March 2016 newsletter

BOLD VENTURES
March 2016
(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
Email: boldwpa@gmail.com
website: www.wpabold.blogspot.com
Yahoo Groups: wpabold@yahoogroups.com (moderator must approve posts).
Update Line: 1-773-597-4222 (updates recorded each Friday.)

MAGNIFICENT MARCH WITH MARVELOUS ACTIVITIES
Even before new life in the form of flowers, trees, and lawns spring into action, BOLD has several activities to put some spring in your step.

On Tuesday the 1st, the Board will meet at our new location: One Smithfield Street, Rachel Carson Room, lower level, Downtown Pittsburgh. The time remains 6:30 to 8:30 PM; parking in the rear lot is free; sign-in at the front desk is required; and sighted assistance is available from the lobby security guard.

So that we know whom to expect, phone Tammi by 10 PM on Sunday February 28th: 412-488-6298. Sunday February 28th by 9 PM is the deadline by which to mark your place with Pat DiPasquale for Mall Walking at the Ross Park Mall the first Thursday in March, Pat's number being 412-492-1692. When marking your place with Pat, ask her who the reservationist is for the third Thursday, now that this event is held the first and third Thursdays of the month.

Additional March activities include: Mall Walking at the Monroeville Mall on Wednesdays the 2nd, 16th, and 30th; skiing on Sundays the 6th and 20th (weather permitting), and a Games Day and Party on March 13th at Ray Jablonowski's Greenfield home: 4551 Parade Street, Pittsburgh, 15207. Ray's fun-filled house party will be held from noon to 5 PM, with seven having signed up so far. The reservation deadline by which to mark your place with Terri Winaught, 412-263-2022, is Wednesday the 9th by 10 PM.

Moving on to Skiing and Yoga, Tuesdays the 1st and 15th are the 9 PM deadlines by which to sign up with Dom Ceresa for Skiing: 727-527-1857. Saturdays the 6th and 19th are the deadlines by which to cancel if you've signed up and find yourself unable to attend. To cancel, call Dom at the above number by 8 PM. (Many thanks to Dom Ceresa and Nancy Leverett for their hard work with skiing, and congratulations to Natasha Brown as a first-time skier.)

With Yoga continuing to be held every Thursday unless fewer than four people sign up, the Tuesday sign-up deadlines with Veronique Schreurs, 412-225-4038, are the 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th. The Thursdays on which this event will be held are the 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st. (This Editor has heard nothing but positive comments about the benefits of Yoga, and the excellence of Richard as an instructor.)

PAST EVENTS
Due to brutally cold weather, the Bingo that was to have occurred on Saturday, February 13th was canceled, 10 people having signed up (no decision has yet been made regarding re-scheduling).

This Editor is unsure whether there was a Sunday when skiing had to be canceled because the weather wasn't conducive.

ADMINISTRATIVE ADD-ON
As Treasurer and Membership Chair, Veronique Schreurs has been contacting people whose dues are still due. If you are one of them, please renew by sending a $12 check or money order, made payable to Western PA BOLD, to 2269 Tilbury Ave., Pittsburgh, 15217. Thank you in advance for remaining a valuable and valued BOLD member.

LOOKING AHEAD
April's Board meeting will be on Tuesday the 5th; May's on Tuesday the 3rd, and June's on Tuesday the 7th. Remember that the new venue is the Rachael Carson Room on the lower level of One Smithfield Street, Downtown Pittsburgh. The Sunday before by 10 PM remains the deadline for letting Tammi Swiantek, as Board President, know that you will attend. If you find after signing up that you can't be at the meeting, please let Tammi know by phoning 412-488-6298 as soon as possible.

A very popular event coming up soon is the Camp Kon-o-Kwee weekend from Friday, May 6th until Sunday the 8th. Since 20 is the minimum and 25 the maximum number of attendees, be sure to mark your place with Mark Grasak sooner rather later: 412-264-4944. The deadline for reserving and paying $60 per person is Saturday, April 9th by 10 PM. When sending your $60 check or money order to Veronique Schreurs, make it payable to Western PA BOLD; write in the memo that it is for the Kon-o-Kwee Weekend, and send it to 2269 Tilbury Ave., Pittsburgh, 15217.

CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
To see if Joyce Driben has any more free Pittsburgh symphony tickets, phone 412-521-4385. If Joyce still has tickets, she will give you dates and times.

Opera Up Close, which is free to persons who are friends of the 'Opera and $5 per person for everyone else, will be held on Sunday March 13th which is also when there will be a City Theatre play, with audio description and Braille programs available upon request. (See calendar.)

Saturday the 19th is when the Pittsburgh Opera will present their free monthly Brown Bag Lunch series from noon to 1 at their headquarters: 2425 Liberty Ave., Strip District.

On Sunday the 20th from 4 to 6 PM, Opera Up Close, featuring the music from the Barber of Seville will be performed (more in calendar).

FUNDRAISING FACTS
Although an auction has yet to be scheduled, we will be having one since there seems to be at least some interest. So that the Fundraising Chair will have the best possible sense of just how much interest before scheduling it, please phone 412-263-2022 with your feedback.

Also, we will be discussing at March's meeting whether BOLD should participate in the Foundation Center's Day of Giving. If you would like more information or have strong feelings either way, you'll want to be at March's meeting on Tuesday the 1st (see calendar). (When BOLD participated in 2014's Day of Giving, we raised $1,270.)

BOLD BITS
Because of Easter and the Saint Patrick's Day Parade being in March, this Editor is unsure whether the Golden Triangle Council of the Blind will meet, and, if so, when. For the same reason, this Editor is unsure whether there will be a Lutheran Center meal. To ask about the monthly meal, phone Center Director Sherri Crum at 412-682-1800 or email director@plcb.net.

To learn about upcoming programs at the Carnegie Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, phone 412-687-2440. When phoning, you can also ask to be added to their email list.

Happy Birthday to Nancy Gilmore, Marcy Loughner, Jeff Mulkern, Diane Popoleo, Ed Reid, Tammi Swiantek, Jim Winaught, Terri Winaught, and anyone else with a March birthday.

To provide a BOLD Bit, bring it to a Board meeting, phone 412-263-2022, or email twinaught@comcast.net. Feel free to use the above information to give this Editor newsletter feedback, which she always welcomes and greatly appreciates.

MARCH CALENDAR
Tuesday the 1st: BOLD'S Board will meet from 6:30 to 8:30 PM in the Rachael Carson Room at One Smithfield Street.

Tuesday the 1st is also the 9 PM deadline to mark your place for Yoga: 412-225-4038, and a 9 PM deadline for Skiing with Dom Ceresa: 724-527-1857.

Wednesday the 2nd: Mall Walking will be held at the Monroeville Mall from 9 AM to 11 AM.

Thursday the 3rd: Mall Walking will be held at the Ross Park Mall from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM, and Yoga will be held from 2:30 to 4 PM at 2215 Murray Ave., Pittsburgh, 15217, the Squirrel Hill Schoolhouse Studio.

Saturday the 5th: If you need to cancel your skiing reservation with Dom Ceoesa, call 724-527-1857 by 8 PM.

Sunday the 6th: Skiing will be held at Seven Springs from 9 AM to 3 PM.

Tuesday the 8th: To sign up for Yoga with Veronique Schreurs by 9 PM, phone 412-225-4038.

Wednesday the 9th: To sign up for Ray Jablonowski's Game Day and party, contact Terri Winaught by 10 PM at 412-263-2022.

Thursday the 10th: Yoga will be held from 2:30 to 4:00 PM at the Schoolhouse Yoga Studio.

Thursday the 10th is also the 9 PM deadline for letting Joyce Driben know you want to mall walk at the Monroeville Mall the following Wednesday. Number? 412-521-4385.

Sunday the 13th: Ray Jablonowski will host games and a party from noon to 5 PM at his Greenfield home: 4551 Parade Street, Pittsburgh, 15207.

Sunday the 13th is also when the City Theatre will present, "Sister's Easter Catechism." Curtain time is 2 PM, with a sensory workshop being at 1 PM. (Braille programs and audio description are available upon request.)

Finally, Sunday the 13th is also when an Art Song Recital will be held at Pittsburgh Opera's headquarters: 2425 Liberty Ave., (25th Street entrance). This performance is free for Friends of Pittsburgh Opera, and $5 for everyone else. (Audio description is now available at these recitals.)

Tuesday the 15th: 9 PM deadline for Yoga with Veronique Schreurs, 412-225-4038, and 9 PM skiing reservation deadline with Dom Ceresa: 724-527-1857.

Wednesday the 16th: Mall Walking at the Monroeville Mall.

Thursday the 17th: Mall Walking at the Ross Park Mall from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM, and Yoga from 2:30 to 4 PM.

Saturday the 19th: Pittsburgh Opera's Brown Bag Lunch Series at their Strip District headquarters: 2425 Liberty Ave. from noon to 1 PM, and 8 PM skiing cancelation deadline with Dom Ceresa: 724-527-1857.

Sunday the 20th: Downhill Skiing from 9 AM to 3 PM at Seven Springs and Opera Up Close for the Barber of Seville. This will be held from 4 to 6 PM, with a cost of $5 per person or free if you are a Friend of the Opera.

Tuesday the 22nd: 9 PM deadline to sign up for Yoga with Veronique: 412-225-4038.

Thursday the 24th: Yoga from 2:30 to 4, and 9 PM deadline to sign up for Mall Walking with Joyce Driben: 412-521-4385.

Tuesday the 29th: 9 PM Yoga sign-up deadline with Veronique.

Wednesday the 30th: Mall Walking at the Monroeville Mall.

Thursday the 31st: Yoga from 2:30 to 4 PM.

Tons of thanks to Maurice Johnston, Marty Mathews, Veronique Schreurs, and the Braille Team which Tina Wassermann coordinates.

THE END