I want to be the first to welcome our Membership to another great year for Estes Park Newcomers. This is my first communication to as your President for the 2020 / 2021 year and I hope this finds everyone safe and healthy.
The 2020 New Year came in and presented us with challenges that we have never faced before in the history of our Club. Over the past several months, we have experienced an unprecedented shift in our way of life due to COVID-19. We have reluctantly let go of the normal we are accustomed to and are now trying to define what the new norm will be. These uncertain times have touched many of our lives and redirected our focus to those things we can no longer do. Like many of you, I miss our social gatherings and connecting with fellow Newcomers.
In the words of John R. Wooden “Do not let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do”. I embrace his philosophy and want to share with our Membership the gift of finding “Joy” in our current situation. Over the course of the last month, the Board has been working behind the scenes to explore opportunities to reconnect and re-energize our Membership. We have been monitoring State and County requirements and recommendations for group gatherings and are pleased to offer our Membership activities that meet these guidelines while maintaining social distancing and keeping our Members safe. Please check our “What’s Going On” Section for our new activities for the year!
The Board will continue to seek new and innovative ideas to keep our Membership connected as we navigate through these difficult times. Collectively we can provide support to one another and our Community by exploring avenues to overcome the obstacles we face. Recently the Club organized and sponsored an online sale for the Trail Ridge Quilters so that they could continue their mission in supporting the Estes Park Health Foundation. The online sale replaced their annual Spring fundraising event, which was cancelled due restrictions imposed by COVID-19. This was a huge success and exemplifies what can be accomplished when we work together
Now, more than ever we need each other. This is an important time of the year for the Club where we ask our membership’s support in renewing for the upcoming year. Please consider supporting this great community tradition in these difficult times by renewing your Membership and joining us for another Great Year.
As a reminder the Club is extending the opportunity to provide an additional year of eligibility.
Debbi Stalder
President
https://www.estesparknewcomers.org/quilts
Shop 'til you drop at the first ever Trail Ridge Quilters and Estes Valley Quilt Guild online sale. With over 300 handmade items available, you are sure to find something for your home or the perfect gift. Items include quilts, baby blankets, masks, table runners, napkins, pot holders and more. All items were crafted locally by members of Trail Ridge Quilters and the Estes Valley Quilt Guild.
Proceeds go to support the Estes Valley Health Foundation and will be used to provide additional services and purchase new equipment. On the shopping site, you can also make a donation to Estes Park Health.
We thank you for your support of our local quilters and our local hospital.
I hope this finds all of you in good health with everything concerning the Coronavirus. Estes Park is slowly beginning to open but it will take a long time to get back where it was in summer of 2019.
The 2019/2020 Newcomers year is complete. What a year! We had a record number of members join Newcomers and participate in activities. Attendance at our regular monthly events exceeded the previous year. All of these signs point to a healthy and growing organization.
I want to thank all the Interest Groups leaders and Board members for their many contributions during the year. Also, a special thanks to all members for participating in the activities. Together we are a great team for Newcomers and Estes Park.
We were thrown a huge curveball called the Coronavirus. Our Interest Group leaders and our Board stepped up immediately and suspended all in person activities scheduled for March and April. As conditions worsened, we cancelled all in person activities for the remainder of the 2019/20 fiscal year. Showing our resilience and spirit of community, several interest groups began using Zoom to continue there activities. Your board continued forward using Zoom for all their meetings. We have excelled at using the tools available to keep us in touch.
Since our move to Estes Park, my calendar has never been more open. It has made me realize how much Newcomers really means to us. Almost all our friends and activities are from Newcomers. We miss the interaction with all the people and the events where we always have such a great time.
I know Deb Stalder and her team are already planning for the 2020/21 year. Lots of events have been planned in the hope we can return to some level of normal. Please have a great summer and I look forward to seeing everyone at next years events.
A committee has been formed to provide members with updates regarding Club activities and group gatherings. This committee will monitor the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as State, Federal and Local governments regarding social gatherings, and then report their findings to the Board. The Board will act upon recommendations of the committee to make a determination as to when it is appropriate to lift suspension of Club-sponsored activities, as well as necessary measures to keep our members safe.
In a creative approach to help members engage with each other during this time of social distancing, a number of Interest Groups have been participating in activities online using Zoom technology. Meeting virtually has been a great success, and we encourage everyone to join in and stay connected. More to come on how you can join and participate in virtual Club-sanctioned activities.
We are all in this together, and the Board encourages members to reach out and stay connected during this very challenging time.
Last April, we updated our membership about the amazing efforts of Trail Ridge Quilters, Estes Valley Quilt Guild, and other Estes Valley residents to help our local first responders. These dedicated residents delivered over 300 cotton surgical masks and 75 gowns to the staff of Estes Park Health in a matter of days!
Around that time, it was decided by our Town administration that the 2020 Wool Market event scheduled for June would be cancelled. For the past few years, Trail Ridge Quilters has been a vendor at the Wool Market to sell their many products with the proceeds given to the Estes Park Health Foundation. The cancellation of this event meant that a regular big donation to our local medical facility would not happen.
The Newcomers Board got together and brainstormed ideas that could support all the hard work of Trail Ridge Quilters and find a way to raise money for EPH at a critical time in our community. The idea that was presented and took hold was to turn the regular June sale into an online event! Currently, many members are working to build the online site that will feature (at last count) over 300 different items made by active Newcomers and alumni. The event is targeted for June 18th when the sale will be open only to members of our organization. After that, residents and visitors to Estes Park will be able to shop the site.
Be on the lookout for more communication for this first ever online Newcomers event supporting our members, one of our oldest Interest Groups, and our community.
About Trail Ridge Quilters:
Trail Ridge Quilters, an Interest Group sponsored by Newcomers, has been sewing and serving our community for over 30 years. Central to the group is their mission to support the Estes Park Health Foundation. TRQ conducts 3-4 sales each year, with the proceeds going to support the Foundation. Over the years, these quilt sales have raised over $260,000 for the EPH Foundation. These gifts have been used to upgrade services and much needed equipment to serve the health needs of those in our community.
In normal times, TRQ meets each Tuesday, 1:00-4:00pm, in the Longs Room at Estes Park Health. If you would like to learn more or join this vibrant group of amazingly talented artists, please reach out to Quilters@estesparknewcomers.org.
nBehind every fun activity in Newcomers is a dedicated member who has taken an active role to make sure all our members get the most our of our organization. In many ways, our Interest Groups are the mortar of Newcomers that bind us together. Interest Groups are where deep friendships are formed, where we share our common passions and where new members connect with our organization.
Each year, we invite members to lead one of our Interest Groups. Maybe it is a group they have joined and enjoyed or maybe our members lead a group where they have an interest but little experience. There are two Interest Groups that are in need of a leader for the 2020/21 fiscal year: Walk and Talk the Lake and Mah Jongg.
Walk and Talk the Lake is one of our oldest Interest Groups. Meeting on the second Tuesday of the month during the May-September period, this group is for members who want to get outside, enjoy one of our town's greatest resources, and take an easy stroll while visiting with other members.
Our Mah Jongg Interest Group meets throughout the year usually on the third Wednesday of each month. This ancient strategy game has been played for centuries and is enjoyed throughout the world. Like all of our groups, the conversations are lively and the experience is fun for all who participate.
If you would like to lead one of these two groups, please contact Caity Leeds at cwleeds402@gmail.com. All the information you will need has been organized to ensure a smooth transition. Caity and mamny other members are available to assist as well and answer any questions.
Congratulations to the 2020/21 Newcomers Board. Starting in July, the newly elected members will be:
- President: Debbi Stalder
- Treasurer: Donna Chapel
- Assistant Treasurer: Paul Drouin
- Secretary: Sue Yowell
- VP Activities: Caity Leeds
- VP Events: Jean Rissmiller
- VP Membership: Melissa Wood
- VP Communications: Matt Comstock
- VP Technology: Jeff Lindberg
BREAKING NEWS
The Mission of Newcomers is to provide the opportunity for residents of Estes Valley to form life-long friendships and learn more about our mountain community. Fulfilling that mission has been a challenge recently, with restrictions both mandated and self-imposed. The Board recognizes that even with virtual meetings, emails and video chats, Newcomers can do more.
To that end, yesterday the Board unanimously approved to allow EVERY ACTIVE MEMBER of Newcomers the opportunity to EXTEND THEIR MEMBERSHIP FOR ONE YEAR. This decision applies to all 2020-2024 active members. As an example, if you are currently a member of the 2022 class you will now be in the 2023 class.
At the start of our next fiscal year this July, you will be prompted to renew your membership and retain your active status (annual dues are expected to remain at $30). We hope this comes as welcome news to all our members and look forward to getting back together, all of us, in the near future.
No one can predict how long and how deeply our lives will be impacted by the global health pandemic. We encourage you to stay active when you can and stay connected with your friends and classmates. When this crisis has passed, you can look forward to a Newcomers “party of all parties.”
Voting for the new Board of Directors is officially open. We encourage all members to log into the website and vote for the Newcomers 2020/2021 leadership team. The voting window lasts through 4/23.
In the past, the nominations and elections are held in person during the April General Meeting. Since all April events have been cancelled, the election process has shifted to online voting.
To submit your vote, please follow these steps:
- Click here to go to the online voting platform
- Sign in to your Newcomers account by entering your email address and password. Each household is limited to one vote.
- Indicate your vote (Yes or No) where the form states "Vote to approve slate of nominees."
- Select #1 in the drop down
- Click the “Vote Now” button
Instructions can also be found on the voting page.
As a reminder, the slate of nominees is as follows:
- President: Debbi Stalder
- Treasurer: Donna Chapel
- Assistant Treasurer: Paul Drouin
- Secretary: Sue Yowell
- VP Activities: Caity Leeds
- VP Events: Jean Rissmiller
- VP Membership: Melissa Wood
- VP Communications: Matt Comstock
- VP Technology: Jeff Lindberg
We thank you in advance for your participation and flexibility as the Board continues to manage our normal operations during this self-isolation period.
If you encounter issues, please contact tech@estesparknewcomers.org.
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