BOLD VENTURES
February 2023
Western Pennsylvania Blind Outdoor Leisure Development
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
May you love and be loved always!
BOLD Board of Directors
At the December 13, 2022, meeting there were elections for board members. Now here is your BOLD Board of Directors for 2023: President, Nancy Leverett; First Vice-President and Program Chair, Jeff Mulkern; Second Vice-President and Reservation & Transportation Chair, Carol Lubecki; Treasurer, Ryan Leverett; Recording Secretary, Karen Seligman; Corresponding Secretary, Veronique Schreurs (on leave of absence); Temporary Corresponding Secretary, Debby Hill; Fundraising Chairperson, Terri Winaught; Past President, Tammi Swiantek.
BOLD Reminder: Membership Directory and Dues
Note: if you haven’t had a chance to pay your dues, please take some time to do so. You will make BOLD board members very happy! Here is the information: BOLD will put out a new Membership Directory based on dues paid for 2023. The last directory was sent out in 2020. To be included in the directory and get the Newsletter in print or braille, you must now pay your $12 dues for 2023. For membership purposes we need your name, address, email address, home phone, cell phone, and birthdate. We also need your vision status: sighted, partial, or blind, and your newsletter preference: email, print, large print, or braille. If anything has changed since 2020 email your updated membership information to Ryan at ryanjleverett1@gmail.com. If you haven’t paid 2023 dues make checks payable to WPA BOLD and send them along with your membership information to the new address for BOLD listed at the end of the Newsletter. The Membership Directory will contain the following information for each member: Name, email address, Zip Code, Home phone, cell phone, and vision status: sighted, partial, or blind. You can request not to be listed in the Membership Directory; however, we do need you to send us your information for our records. Thank you for your cooperation.
When the conference line is mentioned in this newsletter, the number to call is 385-799-9487. There is no passcode.
NEWSLETTER RECORDING: Anyone can hear a recording of the newsletter, call 401-252-0029 Access Code: 265365#. Fishing for Feedback: No this is not the PH bad type of fishing.
We are looking for ideas and comments from you the BOLD members. If you have any ideas for events, items you would like to see in BOLD Ventures, feedback about the Tuesday evening chats or anything else, contact Nancy at 412-561-3972 Or email her at nancy.leverett1@verizon.net.
CALENDAR
January
Past Event: January 12th, outdoor ice skating at Schenley Park ice rink.
On January 12th, spring made a brief visit to Pittsburgh with warm temperatures and rain, so we had to cancel the ice skating. Hopefully, we’ll have better luck in the future.
Tuesday January 31st at 7 pm, joint call with SE Wisconsin BOLD, on our conference line.
Nancy will be the host. Join the call to greet old friends and meet new ones.
February
Every Thursday, from 2:45 to 3:45 pm, Yoga by phone with Richard, to participate call the conference line. Cost is $10 per session. You will be billed approximately every two months. If you have any questions, please contact Maggi at 412-613-8592 or mio528@comcast.net.
Saturdays February 4th and 11th, from 11:45 am to 12:45 pm, Blind and Visually Impaired Winter Tennis Clinic, Sharpsburg Recreation Center 205 N. Canal Street Sharpsburg, Pa 15215. There is no cost. Our host is the Highland Park Tennis Club (HPTC). Instructors will guide athletes through step-by-step verbal instruction on how to play Blind/VI tennis. All equipment will be provided. Blind tennis is played with softball-size foam balls that have a ping pong ball in the middle that makes sound. To register please complete the form at https://forms.gle/1in9sVRXMJS6MWHX8. For more information contact Dana at danajoy216@hotmail.com or 412-576-4103.
Sundays February 5th and 26th from 9 am to 3 pm, downhill skiing at Seven Springs Resort. No cost for ski equipment and lift tickets thanks to the continuing generosity of the management of Seven Springs. Everyone is responsible for their own lunch. For the February 5th ski day make your reservation by 9 pm January 29th with Nancy at 412-561-3972. For the February 26th ski day make your reservation with Nancy by 9 pm on Sunday, February 19th. When you make your reservation be sure to tell Nancy either that you are a visually impaired skier who needs a ride or that you can provide transportation. Sighted skiers who can guide for these ski days should contact Scotto Gray <scottog@yahoo.com>.
Tuesday February 7th from 6 to 8 pm, Board Meeting in-person at Human Services, 1 Smithfield St, downtown. Any non-board Members who want to attend must call Nancy at 412-561-3972 by Sunday, February 5th.
Wednesdays, February 8th and 22nd, from 7 to 9:30 pm SE Wisconsin virtual bingo, via Zoom or phone. Join Zoom Meeting with the Zoom App on your computer or smart device. Important note: this is a new zoom link. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88378103701. Or use your landline or smartphone to join by your phone's long-Distance plan: 646-876-9923, enter the Meeting ID 883 7811 0370, then press the pound key (#) and wait to be let in. To sign up to play, contact Lion Ray Tweedale at (262) 224-5517 and provide the numbers of your bingo card. Only one card can be played per person, and your card must be registered with Ray. If WPA BOLD members win any of the cash prizes, the funds will go to WPA BOLD as a donation. Ray will be on early at 6:30 pm Eastern for anyone that wants to be sure they can get in or would like to provide the numbers for their card. HAVE FUN AND GOOD LUCK!
Saturday February 11th, 10:30 to 11:30 am, indoor ice skating at the Hunt Armory Ice Rink, 324 Emerson St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. There is no charge for ice time or skate rentals thanks to sponsorship by the Penguins Foundation. Actual ice time is one hour starting at 10:30. We’re asking participants to arrive early to sign a release, get skates, and pair up with guides. We need sighted guides to make our skating event a success. When signing up, please indicate if you are willing to guide a skater. Also let us know if you are a visually impaired skater who wishes to be paired with a guide. When leaving a message please provide a return phone number. Reserve by Monday, February 6th by 8:00 pm with Tammi at 412-951-6528 by text or voicemail or tswiantek@comcast.net.
Upcoming Events
Mall Walking at the Monroeville mall. Many of you will remember that before the COVID pandemic, there was a mall walking program at the Monroeville Mall. Folks got exercise, maybe did some shopping and enjoyed lunch together. Joyce is looking into starting up the mall walking again, so if you are interested give Joyce a call at 412-521-4385. BOLD Party: yes, in March we are planning to have a party for the BOLD family. Stay tuned for the information in the March BOLD Ventures newsletter. Introduction to Skateboarding. Plans are in the works for an introduction to skateboarding event in April. So all you brave BOLD Ones watch for more information in the coming newsletters. Two board members have committed to giving skateboarding a try, so don’t let them have all of the fun!
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES:
Anyone interested in finding out what tickets are available for cultural events such as symphony concerts or operas, please call Joyce at 412-521-4385. Thursday, February 16th, 1 to 2 pm, Book Club by Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians, join in-person, by zoom or phone. February book: Tiger in the Sea: the Ditching of Flying Tiger 923 and the Desperate Struggle for Survival by Eric Lindner (DB108279). At the beginning of February, reserve your spot by calling 800-242-0586 or emailing info@mylamp.org.
BOLD BITS
Compassion and condolences go out to Cindy and Ray Jablonowski whose brother, Bob passed away on January 3rd, 2023. Anyone who has attended Ray’s wonderful house parties with wonderful food, games, and fellowship will remember how helpful Bob was along with Cindy and members of the Catholic Alumni Club. Thank you for keeping those prayers and positive energy coming for Veronique Schreurs as she continues to recover from the stroke she had in June, 2022. Also, send Prayers and good wishes to Jim Winaught who continues to struggle with health issues. Happy February Birthday to: Sherri Crum, Missy Demchak, Mitch Demchak, Jamie Robinson, Aimee Yunt and anyone else celebrating a February birthday!
Contact us:
WPA BOLD
PO Box 9101
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
Editors: Debby Hill and team
Email: boldwpa@gmail.com
Website: www.wpabold.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wpabold