PROBUS Club of the Gateway

President's Message
October 2025

Wow - October is a busy month. 

October is membership renewal month.  An email with a link to renew was sent to all members on Oct 1.   The cost to renew is $50 if you are paying as an individual or $100 if you elected to pay for you and your partner.  As I write this note, 44% of our members have already renewed.   That’s pretty incredible!

Remember that until you renew, you won’t be able to register for any upcoming events. 

If you need help renewing, bring your phone, tablet, or laptop to the October meeting.  There will be folks at the back of the room ready to give you a hand.  If you have any questions about renewal, please direct them to our Membership co-chairs at gatewaymembership1@gmail.com

October is when we hold Gateway’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).  Mark your calendars for October 21.  At that time we will be voting on a few things including approval of last year’s minutes, click on the link to review, 2024 AGM Minutes, and the proposed 2025/2026 executive. 

And – drum roll please, after the AGM we will hold our semi-annual Gateway Art Show.  It is truly a special event.  We have such talented members.    And, for the first time ever, a free lunch will be served.   And just in case you get thirsty, the door to the “other side” of the Legion will be opened, and you can walk over and purchase a beverage of your choosing.  Cash only!  So, in a nutshell, we can eat, sip, chat, walk around, and enjoy the art.  As of today, 148 of our members have signed up to attend.  It’s going to be a meeting you don’t want to miss. 

October is when most of our new Activity Groups are firing on all cylinders.    For example, The Euchre Club has been playing once per month for several months now.  The Walking and Bike Clubs have been spotted on numerous occasions gracing the Collingwood trails.  The Travel Club has dazzled with their second presentation.  The Breakfast club’s 3^rd breakfast is booked and at capacity.    There is so much to look forward to as we head into the cold winter months!  But remember, if you want to receive invitations to upcoming activities, you need to join the appropriate clubs.  If you have forgotten how to do this, please let me or any social committee member know and we will help you out. 

October means flu season is just around the corner!  Let’s get our shots and stay healthy.  And at the same time, let’s remember that not all infectious things are bad.  Here is what Spike Milligan had to say about that:

Smile

Smiling is infectious
You catch it like the flu
When someone smiled at me today
I started smiling too

I walked around the corner
And someone saw me grin
When he smiled I realized
I had passed it on to him

I thought about the smile
And then realized its worth
A single smile like mine
Could travel round the earth

So if you feel a smile begin
Don’t leave it undetected
Start an epidemic
And get the world infected

I look forward to seeing all your smiling faces at the October 21 meeting.  Until then, stay happy, healthy, and safe. 

Joan