Our September Program features our club’s charity for this year: Project 48.
Savannah Carreno, the Development Director for Project 48, will be the guest speaker
at our luncheon. She will share details about the organization’s mission to support
youth ages 7-23 experiencing foster care by providing essential items and life skills
during vulnerable transition periods.
Voted the best nonprofit in Portland, Project 48 serves Multnomah, Clackamas,
Washington, and Columbia counties. We look forward to learning more about their
impactful work.
Schedule
11:30
Doors Open
12:00
Lunch
1:00
Program begins
2:00
Event Ends
Venue
5700 SW Terwilliger Blvd
Portland, Oregon 97239
No self parking - complimentary valet, optional tipping, Please do not arrive early
Fish Tacos Cajun spiced, cabbage, Monterey Jack, Pico de Gallo, ranch dressing, warm corn tortillas
Dessert is key lime pie. Includes coffee, tea, iced tea, and soda. Cash bar.
Cost
$32.00 each. Includes gratuity.
Registration
You must register by Monday, September 7, 2026 at 5:00pm.
Payment
You may pay online by clicking or tapping this button or you may bring a check made payable to Newcomers Welcome Club.
Cancellation
If you need to cancel, contact Nancy Jacobson (503-422-1694) or Sharon Golub (949-310-8204) ASAP. If no one can take your reservation, you are responsible for
the cost of the lunch.
We are ready to welcome the start of Newcomers Welcome Club’s 2026/2027 new year term. We are excited to have an incredible board
including twelve new board members. We have the chance to fulfill our club’s purpose of providing a support network while “making
friends and helping others.” Our September luncheon at the Chart House will feature Savannah Carreno, our speaker from this year’s
charity of choice, Project 48.
Please check the monthly newsletter for dates and times of events and activities. I encourage all members to get involved in an
activity or committee. The good thing is you can be involved in an activity as little or as much as you want. Other ways to meet members
are at a Coffee & Conversation or Saturday Social. Heart to Heart is a
place where you can work alongside other members volunteering in the community. These are just a few areas you can meet and work with
our members. The Philanthropy Committee is planning another fun event, watch for it.
Newcomers Clubs have been a part of my life for many years. After marriage, my husband’s career took us from California to Pennsylvania to
Indiana to Washington and then Oregon. In all these states, Newcomers helped me get to know my community, make friends, and encouraged me to
use my skills and learn new ones to assist the Club.
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin
If you have not already done so, please be sure to renew your membership by September 15th, to ensure your name will appear in the Club’s
Directory. Still only $45 a year!
Warmly,
Darlene Conklé
NWC President
Welcome Newest Board members
Left to right: Gayle Saxton, Marie Abara, Lisa Reiser, Gerry Alt, Linda Armstrong, Nancy Kearsley, Karol Burke, Ann Billig, Birgit Woodward, Pat Rooney, Megan Koepsell, Beth Rice and Lisa Greiner
Project 48, our philanthropy project for this year, is holding its annual golfing benefit at the Stone Creek Golf Club in Oregon City on September 18, 2026.
The cost for a foursome is $800 and includes 18 holes of golf, a golf cart, a box lunch, a buffet dinner, and drinks throughout the
day. The schedule for the day is as follows:
11:30 AM: Check-in
1:00 PM: Shotgun start
5:45 PM: Dinner, drinks, and awards
If you are interested in participating, please contact Savannah Carreno, Project 48 Development Director, at
savannah@48nw.org to receive the sign-up link.
Luau Party
Thursday, September 27th
Get ready to kick off your sandals and join us for a fabulous Luau Party on Sunday, September
27, from 4:00–7:30 p.m. at the beautiful Lake Oswego home of Pam and Dennis Pall. There's
plenty of room, so invite your friends and celebrate island style!
Best of all, this fun-filled evening will also serve as a fundraiser for our Newcomers Club
charity, Project 48. Enjoy delicious food, tropical fun, and wonderful company.
Reservations open: Monday, August 31
Reservations close: Monday, September 21
Cost: $65 per person
To reserve your spot, please contact Barb Brannon by phone or text at (703) 973-5486 or by
email at brannonbarb@yahoo.com.
We hope you'll join us for an evening filled with the spirit of aloha with entertainment as we come together for great
food, great friends, and a great cause. Mahalo!
The Luau Party was organized by the Philanthropy Committee led by Barb Brannon.
Heart to Heart is an inclusive group of men and women who meet monthly to support a non-profit organization in the Portland area. We
choose organizations that need group enthusiasm to tackle projects their staff can’t handle due to workload or time constraints. Our
projects include decorating, assembling, sorting, or organizing donations.
We will be sending out information about our September event by the end of August.
Interested in volunteering? Contact Mary or Nancy for more information or to sign up.
This is a dynamic group of women and men who have formed a vibrant community for
socializing and philanthropy. We welcome new and existing members to participate in the many
activities. We strive to have a variety of groups so that everyone can find an activity that suits
their interest and availability. There are new groups being added to the organization, so we
encourage you to review their details and consider adding your name to their participation list!
We are always interested in expanding our activity offerings, so let us know if you have an idea for a new group. We will get an
understanding of your vision for the group, identify the co-leaders, and coordinate the announcement of the information to the
organization in an upcoming newsletter.
Several new members have expressed interest in adding a Book Club that would meet in the afternoon. If you would like to join this
group, please email Lisa & Megan.
We are available to answer questions about the various activities, so please don’t hesitate to reach
out to us!
New weekday afternoon book club forming in September 2026. If interested in joining, please email Edisa at
edisachacin@gmail.com.
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
fourth Monday from 11:00am to 1:30pm at 505 G Avenue, Lake Oswego.
Monthly NWC board meetings are held on the first Thursday, at 10:00am, at the Lake Oswego Adult
Community Center.
Board meetings are open to members. Simply notify the president in advance that you wish to attend.
New members
by Birgit Woodward, Gerry Alt, Lisa Reiser
We welcome our new members:
Amy Kaufman from Los Angeles, CA
Arlea Gibson from Silverton, Oregon
Barbara Buchan from Dallas, Oregon
Carole and Donn Lobdell from Camas, WA
Cathy and Mark Marshall from Newberg, OR
Gayle and Gregg Saxton from Orina, CA
Jennifer and Anthony Grentz from Canby, OR
Kathy and Bill Rose from Gig Harbor, WA
Kelly and Luis Mills from Salem, OR
Linda Collins from Lake Oswego
Loren Masters from San Jose, CA
Margaret Pounder from Bandon, OR
Sonya Semenoff-Torrise and James Torrise from Walnut Creek, CA
Wendy and Perry Sukowatey from Elm Grove, WI
September birthdays
Click here for a list of birthdays
NWC Membership Renewal
To ensure your name will appear in the Club Directory, please renew your membership by September 15th.
All you need to do is remit payment via the credit/debit card link or mail your check. The annual membership dues remain $45.
You will not have to sign up on the Membership Registration form to renew as in previous years. Going forward, only NEW or 'Returning'
members (that have not renewed in the past year) will have to use the Membership Registration form to provide their information.
In order to keep our database up to date, please alert Linda Armstrong at email:
lindaarms@gmail.com or Gary Crumley if you have any
changes in your contact information, no longer wish to have your newsletter mailed, or give your permission to have your photo published.
For those of you that would like to renew by check, remit to:
Newcomers Welcome Club
PO Box 593
Lake Oswego, OR 97034-0065
Click on Payment and add $45 amount in the top field
Reference – You can enter Membership Renewal
Email Address – Required – you will be sent a receipt
Make sure to fill in all fields
Double check all information, ie, credit card #, amount, etc.
Press ‘submit’
Errors
If there are any errors on the form, the system will prompt you to
correct them. Once errors are corrected, press ‘submit'.
You will receive an email copy of your transaction.
Let Gary know if you have any questions or need assistance with the credit/debit card link
at: doctorcrums.newcomers@gmail.com
Sunshine cards
by Nancy Jacobson
Send a little sunshine to someone, in the form of a card. Email their name, address, and why they need
a bit of cheering up to Nancy Jacobson.
Photo Album
Ed Sawicki
The NWC photo album has photos of the August Saturday Social.
Click or tap this photo collage to go to the NWC photo album.
Group leaders: Send your photos, with captions if possible, to Ed Sawicki. Please ensure that the people
in your photos are agreeable to having their photo in the Photo Album.
NWC Travelers
Ed Sawicki
NWC Travelers is a photo album for NWC members who have traveled
to interesting places. Click or tap this photo to visit the photo album.
Moon-lit clouds over Lake Oswego
If you have photos or short videos of your travels, send them and their captions to me.
The NWC has a brand-new ladies cooking club called Gourmet Gals. Do you enjoy
cooking? Want to learn innovative recipes and some unique cooking techniques? Or do
you have some favorite family recipes you would like to share? Then this is the group
for you. Who knew our club had such talented cooks who are willing to share how to
make such delicious dishes as pizza, lumpia, pancit, baklava, or lefse?
The Gourmet Gals will meet every two to three months at various individual’s homes for
some hands-on cooking or, in rare instances, a demonstration.
Pamela Pall is organizing this group, and you can contact her directly if you would like
to be included on the email list. Her phone number is (805) 235-2809 and email is
pamsbeach@yahoo.com.
Join Gourmet Gals and let’s cook something delicious!
Nonnas Making Pizza
What is better than 12 Nonnas learning to make pizza from scratch? Answer: 12
Nonnas eating their yummy creations and taking some home for later!
Pamela and Dennis Pall hosted the “Gourmet Gals” pizza making class in their home on
Saturday, July 11 th from 12:00 to 3:00 pm. The ladies prepared several homemade
doughs, including one gluten free and one store-bought dough from Trader Joe’s.
Tap the image to see all the photos
They learned the techniques of shaping and stretching their dough and then dressing them
with a variety of sauces—marinara and pesto—and multiple fresh and cooked toppings.
They could make them as intricate or as simple as they wished, yet each one was a
masterpiece (minus one, sorry Pam, not your fault) The pizzas were expertly baked in
the Pall’s outdoor pizza oven with gentle guidance from Dennis, the pizzaiolo.
Is there any better way for 12 Nonnas to spend an afternoon? We don’t think so!
We’re excited to launch the new Couples Dining Group to the organization! Mike
and Susan Slovacek are the leaders and will be hosting an organizational lunch for
this new couples’ activity on Sunday, September 20th, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Their
address is 939 Lake Front Road in Lake Oswego.
During this kickoff session, the attendees will decide on the size of the group and
the timing of future gatherings. If you would like to attend on September 20th,
please send an email to Susan at susanslovacek@icloud.com.
We invite you to connect with fellow members in a small group setting! Both prospective and current members are
warmly encouraged to join us for coffee and learn more about the Newcomers Welcome Club of Lake Oswego.
Join us on the fourth Friday of the month at 10:00am. The specific location will be announced closer to the date.
Be sure to mark your calendars for Friday, September 25, 2026, for a wonderful morning of connection and community!
If you'd like to receive an invitation and details about the meeting location, please email Birgit Woodward by
Monday, September 21.
Saturday Night Social
Merryl Sawicki
The 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. The usual routine is to
bring an appetizer to share and your own beverage that is not shared.
Engage, Inspire, and Explore… A group discussion is a structured exchange of ideas among
participants aimed at sharing insights and perspectives. The most engaging discussions often touch
on themes relevant to everyday life: education, technology, history, current events,
ethics, and diversity. The group will offer suggestions for prospective topics.
The group meets on the second Friday of each month at 10 a.m. at Sharon Samson’s home in Lake Oswego.
The group has co-leaders Sharon Samson and Joan Seitz. If you are interested in joining the group, please
contact Joan.
The Single Dining Divas group meets bimonthly for meals: the second Tuesday and the fourth Saturday.
Host responsibilities are rotating. The host Diva chooses between brunch, lunch, or dinner, and whether to host at home or a restaurant. For
home events, the host sets the menu and provides the entree; guests bring sides, desserts, and beverages. For restaurant events, the host makes
reservations, and each guest pays for their meal. The host decides the number of attendees.
Interested single Divas can join the group by contacting Teresa via email or filling out
this form.
The Ladies Friendship Lunch Groups offer the opportunity for you to develop
new and lasting friendships in a quieter setting. There are currently twelve active groups, and
we are working on launching the thirteenth.
Our format is for 4-8 ladies to meet monthly, rotating homes. Each host prepares a casual meal or
selects a restaurant. If the group meets at a restaurant, each member pays for her own meal. Groups set their own meeting
day—for example, second Tuesdays of each month—so that members can keep those calendar dates clear.
There are many ways to socialize with Newcomers and these smaller gatherings are
perfect for getting to know each other better on an ongoing basis. Please contact Edisa or Cynthia when you wish to be part of
the fun.
Each month, our group tries to travel out to a vineyard, wine store, or sip wine in someone's home and enjoy the company of others who are like
minded with an interest in wine. We are part social, but also, we have an interest in hearing the fascinating stories related to how the winery
and wine came to be, along with sampling, sharing opinions, and learning new things wine-related.
If you become a member of the Wine Enthusiasts, you will receive an official email invite from me to that month's wine gathering. I do my
best to send this out on Sunday mornings, about a month before the event. The dates and times vary depending on the winery, but our tastings are
always held on a Saturday or Sunday. I take reservations on a first-come, first-served basis, so I encourage you to sign up ASAP.
I truly look forward to meeting you over a glass of Oregon wine.
Cheers
Joanne and Maria
SeniorNet
Ed Sawicki
Some club members recently showed interest in the computer tools they needed for writing and publishing.
It's fortunate that a few club members are published authors, and can relate their experiences.
We're planning one or more events where we'll put aspiring writers together with published authors.
Calling all book lovers! Susan Slovacek is organizing a new evening book club.
The kick-off organizational gathering for Just One More Chapter will be on
Sunday, September 20 th from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. This session will be held at Susan’s
home at 939 Lake Front Road in Lake Oswego.
If you would like to attend, please email Susan at the above email address.
Please plan to bring 2 or 3 books you would like to review for the group to
consider selecting to read. Please limit the books to less than 400 pages and within
the genre of general fiction, classics or science (no true crime or romance). During
this meeting, attendees will refine the choices, determine the number of members
and the evening of future sessions.
We enjoy reading novels, memoirs, biographies, historical fiction, and history as we gather
with a glass of wine and a bite to eat and discuss the book of the month.
Bagels and Books is Newcomers' newest daytime book club. We read novels and historical fiction
and gather to nosh and discuss the book. Meetings are held on the third Friday of each month from
11:00-1:00pm. Members take turns hosting, selecting books, and leading the discussion. The group is
currently full.
On September 14th meeting, we will discuss the Valley of the Moon by Jack London. Our meetings are from 1:30-3:00 pm on the second Monday of
each month. We meet in one of the club member’s home who provides refreshments and leads our discussion. If you are interested in learning more
about our book club, please email Anne at Dantzighone2@yahoo.com.
Book It Forward meets on the 4th Monday of each month at 10:00am. We collect both new and used adult and children’s books to
donate during the holidays. fun and lively book discussions include all genres, suggested by each month's member host. For more
information on how to join, please contact Darlene. We welcome new members to join us.
Our virtual Memoir Group currently does not have enough members to make it viable this year. I have canceled my zoom pro membership.
If you are a memoir writer bursting to share stories, please contact me. I will put you on a list and we’ll see if there is a way to move
forward either virtually or in-person.
The Bunco group will meet at the home of Nancy Jacobson (nancy.harlow@gmail.com) on Thursday, September 17, 2026 at
12:00 noon. If you are unable to attend, please contact Nancy with the name of your sub.
We will be playing a Canasta game called "Hand Foot & Tush" every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at 11:00 am. This month we will play on
September 9th and the 23rd.
This is a fun game and easy to learn, even if you have never played Canasta before. The game requires 4 to a table and the hostess will
determine how many tables she can accommodate. The hostess will provide their home and drinks.
Please email Judith Davies if you are interested in playing. If you are a new player she will send you the rules and guidelines.
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 1:00pm on the first four Mondays of the month. Please contact
Pat Filip if you have any questions or would like to be added to our group email list.
If you’re a mah jongg player at the beginner or intermediate level, this group
is for you! This group plays on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 1:00 pm with
rotating hosts. Also, this group plays the American version using the current card.
On the first Tuesday of the month, there will be a table dedicated for anyone (women
& men!) who has never played but is interested in learning the game. You will
need to bring the 2026 National Mah Jongg League, Inc. game card. We encourage
anyone who has considered learning to jump in!
If there is enough interest, we are also considering adding an evening session on
the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month starting at 6:30 pm. This session would
need someone willing to be the leader. An update will be provided in the
next newsletter if there is sufficient interest in adding this additional time slot.
Email Lisa Greiner (Lisa386@frontier.com) if you would like to be added to the
Tuesday afternoon participant list or if you are interested in participating in the
evening session.
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:
September 8
September 22
If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please email me. I will send out an email the Sunday morning before our
next breakfast.
The ‘Undaunted Saunterers’ walk every Wednesday with members taking turns to find walking
destinations, leading the walks, and arranging for a congenial lunch spot. We are looking forward
to the fall foliage and return of rain to the Pacific Northwest.
Contact Gary Crumley for more information.
Frequent Walkers
by Sher Ireland
503-620-1500
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.
The weekly walkers meet on Tuesdays at 9:00am 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.
Our golf season will begin soon with a planning meeting coordinated by Lisa Reiser in early April to discuss the upcoming schedule
which runs from May through September. For those of you who are new to Newcomer's, we are currently a group of primarily women who meet
weekly at various golf courses in the area to play 9 holes and meet afterwards for coffee or lunch occasionally.
Skill levels range from beginners to "very good" and everything in between! Our main goal is to get to know each other and to enjoy
the beautiful PNW weather. If you're interested in learning more, please contact Sarah York.
The annual Bocce season is May to September. Individuals and couples are cordially invited to register for a couple of hours of
Bocce Ball play in Foothills Park on Friday afternoons, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
NO previous experience is necessary. Contact me to receive the weekly invitation to play.
