President’s Notes
Dear Newcomers,
What a year! From our various parties, museum tours & outings, coffees, walks, lunches, book clubs, buncos, men’s pub nights, and community service projects, there have been many exciting opportunities to make new friends! Whether you are brand new or more of a veteran, we appreciate your participation in our events.
As many of you know, the past two years have not been the easiest for my family, given my son’s terminal diagnosis, and I want to thank you for your support and kind thoughts. The club has been my second family since I joined six years ago and it’s been wonderful to lead the club as president these past two years. Next season, I plan to stay on the board and help with the secretary position.
Leading the club next season will be our two new co-presidents, Pam Richter and Katie Walter. Both have been board members these past two years, helping with Tuesday Walking Group, Lunch Bunch, and the recent revision of our by-laws. The club is in great hands!
This is the last newsletter of the 2017-2018 season. Thank you, everyone, and have a wonderful summer!
Alli Smith, LNC President, allihinman@hotmail.com
Announcement: We’re changing our scope, name…
We are expanding our membership eligibility to include Lexington residents regardless of how long they have lived here. And we are changing our name, to the Lexington Neighbors and Newcomers Club (LNNC), to reflect our broader scope. During our research of other community newcomer clubs, we noted that similar clubs have moved towards including longtime residents who wanted to join a vibrant social community that allowed them to get to know new faces. Newcomers have also commented that they would appreciate getting to know residents with history and experience in the community. We hope you will welcome this evolution in our purpose, and use it as a great opportunity to encourage your neighbors and friends to join our growing Lexington club!
Help Wanted!
We’re doing the end-of-season shuffle at LNC when board members join, change roles, or retire. We have two open positions starting next fall. If you would like to get more involved in our merry band of planners. Feel free to reach out for more information.
Bunco Coordinator: Once per month, collect RSVPs and run this fun dice game. Contact: allihinman@hotmail.com
Website: Update website with the current month’s events and other new info as needed. Contact: asmithziegler@gmail.com
Tuesday Walking Group
Join us for our weekly walk n talk. We meet every Tuesday, weather permitting, and walk for about 90 minutes on a local outdoor trail. Contact our organizers to get on the distribution list so they can email you the prior Monday with meet-up details.
TUESDAYS @ 9:00am (please be prompt)
Organizers: Deb Zucker debbra.zucker@gmail.com and Katie Walter katiebwalter@gmail.com.
International Potluck!
SAT June 2 7pm-10pm @ home of host Natalie & Derek Reynolds
We have just a few spots left for our annual potluck celebrating our diversity through food! If you would like to attend, email Nassma at nassmahalaseh@hotmail.com. Bring a food item and beverage that reflect your many varied life experiences, a family tradition, or just something you love to make!
Coffee Talk
WED June 6 9:30am-11:30pm (Note earlier start/end times)
Host: Sheila Tweeddale
Start your day with a smile. Chat with friends while enjoying coffee and a nibble.
No RSVP: Just drop in! Questions: Contact Viki Deardorff, milwaukeemeow@yahoo.com
Bike Ride / Lunch Bunch
FRI June 8
Meet us for a bike ride from Lexington to Concord, for lunch in Concord, or both.
11am Bike Ride: Meet on the bike path behind Lexington Depot Square. Bring a bike chain/lock. We will cycle together to the Trail’s End Café restaurant. If rain is forecasted, bike ride portion will be cancelled by Thurs., June 7.
12pm Lunch: Meet at Trail’s End Café, 97 Lowell Road, Concord, MA
RSVP: Pam, pamrichter7@gmail.com, and specify whether biking, lunching, or both. Please provide Pam your cell.
ESCAPE: Kayaking in Concord!
WED June 13 @ 10am @ South Bridge Boat House, 496 Main Street
(route 62), Concord
Good exercise, good company and beautiful views! We can’t think of a better way to spend the morning than paddling with us on the Concord River. Kayaks and canoes are both available for rent (paddles and life jackets included). We will plan to spend two hours on the water, floating to the famous North Bridge.
Cost: Double kayak $17/hour; single kayak $16/hour; canoe $13/hour. The boat house accepts cash only. Note that LNC will subsidize the fees—per person cost depends on the number of participants. You can choose your boat and arrange for boat sharing, if desired, at the boat house.
RSVP: Lesley Segal, lesleysegal@hotmail.com
Book Club…The Lost Wife (Alyson Richman)
TUES June 19 @ 7:30 pm
Host: Lorri Kern
A rapturous novel of first love in a time of war–from the celebrated author of The Rhythm of Memory and The Last Van Gogh. In pre-war Prague, the dreams of two young lovers are shattered when they are separated by the Nazi invasion. Then, decades later, thousands of miles away in New York, there’s an inescapable glance of recognition between two strangers…
RSVP: suemstapleton@gmail.com
Community Service: LexRAP
WED June 20
Shift 1: 9:30am-10:30pm
Shift 2: 10:30am-2pm
We are partnering with LexRAP (Lexington Refugee Assistance Program) to help with a special lunch that will also fall on Global Refugee day. Choose one or both shifts. During shift 1, we prepare food at a volunteer home, then, during shift 2, we deliver the lunches to the International Institute of New England in Lowell. The goal is to offer a healthy meal, and give the refugees the opportunity to practice their English while connecting with one another.
RSVP/Questions: Email Nassma Halaseh at: nassmahalaseh@hotmail.com
Men’s Pub Night
WED June 20 @ 7:30pm-whenever @ Via Lago, Lexington Center
Let’s raise a glass in June to toast the arrival of summer and the last week of school, before taking a break for July and August. No RSVPs needed, however expressions of interest helpful in making arrangements with our venue. Also, if you’re not already on Norm’s distribution list, send your contact info so he can notify you of last minute changes.
Contact: Norm Richter, normrichter@comcast.net.
Bunco (& Left-Right-Center)
THURS June 21 @ 7:30pm
Bring: $5 ante for Bunco; $3 for L-R-C (exact change appreciated!); and a beverage or snack to share.
RSVP: email Alli Smith, allihinman@hotmail.com, for location details.
About the Games: Bunco is an entertaining, simple dice game, with no experience required. It’s played in multiple rounds with players alternating turns rolling the dice to match the target number. Whoever wins the most rounds is the overall winner. And because players rotate tables, it is a great way to meet and chat with different people. Left-Right-Center is an even simpler game, faster moving than Bunco, and is played at the end of the evening. Did we mention there’s no experience required?