If you're a member of Rural 60 Plus and are willing to use your computer skills for our benefit, we're looking for someone to post routine updates on this site.  It doesn't take a lot of time and can be done either from home or from the Rural 60 office.  Anyone who is interested in learning more about this opportunity should contact the Centre.

The annual AGM is only a week away, and even if you didn't buy tickets for the supper, you can attend the meeting which is expected to begin just after 6 p.m. on Friday, May 17, at the Kakabeka Legion.  The meeting will include the election of officers for a 2-year term.  Six members have allowed their names to stand:  Lloyd Hanton, Bob MacMaster, Tina Guzzell, Merle Graham, Margaret Hess, and Gary MacDonald.  Of these candidates, 5 will be elected to help run our Centre along with the 5 existing Board members.

And another reminder for 2 upcoming events.  The Rural 60 Plus yard sale is 2 weeks away, on Saturday, May 25, from 10 to 1.  You can rent your own table by contacting the Centre or calling Diane  Buchan at 577-4844.  You could also drop off your items to be sold by the Rural 60 table and donations of baking would be especially welcome.

Watch for the volunteer sign-up sheet to be posted at the Centre for our annual clean-up day on Saturday, June 1.  Work will begin at 9:30 followed by a potluck lunch.

And finally, the next time you visit the Centre, check out the colourful 12-panel collage done by the Thursday watercolour class and framed by Eldon and Donna Kangas.  What a great addition to our main hall!

The 2019 Northwest Senior Games are only a month away, and registration will take place in two weeks.  If you are 55 or older and would enjoy a little friendly competition in any of 16 different events, you won't want to miss this opportunity.  You can register Monday, May 13, to Friday, May 17, at either Thunder Bay 55 Plus Centre (9 am - 4 pm) or West Arthur Community Centre (8:30 - 12 noon and 2 - 4 pm).  The Games are scheduled from June 2 to June 7, and applicable fees are payable at the time of registration.

Rural 60 Plus will be closed Good Friday, April 19, but will reopen for regular activities on Monday, the 22nd.  Happy Easter, everyone!

Here are 3 sure signs of spring:  the Canada geese are back, the Rural 60 yard sale is coming up, and we have a date for our annual spring cleanup at the Centre!

The Rural 60 yard sale will be held on Saturday, May 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  You can rent a table for $10 or you can donate your gently-used items to Rural 60 to sell at their table.  To arrange a rental, call Diane Buchan at 577-4844 or contact Rural 60 either by phone or by email.

Saturday, June 1, will be cleanup day at Rural 60, when members gather to "spring clean" in and around the Centre.  Work will begin at 9:30, followed by a pot luck lunch.  A sign-up sheet will be posted in May for volunteers willing to spend a few hours to help keep our Centre looking great.

And finally, a big "thank you" to the two gentlemen who provided our recent training:  to firefighter Shane Zimmer for teaching the CPR/defibrillator course, and to Gatean Ayotte for teaching the Craft Room safety course.

Here's an opportunity that qualified seniors will want to act on quickly.  The District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board (TBDSSAB) is providing funding to low or moderate income seniors, among others, in the form of forgivable loans for home upgrades.  This "Ontario Renovates" Program will help you make repairs or modifications to your home to accommodate family members with disabilities.  For more information, visit the TBDSSAB web site or call their office at 807-766-2111.

We have another information session to add to the list, this one coming up in mid-April.  In addition to the Safety Course in the Craft Room on Saturday, March 30, and the Service Canada presentation on Tuesday, April 2, we are also hosting a presentation by the staff of Smith Family Chiropractic.  They will visit the Centre on Friday, April 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. to provide information on and demonstrations of strengthening exercises for seniors for osteoporosis, prevention of falls, etc.  Hope to see you there!

We've had a lot of interest in the upcoming CPR/defibrillator course and it's now full.  We still have space in the free Craft Room safety course on Saturday, March 30, though.  If you use any of the equipment in the Craft Room, you won't want to miss that one.  And for the artists among us, watercolour classes will resume on Thursday, March 21, at 1 p.m.

The Centre has purchased a 30" snow blower to help keep walkways and parking areas clear.  If you are interested in learning how to operate it, please contact Lloyd Hanton.

If you would like to try on sample clothing with the Rural 60 logo, an assortment of sizes, colours and styles will be displayed at the Centre for 2 weeks.  You can place your order and pre-pay it during normal open hours.

Finally, a reminder that tickets for the AGM must be purchased by the end of April.  A roast beef dinner will be served at the Kakabeka Legion at 5 p.m. on May 17, followed by the meeting shortly after 6, so if you aren't able to attend the supper, you are still able to take part in the meeting.  Elections for 5 board members will be an important part of the meeting, so come on out and make your vote count.

There is a change of venue for the upcoming CPR/defibrillator course.  This training will now be held at the Kakabeka Falls Fire Hall.  All other details remain the same--Friday, March 1, at 1 p.m.  If you haven't already signed up, the registration sheet is on the counter in the front lobby at the Rural 60 Plus Centre.

We have two training opportunities on the calendar in March.

The first is a CPR/Defibrillator course on Friday, March 15, at 1:00 pm.  Ideally one member from each activity (disking, quilting, carving, etc.) will take the training to ensure that help is available when needed.  There is a $10 fee for the manual and a certificate will be issued to each participant on successful completion of the training.  There are 15 seats available and the sign up sheet is on the counter in the front lobby.

A free Craft Room safety course will be held on Saturday, March 30, at 1:00 pm.  We encourage all who use the Craft Room equipment to participate.