Probus May Newsletter, 2020probusduncan.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Probus-May-Newslett… · The...

Probus 1

Origin of “Mayday”

Owing to the difficulty of distinguishing the letter "S" by telephone, the international distress signal "S.O.S." will give place to the words "May-day", the phonetic equivalent of "M'aidez", the French for "Help me." —"New Air Distress Signal," The Times [London], 2 Feb 1923

May symbols

• May's birthstone is the emerald, which means love or success.

• The Zodiac signs for the month of May are Taurus (until May 20) and Gemini (May 21 onwards).

• Its "birth flower" is the Lily of the Valley

The world’s favourite season is the spring.

All things seem possible in May.

MAY 2020 Duncan Probus P.O. Box 420, Duncan, BC, V9L 3X5

Next Meeting: To Be Announced

http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/taurus_astrology.html

http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/gemini_astrology.html

http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/flower_of_the_month.html

http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/taurus_astrology.html

http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/gemini_astrology.html

http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/flower_of_the_month.html

The 6-S’s Wine-Tasters

The 6’s Wine Tasters are taking the summer off (as we usually do). Hoping to get back at it in September, but we’ll see!

Following is our pandemic icon:

Actually, we haven’t stopped drinking wine - just not together!!!

– John Howatt

Probus 2

Wine-tasters 2 May Brekky 5 Speaker 9

May Hike 3 Bridge 5 President’s Message

10

May Walk 3 Cartoons 6 Management Team

12

Hooked On Books Happy Bookers

4 Birding 7 Special Interest Groups

14/15

May Appy Night 5 Ticks 8 Calendars 16/17

Contents

May HIKE

If you have any questions about future plans please contact Ian at [email protected]

May WALK

If you have any questions about future plans please contact Ian at [email protected]

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Cancelled

Cancelled

mailto:[email protected]


Hooked on Books

There’s really nothing new to report. Our bibliophilic group is amassing book titles for addition to our

reading list, in anticipation of the time when we start back up again. We will have fallen far behind on our drafted schedule for book discussions, of course. Coronavirus aside, we will have lots to talk about when we all meet up again.

Submitted by Anne CLarke

Happy Bookers

Little to report this month. We are all becoming somewhat bored by staying at home. It is not that we don’t enjoy our

family and our home, we just miss our Happy Booker friends. Sue Fryer did her best to introduce us to Zoom but it did not fill the gap. We are hoping to get together on Ceri Newman’s lawn on the 29th April with our thermos of tea to discuss our books, The Wild Swans and The Prague Sonata, and of course catch up on news.......Like what does one do on a viral 19 day?...Sleep in, maybe. Let’s hope some normalcy returns for the summer holiday

without our being forced to drink Clorox.

Cheers to all,

Frankie Montgomery

Probus 4

May Appy Evening

Probus Brekky

Wednesday, 8 AM

White Spot, Duncan

For more information, contact Bill Kohlman.

[email protected]

We want more participants!

Probus Bridge

Probus 5

Cancelled

Cancelled

Cancelled


Thoughts from Bill & Jack

Probus 6

BACKYARD BIRDING

An article on the CBC Website indicates that there is an increasing interest in Backyard Birding and Birding photography. Apparently this is due to the decreased noise levels which allow people to hear more birds. If this interests you

then I recommend that you download the free Audubon App. This App allows you to search for a bird or identify a bird. To do the latter you need to answer a few simple questions and the App will show you the possible matches.

For each bird there are stunning photographs, descriptions, range etc. together with bird songs.

The App also has “Audubon for Kids” which provides “child friendly activities that can be done from home or in a yard or park”.

The bird migration is now in progress so your opportunity of seeing birds is very good.

Good Birding

Anton Turner

Probus 7

Nearly three percent of the ice in Antarctic glaciers is penguin urine.

Be Aware: TICKS We’re reprinting this because it’s that time of year again and people need to pay heed.

Because there have been several reports of heavy tick infestation in parts of the Cowichan Valley this should be of interest to everyone who walks/hikes.

Prevention is the top priority. It is important to prevent ticks from coming into contact with your skin. The best way to do this is to wear clothing that covers your arms and legs; tuck your pants into your socks or even tape the openings in your clothing so that ticks do not have access to exposed areas of skin. Wear light coloured clothing to make ticks more visible should you pick one up. Using an insect repellent is also recommended.

However, quickly removing ticks is the most important thing that you can do since the bacteria they carry need several hours to become established in your system. Use tweezers to grasp the

body and pull slowly straight up. The wound should be cleaned and treated with an antiseptic.

Be aware that it is easy to miss one as your body has many nooks and crannies where they can hide. If you remove a tick and find that there is a bull's eye mark around the bite be sure to keep the tick for analysis and get prompt medical attention.

The BC Government has a good web page for those interested in more information. The URL is: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/animals-and-crops/plant-health/insects-and-plant-diseases/home-garden/ticks

Probus 8

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/animals-and-crops/plant-health/insects-and-plant-diseases/home-garden/ticks

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/animals-and-crops/plant-health/insects-and-plant-diseases/home-garden/ticks

Speaker

I wish I was in the position to introduce the next speaker for our May meeting but of course we are not ready yet to resume our meetings. If there was ever a group to be cautious about assembling it is ours. I applaud our President for making a decision in a

timely manner to suspend our meetings until this crisis is behind us.

Once we resume I have two speakers in waiting so we will be able to sort of pick up where we left off and of course there is still the celebration of the Probus Club of Duncan 20th Anniversary to schedule, so we have the possibility of three planned meetings to begin with. Currently there is no guidance that allows any business, sporting event or group of any kind to assemble and it is difficult to see down the road to a point where a group as large as ours can begin to meet again. All we can do is wait.

I am personally looking forward to seeing everyone again. I miss the meetings. I hope everyone is healthy and not feeling too isolated.

-- Gerry Walker

50/50 Draw

Remember to hoard those $2’s and be ready to play 50/50 when we meet again. In the meantime keep safe. Doreen Tawse-Smith

Elephants are the only animal that can't jump.

Probus 9

President’s Message

Greetings to all. I hope self-isolation and social distancing has not been too disruptive. It seems that our efforts and those of all B.C. citizens are working—Provincial officials are now talking about a gradual re-opening of the Province beginning in mid-May. It will be some time before we have full scale Probus meetings, but Special Interest Groups could start thinking about how they can resume activities in small numbers while maintaining social distancing.

From a personal standpoint, self-isolation has not been a particular hardship for Terri and I. The grass seems to be growing faster than I can mow it, we are also managing to get at projects which have been in the “to do” jar for years—I am becoming expert at making a one hour job last all day.

I also grew a Covid beard—at first it did not look too bad, but the longer it got, the older I looked. I am now clean shaven.

I have not started golfing again but expect to within the next 2 weeks. Not to worry, though; if we get bored, there is a great reality show on American TV each afternoon.

As things stand now, your Management Team will evaluate the situation at the end of May but will respond immediately if necessary.

Meanwhile, as Dr. Bonnie Henry says “Be kind, be patient, keep safe” – also, don’t forget about those among us who are alone and would welcome a call.

— Ed W

Key Volunteer Support Roles

Probus 10

Audio Visual Equipment

Jack Stevenson: 250-743-6151Gerry Walker: 250-743-0348

50/50 Tickets Doreen Tawse-Smith: 250-748-3102

Bio Book Phil Salt: 250-733-0960 Sunshine Committee

Barb Kohlman: 250-743-4485Marilyn Sulz: 250-743-9352

Book Table Ed & Terri White: 250-743-6119 Quiz Master Sandy Hardie: 250-597-3294

Greeting Committee

Win Teague: 250-743-2896Ceri Newman: 250-746-6773Jack & Helen Stevenson: 250-743-6151

Ride Share George Daan: 250-597-4736

2019-2020 Executive

2019-2020 Management Committee

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Members at Large: Katie Daan: 250-597-4736 Sandy Hardy: 250-597-3294 Eva Janecek: 778-356-4672 Dorothy Whittome: 250-746-6645 Vera Wilson: 256-746-6509

Speakers: Gerry Walker: 250-743-0348 Communications: Joanne Moon: 250-746-4275

Web Site: Bert Pieke: 250-746-0782

Special Events Coordinator: Vacant?

Newsletter: Peggy McLennan: 250-510-9512 Anne Clarke: 250-815-5141 Jim Morris: 250-701-5717

Probus 12

Valet Service

When once again we begin to hold meetings, George Daan (250-597-4736) will co-ordinate the Ride Sharing/Valet Service Programme.

Gardening Course Slides

Linda A Gilkenson, Ph.D. offers gardening courses which are sponsored by the Horticultural Centre of The Pacific and the Salt Spring Garden Club. This

year the courses have been cancelled but her course slides are available from her website (www.lindagilkenson.ca). These can be accessed through the March 22nd blog post.

According to the local press there has been an increased interest in people growing their own produce. If you are a

beginner or an expert you will probably benefit from the information on the web site.

Linda A Gilkenson has published a few books, the latest being “Backyard Bounty” which I have not seen. However, I purchased a previous book “Natural Insect, Weed & Disease Control”. This book is extremely informative on the subject of Pest Management. Though I tend to allow Pests to share if they do not take too much, thereby not killing Beneficial Species, there is a section on Least-Toxic Pesticides if necessary.

On the lighter side (?) with regards to Yellowjackets “when outdoors, drink soft drinks, juice and alcoholic drinks from covered cups or through straws. Drinking directly from a can is a sure way to get a nasty sting in the mouth from an unseen wasp that crawled into the can.”

Happy Gardening and safe drinking!

Anton Turner

Probus 13

http://www.lindagilkenson.ca

Special Interest Groups Club Activity Meeting Dates

And TimesCoordinator Contact

Information

Appy Evening Varies Elaine Thibeault 250-510-7495 [email protected]

Book Club:Better Bookies

2nd Tuesday10:00 Am

Margo Johnston [email protected]

Book Club:Happy Bookers

3rd Wednesday2:00 Pm

Anne Clarke [email protected]

Book Club:Hooked on Books

2nd Tuesday2:00 Pm

Frankie Montgomery

[email protected]

Book Table 3rd Tuesday9:30 Am

Ed & Terry White 250-743-6119 [email protected]

Brekkie Bunch 2nd Wednesday8:00 Am

Bill Kohlman [email protected]

Bridge:Afternoon

2nd Thursday1:00 Pm Sharp!!

Dave Haywood [email protected]

Bridge:Evening

3rd Tuesday7:00 Pm

Ian Kennedy [email protected]

Craft Club 1st & 3rd Wednesday1:30 Pm

Ann Turner [email protected]

Dining In Different Dates & Times in the Spring & Fall

Mary Braybrooks [email protected]

Discussion Group

Last Tuesday of the Month2:00 Pm

Bert Pieké [email protected]

Gardening Group

Further information coming

Anton Turner 250-746-7423 [email protected]

Hiking 1st Thursday10:00 Am

Ian Kennedy 250-244 - [email protected]

Probus 14





Investment Discussion Group

1st Tuesday2:00 Pm

Ross Haggart [email protected]

Lunching Out Last Thursday of the Month

Lillah Sadler [email protected]

Management Meeting

Thursday Before Monthly Meeting8:00 Am Breakfast9:00 Am Meeting

Carol Goodger-Hill

[email protected]

Monthly Meeting 3rd Tuesday9:30am

Ed White [email protected]

Probus Singers Every Tuesday2 Pm

Judith McIvor 250-746-4670 [email protected]

Walking 3rd Thursday10 Am

Ian Kennedy [email protected]

Wine John Howatt [email protected]

Room for Many More!!!!

Probus 15



Probus 16

AprilS M T W T F S29 30 31 1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 1819 20 21 22 23 24 2526 27 28 29 30 1 23 4 5 6 7 8 9

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY26 27 28 29 30 1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31 1 2 3 4 5 6

JuneS M T W T F S31 1 2 3 4 5 67 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 2021 22 23 24 25 26 2728 29 30 1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9 10 11

May2020

All Events

Cancelled

Probus 17

MayS M T W T F S26 27 28 29 30 1 23 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 1617 18 19 20 21 22 2324 25 26 27 28 29 3031 1 2 3 4 5 6

June2020

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDA THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY31 1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

JulyS M T W T F S28 29 30 1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 1819 20 21 22 23 24 2526 27 28 29 30 31 12 3 4 5 6 7 8

Events Y

et To

Be Deci

ded

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