PATHFINDERS NEXT MEETING

Our next meeting is January 18.

Meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month at the Hampton Main Library, 4207 Victoria Blvd.

Executive meetings: the first Monday of each month, at the Northampton Library, 936 Big Bethel Road, Hampton, at 7 p.m. All members are welcome.

CLUB WEBSITE

Http://www.peninsulapathfinder.org

Peninsula Pathfinders of Virginia
AVA & VVA Affiliated

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1	VVA meeting results / January meeting / Dues reminder
2	From the president / Thanks to outgoing officers / Williamsburg Event results / December dinner/party
3	Out ‘n about 10 km / VVA Achievement Awards / Wild Friday night
4	Post-it Page

February Newsletter Deadline: February 1.

VVA Meeting

Virginia Volkssport Association (VVA) December 10 meeting results:

The proposed Amendment to the VVA Constitution (stating that a VVA officer cannot also be an AVV officer) did not pass.

Elections:

President          Nancy Stenger
Vice President Shirley Boyd
Secretary          Cecilia Miner
Treasurer          Jim Geith

2006 VVA 10 km Year Round Walks:

Appomattox                  Lexington
Bedford                        Manassas
Charlottesville               Roanoke
Danville (Town)            Winchester
Danville (Rails to Trails)
2006 VVA 10 km Seasonal Walks 04/01/06 - 9/30/06:

Campbell County Charlotte County
Halifax County

January meeting program

Our speaker for the January 18 meeting is Barb Lippincott, who will tell us about her trip to Africa.

2006 dues reminder…

Re-registration forms are due!! Send in your updated form and dues—or your name won’t be on the mailing list for the February newsletter.

From the president…

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

Now that you have messed up and elected me YOUR President I want to give you an idea of how things will be.

This is YOUR club, not mine!

The only thing my being President means is that I get to sit in front of the room at the club meeting.

We have over 100 members which is wonderful.

Yet, if we are lucky, 25 or so show up for meetings, and the same 25 plus work at our events.

This is not acceptable!

If you don't want to participate in our club activities, why join the club? No one is asking that you come to every meeting or work every event but a couple (other than the club picnic and holiday party...we do get a good turn out for those) would be great. Even I can't make every event, but let's all try to make a majority.

I know that many people join the club just before a bus trip so that they can get a price break. Well that policy is changed...from now on if a bus trip is planned then the price break goes to members who have WORKED at least one club event.

Our club meetings, general membership meetings and board meetings will start at 7 p.m. (1900 hrs for you retired military). Please do your socializing before and after the business (includes guest speaker) portion of the meeting. If you are late we will not waste OUR time bringing you up to date, you can catch up after the meeting.

One of the things that we will talk about in the coming months is that our friendly postal service has raised its rates again...do we need to raise our club dues? or can some of the club members agree to receive the newsletter and enclosures by email to save the club mailing costs?

I am looking forward to an exciting year and look forward to seeing you at the January club meeting.

Ron

Thanks to our outgoing officers

Contributed by Cheryl Lauria

Many thanks to the out going officers. Their many years of service are appreciated. We are grateful that all will continue to serve the club in new ways.

Shirley Boyd has been President for 6 years; we are delighted her expertise will continue in the Vice President spot.

Andy Armano is moving from Vice President to Trail Master. We hope he also continues captaining bus trips, too.

Annette Tollett spent 19 years as Treasurer. She is continuing as point of contact for five year round walks in Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown. Annette is also organizing the walk for the 400 years of Jamestown celebration and the Williamsburg walk/swim.

Barbara Washburn is continuing as Secretary. Thanks Shirley, Andy, Annette and Barbara.

Williamsburg Event results

Night walk        168
Day walk          205
Swim                23
Total                 396

The wonderful brisk walking weather and great turnout for the Williamsburg Walk and the November Bus Trip resulted in Specialty Sales of $466.50. The big seller was the 2006 Starting Point Book. The runner up sales item was distant/event books.

Thanks to all Pathfinders who worked to make this event a success!

Shirley Boyd received this note from a group who came for our Williamsburg Event and also walked at Fort Monroe:

Thank you for sponsoring this walk. It was enjoyable and educational. The group from Winston Wanderers had a good weekend in Williamsburg and appreciates the effort that goes into such an event.

Call us if you ever come to our area. We are a friendly group.

Vivian Harless

December dinner/party

Our meeting room became a festive dinner room for the December dinner/party.

Thanks to Pat Parker for arranging the dinner. Thanks also to Pat and Shirley Boyd for the table decorations. A big thank you to Pat Parker’s husband, Pat, who help set up, and to Mary Parker, who led the prize give-away.

Out ‘n about 10 km

Walking back through 2005:

We asked several club members to relate goals, walks, special times…

Barb Lippincott completed her 2005 walking goal by graduating to the next distance book (orange) by completing 8,000 km. She also completed four special program books and did all of the Peninsula Pathfinders, Gators and Lee Lepus year rounds, both times, which came out to be 42 local year round walks.

Annette Tollett says her special place to walk in 2005 was the safari walks in South Africa. It was amazing to be able to see the wild animals up close, but at a safe distance.

Ron Berard: My favorite walk: Sydney, Australia. I liked walking by the Opera House and views of the cities. A stop at a pub at the end was a nice way to end the walk.

Diane Berard: My favorite walk: Volcano National Park, Big Island, Hawaii....walking on lava is very difficult!

Roy Phillips completed his first 10 walks and received his certificate. His most interesting walk was the first one, at Fort Boykin (remember that one, folks? Rainy!)

Deanna Lang completed her first 10 walks earlier this year and her first 500km. She says her best walk was in Lewisburg, WV, on the bus trip. Deanna and Roy walk the Elizabeth City, NC, walk frequently.

Barb Lippincott sends a message and challenge—How about the rest of you fellow walkers, how did you do in 2005? Let's hear from you.

For 2006, how about setting a goal of doing all our walks both times?

Pathfinders receive 2004 VVA Achievement Awards

VVA Achievement Awards were awarded to the following Peninsula Pathfinders’ club members:

Andy Armano Roccie Lauria

Dick Beland Barbara Lippincott

Diane Berard Jane Mobley

Ron Berard Patricia Parker

Betty Bess Barbara Washburn

Shirley Boyd Bob Simonsen

George Fries Annette Tollett

Pat LaRoux Art Whittaker

Cheryl Lauria

A Wild Friday Night at Our House

Contributed by Diane Berard

HOW TRUE IT IS!

Another year has passed
and we're all a little older.
Last summer felt hotter
and winter seems much colder.

I rack my brain for happy thoughts,
to put down on my pad,
But lots of things that come to mind
just make me kind of sad.

There was a time not long ago
when life was quite a blast.
Now I fully understand
about "Living in the Past".

We used to go to friends homes,
football games and lunches.
Now we go to therapy, to hospitals,
and after-funeral brunches.

We used to have hangovers,
from parties that were happy.

Now we suffer body aches
and sleep the night away.

We used to go out dining,
and couldn't get our fill.
Now we ask for doggie bags,
come home and take a pill.

We used to often travel
to places near and far.
Now we get backaches
from riding in the car.

We used to go out shopping
for new clothing at the Mall
But, now we never bother.
All the sizes are too small.

That, my friend is how life is,
and now my tale is told.
So, enjoy each day and live it up...
before you're too darn old!!

Current Club Officers

President: Ron Berard, 890-9220

(email: Peninsula_Pathfinders_Prez@cox.net)

Vice President: Shirley Boyd, 722-5637
(email: walksboyd@aol.com )

Secretary: Barbara Washburn (930-4447)
(barbwash1@aol.com )

Treasurer: Cheryl Lauria. 930-4538

(email: cheryl.lauria@gmail.com )

Other Points of Contact

Membership: Art Whittaker, 723-4934
(email: ETMarvinMartian@msn.com )

Web Page and newsletter editor:
Pat LaRoux, 766-0411
(email: plaroux@yahoo.com )

Trail Master: Andy Armano, (877-5049)

(email: andyhiker@yahoo.com )

Specialty Sales: Diane Berard,
890-9220 (email: walkingtheusa@cox.net )

Publicity: David Hartman, 838-7170

Programs: Pat Parker, 851-9252
(email: paparker1@cox.net )

Event schedules: Betty Bess, 539-0136
(email: bess13@verizon.net )

2006 Local Calendar at a Glance

Apr 8, Event, Pathfinders, Grandview Nature Preserve

Apr 15, Event, Lee Lepus, Henricus Historical Park

Apr 22, Event, Gators, Old Town Walk/Ferry Ride/Portsmouth

May 13, Event, Gators, Norfolk, Greek Festival

Jun 3, Event/picnic, Pathfinders, Newport News City Park

Aug 17, Event, Gators, Zimmerman’s house/Ghent

Sept 16, Event, Gators, Norfolk Botanical Gardens

Oct 7, Event, Gators, Chesapeake/Railroad Heritage

Oct 21, Event, Pathfinders, Yorktown

Dec 8 – 10, Events, Pathfinders, Williamsburg

Dec 31, Event, Gators, Smithfield

January 2006

February 2006