Sarasota, Florida December 2017 President s Message Well, here we are, the last month of the year, December! We all will soon be making preparations for the closing and then the welcoming of yet another year! I really want to say how much I have appreciated representing you all, not only as chapter members, but also within the Sarasota LGBTQ community and while attending our Prime Timers Worldwide convention, which was held in Chicago this year. I can truly say that this rates as one of my greatest experiences I have had in my life. I appreciate and THANK YOU for having the opportunity to serve you and our chapter! This year was really difficult for me because during my first three months as your President, I experienced the loss of some of our members as they transitioned from life as we know it to where they are now. May their memories live on! By the way... have you viewed our website using the tab "Member Resources and then "In Memoriam" to honor our past members? Next month you will all be able to participate in the nomination and selection of the 2018 Members at Large. At this time, I really want to give out a great big thank you for the support, guidance and willingness of our 2017 Board in their establishing a good foundation for the future of our Chapter! I personally would like to thank Jack, John, Ron, Paul, and also the spirit of Rand B. for your dedication and commitment towards these results! Job well done! And the best part about it, we learned much of each other and I even got to experience and enjoy some new eating places in the Bradenton Area! Yes, we Prime Timers sure like to eat! So, at this time, I would like to wish you all a healthy, safe and happy New Year. In Fellowship Chris IN THIS ISSUE Page 1 President s Message Page 2 Your Board of Directors / Committee Chairs Page 3 Volunteers Needed / December Birthdays Page 4 Board & Committee Nominations! Page 5 Calendar of Events Page 7 Writing the Best Bios Page 8 We ve Been Keeping Busy November Picnic Page 10 North Lunch: Muse Page 11 Prime Timers Sarasota Holiday Party Page 12 Other Activities to Do Page 13 2018 Cruise Page 14 Classifieds Page 15 Men s HIV+ Discussion Group/All Faith Food Bank Page 16 Official Newsletter Information 1
P.O. Box 1411 Sarasota, FL 34230-1411 941 556-1344 primetimerssarasota @gmail.com primetimersww.com/sarasota 2017 BOARD of DIRECTORS President Chris Harris Vice-President Jack Stewart Secretary Vacant Treasurer John Mickelbank Member-at-Large Paul Spires COMMITTEES COMCOM (Communications) Chair (Vacant) President Chris Harris Website Chris Harris & (Vacant) Newsletter Steve Horowitz Google Accounts Chris Harris & (Vacant) Facebook Bill Patton Voice Mailbox Chris Harris U.S.P.S Mail Box John Mickelbank EVENTS Jack Stewart Potluck Bill Patton South Lunch Dale Curtsinger North Lunch Dan Warren Monthly Speakers Chris Harris Planning (biannual) Jack Stewart & Steve Horowitz HOSPITALITY FOOD BANK Vacant Dale Moore MEMBERSHIP Chair (Vacant) President - Chris Harris 2
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! C mon Guys! We need YOUR help! Please get involved with one or more of these activities or we won t succeed as a Chapter! Board of Directors 3-5 at large positions. Contact Chris Harris. Provide refreshments for 2018 Membership Meetings. Please contact Chris Harris. Pot Luck supper set-up and/or clean-up. Contact Jack Stewart. Members for Biographies ( Member Memories ). Contact Steve Horowitz. DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS Bill Enslen 2 Gary Davis 3 David Farris 7 Donn Smith 7 Ron Polley 10 Carl S. Meyer 19 Jim Nichol 19 Ronald Luongo 20 Edward Hurley 21 Jerry Gulley 25 Michael Carone 26 Steven Rowe 29 3
Members at Large Nominations and Committee Members 2018 Projection (November 29, 2017) Members At Large Current Harris, Chris Class of 2017 Spires, Paul Class of 2017 Nominated Candidates for 2018 (Members at Large) Horowitz, Steve Stewart, Jack OPEN OPEN OPEN COMMITTEES (Volunteered members) COMCOM (Communications) Chair Vacant President * TBD Website (2) Vacant & Chris Harris Newsletter Steve Horowitz Google Accounts (2) Vacant & Chris Harris Facebook Bill Patton Voice Mailbox President TBD U.S.P.S Mail Box Treasurer TBD EVENTS Chair Vacant Potluck Bill Patton South Lunch Dale Curtsinger North Lunch Dan Warren Monthly Speakers Vacant Planning (biannual) Vacant & Steve Horowitz HOSPITALITY Vacant FOOD BANK Dale Moore MEMBERSHIP Chair Vacant President * TBD Note: * ex-officio position 4
calendar of events (PLEASE RESPOND TO INDIVIDUAL E-MAIL ADDRESSES BELOW.) QUESTIONS? E-mail Jack Stewart, jackbellstewart9@gmai l.com OR call 941-993-1193) MONTHLY POTLUCK DINNERS: First Saturday (NOTE: POTLUCK FOR DECEMBER IS CANCELLED due to the Holiday Party on December 10 th.) BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS: Second Wednesday, (December 13 th ), 10:30 a.m. at Trinity MCC, on Lockwood Ridge Rd. All welcome. WE ARE LOOKING FOR CANDIDATES FOR NEXT YEAR'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS! We currently have five members. Two members are at the end of their terms. We need your participation if the organization is to remain active and healthy. NORTH LUNCH: Second Thursday, (December 14 th ), 1:00 PM at Duff's Original Buffet located at 6010 14th Street West (US41/Tamiami Trail), at the corner of 60th Avenue in Bradenton. Enter via the entrance to the Target/Publix center off US 41 or from the side entrance on 60th Avenue. The restaurant is one of the last of the old-style American buffets and features a huge selection of salads, sides, entrees (including some of the best fried chicken around), and desserts. The price is $8.65 (plus beverage other than water). RSVP/Reservations: Dan Warren at danwarren@earthlink.net or call (941) 359-2526. SOUTH LUNCH: is cancelled for December due to the Christmas holiday. HAMBURGER NIGHTS at the Purple Rhino Lodge: Fourth Wednesday, (December 27 th ), 6:00 p.m. $5.00 for hamburger ($7.50 for cheeseburger with fries/potato salad/onion rings). Chicken / veggie now available. MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS: Fourth Sunday (NOTE: Rescheduled to December 3 rd.), 3:00 p.m. at Trinity MCC, Lockwood Ridge (Lazy Lobster afterwards.) 5
PRIME TIMERS CARD CLUB (PTCC): Poker Wednesday, December 27 th at 3:00 p.m. For more information, contact Chris Harris at ntlcharris@gmail.com. Purple Rhino after. DECEMBER Additional Events CAN AIDS WALK: Saturday, December 2 nd. Meet in J. D. Hamel Park, walking over the Ringling Bridge. 8:00 a.m. registration. Walk from 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. Go to www.cccsrq.org/aids-walk/ for more information. HOLIDAY PARTY: Sunday, December 10, 2017 at SaraBay Club. See page 11 for more information. THEATRE: The 1940s Radio Hour Players Center Wednesday, December 13th. Join other Prime Timers! Call the Box office for tickets. Check out our calendar at primetimersww.com/sarasota LOOKING AHEAD (Other scheduled events December through April.) WINTER CARIBBEAN CRUISE: Key West, Costa Maya, Cozumel, Georgetown on Celebrity s Silhouette from January 7 14, 2018. Sponsored by Prime Timers Worldwide. See more information on page 13 in the newsletter. GAME NIGHT: January 20, 2018, 7:00 p.m. Board games and card games at the home of Steve Horowitz & Dale Moore. RSVP to be announced. GIRAFFE RANCH: (Dade City, FL) Wednesday, February 7, 2018. Cost is $99. At Giraffe Ranch, you'll experience first-hand, the lives of giraffe and other species from around the world. The animals live under huge live oaks and open grasslands in a setting that is right out of Africa. Learn about exotic animals from an expert guide from the comfort of specially designed 4-wheel drive vehicles. TOUR INCLUDES: R/T Transportation, All Around Tours, Admission to Giraffe Ranch with guided riding tour, Lunch at Limoges. Morning departure, Evening return. RSVP and Transportation details TBD. 6
BOK IN BLOOM: (Lake Wales, FL) Tuesday, March 13, 2018. Cost is $65. Join us as we travel to Bok Tower and Gardens in beautiful Lake Wales, FL for Bok in Bloom. Hundreds of azaleas, camellias and other flowers create a living bouquet with spectacular bursts of color during seasonal blooms throughout the gardens. We will have a guided tour of the gardens. Looking up at the 205- foot neo-gothic and art deco Singing Tower carillon will be an experience like no other. TOUR INCLUDES: R/T Transportation, All Around Tours, Guided Tour, Boxed Lunch. RSVP and Transportation details TBD. HOME NIGHT: COFFEE KLATCH, GAME NIGHT OR MOVIE NIGHT: April, 2018 (TBD). RSVP and LOCATION TBD at a member s home. MARINA JACK LUNCHEON CRUISE: $36.95 Sightseeing and lunch aboard the air-conditioned Marina Jack II, and tour around Sarasota Bay. Date TBD. HENRY PLANT MUSEUM: (Tampa) $7 admission (seniors) (Date TBD - maybe May 2018) MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS: (St. Petersburg) $15 senior. (Date TBD) Special Exhibit TBD. CLASSIC CAR MUSEUM: (Sarasota) $10.85 senior. (Date TBD). QUESTIONS COMMENTS SUGGESTIONS COMPLAINTS... Jack Stewart, Events Chairman, jackbellstewart9@gmail.com or 941 993-1193 OTHER EVENTS: There are other events that are not sponsored by Prime Timers Sarasota. These events may be advertised in our Newsletter or announced at meetings. WRITING THE BEST BIOS ( MEMBER MEMORIES ): LET US DO THE WORK FOR YOU! Because writing an autobiography can be intimidating and time-consuming, we have decided that the best way to learn about members is to interview them and we will compose a biography for your review. You don t have to answer any questions with which you aren t comfortable. This way, it shouldn t take more than 30-60 minutes depending on how much fun we are having. You can either volunteer by contacting Steve Horowitz, Editor, or I will ask people from the membership and arrange a mutually convenient time for the interview. I think you will enjoy the process. 7
If you know of any organization or individual who potentially would be a good speaker for a Membership meeting, please contact Chris Harris. WE VE BEEN KEEPING BUSY! NOVEMBER PICNIC 8
9
NORTH LUNCH: MUSE 10
OTHER ACTIVITIES TO DO A member within our Chapter would like to get together and start a group interested in playing Mexican Train Dominoes. The thought would be to play perhaps every other week on a Monday or Thursday so as not to conflict with other Chapter activities. This would depend on what would be most convenient for the group. He has offered his place (in Sarasota) to host and to get it started and then the group can take it from there. He can accommodate six players and thinks that by having it in the afternoon around 2:00 or 3:00 p.m., it would not conflict with lunch schedules or perhaps at another time, such as in the evening around 6:00 p.m. If you are interested in playing, please e-mail him and express your interest in participating at larryslamirada@gmail.com Three plays - Special Price of $20.00 per show. Total cost = $65.00 (3 shows @$20 & $5 handling fee) PT Sarasota Theatre Group The Players Theatre 2018 Spring Series Singin in the Rain -- January 24 th Bullets Over Broadway -- February 28 th Funny Girl -- April 4 th Box Office: 941-365-2494 When you call, mention Prime Timers. Current members are seated in the following seats. Ask to sit with us. B9, 10, 11, 12; C10, 11, 12, 13; and D12, 13, 14. For more information, contact Dick Walker at dickrwalker@aol.com or 508-282-7711. 11
LAW OFFICES OF DANIEL M. PLONSKY, P.L. DANIEL M. PLONSKY, ESQ. (FBN: 0677027) 935 North Beneva Road, Suite 607, Sarasota FL 34232 O: (941) 552-1282 F: (941) 893-3069 www.sarasotalawoffice.com 12
In November, there were $156 Prime Timers Sarasota donations to the All Faiths Food Bank equal to $780 (5:1 ratio). Please continue with your generous contributions at Membership Meetings and Potlucks. Checks (preferred) or non-perishable goods wanted. 13
Official Newsletter Information Steve Horowitz: Newsletter Editor, stevehor2004@yahoo.com; 941-993-3561 PLEASE NOTE We will be using your personal contact information to send you our Newsletters, Events and Chapter Notices that may be of interest to you. Articles and letters are due no later than the 20th of each month and should be emailed to Steve Horowitz rather than to primetimerssarasota@gmail.com. PRIME TIMERS SARASOTA P.O. Box 1411 Sarasota, Fl. 34230-1411 941-556-1344 Be sure to visit our website at: primetimersww.com/sarasota Visit us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/ptsarasota PrimeTimers Worldwide Web Site primetimersww.com PrimeTimers Worldwide Newsletter World Wide Newsletters click on the issue you want to read. You can also go to Chapters and click on chapter names and read many of the chapter newsletters. Find out what s happening all around! 14