December 2015 newsletter

BOLD VENTURES
December, 2015
(Blind Outdoor Leisure Development)
BOLD welcomes persons 18 and older with all degrees of vision: blind, low vision, partially sighted, and fully sighted.

PO Box 8114
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Terri Winaught, Editor
E-mail: boldwpa@gmail.com
Website: www.wpabold.blogspot.com
Yahoo Group: wpabold@yahoogroups.com (moderator must approve posts)
Update Line: 1-773-597-4222

DELIGHTFUL-AND HOLIDAY TREAT DECADENT DECEMBER
December's Board meeting will be on Tuesday the 1st. At that time, we will start scheduling meetings for 2016.

When the Holiday Party is held on Sunday, December 6th, the menu will be: ham with pineapples, scalloped potatoes, chicken marsalla, rigatoni, a vegetable medley, rolls and butter; tea and coffee; pop and water, and the food that partygoers will bring, which will be snacks and desserts. The time is 2 to 6 PM, with the meal probably being served around 2:30 to allow time for setup and more people arriving.

This Holiday celebration will also include a 50/50 raffle, with one of our members having already spoken for 20 $1 tickets. To encourage the sale of more tickets, there will be three chances to win: first prize, half of the winnings; second prize, a lucky lotto calendar with a suggested donation of $25, and a one pound box of plain chocolate fudge with a suggested retail value of $12.

Since November's newsletter, this Editor learned that the caterer needs an exact count of attendees two weeks before the party. That being the case, the revised reservation deadline with Cindy Perseo is Sunday, November 22nd by 9 PM.

Mall Walking at the Ross Park Mall will be on Thursday, December 3rd from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM, and the dates for walking at the Monroeville Mall will be on Wednesdays the 2nd and 16th. (Reservationists, deadlines and related information in calendar.)

December's Cultural Events will include: Dennis Ross at the Robert Morris University Speakers Series on Wednesday the 2nd; the Brown Bag Lunch series presented by the Pittsburgh Opera on Saturday the 12th; Sunset Baby on Sunday the 13th at the City Theatre, and a Holiday Concert at Heinz Hall on Sunday the 20th at 2 PM.

IT'S SKIING TIME AGAIN, I'M GONNA TRY IT

Whether you are a novice or an experienced guide who could use a refresher and enjoys the fellowship, the Downhill Ski Guide Clinic will be held at Seven Springs on Sunday December the 20th from 9 AM to 3 PM. Depending on the length of the clinic, there just might even be time for some fun skiing in the afternoon.

To mark your place for Skiing, phone Dom Ceresa: 724-527-1857 by 9 PM on Tuesday the 15th. If you signed up for this clinic and then find yourself unable to attend, phone Dom at the above number by 8 PM on Saturday the 19th (January through March, 2016 dates, all of which will be on Sundays, will be listed under "Looking Ahead.")

PAST EVENTS

On Sunday, November 8th, Veronique Schreurs did her always excellent job leading a hike along trails in the South Side flats. Before that hike, participants enjoyed lunch at the Steel City Cactus. Many thanks to Penny Fleckenstein for taking reservations; Veronique for leading the hike; and all who made this hike possible by guiding.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Sundays in January, February, and March, 2016 when Downhill Skiing will be held are: January 10th and 24th; February 7th and 21st; March 6th, and March 20th.

The reservation deadline with Dom Ceresa will always be the Tuesday before by 9 PM and the cancelation deadline with Dom will always be the Saturday before by 8 PM. In addition to Downhill Skiing, Cross-country will also be held as weather permits, so let Dom know if your preference is downhill or Cross-country. Dom's phone number is 724-527-1857, and his Email is dceresa706@aol.com

ADMINISTRATIVE ADD-ON

Unless nominations are taken from the floor at the Holiday Party, the 2016 officers will be as follows: President, Tammi Swiantek; First Vice-President and Programs Chair, Nancy Leverett; Second Vice-President, who also chairs the Reservations and Transportation Committees, Penny Fleckenstein; Recording Secretary, Karen Seligman; Corresponding Secretary and Newsletter Editor, Terri Winaught; and Treasurer/Membership chair, Veronique Schreurs.

The final administrative note is the reminder that 2016 dues are due by December 31st, 2015.

FUNDRAISING FACTS

As mentioned in November's newsletter, Fundraising Chair Terri Winaught is selling the following twelve flavors of fudge: butter pecan, chocolate cheesecake, chocolate coconut, chocolate mint, chocolate peanut butter, plain chocolate, chocolate with nuts, maple walnut, plain peanut butter, rocky road, which is chocolate and marshmallows, plain vanilla, and vanilla with nuts. Since Joyce from the copper Kettle sells this fudge for $12, we are selling it for $10 a pound, which is not only $2 less than the suggested retail but also much less expensive than other places charge. For this sale to be a Fundraiser, the venue from which we buy the fudge requires a minimum order of 50 pounds. By November 23rd, Terri will know if that 50 pound minimum has been reached. If it has, please make out a check or money order to Western PA BOLD and send it to 2269 Tilbury Ave., Pittsburgh, 15217. In the memo section, please indicate that your check or money order is for your fudge order. Also, although including the $15 cost of the Holiday Party and the $12 2016 dues in one check or money order is fine, the Treasurer asks that your fudge money be separate. Thank you in advance for remembering to keep your fudge money separate from any other payments.

In January's newsletter, this Editor will list the three raffle winners and how much money the 50/50 generated for BOLD. The Editor will also indicate how much money the fudge sale generated for BOLD. If we sell just the minimum 50 pounds on which we will make $5.50 per pound, we will have raised $275.

Finally, Jim Musto suggested a Bingo Fundraiser, so see future newsletters for when this will be scheduled. If you would like to suggest a fundraiser, please don't hesitate to phone Terri Winaught at 412-263-2022, or email t.winaught@verizon.net.

BOLD BITS

CONGRATULATIONS!! to Ceinwen King-Smith for winning yet another Halloween costume competition. Being the excellent and creative sewer that she is, Ceinwen is no stranger to winning these competitions.

BRAVA!! also to Ashley Winaught who raised more than $2 thousand for Children's Hospital. Ashley accomplished this by doing 24 hours of video gaming as an alumni of Allegheny County Community College.

The Carnegie Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped continues to hold advocacy advisory meetings, a monthly book club, tactile Board games, and occasionally arts and crafts. If you are not on the Library's email list for updates but would like to be, please phone 412-682-2440 and indicate your interest to whomever answers.

The Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind will hold December's meal and Christmas party on Saturday, December 12th. Because many people signed up for November's meal and then canceled at the last minute-by which time volunteers had already purchased all of the food they thought would be needed-Sherri Crum has changed the way she is doing sign-ups. In addition to the sign-up deadline being the Saturday before the meal by 6 PM, Sherri will be accepting reservations only during the week before. This means that-with the deadline for December's meal being Saturday the 5th by 6 PM-reservations will be taken only from November 28th till December 5th. This change is designed to keep people from signing up way in advance and then realizing close to the meal date that they will be unable to attend.

Happy Birthday to Don Ciccone, Ernie College, Celeste Compimisi, Ethel Deiuliis, John Perseo, Karen Seligman, Tina Wassermann, new member Kielan Williams and anyone else with a December birthday. Since Kielan Williams is a new member, this Editor also wants to warmly welcome her.

Since Penny fleckenstein is such an excellent writer and blogger, you are encouraged to read her weekly posts by visiting notyouraveragesinglemom.com. This Editor would still like to hear from Pat McCloskey so that she can also include his blog in every issue of BOLD Ventures. If anyone else has a blog which he or she would like to share with fellow BOLDSTERS, please phone 412-263-2022 or email t.winaught@verizon.net. You are also more than welcome to bring this information to a Board meeting, the above being the case with any BOLD Bit

Also, if you have any pictures of BOLD events, please ask Veronique if it is okay to send them to her given how busy she is with so many BOLD duties. If Veronique says it's okay and the Board agrees, I would like to start including pictures as often as possible and appropriate on the Web version of BOLD Ventures. Because pictures in any of the other formats would be likely to increase the production cost because it would take more paper, we sincerely apologize and regret that-except for inclusion on the website as time permits-this generally would not be feasible.

Closer to the activity dates and reservation deadlines listed below, you are welcome to phone 1-773-597-4222 for reminders.

NOVEMBER CALENDAR

Sunday the 22nd: 9 PM sign-up deadline with Cindy Perseo for the Holiday Party, and 10 PM fudge ordering deadline with Terri Winaught. Cindy's number is 412-421-3992, and Terri's number is 412-263-2022.

Thursday the 26th: 9 PM deadline to mark your place with Joyce Driben for Mall Walking at the Monroeville Mall: 412-521-4385.

Saturday the 28th: During the week of November 28th to December 5th, you may sign up with Sherri Crum, 412-682-1800, for the December meal and Christmas Party, the deadline being December 6th by 6 PM.

Sunday the 29th: 9 PM deadline to sign up with Andrea Schwartz for Mall Walking at the Ross Park Mall, and 10 PM deadline to let Tammi Swiantek know you will be at December's Board meeting. Andrea's number is 724-444-0064, and Tammi's is 412-488-6298.

DECEMBER CALENDAR

Tuesday the 1st: December's Board meeting will be held at the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind children from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. The school is located at 201 North Bellefield Ave., in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood, and sighted guide assistance is available as needed.

Tuesday the 1st is also the 9 PM deadline to sign up for Yoga with Veronique Schreurs: 412-225-4038. If that changes for any reason, the change will be put on the Update Line, 1-773-597-4222, and Veronique will probably phone anyone who has signed up

Wednesday the 2nd: Mall Walking will be held at the Monroeville Mall from 9 AM to 11 AM, followed by lunch. Since we will be short a guide by December, it is ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE! that you sign up by the deadline and not just show up. (Although the latter has happened rarely, it has happened just the same.) If you signed up for this event and need to cancel, again, please phone Joyce ASAP

If Jennifer Wilburn was able to obtain tickets for anyone who requested them, Wednesday the 2nd is also when Dennis Ross will speak at Heinz Hall with an 8 PM start time. Mr. Ross is an expert on Russia and the Middle East.

Thursday the 3rd: Mall Walking will be held at Ross Park Mall from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM.

The 3rd is also when Yoga will be held at the Squirrel Hill Schoolhouse Studio: 2215 Murray Ave., Pittsburgh, 15217. The time is 2:45 PM to 4 PM, with Veronique contacting all who signed up if this needs to be canceled. If it is held, the cost is $15 per person per class, payable on the day of instruction.

Sunday the 6th: BOLD will hold its Holiday Party from 2 to 6 PM in the Liberty Room: One Smithfield Street, Downtown Pittsburgh. If you ordered fudge please arrive by 12:30 since that's when Joyce will be there to start sorting and distributing.

The food will be served sometime between 2:30 and 3, depending on how long it takes to set it on the serving tables. Since there will also be music, a 50/50 raffle, and a raffle of two additional prizes, it promises to be lots of fun (and you just can't miss the socialization that promotes great fellowship)!

Tuesday the 8th: Since this Editor does not know on what Thursdays Yoga might be canceled as it gets closer to the Holidays, phone Veronique at 412-225-4038.

Thursday the 10th: 9 PM sign-up with Joyce Driben for Mall Walking at the Monroeville Mall: 412-521-4385. (Due to the importance of having the proper ratio between guides and persons needing guides, anyone who signs up after the deadline will not be expected to attend.)

Saturday the 12th: The Brown Bag Lunch Series will be held at Pittsburgh Opera's headquarters: 2425 Liberty Ave., in Pittsburgh's Strip District. If you will need sighted guide assistance, give Chelsea a few days’ notice by phoning 412-281-0912, x256.

Sunday the 13th: The Pittsburgh City Theatre will present, "Sunset Baby”, with a 2 o’clock curtain time. At 1 PM, there will be a sensory workshop for persons who have vision loss or low vision. Additionally, Braille programs and audio-description will be available upon request. The theater's address is 1300 Bingham Street, Pittsburgh's South Side neighborhood. To order tickets beforehand, or to ask any questions, phone the theater box office: 412-431-4900.

Tuesday the 15th: 9 PM sign-up deadline with Dom Ceresa for the Ski Guide Clinic the following Sunday, Dom's number being 724-527-1857. Be sure to give Dom your contact information in case the weather causes this clinic to be canceled.

Wednesday the 16th: Mall Walking will be held at the Monroeville Mall from 9 AM to 11 AM. (This will also be the last Mall Walking event until the New Year.

Saturday the 19th: 8 PM deadline by which to cancel your Downhill Ski Guide Clinic reservations if you signed up with Dom and then discovered you can't go. Though that is the deadline, you are always encouraged to cancel your reservation for an event as soon as you know you can't go.

Sunday the 20th: The Downhill Ski Guide Clinic at Seven Springs will be held from 9 AM to 3 PM.

Sunday the 20th is also when there will be a Holiday Concert at Heinz Hall: 600 Penn Ave., Downtown Pittsburgh. Although the starting time of Sunday concerts is often 2:30 PM, ask Joyce when you ask for tickets. If you forget to ask, phone 412-392-4800.

Thursday the 31st: Dues for 2016 are due, so send your check or money order, made payable to Western PA BOLD, to 2269 Tilbury Ave., Pittsburgh, 15217. You and your BOLD Membership are important to us, valuable, and valued.

Thank you to everyone whose work makes BOLD Ventures possible each month in such a variety of formats.
THE END