feb08w1

Wow. We survived another busy holiday season. Our daughter, son-in-law and 3 grandsons were here for a week and we had a great time. Went to the Pocono’s one day to let them have fun snow tubing. Being from California this was a real treat for them. They are into geocaching so we also spent time searching for some hidden items at Washington’s Crossing and around our area. Tyler turned 16 on New Years Day so we had a nice birthday party before they had to return home.

On January 5 we decided to do our first walk of the year. Along with Barb Hannigan we went to Cape May and did the year round walk. The downtown pedestrian mall area is all torn up but it was still a nice walk. The old Victorian homes are so nice and well maintained. Nice, quiet walk- no tourists and nobody sunning on the beach. So we got our first 2008 stamp and Barb was able to get another stamp in her Lighthouse book.

On the 12th we did Collegeville. We had almost 40 walkers turn out on a brisk but beautiful day. The walkers split into about 3 groups for the walk. The college was on break so we had the campus to ourselves. After the walk a large number of us stopped into Marzella’s Pizza for lunch. The pizza and hoagies were a delicious treat after the walk.

Fred Reichert and I walked a possible new trail at the Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary. Fred has laid out a nice trail that takes walkers on trails in the sanctuary and also on the Perkiomen Trail. The trail also includes a small Quaker cemetery with Revolutionary History. We will consider sanctioning this walk for April.

January 19 was another group walk, this time New Hope. The weather forecasts were rather frightening with predictions of snow and bitter cold. But that didn’t scare us. We had 33 walkers that bundled up and took the walk. And as often happens the weather wasn’t nearly as bad as predicted - in fact it was very enjoyable. After the walk many of us stopped at The Porterhouse in Lahaska for lunch.

Meeting started at 7:05 p.m. with the Pledge, and birthday wishes sung for Carol Smith, Linda Clark, and Linda Mueller.

Membership – Linda Clark – 51% of our 2007 membership have renewed. (Where are the other 49%?)

Sunshine – Linda Mueller and Runi Koestel – cards were sent to Marion Walsh on the death of Ed Timmons, and to Al Kilburn

Programs – Helen Missfeldt – Helen will give a program in February on Antique Valentine Cards. (Bring your old valentines for display)

Sanctioned for 2008: Lorimer on May 10, Lake Galena on June 1, Kutztown on June 14, Steuben Day Parade on September 27

- Fred Reichert has laid out a walk in Audubon, which Ron and Fred walked last weekend. Possible dates will be April 12 or 26. Motion made by Leon Eisenschmid, seconded by Linda Clark and passed unanimously to get a sanction for this walk.

- We’d like to sponsor bus trips to Punxsutawney in September and the R.O.A. weekend in Washington, DC in October – we still need a Trip Coordinator.

- Upcoming walks will be January 19 (New Hope), February 16 (Doylestown), March 1 (Philadelphia West) and March 29 (Bethlehem – Moravian).

- Individual coupons for 10 walks may be purchased for $20.00, while family coupons (for parents and grandparents, with children under 18) are also $20.00.

- Wandering Wheels, from OH, will be doing our Philadelphia walks on May 13. Our members are encouraged to join them on the walk.

- The Fourth Biennial Atlantic Region Conference will be held in Martinsburg, WV on March 14 – 16. Ron asked for interest in the weekend, which would offer 4 walks.

Meeting adjourned at 7:55, followed by Art Driedger’s program on the “Ten Days that Saved America and the Battle of Trenton.”