October Luncheon

Catherine LeJeal, Owner of Escape Your Chaos Organizing & So Much More began organizing homes in 1970 at the age of 14. Now more than 50 years later, she is a Professional Organizer, Home Decor & Staging Expert, Life Coach, Public Speaker & Writer.  Her work has been featured in Country Living, Child, Family Circle & LO Neighbor Magazines as well as the Lake Oswego Review.

She is a Clackamas County Mental Health & Addictions Council Member. She holds a National Association of Social Workers Help with Hoarding Certification. She also operates a successful 5-star bed & breakfast in West Linn, Oregon where guests enjoy her decor and organizing abilities firsthand.

The luncheon will be on Thursday, October 10, 2024, at:

Old Spaghetti Factory
12725 SE 93rd Ave
Clackamas, OR 97015

Schedule

Register

The limit is 40 people, so sign up now. To reserve your spot, you must register online by Sunday, October 6th at 5:00pm. When you register, you’ll select your entree choice and whether you’ll bring a guest. Register by clicking or touching this button:

When you're finished registering, you'll receive a confirmation via email (check your spam folder). Now you have to pay. That's the second step below.

Cost is $31.00

This includes the gratuity. You may pay online by clicking or touching this button:

Pay online

...or you may bring a check made payable to Newcomers Welcome Club.

President’s Message

Our Club continues to grow and evolve. We have become more visible in our communities by attending several farmer markets this summer. I have been told there was interest in our booth and our members talked to many people about the club and what we are all about. We hope to welcome some of these folks to our ranks!

I recently attended an informative and interesting tour of the Hunger Fighters facility in Lake Oswego. I was struck by the innate respect and caring that was incorporated in the organization of the facility for its clients. The shelves were not full, as was explained a “shopping day” had been held a few days earlier.

I was moved by the need in our community and by the dedication of the staff toward those who are at risk for hunger. I hope you will each generously support our endeavors to help keep their shelves full.

Once again, I encourage all our members to reach out to each other, say hi to someone you don’t know and start to make a new friend! We are good at this, let’s continue to always be welcoming!

Best wishes,

Sandy

New members

Bari Burman is from Santa Barbara, California. Chris Cataldo is from Tokyo, Japan. Linda Armstrong is from Happy Valley, Oregon. Patty Keeley is from Sebastopol, California

October birthdays

Farmer's markets

Newcomers had tables at two Farmer’s Markets this summer as part of our outreach for new members. The Beaverton Farmer’s Market in July was lively and well attended and gave us an opportunity to visit with 40 or so potential members. The West Linn Farmer's Market in August was a little less busy but also presented great opportunities to talk to potential members. Thanks to volunteers Karen Strickland, Cheryl Robins, Joan Baines, Barb Brannon, Linn Vehling, Sarah Martinez, Darlene and Steve Conkle, and Nancy Harlow.

Special thanks to Karen Strickland for pulling it all together with fun and imagination!

Philanthropy Committee News

Our first fundraiser for Hunger Fighters Oregon, our designated charity for 2024-2025 was a great success! At the September Luncheon, we raffled off a basket that was sponsored by generous donations from Bocce Group members, and assembled by Lisa Tsukamoto-Barnes and Darlene Conkle. Raffle-ticket sales were brisk and the basket raised a whopping $420 (which may be a new record?) thanks to the enthusiastic support of luncheon attendees. The lucky winner was our guest speaker Simone Coker-Kamna, Hunger Fighter’s Executive Director. A big thank you to the luncheon guests- you got our year of giving off to a great start!

Did you know that 10 percent of those who live in Clackamas County have some degree of food insecurity? Hunger Fighters has seen a 186% increase in people using their pantry in the last year and the numbers continue to grow. We are planning a food drive in November for Hunger Fighters to support their Thanksgiving meal box program. Simone and Marlea will begin their planning soon, and then share how NWC can best support their families. We will share details in the November newsletter.

Many members of Newcomers volunteer at the Hunger Fighters Pantry, but they can use many more. There are a variety of needs, from assisting clients, to check-in, check out, stocking shelves or light cleaning and many more opportunities. Whether you prefer to be behind the scenes or working directly with pantry shoppers, there is a place for you. Go to their website, www.hungerfightersoregon.org to learn more about volunteering.

Shown in photo below, from Lt to Rt: Marlea Goulet, Hunger Fighters Pantry Manager, Sandy Esterson, and Simone Crocker-Kamna, Hunger Fighters Executive Director

Sunshine cards

Send a little sunshine to someone, in the form of a card. Email Nancy Jacobson their name, address, and why they need a bit of cheering up.

LO Adult Community Center

Thank you to all the generous members who have signed up to serve lunch each month. We do not need additional volunteers at this time but feel free to contact Sally with questions or to be added to a reserve list. We set up and serve lunch on the 4th Monday from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm at 505 G Avenue, Lake Oswego.

Contact Sally Roach.

Welcome to Newcomers Activities

We are an inclusive group of women and men that have formed a vibrant community and welcome new and old members to join in our many offerings. If you would like to see a new activity offered, come forward and we will work with you to make it happen by arranging co-facilitators and mentoring. It’s fun to co-create and a great way to make friends who enjoy the same activities as you. From our recent survey, participants would like:

• a gourmet dinner club
• an intermediate bridge group
• travel companions - an opportunity to connect with like-minded travelers and destinations
• travel experiences and recommendations
• cribbage
• an outdoor cooking class

We are in the process of creating another Book Club. If you're interested, please contact us.

Let’s work together to make these new activities happen. Contact Barbra Crumley or Nancy O'Neill.

Calling all Crafters, Artists and Bakers!

Our NWC December Luncheon and Holiday Bazaar is just around the corner! The Bazaar is very popular and we need NWC members and vendors to bring things to sell. If you would like to reserve a spot for your creations, or know someone else who might be interested, please reach out to Barb Brannon to reserve space for your craft items, jewelry, sculpture, pottery - whatever you wish to bring.

We will also have a table of homemade baked goods - cakes, pies, cookies, candy and other holiday treats. So Bakers, let us know what you will bring! All proceeds from baked goods will go to Hunger Fighters, and we hope those selling art and handicrafts will also consider donating a portion of their sales.

Saturday Night Social

This monthly Saturday evening social is an opportunity for newcomers, their spouses, and single members to meet other members in the warmth and comfort of a member's home. Please bring an appetizer to share & your own beverage that is not shared.

We need hosts for our Saturday socials for all months in 2025. If you are interested in hosting please contact Merryl Sawicki.

The October Saturday Social is on October 19, 2024 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and hosted by Cindy and Alan Lindstrom

Coffee & Conversation

Enjoy getting to know other Newcomers in a small group setting. You’ll meet current members who will share their experiences and find out about the different activities.

We meet on the 4th Friday of the month at 10:00 a.m., at various locations. Mark your calendar for October 25th.

New, prospective, and longtime members are welcome. Please RSVP by October 18th if you wish to receive an invitation and location where we will be meeting. Any questions, contact Darlene Conklé or Karol Burke.

Friendship Lunches

Newcomers Friendship Luncheons offer the opportunity for you to develop new and lasting friendships in a quieter setting, perfect for group conversations!

Our format is for 4-8 ladies to meet monthly, rotating homes over the course of a year. Each hostess prepares a casual meal or selects a restaurant, with each member paying for her own meal. Groups set their own meeting day—for example, second Tuesdays—so that members can keep those calendar dates clear.

Happily, there are many ways to socialize with Newcomers; these smaller gatherings are perfect for getting to know one another better on an ongoing basis. Please contact Carol Jo Bays or Lissa Willis if—and when—you wish to be part of the fun!

the Book Nook

Book Nook meets on the second Monday of each month. Please contact Lynn Pappas if you would like to join.

Date/Time:  Monday, October 14, 2024 at 10:00 AM to Noon

Book/Author: Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See

Presenter: Nancy Taussig

Location: Lynn Pappas home

RSVP to Nancy

Tea, Cookies, and a Good Book

Our next meeting will be Monday, October 21. Our book is Remarkedly Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. This story takes place in the Pacific Northwest and describes the friendship of an octopus with the aquarium’s staff. Also, we will be collecting donated items for the book club auction basket at this meeting.

Contact Anne for more information.

From Memories to Memoir

Memoir is a slice of life. We have all lived, so we are all potential memoirists. Everyone has stories. We have had childhoods, careers, moves, families, travel, pets, hobbies, interests, and yes, even tragedy and drama. We have those old photos begging to be wrapped in a context so later generations can appreciate them. Maybe this is the year you say, “I’ll make a start.”

If your stories are nagging at you, now is your opportunity. I am eager to start our story-telling sessions again.

If you are interested, please contact Linda Morris. We need about 8 people to make this group viable.

Bridge Lessons

“"If you still think you want to learn bridge in a relaxing and fun way. Sign up for my bridge lessons.”

Tuesdays, 11 am to 1pm: or Wednesday, 11 am to 1pm or 1 to 3pm. The lessons will be held at my house. 5102 SE Gladstone St, Portland, OR 97206. I have had some response but we need 4 to sign up.

Please call or text your interest to Alyce Grissom.

Bunco #1

The Bunco #1 group is run by Sherry Kuntz.

Date/Time: Thursday, October 17, 2024, begins at 12:00 noon, and is held at the home of Pat Filip.

If you are unable to attend, please contact Pat with the name of your sub.

Bunco #2

This group meets in the evening on the second Wednesday of the month and is managed by Paula Sorensen.

Date/Time: Wednesday, October 9, at 7:00 pm, and is held at the home of Jan Schmidt.

RSVP to Jan.

Dominoes and Dinner

We have a new group activity for 6, 7, or 8 people with a casual dinner and a game of Mexican Train Dominoes afterward. The host provides a simple entree, and participants bring an appetizer, salad, or dessert. Think burgers or baked potatoes with the fixins or tacos/burritos or (you get the idea). Double 12 Domino games with easy instructions and a few twists to challenge us to pull the fun and laughter into the evening.

Games will be held on the first Saturday of the month. Future hosts need a 6-foot table and a dominoes game (Amazon).

It will be held on Saturday, October 5th.

Please email Cindy Lindstrom with interest and/or questions.

Mah Jongg

American Mah Jongg is a tile game loosely based on the original Chinese version. Players use the tiles to make hands, chosen from an official card that changes annually. We play at 1:00 pm on the first four Mondays of the month.

Oct 7 Nancy Jacobson
Oct 14 Sharon Harvey
Oct 21 Jeri Robinson
Oct 28 Sandy Esterson

Contact Cheryl Robins or Susan Muhm.

Men’s Breakfast Group

The Breakfast Group meets on alternate Tuesdays at 9:00am at Biscuits on Mercantile Drive in Lake Oswego. It is a time for camaraderie, good food, and just catching up. This month, the breakfasts are:

October 8th
October 22nd

If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please email me. I will send out a email the Sunday morning before our next breakfast.

Men’s Discussion Group

The Men's Discussion Group is coordinated entirely by email. It meets at the home of Chris Jacobs.

For more information, contact Marc Bond.

Singles Dining Divas

The Single Dining Divas have two events each month.  Each dinner is hosted by a Diva member in their home. One of the monthly dinners is hosted on the second Tuesday of each month, and the second is designated by the host.  That designated host Diva chooses from Brunch, Lunch or Dinner as their preference, as well as the date. All of our Diva members take turns hosting the monthly gatherings in their homes and should be able to accommodate at least 10 people. The host sets the menu and provides the entree; guests bring the side dishes, desserts, and beverages designated by the host.

If you are a single Diva and are interested in joining our fun group for home-hosted potluck meals,  contact Sharon Harvey.

Wine Enthusiasts

October is coming with fall colors on the grape vines, and the wineries busy with the production process. This month we will visit another winemaker whose mission is to maintain the relevance of Oregon's wine country as one of the top areas on the planet for growing cool climate varieties.

David Paige was a transplant from CA and for 30 years has been part of the wine scene in Oregon. He started at Adelsheim where he worked, and studied the craft from one of Oregon's pioneer winemakers. In 2018 he and 2 friends bought some land and started David Paige Wines.

You are invited to come and taste David Paige wines on Sunday, Oct 27th from 1:00-3:00 at their fairly new tasting room in Amity, Oregon. We will taste red and white wines for $25 which will be waived with a 2-bottle purchase per person.

Please contact me, Joanne Nowak if you are interested.

Joanne and Marla

Bocce Ball

Each Friday afternoon in the summer we meet at Foothills Park in Lake Oswego at 3:00 for an hour and a half of Bocce followed by Happy Hour. It is a great time to meet with friends and enjoy a bit of friendly competition. A sign-up email goes out every Tuesday evening for the following Friday. A Thursday email will disclose teams and the playing schedule.

The 2024 Bocce season concluded the end of September.

If you are not currently on the email list and would like to join the group for 2025, please send an email to Dave Hull or Carole Hull.

Frequent Walkers

Get Fit! Join in with frequent walkers in getting a little more fit. We walk at least 5 days a week for about an hour each time in the L.O., West Linn, Tualatin, and Tigard areas.

Contact Sher Ireland.

Weekly Walkers

The weekly walkers meet on Tuesdays at 9:00 am and walk for one hour. During the summer and in clear weather, we walk in various parks; in the winter and cold and wet weather, we walk in the Washington Square Mall. If you wish to join us, contact Sherry Kuntz.

Undaunted Saunterers

The ‘Undaunted Saunterers’ is a men's walking group that walks every Wednesday between 8:30 and 9:30. Members take turns finding walking destinations, leading the walks, and arranging for a congenial lunch spot. Examples of our closer-in walks include along the Tualatin River in old West Linn, the Portland inner harbor, George Rogers Park, and Foothills riverfront trails. In the summer, we also go into the Columbia River Gorge and the Mt. Hood area.

Perry Esterson sent in this photo of the Undaunted Saunterers at Ramona Falls recently. The falls are about four miles from the peak of Mount Hood:

Here's a video of Hiking Ramona Falls to give you an overview of what such a hike entails.

Contact Perry Esterson

Lake Oswego History

In 1913, Oswego Lake was renamed from it's prior name: Sucker Lake, named after the eels found there. It was done to make lakefront property sound more appealing. Here are clippings from the Oregonian in 1913.

Cookies and Privacy

This web page does not use cookies that threaten your privacy. The only cookies that are used keep track of which slide (photo) you're viewing when there are multiple slides. We will likely have cookies for other mundane purposes in future newsletters. When we do, this section of those newsletters will tell you about it.

You can tap or click the box below to see your current cookies for this web page. You'll see a cookie (or two) named "slide" with a numeric value. If you see any other cookies there and want to know what they are, ask Ed Sawicki at ed@alcpress.com