If you've been wondering what exactly is a Pung, Kong, Quint, Wind or Dragon, look no further than our very own Newcomers Mah-jongg Interest Group! This game, played across the globe, dates back over 500 years. Originally Mah-jongg was called “Sparrow,” as the shuffling of tiles sound like birds chattering.
We are a lively group that enjoys a game of Mah-jongg at 1:30pm on the third Wednesday of each month at the US Bank building (363 East Elkhorn). It's a great opportunity to catch up with other Newcomers while learning to play or honing your skills as a seasoned player. We welcome all levels, whether you are new to the game or have played for years (or somewhere in-between). Feel free to come just to watch!
Click here to learn more or contact Margaret Greene at MahJongg@estesparknewcomers.org
The Year 2020 marks a new decade on the calendar and the fifth decade since Newcomers was officially started in Estes Park. A new year or a new decade always brings hope for the positive things to come. For Newcomers, it means carrying on our traditions of welcoming new members and creating lifelong friendships.
We as a Newcomers organization enjoyed a fantastic 2019! Membership has grown organically, and the organization is thriving, prompting us to use some new and larger venues for the Monthly Meeting. Our member renewal rate across all classes exceeds 80%, including year one and two members. If you know of new families moving to Estes Park, please spread the message about Newcomers – it is the number one way we attract new members. There is no better way to make new friends and discover Estes Park than with the Newcomers Club!
The remainder of the Newcomers 2019-2020 calendar year offers many exciting things to do and see. Please continue to follow Bugle Notes and our website. I look forward to seeing you at the Monthly Meeting, at an Interest Group gathering, or maybe for breakfast.
Thank you,
Danny Gigax
The following people have just joined the class of 2024:
- Kelly and Cindy Miller
- Monte and Janie Bowthorpe
- Chuck and Sue Cooper
- Deborah Spurling
- Stephen and Lori McCrane
Welcome to the Club!
When old man winter rears his head, who doesn't love sitting in front of the fire with a good book? Do you love stories that transport you to far away lands, make you solve the case or leave you with heart pounding suspense?
If this sounds like you, The Afternoon Delights book club is the perfect interest group to share your passion for reading with other Newcomers. This group is all about having fun! The reading selection will focus on books that some may consider “guilty pleasures.” Topics such as romance, mystery, suspense, or possibly even horror are all on the reading menu.
Afternoon Delights will meet on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 4:30 p.m. Lisa Fulton is the book club leader. Your can sign up using the button below, or contact the book club coordinator at BookClubs@estesparknewcomers.org for more information.
Estes Park is well known for our population of elk, deer and mountain sheep. But maybe you did not know that our town also offers an amazing, high elevation habitat for over 250 species of birds. As Newcomers, we are always looking for another reason to get outside and enjoy the beauty of Estes Park. So, we are happy to announce our newest interest group: Newcomer Tweeters.
Newcomer Tweeters will be led by Marlene Bruning who has 20 years of experience working in birding at a retail shop in Boulder. As part of her employment. Marlene led bird watching tours and helped people solve problems for their home bird feeders.
The goal of the group is to teach members about the many bird species in the Estes Park area. The group will primarily meet at the bird sanctuary section of the Estes Park Lake trail for approximately eight months of the year. The remaining months, we will likely meet on various easy trails in Rocky Mountain National Park. This is intended to be a low impact, easy walking group with no strenuous hiking required. This fun and educational group will meet year-round on the 4th Friday of every month.
Sign up here for Newcomer Tweeters. For more information, email BirdWatching@estesparknewcomers.org.
Remember, Newcomers is on Facebook! Be sure to check out the Newcomers Facebook group, and request to join the group. Then you can keep up with everything going on, post some photos and share things with your friends. It is updated frequently and shows both current and future events. Check it out and leave a post!
Southeast Asia was the fascinating topic of the presentation at the October 2019 gathering of the Travel Club. Members Karen and Jim Daugherty, with Kathy and Don Bryson, spoke and showed splendid photos of their joint travels lasting 31 days to Myanmar, Hong Kong, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
They particularly enjoyed engaging with the local culture and villagers. Karen said, “One memorable day in Luang Prabang, Laos, we biked on a scenic peninsula, joined in the traditional alms giving to Buddhist monks, then took a boat ride to a small village where they mixed seaweed with spices and dried it on bamboo sheets, making a treat sold in the markets.”
They climbed to the “roof of Indo China,” Fan Si Pan, the highest point in Vietnam. South of Hanoi they were invited to tea—impromptu—by a villager who had been a Viet Cong soldier and said that war was in the past, and he welcomed the Americans as friends.
Karen said that the Grand Palace, the opulent former home of the king of Siam in Bangkok, Thailand, “knocks your socks off” with all the gold leaf applied to the buildings—even to the statues of demons guarding the gates!
The travelers told of a moving experience, watching the sun rise on Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia and reflecting on the thousands of years people had come to see the sun rise at the same spot. It was an excellent and enjoyable evening for the Travel Club!
In the Newcomers Travel Club, members share their adventurous stories and photos from various trips they’ve taken, both domestic and abroad. You will learn valuable travel tips while enjoying the experiences of your fellow newcomers. The Travel Club typically meets the 3rd Monday of each month (from September to May) at 6:30 p.m. in the Hondius Room at the Estes Park Library. For more information, please contact Ann Wise (225-802-1650) or Jean Van Winkle (515-480-0453) or by email at Travel@estesparknewcomers.org.
I hope everyone had a great fall with the turning of the leaves and elk rut. Fall is always a treat in the Colorado Rockies and Estes Park. The holiday season will be here before we know it, and Newcomers has three main community outreach activities – Trail Ridge Quilters, Crossroads Ministry, and “We Believe in Estes Park.” Each of these efforts supports residents in the Estes Valley.
Trial Ridge Quilters is a special interest group started over 30 years ago. Members share a love of quilting and meet weekly to create hand-crafted items that are sold to the public, with all proceeds going to the Estes Park Health Foundation to directly benefit patient care.
Newcomers partners with Crossroads Ministry to gather canned food and boxed goods for distribution to Estes Valley families, so that they can prepare a hearty holiday meal. Crossroads has indicated that they need the following items for this holiday season. Select from the list below, and bring your donation to the November Wine & Cheese or the November Monthly Meeting. Please be generous, so that the less fortunate can enjoy a wonderful holiday meal.
- Canned cranberry sauce
- Stuffing mix (preferred boxed where you just add water/butter)
- French fried onions
- Cream of mushroom soup
- Turkey gravy mix - pouches or canned
- Instant mashed potatoes
- Apple sauce
- Canned fruit (pineapple preferred ~ however any fruit is acceptable)
- Cake mixes
- Cookie mixes
- Bread mixes
- Jiffy corn bread mix
“We Believe in Estes Park” delivers a Santa Claus experience all over town during the holiday season. Each event includes an appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with elves, toy soldiers and North Pole creations to create a classic holiday experience. Please think about being an elf or a toy soldier – it is a blast – voice of experience. I am the largest elf, really.
“We Believe” is successful because of Newcomers volunteers, and it is a great way to bring joy to lots of small children and adults during the holidays. We need as many people as possible to be in the Catch the Glow parade. Ask any volunteer from last year – we had so much fun! The Newcomers group will march in front of the Santa and Mrs. Claus float. Let’s try to have over 50 Newcomers this year!
Barb Prentiss and her group are planning Santa Claus activities from November 23rd through December 14th. Newcomers partners with the Town of Estes Park, the Police and their Auxiliary, Estes Valley Community Center, Estes Valley Library, American Legion Post 119, Estes Park Lion’s Club, and the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District. Please go to the Newcomers website to volunteer – you’ll meet lots of new people and have a ton of fun!
Sincerely,
Danny Gigax
President
We have kicked off our "We Believe in Estes Park" community outreach program for the holidays and invite you to volunteer and join in the festivities! It's a lot of fun, you get to meet many people from the community, and we raise funds for local non-profits that support our wonderful town. A list of all events and activities is available on the website. Links to the volunteer form are on the website or you can sign up by clicking on the link below.
If you have questions, feel free to contact us at WeBelieve@EstesParkNewcomers.org. Thank you, Santa and the "We Believe" Planning Team |
2019 "We Believe" Volunteer Sign-up |
Please sign up for as many events and roles that are of interest to you. We welcome all participants and will be in touch to confirm your event(s) and share more details as the dates come closer. |