Newcomers Club Newsletter

COVID Update

Following local county trends and CDC guidelines, we will be back to in person gatherings beginning on March 15. We still require full vaccinations, and masks are optional.

Calendar

Our website is the best source to check what is going on in our Club. Our Directors and Interest Group Leaders will post activities and require an RSVP on the Calendar tab.  Please check it often, so you don’t miss an opportunity to join us!

Newcomers T-shirts and Bags

The T-shirts and bags have arrived.  Let’s wear them and publicize our Club!

WELCOME to our New Members

Diana McCarty, originally from Keyser, WV

Kathy Schnell, originally from Warren, MN

WE NEED YOU!!

This is a perfect time to volunteer for us!  Each year we need to have positions filled to either serve on our Board or lead an Interest Group. You may also be interested in helping in an area, but choose not to be on the Board. No problem…WE NEED YOU!!!

If the pandemic has got you down, this is the time to try something new and get involved.  Please contact Denise Berrebi or Ann Siochi if you are interested or have questions.

Website Director

We fund a webmaster who has developed and maintains our website, but we need someone who will manage and update the face of our website, under an administrator access mode.  Jane Taylor, our current website director is happy to teach the next person.

Fundraising Director

We need someone who can lead a committee in planning fundraising events. These funds help meet our discretionary budget needs. In the past, an Auction was held in the Fall. This can be the focus again, or other ideas are welcome.

*Next fundraising event:  “POUND SALE” on May 4 at the monthly Coffee.  Please bring a pound of “something” and wrap it. Big or little package, let’s see what a pound is worth! Bids will begin at $5 and we will auction off the items!  Let’s fundraise and have fun, too!

Interest Group Leaders

Any member may create a new Interest Group. The more ideas we have, the more activities to participate in!

We have had the following groups inactive. You may be interested in resurrecting the group or starting something new! 

Stay Tuned…A new group may be forming soon for Music Lovers!

What’s Cooking…meet at members’ homes to experiment with new foods, appliances, recipes

Kayaking… locally on Cheat Lake and Monongahela River

Tennis

Bowling

Bicycling

Slate for Board of Officers and Directors

2022-2023

Officers

President: Denise Berrebi

Vice President: Jenny Robbins

Treasurer: Jane McCracken.  Vice Treasurer: Deb Dottavio

Secretary: Jane Taylor

Directors:

Speaker Programs: Melinda Edwards

Coffees: Ann Siochi

Luncheons: Denise Minnear

Interest Groups: Melinda Edwards

Membership/Hospitality: Denise Minnear

Publicity: Denise Berrebi (interim)

Community Service: Karen Lane

Directory: Carol Spears and Susan Cook

Historian: Ann Siochi

Website: Jane Taylor (interim)

Special Activities: Sally Kirkpatrick

Helping Hands: Denise Minnear

Fundraising:  to be filled

Upcoming Events*

Walking Group:   Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:00 am

Bridge: Thursdays at 1:00 pm

April 12: Chicks at the Flicks

April 13 and May 11:  Book Group

April 19: Luncheon at Oliverio’s Restaurant at 11:30 am, speaker Kathy Schnell from the Women’s Compass Center, and Elections (please see the Slate of Officers and Directors for the 2022-23 year)

April 21 and May 19: Not Just Pins and Needles

April 23: Wine Tasting at Stanley’s home

April 26 and May 31: BUNCO

May 4:  Coffee with special activity “Pound Sale”!

May 17: Luncheon TBA

*the Calendar on the Morgantown Newcomers website is the most updated source

Denise Berrebi and Ann Siochi, Co-Presidents

Spring is almost here!  Lots of rain, clouds, and muddy lawns, but we welcome a respite from the cold and hopefully, the COVID pandemic.

COVID Update

Following local county trends and CDC guidelines, we will be back to in person gatherings beginning on March 15, our monthly Luncheon. Ann Siochi is following the pandemic closely and completed a detailed report on February 22 to guide us in this decision. We still require vaccinations, and masks are optional.

Calendar

Our website is the best source to check what is going on in our Club. Our Directors and Interest Group Leaders will post activities and require an RSVP on the Calendar tab.  Please check it often, so you don’t miss an opportunity to join us!

We are excited to see everyone at our next Luncheon at the Lakehouse Restaurant on March 15 at 11:30. Our Speaker will be Bessie Fooks presenting information about the Giving Circle.

Our Walking Group continues to meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:00AM at various safe locations around town (Mon River Trail, Botanic Gardens, Star City, etc.) Great way to get your daily steps in!

BUNCO…an easy dice game is back!  This is a fun way to get some laughs in, (maybe a bit of wine, too!) and win some cash. No need to know how to play because it’s easy and we will show you.

Do you like trying new restaurants (or dining at local favorites)? Our Casual Dining Group meets once a month at a designated place to enjoy lunch together.

Time to dig up that old craft you never finished or bring something you are working on…and join the Not Just Pins and Needles group.  We share ideas, and knit, sew, quilt, needle point, crochet, or whatever craft you enjoy while enjoying company and a coffee break.

Our Wine Tasting Group meets monthly on Saturday evenings. Ron Porter offers wines to taste, and members provide the appetizers and desserts. Bring a friend, family member or spouse and you won’t go home “unhappy”!

Newcomers T-shirts and Bags

You should have received an e-mail about ordering these items. This is a new idea to show our support of the Club and publicize our mission to others. Please contact Carol Spears with any questions you have about ordering.  We designed the T-Shirts in either white or blue with our logo, and the bags are perfect for shopping or picnicking since they are insulated.

Service Project

We will be wrapping books to send to inmates for the Appalachian Prison Book Project at our next Coffee on April 6 at Melinda Edward’s house. If you happen to have used Poetry books, or new ones to donate, that would be helpful for the book drive Judy Panagakos is organizing. Note: The Book Project only accepts softcover books.

WE NEED YOU!!

This is a perfect time to volunteer for us!  Each year we need to have positions filled to either serve on our Board or lead an Interest Group. If the pandemic has got you down, this is the time to try something new and get involved.  Please contact Denise Berrebi or Ann Siochi if you are interested in any of the following or if you have a nomination.

Website Director

We fund a webmaster who has developed and maintains our website, but we need someone who will manage and update the face of our website, under an administrator access mode.  Jane Taylor, our current website director is happy to teach the next person.

Fundraising Director

We need someone who can lead a committee in planning fundraising events. These funds help meet our discretionary budget needs. In the past, an Auction was held in the Fall. This can be the focus again, or other ideas are welcome.

Interest Group Leaders

Any member may create a new Interest Group. The more ideas we have, the more activities to participate in!

We have had the following groups inactive, due to a leader stepping down or moving. You may be interested in resurrecting the group or starting something new!

What’s Cooking…meet at members’ homes to experiment with new foods, appliances, recipes

Kayaking… locally on Cheat Lake and Monongahela River

Tennis

Bowling

Bicycling

Upcoming Events

Walking Group:   Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:00 am

March 9:  Book Group via Zoom, reading People of the Book, by Geraldine Brooks

March15: Luncheon at the Lakehouse Restaurant on the Sunset Marina at 11:30 am, speaker Bessie Fooks on the Giving Circle

March 17: Not Just Pins and Needles at 1:00 pm

March 18:  Daytime Dining at Iron Horse Tavern on High Street at 11:30 am

March 24:  Bridge

March 26:  Wine Tasting “Spring Fever- Let the Wine Begin!” at the Kirkpatrick’s at 7:00pm

March 29  Bunco

Future Dates

April 6:  Coffee with Speaker Judy Panagakos about the Appalachian Prison Book Project and meet and greet WVU student guests from Afghanistan

April 19 and May 17: Luncheons, venues TBA

May 4:  Coffee with special activity “Pound Sale”!

We hope everyone had a safe holiday and best wishes for a Happy New Year!

Covid

Once again, we need to exercise caution against Covid 19 and its variants, therefore, we are postponing in person gatherings for the month of January. The exclusion will be the ongoing Walking Group that continues to walk outdoors, weather permitting. If you have “increase exercise” as a New Year’s Resolution, then this is a perfect opportunity to get moving, enjoy the beautiful nature of our state, and chat with our members.

Calendar

Check our calendar regularly, since activities may be offered on Zoom. We are proud to have been able to offer many options that bring us in contact with each other. If you haven’t yet joined one of these Zoom offerings, don’t be shy- it’s easy as pie!  Ann Siochi, our Zoom Director leads the way and offers help to join in online.

Welcome to our New Members!

Beth Currence from Ohio

Katie Pelletier from Nebraska

Board Meetings and Upcoming Important Dates and Discussions

March 2, April 6

April 19 (election of the Board) and May 17 (induction of Board)

Please submit any agenda items to Denise Berrebi, 48 hours or more in advance. The Newcomers Club began in 1976, and still exists today because of many members and volunteers, and the acknowledgment of new ideas and creative thinking. If you have an item or idea for us, contact a Board Member and your voice will be heard.

Open Positions:  We need volunteers to help run our Club. One of the following positions might of interest to you. If you have recently joined, this is an excellent way to meet more people and we can guide you through the responsibilities of the role.

Website Director

Publicity

Fundraising

Fundraising

The Enjoy Dining and Coupon books sold well and we made $410 in profit. If you have any ideas to further our efforts to raise money, please reach out!  We cannot exist on our dues only, since there are budgetary expenses we must meet. Unfortunately, the Annual Auction has been cancelled the last two years, and we have not made solid plans for a future event this Spring.

Newcomers Club T-Shirts

Some of our members have researched the idea of providing T-shirts for sale. We would like to offer a V-neck style, in either white or royal blue, with our Logo (the Pineapple). Soon you will receive a picture of the T-shirts and order form. Hopefully, all our members will purchase these and we will use them as community publicity as well.

Brrrrrr….Hello everyone and hope you are all well and safe!  We have many things offered during our fall/winter months. 

RSVP

Please check the Calendar regularly for events, and RSVP on the website for ALL activities, including Coffees.  This helps our Group Leaders to prepare and if necessary, send messages to those who have RSVP’d.  We are always open to new ideas, new interest groups, or special activities for daytime or evenings. Thank-you to all our volunteers that keep our organization going!  

COVID

Concerning the pandemic, the Board agreed that our Club require attendees to all events be vaccinated. Masks are optional. We are also closely watching our local and CDC guidelines for updates and will adjust our guidelines as needed.

Welcome New Members

Jim White from Atlanta, Georgia

Social Media

We have a Facebook account, Morgantown Newcomers Club, that is Public. Denise Berrebi, Publicity Director will post upcoming Special Events. If you choose to post on the site, remember to ask permission of those in the pictures you post, as well as keeping the contact of postings strictly relevant to our Club and our activities. The best way to share pictures is to send them to our Historian Director, Ann Siochi. She will organize photos and preview them before they become public.

We also have a Private Chat on Facebook. This is available to members who wish to share personal photos and information.  Please contact Jane Taylor if you wish to be invited into this group.

Website Profile: You may wish to check your profile under Members on our website and make changes (add info or a photo of yourself) as needed.  

Service to our Community

After listening to Beth Currence from LIBERA, we will be writing letters to teens in need at our next Coffee. 

Fundraising

My ENJOY Dining and Coupon Books are still for sale.  These offer great  savings and useful gifts to others who live in this area!  We receive $10 per book profit.  Contact Denise Berrebi for orders.

Morgantown Community Newcomers Club T-SHIRTS!

More information will be coming soon about ordering Club T-shirts with our logo. Thanks to Jane McCracken and team for working on this.

We hope to see all our members involved in these activities! There are many ways to socialize, and keep yourself active. Don’t be afraid to jump in if you haven’t been active. As Newcomers Members we are committed to promote new friendships while also enjoying what our Morgantown community offers, as well as exploring the surrounding areas.

Denise Berrebi and Ann Siochi

Co-Presidents

UPCOMING EVENTS

Walking Group: 8:30 am every Tuesday and Thursday on local trails

Coffee Hour: November 3 at 10am-Noon, home of Gandee Barkley

Luncheon: November 16 at Winchesters Restaurant

Bunco:  November 30 at 1:00 pm

Chicks at the Flicks: November 9 (lunch and movie)

Book Club: November 10 at 10:30 am -12 pm (Discussing Climbing the Mango Trees)

Adventures in Daytime Dining: November 12, 11:30am at Morgantown Draft

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES!!

DEC 1  Wreath Making and Cookie Exchange at Fred and Denise Minnears

DEC  6  Holiday Shopping and Wine and Cheese Party at Old Stone House

DEC TBA:   Holiday trip to Pittsburgh for shopping and lunch

Fall is here and serves as a reminder to our club members to reach out to new neighbors, colleagues, church members, etc. and tell them about our Newcomers Club.  Our mission is to welcome our neighbors, both native, and recently located to Morgantown, to our Club and to encourage friendships and fellowship through our many activities and groups.

Upcoming Events

Walking Group: 8:30 am every Tuesday and Thursday on local trails

Note: Special Walk on October 5 at Friendship Hill in Point Marion, PA

Golf: 12:15 on Wednesdays

Coffee Hour: Wednesday, October 6 at 10am-Noon, home of Denise Berrebi

Book Club:  Wednesday, October 13 at 10:30 am -12 pm (Discussing the Vanishing Half)

Adventures in Daytime Dining: October 8, 11:30am at Tropics Restaurant

NEW:  Biking Group will meet on Mondays at 9:00am in October on local Mon River Trails. Please check the Calendar for more information.

We hope to see all our members involved in these activities! There are many ways to socialize, and keep yourself active. Don’t be afraid to jump in if you haven’t been active. As Newcomers Members we are committed to promote new friendships while also enjoying what our Morgantown community offers, as well as exploring the surrounding areas.

Denise Berrebi and Ann Siochi

Co-Presidents

President’s Post September 2021

As the days are getting shorter, it reminds us to enjoy the last days of summer while we still have sunny days!

Late summer also brings new families moving in and out of Morgantown, and is a reminder to our club members to reach out to new neighbors, colleagues, church members, etc. and tell them about our Newcomers Club.  Our mission is to welcome our neighbors, both native, and recently located to Morgantown, to our Club and to encourage friendships and fellowship through our many activities and groups.

Concerning the pandemic, the Board agreed that our Club require attendees to events be vaccinated. Masks are optional. We are also closely watching our local and CDC guidelines for updates and will adjust our guidelines as needed.  We also discussed whether events and activities will be held indoors. At this time, we are trying to schedule outdoor venues, but will offer indoor opportunities and Zoom options as well.

Please check the Calendar regularly for events, and RSVP on the website (even for Coffees at this time).  We are always open to new ideas, new interest groups, or special activities for daytime or evenings. Thank-you to all our volunteers that keep our organization going!

Please Welcome our new members!

Wade Grove, moving here from Leland, NC

JoAnna White, moving here from Atlanta, GA

Janet Persaud, moving here from Alexandria VA

Ann Soderberg, moving here from Bridgeport, WV

Upcoming Events

Walking Group: 8:30 am every Tuesday and Thursday on local trails

Golf: 12:15 on Wednesdays

Coffee Hour: Wednesday, Sept 1 at 10:00 am at Terra Café

Book Club:  Wednesday, Sept. 8 at 10:30 am -12 pm

Bunco: Tues, Sept 8 at 1:00 pm

Newcomers Annual Picnic:

Members and families are invited to attend (no fees) for a Barbeque at Coopers Rock State Forest, on September 19 at 1:00 pm at Pavilion 2. Please RSVP as soon as possible and tell us how many are coming.  Raffle prizes will be given, and there will be plenty of food, desserts and beverages!

Biking

 Any interest in a Bike Group? Meet together at Decker’s Creek (across from DMV) and we will bike to the river (approx 2 miles/ 4 + miles total), stop for refreshments at River Birch Café and bike back. DATE: Thursday, September 16 at 9AM. Since this is a trial, RSVP directly to 304 685-1291 (Denise Berrebi). If you are interested but the date doesn’t work out- let me know.  Dust off your bikes, try out your new ebike, enjoy the company!

“Catch it Early” September 25, 2021

The WVU School of Dentistry is having a free oral cancer screening from 9:00am-2:00pm.

For more information visit the WVU School of Dentistry website and go to “Our Calendar”