Oyen and District Seniors Report: Delicious Potluck
By Beth Symes
Sixteen people came together for a delicious potluck supper prior to the Seniors meeting on November 5. Following the lead of the last potluck, which consisted of salads and desserts, this meal had only one salad and two desserts but a great variety of hot dishes and was enjoyed by all.
Lynda called the meeting to order just after 7:00 p.m., and we discussed items of business until 7:43 p.m., when Kyna adjourned the meeting. The initial business—minutes from the last meeting and the financial report for the month—were the first items on the agenda. In relation to the financial report, there has been no information regarding the applications that have been made for several grants, which would be used for renovations in the Hall. Results of these applications are expected soon.
A number of items discussed were activities happening in the hall over the fall season. Heather reported that floor curling is going well, with two of the rinks and four teams competing, playing two games each on Wednesday afternoons. People participating are enjoying curling on a different rink every week. If you are looking for a new activity as winter begins, consider coming to the Seniors Centre on Wednesday afternoons at about 12:45 p.m. to curl at 1:00 p.m. It is a drop-in activity, so there is no need to commit every week. Floor curling will continue all Wednesdays in November, with only the first Wednesday in December having curling. It will resume in the new year on Wednesday, January 7. For more information, please call Heather at 403-664-3854.
A second fall activity that has been enjoyed by many is the crafting group, which meets on Tuesdays and is coordinated by Cheryl. Members of the group work on a variety of handcrafts, such as quilting, sewing, knitting, and organizing photos, while enjoying the social aspect of being together. Attendance and hours are flexible. Cheryl has the hall rented from 10:00 a.m. to about 4:00 p.m. Some people attend for the whole day, bringing lunch, while others attend for part of the day. Crafting will continue on all Tuesdays in November, except for Remembrance Day, November 11. In December, there will be a full day of crafting on the first Tuesday and a half day on the second Tuesday. If you have a Christmas project you are working on at home, this might be the ideal setting for you. For more information, contact Cheryl at 403-664-8688.
A third activity beginning in the Hall is pickleball. Lorraine invited anyone interested in playing during the winter months to come on Thursday evenings (except if the Hall is rented). If you are interested in an evening of activity and socializing, drop in on a Thursday. For more information, call Lorraine at 403-664-2499.
The big event coming up in December is the annual Christmas Banquet, which will take place on December 10. The Seniors group collaborates with a minor hockey team to create this pre-Christmas dinner. Heather has offered to be our MC for the event, and Shirley Foot is arranging the entertainment to follow the meal. Tickets must be purchased in advance from Jessie Battrum and cost $25. She reports that only a very limited number remain, so if you are interested, contact her at 403-664-2515.
Several new items of business were discussed. Because of a recent situation in the hall that created smoke from an item being burned in the microwave with no alarms going off, obtaining plug-in smoke detectors and CO₂ detectors will be investigated. Fire department visits have never brought the lack of these to our attention.
The pool table cloth was examined at the meeting by several members, and it was determined that the condition of the cloth did not warrant the purchase of a new one at this time. It was suggested that it would be a good idea to photograph the cloth prior to each rental to determine if damage occurred during the event.
The kitchen is missing some basic supplies, so a motion was made to allow the purchase of these items.
There is no Potluck and Meeting in December. The next Potluck and Meeting will be on January 7, 2026. We are always interested in new members, so extend an invitation to Seniors (50+) to consider this as an activity for the New Year.