This is the Comox Valley PROBUS St. Paddy's Day "Green Team" ... all those who responded to Bob Thiesburger's suggestion that we celebrate St. Paddy's Day (albeit a day early) gathered together for a group shot.
Bernice Blonarwitz ... dubbed Winning Leprechaun (or some such) by Past President Michael Syer.
And of course the day would not be complete without a little Irish Humour:
To honor this St. Patricks day with my sister and brother Probusians, I wanted to share this very touching story of Irish Wedded Bliss yet not clutter up the meeting with yet another "story".
Mary and Paddy O'Flaherty were preparing to retire for the evening. As Paddy reclined in bed, Mary admired herself in the full length mirror. "Y'know Paddy I was to the Doctor today, and he remarked what a shapely body I had for a women of 60 years of age. "Agh, Mary, but did he say anything about ur great big fat Irish ass?". Mary hesitated, then remarked, "Come to think of it, he never mentioned your name at all at all."
Thank you Ian
In honor of St. Paddy's Day and in the tradition started by Ian Parsons, I offer the story I would have told at the recent Probus meeting if I would have been well enough to attend.
It seems that Paddy and Mick were visiting Cork and upon leaving a bar noticed an advertisement in a shop window stating:
Suits: $8:00
Trousers $5:00
Shirts: $3:50.
Lord Tunderin, Paddy says Mick. "Look at dem prices. Lets go in and buy some to resell in Belfast. We will make a killen."
Paddy agrees and they go in. They go up to the counter and Paddy says to the sales clerk:
"We will have 50 suits, 40 pairs of trousers and 100 of your finest white shirts."
The sales clerk looks Paddy up and down and says "I'm sorry, but I can't do that."
"WHAT", says Pad "You've got your bloody sign in the bloody window advertising your business. What do you mean you can't sell to me. Is it because I am from Belfast?"
"No" says the clerk, "Its because we are a dry cleaners."
This Month Ann Cook has arranged an Irish dinner and entertainment to celebrate St.Paterick's Day
Where: dEsterre House Seniors center Comox,
Date: MAR 19TH
Time: 5:30
If you are interested in going to this event talk to Ann Cook or sign up at dEsterre House.:
BRIDGE (SOCIAL). (Needs a new Coordinator)
This group is looking for a new Coordinator for the fall. If you are considering taking on this role call Liz @250-338-6284 or email at lizdatoo47@gmail.com.
HIKING GROUP (this club needs new coordinator) –
On hold as Linda is in a leg cast.
GARDEN CLUB (Looking for a New Coordinator to work with Gaynor Bereza)
Gaynor is praying for a change in the weather before arranging any spring garden tours.
Request to speak: Roger Thomas: Jim Boase
I'm sorry about the dates in this report being after the fact in some cases. This is a problem for us to work out for the future if we can but hope you can get the idea.
Here is a summary of today's presentation for the CV Probus Newsletter.
How my twin brothers curiosity changed my view of the world. A brief summary of the palaeontological and geological history of Vancouver Island. By Pat Trask, Curator of Natural History, Courtenay & District Museum & Palaeontology Centre, with a footnote by David Hysert
“It is believed that Vancouver Island was born volcanically underwater about 350-400 million years ago out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean possibly up to 15 degrees below the equator. Since that time our island has moved northward on the Pacific Plate to crash into North America and create the topography that we see today.
The evidence for this journey is buried in the rocks, to hear their story we have to listen carefully.
High in the mountains of Strathcona Park is an ancient reef believed to be laid down between 260 and 280 million years ago. These are some of the oldest fossils found on the Island. Closer to home underneath our feet is a fossil bed from the late Cretaceous period that extends from Campbell River to Duncan. It is this fossil bed that holds the remains of giant marine reptiles and other creatures that swam the seas around Vancouver Island before T-rex lived on the land in Alberta.
In 1988 my brother Mike and his daughter Heather were looking for fossils along the banks of the Puntledge River and discovered a near complete skeleton of an Eighty Million year old long necked marine reptile called elasmosaur. Since that time many more discoveries have been made including mosasaurs, turtles, and a host of new species of plant and animal.”
Pat gave a compelling, fascinating and thoroughly informative talk on his journey discovering the palaeontological and geological history of Vancouver Island. His entertaining and humorous storytelling left the audience spellbound. It made us all want to visit the Courtenay & District Museum & Palaeontology Centre more often.
Thank you David
Pat Trask being thanked by Sharon Hysert
Here's a little bit about Pat Trask:
Curator, Earth Sciences at the Courtenay Museum
On May 10, 2014 the British Columbia Paleontological Alliance (BCPA) presented the Rene Savenye Award to Pat Trask, Curator, Earth Sciences at the Courtenay Museum during the BCPA annual conference at the University of Victoria.
The BCPA is a union of professional and amateur paleontological organizations working to advance the science of paleontology in the province by fostering public awareness, scientific collecting and education, and by promoting communication among all those interested in fossils.
The BCPA’s Rene Savenye Award was established in 2003 to periodically honour an amateur paleontologist who has demonstrated outstanding service to the science of paleontology or to paleontological education in British Columbia. The award was created in memory of the late Rene Savenye, noted British Columbia naturalist and amateur paleontologist.
With only two people having expressed in an interest in having dinner at Manvirros, the event has been cancelled for tomorrow night (Tuesday, March 29th).
If you have suggestions of other places you would like to visit, please let me/us know so that we can find a location that works for more members.
Best wishes all. Joan
Joan this is really too bad as we all know that a good amount of work went into it before you had to cancel. Al
Probus Walk - planned for Wednesday April 6th to Lazo road bird sanctuary, meet at 70th & Guthrie opposite the Comox town Works Yard. with the plan to leave at 10 am.. Future walks will be on the first Wednesday of each month rather than on the Thursday. Looking forward to lots of walkers.
As a new member of the CV PROBUS Club, you are invited to a get-together planned for Wednesday afternoon, April 6th. The event, for those who have recently joined or are about to join, will be held at the Prime Chop House, just off Ryan road from 4.15 to about 5.45pm. Appetizers will be served, along with tea and coffee. Other beverages will be available for purchase.
The purposes of the get-together include providing:
A little background on the PROBUS organization,
Some insights into how our own club is organized and operated, together with some traditions and general practices,
Opportunity for you to get to know each other and the current leadership, and
Opportunity to ask questions, make suggestions.
We really hope that you will attend and look forward to seeing you there. Kindly confirm by April 1st to enable suitable catering arrangements to be made.
Jim Boase asked me to pass along the following message. Another wonderful musical event ....
We are blessed with so much musical & artistic talent in the Valley. One of these is the North Island Choral Society for the past 30 years. Their concerts are composed of classical, but popular compositions. Some choirs do not have enough men to properly balance the sound – the NICS has lots of men, producing a very rich, balanced ( incredible ) sound ! Also, they are accompanied by an 18 piece orchestra. We have made their concerts official Club outings in the past. Many of our members have enjoyed these concerts.
The 2016 Spring Concert is Fri. eve, & Sat afternoon , 8 & 9 Apr. The main piece is Faure’s Requiem, very melodious, with familiar songs by other French composers – Gounod, Berlioz, Durufle.
The balloons at the meeting were to help celebrate National PROBUS month within our club by thanking all those who help the club in any way at all ... by sitting on the executive, by arranging activities, by helping to sell tickets at the door, by taking photographs at the meetings, by organizing picnics, by ...
We also thanked our members for choosing the Comox Valley PROBUS Club as their PROBUS affiliation and for supporting the club by choosing to spend the third Wednesday morning of each month together.
Also, Roger Thomas who, as a member of the club, thanked all executive members (past and present) and all members of the club for all that each has done or is currently doing for the benefit of the club. (It was a very nice gesture ... very kind.)
We would be remiss not to thank Roger for his efforts as well.
We had a super meeting on Wednesday.
• Silk Pyjamas played as folks meandered in and chatted before the meeting began - it was a lovely touch that added something special - and helped us to celebrate National PROBUS month in our own way.
• A number of members donned something green ... great fun! Bernice was named "Outstanding Leprechaun" (she was wearing a bobbly headband that caught the attention of Michael Syer, who bestowed the honour). Thanks to Vice President Bob Thiesburger for suggesting that we celebrate St. Paddy's Day a day early.
• Jim Boase led the group in a rousing rendition of the "The PROBUS Song" in honour of National PROBUS month. With thanks to Silk Pyjamas for accompanying him and yours truly.
• Thank-you balloons were on display ... another way the club celebrated National PROBUS month ... by thanking all those who take on tasks (big or little) ... all contribute to making the club what it is.
• Our guest speaker (Pat Trask) ... paleontologist from the Courtenay Museum treated us to an excellent presentation ... lots of interesting information, lots of good humour.
I would like to take a moment to thank all who have contributed to this News Letter. The assistance is what makes this happen as I don't think one person could come up with what we have. I also hope that this helps keep people up to date with what is going on in the club.
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