From Your President

Coming soon to a Probus near you...

Next Meeting: March 18

Pot Luck Lunch at the Legion:March 27Fern Resort Dinner: April 9

Interactive Barbecue at the

Swanmore: June10,11Dining in the Dark: May 24Military Tattoo: Hamilton: June 9

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is sum-mer in the light, and winter in the shade.Charles Dickens

Well folks spring is just around the corner and I can almost hear all the golfers dusting of their clubs antici-pating an early start to the season.

Just recently a few of our Probus members enjoyed a pancake breakfast at Shaw’s Pancake House which is located on Line 14 East. It included a tour of their facilities showing how they process their wonder-ful maple syrup. They are only open for breakfast March thru April during the maple syrup season. If you haven’t been, check it out as it is a real treat.

On that same note our dining and outings commit-tees have wonderful things planned so make sure you check your calendar and plan on attending.

Don’t forget our pot luck lunch at the Legion on March 27.

You will be receiving a survey re the 2014/2015 Rendezvous Conference. It is not necessary for you to reply, but please look it over as I will be asking for your input at our April Probus meeting.

Don Rowsell

You can tell Monopoly is an old game - the banker can still go to jail.

Dining Out:

MAY DINNER

DINING IN THE DARK This dinner is held in Barrie (venue TBA) and all money is a contribution to the CNIB. The date is FRI-DAY, MAY 24th. Details to follow.

FERN RESORT

JUNEInteractive Barbecue at the SwanmoreJune 10 and 11 Details to follow.

Fern Resort has enjoyed a long and varied history. From the first owners in the late 1800's, to the Down-ings today, the Fern Resort name is synonymous with customer service.

"The fun, fine food and hospitality you'll experience at Fern have been developed into a solid tradition by four generations of our family (and there's a fifth generation now growing up at the resort.) We, the Downings and Nelsons, have a genuine concern for the comfort and well-being of our guests. We hope you'll truly enjoy your stay." In 1918, ancestors and founders Jim & Mimi Pettapiece coined the slogan "The Home of Rolls & Honey." Today, rolls made from Jim's recipe, and honey from the same apiary, continue to grace the tables at Fern.

a bit about Fern Resort....

Due to popular request, we are returning to Fern Resort on Tuesday, April 9th.This is a 4 course dinner with choices from the re-sort’s complete menu. We will meet in the bar area at 5:00 pm for drinks and socializing.Dinner will be served at 6:00 pm. Try to come hun-gry. The cost is $40 per person all inclusive.Organizer: Adde Walker

Valentine’s Day Lunch at Swanmore

Violet Healy-Westerby and Peter Kearns,chosen as ‘most romantic couple’ at the luncheon.

Chosen as ‘most raucous’ table!

Valentine’s Day Lunch at Swanmore

Several members drove to Washago after last meeing to see the swans that winter in the northern bay of Lake Couchiching. This bay stays open all winter.

Gayle Carlysle of the Couchiching Conser-vancy had mentioned them during her pre-sentation. We were lucky that a goodly num-ber were there that day; some days there are not so many.

Someone was feeding the swans chunks of bread; this is not good for the swans.Try corn or greens instead.

End your visit with superb coffee and the best sticky bun ever at Canoe in Washago.

Washago SwansOutings March 27: Pot Luck Lunch at the LegionFeaturing music by Three Quarters CountryJust $ 5.00 per person! an idea for your own

outing...

June 9: Military Tattoo in Hamilton incuding bus and buffet lunch: $ 100 approx. We have been promised the best seats in the house.More information to follow.

Organizer for above events: Catherine Carr

Oct 22: “Our Betters” at the Shaw FestivalCost: $ 112 Organizers: David and Sue Mallinson

Annual Lake Country Probus PicnicAug. 21 Chez Bob Burt, who has again offered us his wonderful waterfront home. Thanks, Bob!Details will follow.

Tickets Still Available

from the Editor’s desk.....Publishers and authors are all crying foul. How can they compete against this monolith? Recently, two of Canada’s leading publishing houses, Random House and Penguin, merged. You have to be big to fight big. But it is likely just a sign of the times.

Our booksellers are suffering too, maybe the most. Sadly, we are seeing the demise of the independent bookstore. The kind where they help you find what you want, and make suggestions, and know enough about their stock to answer your questions. They are knowledgeable. Maybe you enjoy a short chat about your book with the owner. They encourage you to browse, and that is how you find that new author. You can pick up a book and scan it, maybe read a few paragraphs to see how you like the writing style. And you walk out of the store with a real book in your hands and no packaging for the garbage. In addition the local store will likely carry and pro-mote Canadian authors from smaller presses, which are disappearing in record numbers. The local store is a part of the community and gives back to it. Try to get a donation from the big box stores.

On Mississauga Street, in one of three heritage build-ings, is my favourite bookstore, Manticore books, which opened in Orillia in1997. It is currently the largest independent bookstore north of Toronto; the others have all gone. Along with the music stores and video stores and travel agents, the early victims of the online craze. I love the wooden floors and the high old tin ceiling. It has a welcoming ambience. The owner, Don Ross, and the other folks there are great and they know books. Some books are a tad pricier, but Manticore too offers a 40% discount on bestsell-ers. One always has to pay a bit more for excellent service. And if you cannot leave your computer alone, visit their online shop.

But how much longer can it last? If you care about books and real bookstores instead of warehouses, I suggest you drop into Manticore. Browse, scan the shelves, see what’s on sale. And feel comfortable walking out without a book under your arm. Except I bet you won’t! You see, we have a trea-sure here in Orillia.

http://www.manticorebooks.ca/

This is about books and who sells them. Like many of you, I am an inveterate reader.

I am never without a book or two on the go. I feel blessed that I am a reader, because reading so en-hances one’s life. Feeling bored? Read a while. Feeling sleepless? Read awhile. Got a long ride? Take your book. Books fit nicely into any life. But are print books a thing of the past? Now there is Kobo and Kindle; quick easy downloads and Bob’s your uncle. I am not a Luddite or anything like that, but I have not yet taken to reading books from a tab-let. I like the feel of a book, the heft, the appearance of a good typeface on fine paper. I like the notion of holding a story in my hands.

I recently had the opportunity to hear Cynthia Good speak; she was president of Penguin for a number of years. She addressed the current state of publishing. There is reason for concern and reason for hope. If one examines the statistics, the sale of reading tab-lets has remained basically static recently; so we are not all flocking to down loads. The market share for these is not expected to grow significantly. A lot of us still love our books!

What is cause for concern is the inroad the major online stores have made into our purchasing pat-terns; we are mainly talking about Amazon. It is now the world’s largest online retailer, having moved into DVDs, CDs, MP3 downloads, software, video games, electronics, apparel, furniture, food, toys, and jew-elry. Now it is into publishing under its own imprint, AmazonEncore and a number more. And into gob-bling up Internet domain names that have anything to do with books. Personally I will not shop with Amazon again. I am not that fond of bullies!

Hold a Story in Your Hands.

Just for fun....,,

Q: How did the Irish Jig get started? A: Too much to drink and not enough restrooms!

Q: What's Irish and stays out all night? A: Paddy O'furniture!

An Irishman, by the name of O’Malley proposed to his girl on St. Patrick’s Day. He gave her a ring with a synthetic diamond. The excited young lass showed it to her father, a jeweller. He took one look at it and saw it wasn’t real.The young lass, on learning it wasn’t real, re-turned to her future husband. She protested vehemently about his cheapness.‘It was in honour of St. Patrick’s Day, ‘he smiled.‘I gave you a sham rock.’

This bulletin board is a venue for you to share your non-Probus activities. Submissions might include advertisements for a function or a personal item. Please send to Liz Stenson at least two weeeks before the next meeting. lstenson@rogers.com

The Bulletin Board

Your Caring Committee sends greeting cards on your behalf to members of our club who are ill or have suffered a loss. Contact the Caring Commit-tee if you are aware of any member who needs this service.Note - if you chose to notify us by email please add under “Subject” - Probus Club, ensuring it will not be deleted. A card was sent to Barbara Crisp after her recent heart surgery and to Bette Snow after her knee sur-gery.

Caring Committee

Carol Ayerst heads up The Caring Committee: 705-326-9936 cjayerst@hotmail.com

MUST WATCH!

Don’t forget...your message could be here.....

Meeting Dates for 2013March 18April 15May 27June 17July 15August 21 (combined with club barbecue)September 16October 21November 18December 16 (followed by Christmas lunch)

Speakers’ Corner March 18: Linda Whiston: Curator of OMAH April 15: Murray Wood and Marcie Flindrill: foot care and Nordic walking May 27: Margaret Hodson et al: Tai Chi

http://youtu.be/nj2ofrX7jAkThis might just make you feel good......