunch info on website > News > Newsletters. Coordinator: John Pierce.

Luncheon Speakers: The luncheon speaker series have finally restarted in person at the newly renovated University Club with an exciting speaker: Victoria Police Chief Del Manak. He will be speaking on March 24: "The Challenges for Policing in Today’s Complicated Social & Political Environment”. (Unfortunately, tickets for this are no longer available, but there will be future Luncheons!) Coordinator: Ed Wojczynski.

Billiards/snooker:
  • All is going well for Tuesday Snooker. We have 2 tables of 4 players on a regular basis.
  • The Friday Billiard group voted to impose sanctions on the Russian nation and discontinue playing Russian billiards permanently. In support of the Ukrainian Nation and people, we have renamed the Friday billiard session Ukrainian Billiards. We have been averaging 4 to 8 players (2 tables) for this session.
Games are played at the Trafalgar/Pro Patria Legion at 411 Gorge Rd E at the corner of Gorge and Jutland at 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Tuesdays and Fridays. The groups usually stay for lunch and a beverage after the games. Feel free to contact me for more information.

Coordinator: Peter Czypyha peterczypyha@gmail.com

Nine Hole Golf Group: continues to golf each Wednesday at Highland Pacific. With 35 members in the group, we typically have 25-27 guys vying for the 20 spots we have available. The situation will improve somewhat in April when we will have access to 24 spots but that still will not be sufficient to allow us to accept additional members. Those VRMNC members on our waiting list are encouraged to consider joining the Silver Spoons group that plays at Mt. Doug in the spring / summer / fall.
Coordinator (of Nine Hole Group): Rick Holm.

Investment Interest Group: Our March meeting will be on 25 March at 1 PM via Zoom.
We have been informed that the Uplands Golf Club will not be available for in-person meetings before September, so we are looking for a new meeting site. Suggestions would be appreciated. Coordinator: Rick Cyr.

From the Wine Making Group: Greetings fellow wine makers! It has been about 7 weeks since we last bottled wine. At that time no discussion was made as to make more wine. I have talked with several people about our next wine making session. It was mentioned that they enjoyed bottling to barrel aged wine and it tasted ready to drink. We could make another batch (10 in total) of barrel aged wine that would be ready in December 2022 to bottle. I can find out from the Winery which type would be good to age, ie. Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz. Also, we can make additional batches that would be ready to bottle in 8 to 10 weeks. The Global Passport Series (high end) has 3 reds and a white that can be made. The RQ Ole collection of high end wines has 3 reds, a white and a rose that can be made. Please get back to me ASAP as we should put up the barrel aged wind in early April . If there are any new member that may be interested, please contact me ASAP to get in on the next wine making session.
wine bottling
Action shot of bottling activity...

Each batch makes 30 (750ml ) bottles. If you feel that is too much wine at a time, invite a buddy to split the wine with you. Coordinator: Peter Czypyha

Membership Update

More and more of the Club’s activities are starting up again and Members are enthusiastically responding! Our numbers continue to increase with five new members joining and some old members rejoining. VRMNC has now 283 Members of which 21 are new. Since the last newsletter, five new Members have joined.

Welcome: Paul Robinson Alberta
Kelly McAree Ontario
Colin Livingston Winnipeg
Larry Jenkins N/A
Mark Davis Picton ON

It is time to remind Members that the year of free membership will end July 1st, 2022. This will mean that invoices will start coming out toward the end of June to renew memberships for the 2022-23 year.

To maintain as accurate membership list, Members are asked to notify the Membership Director (Membership@VRMNC.ca) if they are no longer interested in participating in the VRMNC. If you know of Members that have left the area, please notify the Membership Director.

In the unfortunate situation where a Member has passed away, please let us know so we may take appropriate action on behalf of the VRMNC.

Bruce Thomson
Membership

Ross Bay Cemetery Tour

Cemetary1
(photo courtesy: Bob McKechnie)

On Wednesday, March 16, 2022, 34 VRMNC members participated in a general history tour at the Ross Bay Cemetery. The tour was provided by the Old Cemeteries Society of Victoria. John Azar, a volunteer with the society, was the tour guide. John shared his great knowledge of local history, as we toured the burial sites of prominent historical characters of Victoria and British Columbia.

Tour highlights included:

The Mackenzie family mausoleum (founders of Craigflower Farm in 1853). John provided information on the family’s association with the Hudson Bay Company and the early history of the Northwest and Hudson Bay companies.

Dunsmuir family grave – Coal barons, builders of Craigdarroch Castle and Hatley Castle at Royal Roads University.

Fee family obelisk – David Fee was killed in a botched assassination by a Fenian gunman on Christmas Eve in 1890 at St. Andrews Cathedral

Billy Barker grave – He discovered gold at Barkerville, B.C. in 1862, but died in poverty in 1894 in Victoria

Sir James and Lady Douglas vault – James Douglas was Vancouver Island’s second governor (1851-1864) and BC’s first (1858-1864)

Emily Carr grave – One of Canada’s most famous artists and authors. This is Ross Bay’s most visited grave.

In addition, John provided historical information about the cemetery and the different types of grave sites within the cemetery.

The tour was approximately 1.5 hours in duration (1.30 to 3:00 p.m.). The weather cooperated, as predominantly sunny weather prevailed. Following the tour, a beverage and good fellowship was enjoyed at the Ross Bay Pub.
Cemetary2

Restaurant review!

by our (anonymous) Contributor:
The Intrepid Diner Logo
This month the review is of:

J & J Wonton Noodle House

J J Wonton
The Intrepid Diner has driven past this restaurant numerous times since moving to the best city in Canada. Never once did its rather staid sign entice him to darken its door, even as an increasing number of reviews drove J. & J.’s reputation closer to the 5 out of 5 mark. Fortunately, Intrepid maintains …

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And now: a local travel feature...

NANAIMO: THE CITY AND THE BAR

N4

Cultivate Courage in Relationships

Article Courtesy: Larry MacDonald

“Thar she blows”! Sure enough, just 200 yards ahead of our zodiac was a small pod of killer whales (Orcas), surfacing repeatedly with spumes of vapor shooting from their blowholes. Rebeka, a very knowledgeable marine naturalist and our tour guide with Vancouver Island Whale Watch, even knew some of their names and so much more: These were “Transient” as opposed …

Read more
Courage1
“Fortune favours the brave.”
- Latin proverb

Article Courtesy: Wally Lazaruk

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines courage as “the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty.” Words that describe courage include
“ bold”, “brave”, “fearless”, “gutsy”, “heroic” and “stalwart”.

In his book Resilient, Dr. Rick Hanson, psychologist, author and Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley recommends several strategies for practicing courage in relationships. Four of these strategies are summarized below:

1. Speak from the heart
Say what is important. Speak your truth respectively and skillfully. Be clear about what you see, feel and want in a particular relationship. Keep in mind what is happening inside the other person. Discuss with the other person how you interact and consider what helps interactions go well or not well. Avoid topics that provoke arguments. Use words that are clear to each of you. Share experiences with empathy, compassion and kindness to promote positive connection. Use expressions such “I feel”, “I am”. Be open and genuine.

2. Use wise speech
You are responsible for what you say. Wise speech is well-intended, true, beneficial, timely, kind and wanted. Use speech that is helpful and accurate, reflecting the facts. Use speech that is enjoyable, useful and timely. Use speech that is cordial and compassionate and considerate of the other person’s needs and desires.

3. Assert yourself
Establish the relevant facts, what is true. Clarify your values. Determine what is most important to you relative to this challenge and why it is important. Find out what the other person’s values are and focus on the result you care about. At a certain point, consolidate your gains, that is, protect what has been accomplished before taking the next steps.

In asserting yourself, make requests, not demands. Use a kind emotional tone to show how much you value the relationship. Finally, make clear agreements.

4. Repair relationships
Relationships rest on a foundation of trust, respect and commitment. As trust is based on reliability, find out what you could count on from others.

In a challenging relationship, check your understanding: What is really true? What happened? What is the larger context?

Know that you matter. Do not minimize or justify mistreatment of you by others. Expect others to keep their agreements and treat you with respect.

Speak up. Your feelings are important. Let people know what their impact is on you. Indicate what you would like to change. Consider the obstacles and how to resolve them. Tell the other person what you are doing and why. Start acting in new ways and strive to establish a new agreement with the other person.

Centering thoughts to develop courage:
  • I speak from the heart.
  • I speak wisely.
  • I assert myself to express what I want.
  • I repair my challenging relationships.
Prepared by Wally Lazaruk, March 2022

Sources and References:
The Foundations of Well-Being Online Course
Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness
HEAL: The Four Steps to Taking in the Good (habitsforwellbeing.com)
Dr. Rick Hanson: The Neuroscience of Lasting Happiness
Courage2

Webmaster’s Corner!

Did-You-Know:

  1. Recorded presentations are available via website > Members Area > Presentations

  2. Please return VRMNC Signage to John.Pierce@Live.com

  3. Club activities are listed on our website > Calendar

Parting shot:

One of our Activities... in action...

Pickles Bluff
Tuesday Hiking Group... Pickles Bluff photo courtesy Bob McKechnie
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