HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-04-23, Page 99Page 46
Chess is enjoyed by the group members. Here Gerrit Klaas (left) plays John Kassies Sr.
Senior citizen group brings people together
By Anne Narejko
De jeugd van vroeger - the
youth of yesterday.
This is the name chosen by
the Dutch senior citizen group
which gets together every
Tuesday for an afternoon of
pool, shuffleboard, chess, knit-
ting or simply to socialize and
reminisce about an earlier
period of life.
Although De jeugd van
vroeger translates into the
youth of yesterday, the group
chose Reach Out for their
English name.
According to member Anne
Kroesen, the group has been
meeting for nine years.
"One week we have an infor-
mal meeting and the next week
we have a formal meeting. For
the informal meeting we have
coffee and tea, play games and
talk. For the formal meeting
we pray at the beginning," she:
explained. "We have a special
party for whoever has a birth-
day during the month too."
With the help of a New
Horizons grant, the 36
members were able to pur-
chase pool tables, a shuf-
fleboard table, an organ and
cups and saucers. These pur-
chases provide an activity fill-
ed atmosphere with the men en-
joying the games and the
women quietly chatting while
knitting up a storm.
Dutch speaking people from
Clinton and a few from
Goderich make up the Reach
Out group, but Mrs. Kroesen
says everyone is welcome to
join and participate in the
weekly activities as well as go
on the trips the group members
enjoy.
"Over the years we have
taken trips to Florida, Ottawa
and Toronto. We've been to
Simcoe to see the (Christmas )
lights and Peterborough for a
week at the lake," said Mrs.
Kroesen.
When the group is fortunate
enough to have a large number
of people interested in the
various trips, a bus is rented. If
fewer people want to go, a van
is used.
To raise money to pay their
rent, buy wood for the wood
stove and pay their insurance,
the group holds an annual
bazaar where they sell baked
goods and the regular bazaar
items.
Good conversation, activities
and a chance to get together is
what keeps the Out , Reach
members returning to the
weekly meetings held at John
Kassies' home. And as Mrs.
Kroesen said, "Everyone is
welcome."
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