Round Table
Shirley Bethke Mary Carpenter Sandy McIntyre Karen Swanson Sue Logan, Editor		No matter how much you push the envelope, it will still be stationery.
Vol. XXII, No. 47	King's Gate Club - a 55+ community, Nokomis, Florida	November 28, 2009

HEALTHLINE:   After a heart cath on Nov. 11th, Vince Caudy says, "I am feeling much better now but still have some shortness of breath.   So, I have four doctors watching over me.   Thank you for all your prayers and concerns.   I feel I am on the road to better days.   Love you all, Vince"       ---Irene Bette

KGC BOOK CLUB will meet on Monday, Nov. 30 at 1:00 PM, in the Book and Game Room.   Louise Eichenlaub will lead the discussion of "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.   The plot of this novel centers on a group of quirky characters living on the island of Guernsey immediately after World War II and a young female English writer who comes to know them.   Guernsey Island is a part of England, but is located close to France and was occupied by Germany for much of WW II.   The story is told in the form of letters written amongst the various characters.   Come join us!       ---Sandy McIntyre

GREAT LAKES BREAKFAST:   Tues., Dec.1st 8:30 AM, at Anita's Rest., 441 Tamiami Trail, Nokomis.   If you are from Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana or Canada, please join us.   Put your name on the sign up sheet in back of hall, and wear your name tag.       ---Loretta 488-0664 or Dot 480-1544

OHIO CLUB:   All of you Ohioans, join us for some meeting and greeting on Tuesday, December 8, from 3:00-5:00 in the Clubhouse.   We'll have short entertainment and lots of fun, because you are going to bring a wrapped surprise that you find around your house (sometimes called a white elephant).   There will be news of our SUMMER EVENT.   PLEASE BRING:  finger food to share, your own beverage, and your wrapped surprise!   PLEASE SIGN UP.       ---Posie Gallaher 480-1868

NY-NJ CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON will be at Millie's Rest., 3900 Clark Rd. Sarasota, Thursday, Dec. 10th at 1 PM.   Please sign up; wear your name tags.   Hope to see many of you there.  ?? Call Eleanor, 485-9714

NEW ENGLAND BREAKFAST:   To start off the Christmas Season, we will have our first get-together on Friday, December 11, 2009 at 8:15 AM, at Dimitri's Home Style Buffet, 405 US 41 By Pass N, in Venice.   We look forward to seeing our new, New England owners, renters, guests, as well as our long time residents.   Sign up on sheet in the Clubhouse.   Please wear your name tags.   Any questions call Gene and Mickey, at 488-8281.

ENTERTAINMENT:   We have an excellent Christmas Special for all of you.   On Wednesday, December 16, @ 7:30 P.M. we will have two entertainments.   The Venice Isles' Men's Glee Club will sing songs of Christmas and nostalgia.   The second half will feature Jimmy Mazz, a newcomer from the great state of Massachusetts.   He is a vocalist and impersonator and will sing songs from the 50's such as those from Perry Como and the Rat Pack and more.   Come and spend the evening with us, and bring in the Christmas Spirit.   Remember to come early.   The doors will open @ 7:00 P.M.      ---Emil and Shirley DePasquale

ATTENTION - WANNABE GUITAR PLAYERS:   If you are interested in learning to play the guitar, please attend a meeting which will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 9 AM, in the Activities Room.   If you don't have a guitar, we will discuss how to obtain one at that meeting.       ---Ron Carpenter

COMING SOON:   At last Saturday's meeting, retired police chief Art Grams agreed to present an interesting program on scams, property and personal protection while traveling and in your home.   What to do, and not to do, if confronted on a traffic stop or a victim of a mugger, car heist or purse snatching.   Some tragic and amusing experiences will be discussed.   The program will last approximately 30-45 minutes, after the holidays and after the Saturday coffee and business meeting.   Watch for the date after the first of the year.       ---Dot Grams

REQUEST TO RESIDENTS:   When you arrive back to KGC, please register in at the office.   They will not have to send mail from the Club to your northern office.

ORCHIDS:   To Charlie Fote for stepping forward to chair the Christmas Dinner at the Club.

KGC STAFF is as follows:   Charles Clotfelter, General Manager; Michele Rachal, Office Manager; Bob Mains, Head of Maintenance; Bill Nagle, Maintenance; Beverly Gulsby, Landscape and Custodial.   They all work hard to make Kings Gate Club such a wonderful place to live.   We do appreciate their work!

PLEASE WEAR YOUR NAME TAG TO ALL CLUB FUNCTIONS!!!

CLOTHE-A-CHILD:   Many of you do not know that this Club charity started many years ago.   At that time, money was collected and disbursed to children in need at Christmas.   As time went on, those in charge realized that many organizations donated during the holidays and the need was far greater as school started.   Having good clothes is a great benefit to the children as they start school.   And, of course, having the needed school supplies is great for them, too.   Thanks to ALL who have contributed to this project!   Cheryl Patricca, 2009 Chair, has written the following article - and I think it will bring tears to your eyes.       ---Shirley Bethke

CLOTHE-A-CHILD 2009:   This year the Clothe-A-Child Committee was able to purchase school supplies for 12 children and clothe 10 children through the contributions of Kings Gate Club residents and the Round Table.   We work with children attending Laurel Nokomis Elementary School.   Efforts are coordinated with the school guidance counselor, Lauren Maturo, using recommendations from teachers and children who qualified for free and reduced rate lunches at the school.   A list is compiled of several families.   At this time, the guidance counselor calls the parents and/or guardians to offer this help.   This is done to prevent embarrassment on the part of the family, and to legitimize our offer of clothing the children and permitting the committee to pick up the children and take them from their home without parent supervision for a day of shopping.
      Laurel School publishes a school supply list for each of the grades, and each of the teachers.   In addition, there is a wish list for the teachers.   With this list in hand, Cheryl Patricca, the Committee Chairperson, makes the second contact with the family in August and sets a date to pick up the child, take them shopping and out to lunch.   On this committee and assisting with the daunting task of shopping for children we have never met before are Claire Becker and Judy Auerbach.   The first stop on our long days is usually Walmart.   Each child is given his/her own basket and with our supervision is permitted to select everything on the list.   For the children, this is exciting.   From pencils with separate colored erasers to hand sanitizer, they make their choices from what seems like an endless list.
      Once the supplies are purchased, we have goals for each child to purchase:  new shoes, underwear, sock and 7 outfits.   Depending on the age of the child, most of these items are bought at Walmart, JC Penney's, Sears, TJ Maxx, Target and Bealls Outlets or Clearance Center.   This year we clothed more children than in the past with the assistance of the Clearance Center.   They were going to a have a 40% off on clothes that were already marked 70% off, days after we were shopping with the children.   They informed us of this opportunity, and we made arrangements to have the children select the clothes, and then returned to get the purchase with the additional discount.
      Our children this year ranged between Grade 3 and Grade 8.   Two children were living in a foster home and on the day we were to pick them up, they were moved to a safe house because their mother, a drug addict, was attempting to capture them and remove them from the safe environment, where they had been placed.   She had been abusing them.   She was arrested and is presently in jail.   Three children lived in a home that I can only describe as beyond disgusting.   Their father had just recently been released from jail and cannot find work.   The mother was so happy with the help, it made us cry that we could not do more.   Without exception, every parent, every year has been greatly appreciative of the opportunity you at Kings Gate Club have afforded their child.   You do not get to personally see this appreciation, but as your liaison, we do.   Your contributions go a long way in helping these children to have a good school year.   Starting the year with new clothes and the supplies that everyone else has, provides the child with a sense of equality and propels the student toward success.   The guidance counselor gives us follow-up on the children's success.   We have seen strides from lower grades to higher grades with children we have helped.
      This year, as in the past, we will be taking up two collections.   Thank you.       ---Cheryl Patricca

HAPPY BIRTHDAY wishes to these King's Gaters with early December birthdays:
December 3      Sue Fitzgerald
December 6      Lee Ickes
December 8      Shirley DePasquale
December 11    Marcia Nolin

SHUFFLEBOARD STANDINGS……… Monday, November 23, 2009

BOWLING - Tuesday November 24, 2009

TRAVEL:   PLEASE NOTE NEXT WEEK....DEC. 7TH, 2009, ALL JANUARY SHOWS SHOULD BE PAID…  IF YOU CAN'T MAKE THE SHOWS YOU HAVE SIGNED UP FOR PLEASE LET ME KNOW...AS WE HAVE WAIT LISTS FOR THE JANUARY SHOWS.
                             THANK YOU.

JANUARY 3rd, 2010 - Murder-Mystery Train Ride, leaving approx. 3:00 PM.   Enjoy Two Guys, Two Girls, a train and a Killer Act!   Journey back to the late 1940's, the Golden Era of Railroads and the dawn of lounge acts, for an evening of fun food, and of course, MURDER.   $78 includes round trip transportation, driver's tip and food gratuity.     JOIN US FOR FUN ADVENTURE.   Wait Listed
January 12, 2010 - George M.   An evening show, leaving at 4 PM.   Wait Listed.  $65.00
January 14, 2010 - Hard Rock Casino, $25.00  Sign up now.
January 24, 2010 - Sunday, leaving at l0 AM.   George M.  Wait listed.  $64.00
March 7, 2010 - Sunday, The King and I.   Wait listed.  $64.00
March 18, 2010 - Silver Foxes
March 26, 2010 - Sailor Circus
April 18, 2010 - Ring of Fire.   Wait Listed.   $64.00
Dec. 19-20th, 2009 - Christmas in Ocala.   This is an overnight; something new this year to get you in the holiday spirit.   We will spend the day at Silver Springs; then if you want to rest in the afternoon, the bus will return you to the hotel.   In the evening, we will return to Silver Springs for a wonderful turkey dinner, and view the festival of lights.   Sunday AM, we will have breakfast at Arthur's, in the hotel, go the Carriage Museum and stop at Russell Stover's outlet on the return.   $199.00 per person, based on double occupancy.   Pick up a flyer today and make your reservations; need a count for hotel reservations soon.
    There will be a Mel Tillis concert, with his daughter Pam, called "A Tillis family Christmas" that is included in your trip, but if you want reserved seats they are an additional $15 for VIP seating. We still have room, if you would like to join us!
Oasis of the Sea: Our cruise is Feb.20-27th, 2010; there are still a few rooms available.   After seeing this wonderful ship, I am sure you might want to join us.   If so, please contact VIP World Travel as soon as possible.   l-800-323-7448 or 941-377-0017
     All shows are posted, so check to see if you have signed up for something.   Thank you.   Any questions regarding travel, we will try and help you.
DON & MARY LOU RICHMOND, Travel Coordinators; JOHN & SANDY EADE, Travel Partners

THOUGHTS:   Thanks to Rich Davis and Bob Curtis for getting the outdoor decorations "up and running."   They are just beautiful and really put one in the holiday spirit.   Also makes me realize there is a lot of work to do in the next few weeks to get ready for Christmas.   But what a wonderful season of the year!      ---SJB

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