Interest Groups and More

ALASKA INTEREST GROUP

Email: grandalaskans@gmail.com. Find us on Facebook at “Grand Alaskans” Description: The Grand Alaskans welcome all Alaskans living in Sun City Grand. If you enjoy getting together with fellow Alaskans for special events, entertainment, tours, or social hours, this is the group for you. We hold several events October through April.

AMATEUR TRAP SHOOTING GROUP

Contact(s) for Interest Group: Marty Grady, 623556-9497, martygrady@hotmail.com Meeting Information: We meet the first Friday of each month at Ben Avery at 8:30 a.m. Description: We are a group of averaged skilled trap shooters that meet at Ben Avery to shoot trap and socialize about our past sporting activities. Besides trap shooting, the members discuss other activities that foster a network of things to do, places to go, and help to provide others.

BETA SIGMA PHI

Xi Delta Sigma Chapter is a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sun Cities Coalition of Beta Sigma Phi International. The Coalition consists of chapters in Sun City, Sun City West, Sun City Grand, Surprise and the surrounding area. Inactive members, Leave of absence, Members-at-large or transferring members who wish to affiliate with one of these local chapters are invited to contact through text or email a member of the coalition. Contact Karen Montoya at smithmontoya10901@ gmail.com or Roberta Chargin at robertachargin@ gmail.com Please list your name, degree, status or any pertinent information. Include your phone number, address and email information. If you have an interested friend, then include their information with their permission, a coalition or chapter officer will make contact with you. Chapters hold meetings at various times during the month as well as socials. We, as a coalition, are not a part of the BSP Phoenix City Council but valid members of Beta Sigma Phi International. Membership is by invitation.

BOWLING

Description: Grand Mixers – fun mixed league (guys and gals). Contact(s) for Interest Group: Sally Such, President, 623-975-1377

CANADIAN FRIENDS AT SCG

Website: scgcdn.weebly.com Description: We are a group of Canadians from coast to coast who winter in SCG from as little as a few weeks to up to 6 months. Some own homes and some rent. We meet from Oct to April for coffee, lunches or dinners. In addition, we play everything from bocce / golf /billiards / bowling etc. We discuss common border crossing experiences and try to keep up to date on changes for Visitors Visas on proposed changes. We also discuss problem solving in the desert, from plumbers to landscapers. For more information see our calendar of events on our website. Come on out to one of our fun filled events and who knows you might meet a neighbor, an old coworker or even a long lost relative from Canada! Email: scgcanadianfriends@gmail.com

SUN CITY GRAND CAR ENTHUSIASTS

Residents of Sun City Grand who have a special car (old or new) are welcome to join our group and show their car at our meetings, shows and parades in Sun City Grand. Our annual car show will be in the spring of each year in the parking lot behind the Chaparral center. For more information contact SCGcarenthusiasts@gmail.com

GRAND CONNECTION INTEREST GROUP

The Grand Connection Social Group welcomes all who have an interest in the African-American experience and want to learn more about their traditions and heritage". At this time due to the Corona Pandemic there are no activities planned. For additional information regarding the Interest Group Contact: Steve Doolittle 623-533-3455 or Laura Garrett-Williams 623 215 7884.

GRAND DEMOCRATS INTEREST GROUP

On September 24, from 2 – 4 pm come hear the Meeting Information: Fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in Cimarron Center. Beverages and snacks at 6:00 p.m. No meetings in July and August. Description: We are a group that supports a Democratic presence in the community. We encourage those interested in national, state, county or local politics who are newly arrived members of the community or those who have been here awhile to come and listen to our scheduled interesting speakers. Besides our monthly meetings, we have monthly breakfasts and dinners. Website: www.granddems.org

FOUR WHEELING

Website: www.grand4wheelers.org Description: The Grand 4-Wheelers are SCG residents who are interested in taking rides off-road into the beautiful areas of Arizona not accessible by standard vehicle. The roads we travel range from “easy” to “moderate” to “difficult.” The rides are for all types of four wheel drive vehicles (No ATV’s that’s another group). Our rides will allow you to see remote areas of Arizona in the safe environment of a group activity. We provide an environment to learn the off-road capabilities of our vehicles, off-road driving techniques, the use of GPS devices & maps, and available recovery tools. Please refer to our website to see a calendar of future rides, as well as photos and narratives of our previous rides

FUN DINERS

Description: We are a social group that plans monthly events at restaurants in our area. Just $10.00 per member per year to join. Guests are welcome! Contact for Interest Group: Toni Helgeson, membership, 623-544-5988 www.fundiners.weebly.com Meeting Information: We send a notice to all of our members throughout the year advising them of our planned activities, either a lunch, dinner, or a happy hour, and we request that they sign up for the event! There is always a gala event for Christmas! Lunches and dinners will be prepaid but you will be on your own for cocktails and of course for any Happy Hours! You may attend as many or as few events as you like. You are able to bring guests, unless we have limited seating! Always check our website, www.fundiners. weebly.com, for forthcoming events and pictures of our past ones! We welcome volunteers to help find new places and to help coordinate events at their favorite restaurants. The annual dues are $10 per person each year. You may call Gerri at 623-374-7917 or Toni at 623-544-5988 for more information.

GRAND GECKOS

Our own masters swim team right here in Grand! We believe in staying fit and building friendships while having fun. Our workouts are fresh, full of variety and will help you get and stay in shape. While you should be able to swim freestyle for at least 10 lengths, you don’t need to know the other strokes to join us at practice. If you are willing to learn, we are there to provide coaching and camaraderie. Our practices have organized sets that are geared from beginner-level swimmers to advanced swimmers and competitors. We focus on technique to improve your strokes, your stamina, your speed and your endurance. For more information contact swimnut@me.com

HORSESHOES INTEREST GROUP

Most/many of you have played horseshoes at picnics, family reunions, etc. With your renting or owning a home in our community, you have the opportunity to play this fun game, whenever you want, for free. The horseshoe pits (5 of them) are always open. You can even play under the lights!! Additionally, there is a horseshoe group/league that plays every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday each week. Generally, at 8 am. This time is adjusted during the year for warmer/cooler temps in summer/winter. We also have league play with 5 other retirement communities in late winter through early spring. We will provide horseshoes for you to use as well as assistance on "pitching" horseshoes if you might need/want. We can also assist in helping you order your own horseshoes when you find out how much fun the game really is. Open to all ladies and men. The horseshoe pits are located just right of the Dell Web softball diamond and storage building on Mountain View Blvd. For more information call Tom Conzemius at 218556-2404 or Dave Johnson at 623-308-6036.

LGBTQ INTEREST GROUP

Contact(s) : scg.lgbt@yahoo.com Website: scglgbt.com Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/scglgbt Meeting Information: Meet formally 4 times a year and informally in-between. Description: The SCG LGBTQ Interest Group invites residents to join us for a variety of social activities including dining out, theater, concerts, sporting events, etc. We are about making new friends, socializing and supporting one another. Residents and allies who are looking to connect with other like-minded members of our community are welcome to join.

MINNESOTA INTEREST GROUP

Contact(s) for Interest Group: Cecelia Kelly, 612860-4676, ckelly0330@icloud.com Description: Born in the North Star State/fall in love with L'toile du nord while living there? Currently a part time resident of Minnesota and/ or live full time in Sun City Grand? Our Minnesota

Interest Group welcomes your participation in our social events, nature walk/potluck events, putting contests, wine tastings, casino parties, theater/ dinner parties. Whether you call Sun City Grand your full time or part time residence we would be pleased to have your input regarding offerings that you would find of interest and welcome your participation..

NEW YORK STATE INTEREST GROUP

Contact: Julia Schoen TheNYStateGroup@gmail. com or 805-325-1807 Time Square, Jones Beach, The Catskills, Niagara Falls…We remember it all! Join folks from The Empire State sharing memories and creating new ones. We are a newly formed group working to build new friendships in the community, using our connection to NY as a starting point. We will meet four times a year, with additional events planned (dinner cruises, game nights, happy hours, etc). We invite you to get in on the bottom floor and join this group of vibrant ex-NYers (spouses and significant others also welcome). Notification of events will be sent via email to individuals who sign up for the group. Events will also be included in the Grand Lifestyles publication and will be posted on the community bulletin boards at Cimarron Center and Sonoran Plaza.

POLISH-AMERICAN INTEREST GROUP

Contact(s) for Interest Group: Dorothy (Rzeszutek) Higdon, 218-821-3033, odette46@cox.net Meeting Information: Meetings are scheduled periodically during the year to correspond with new matters of significance and availability of speakers, at which time an e-mail is sent to all members. Notification is also sent regarding any known Polish-American activity in the Phoenix area. Description: Sharing of Traditions, Customs, Travel, Delicacies, and History. Socializing while receiving cultural enlightenment concerning holidays and also cuisine with regards to Catholic, Jewish and non-denominational citizens. Enjoy the long-established foods of Poland through planned luncheons and tours of Polish-American restaurants, bakeries and delis in the Phoenix area. Translation is also available through Maya Zubriski, mariazubriski@gmail.com, 623-546-6960

GRAND CENTRAL RAILROAD INTEREST GROUP

If you enjoy large scale (G Scale) outdoor model trains, the Grand Central Railroad Interest Group is the place for you. From operating trains, painting buildings, decorating and landscaping, track maintenance, electrical service and repair, to public relations and more…. there is literally something for everyone. While most members own and operate their own trains, it is not a requirement to join the group. Our primary function is operating and maintaining the Model Railroad Park for the enjoyment of our members, residents and visitors, young and old alike. The Railroad Park is located near the tennis courts behind the Chaparral Center. Trains run on a regular schedule as posted at the Railroad Park and on our website (GrandCentralRailroad. info). Please stop by during operating hours and introduce yourself. We will be happy to show you around and tell you more about what we do. For additional information or to make special requests, please contact chairman@ GrandCentralRailroad.info

OCTOBER 29 • SATURDAY HALLOWEEN WEEKEND NIGHT TRAIN RUN The Grand Central Railroad Interest Group will be hosting its annual Halloween Weekend Night Train Run. When: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, @ 6:00pm to 7:30pm. Where: Train Park behind the Chaparral Center near the Tennis Courts. Stop by and enjoy the sights and sounds of Garden (G Scale) Railroading at its finest. There will be illuminated trains running on approximately 1800 ft of G scale track along with illuminated buildings, festive decorations, and complimentary cookies. For more information, please contact chairman@ GrandCentralRailroad.info

GRAND REPUBLICANS INTEREST GROUP

In September we resumed our monthly General Meetings at the Church on the Green, 1905 R H Johnson Blvd in Sun City West. We meet on the third Saturday morning each month: Doors open at 8:30, coffee and pastries at 9:00, and the meetings starting at 9:30. Guests are always welcome. After our victory celebration at the Vista Center in August - and with the Primaries behind us - it was time to remember why Republican victories in November are so important. Our September speaker, Mr. Loren Spivack, the self-proclaimed “Free Market Warrior,” chose for his topic “Why we Fight - Understanding the Modern Left - what they really want.” His style is a combination of education, information and humor. His very timely books are written in the style of Dr. Suess, and he calls himself Dr. Truth! Our October 15 General Meeting will feature conservative radio host and accomplished speaker Mr. Seth Leibsohn. Mr. Leibsohn is the co-author, with William J Bennett, of “The Fight of Our Lives.” He is a Senior Fellow with the Claremont Institute, the Chairman of NotMYKid, and the recipient of a “Leader of the Year” award from the Arizona Capitol Times for Volunteerism. Mr. Leibsohn will be using two different sources to help explain how our country has gone down the path it has gone: The first is from a fourpoint Epoch Times article “How to Change a Government.” The second is from Saul Alinsky’s twelve-point “Rules for Radicals.” We need to wake up, grow up, and get ready for the fight of our lives! Please visit our new website at grandrepublicans. com for more information about upcoming meetings, the latest news and other helpful links. Click on the “about” tab and read our Vision, Mission and Values statements. We believe the more informed our members and the community are, the more likely they are to vote. Our mission is to bring a variety of information to our members and friends so that they become an informed electorate. =If our values make sense to you, please attend our meetings; enjoy getting together with other like-minded folks!

SOUND & LIGHTING

The SCG Drama & Comedy Club and the Music Club provides quality theater and musical events throughout the year to our community. We are fortunate to have many talented residents who volunteer their time and talents and spend many hours of rehearsal to ensure top entertainment for you! And no commute or parking fees! One of the many things the two clubs have in common in presenting this outstanding live entertainment is sharing the talents of our volunteer Sound and Lighting teams. The teams are often pressed to do shows back-to-back, which puts a demand on this skill set. As the Drama Club and Music Club prepare for a full 2022-2023 season, we are looking for persons who may have an interest in sharing their talents or learn new skills involving these areas. No prior experience or knowledge of sound or lighting equipment is needed. We have volunteers who will train anyone who is interested. Many hands make light work. No pun intended – it is light work! And sound work! But many persons sharing makes easier work. Here is your opportunity to become a member of Sun City Grand’s entertainment community. Give it a try, you may discover not only a new interest, but you will be sure to make some great new friends. For more information, please contact Ove Jakobsen at 256-721-0431 or ovejakobsen@ msn.com for sound or Bob Nix at 623-214-8280 or bobnix@cox.net for lighting. You will not be on your own, you will be a valuable member of the team who will help you learn a new skill. As any actor or musical performer will attest, your valuable skills create the magic of live performances. You’ve seen it, how about helping make it happen!

STATE OF MINDFULNESS

The SCG state of Mindfulness Interest Group is a mindfulness community, practicing together, bringing peace, compassion, and gratitude to our selves and those around us. Group meditation can help develop a real connection with people while tapping into the same silence and source of peace, all at the same time. The SCG State of Mindfulness Interest Group is focused on science and evidence based tools and resources. We are not based in any religion or spiritual beliefs; however, we do believe in religious harmony and all are welcome.

MINDFUL MONDAYS 8 monthly Drop/in meditation opportunities OctMay. First Monday of each month

GROUP MEETINGS Group meetings are facilitated group discussions that begin with a topic introduction and end with a meditation. Group to meet at least 3 times per year.

MINDFULNESS & MEDITATION, AN INTRODUCTION Information to follow regarding an introduction/ refresher course. For those interested in enhancing wellbeing and resilience join us! For more information check out our website-SCGstateofmind.com or email us at SCGstateofmind@gmail.com

WASHINGTON STATE

Contact(s) for Interest Group: Susan Brinkley, 206-276-2080, susanbrinkley7@gmail.com Meeting Information: Notification of events are sent via email to individuals who sign up on

the roster. Events will be included in the Grand Lifestyles publication and will be posted on the community bulletin boards at the Cimarron Center and Sonoran Plaza. Description: The Washington State Group provides opportunities for interested Washingtonians to get acquainted and enjoy common interests. Events have included socials, golf tournaments, hiking, and attendance at Spring Training Mariner games. Volunteering is critical to keeping this interest group vibrant. Ideas for future events are always welcome.

NOVEMBER 10 • THURSDAY WASHINGTON STATE TAILGATE PARTY! Calling all Sun City Grand Washingtonians! Wear your favorite sports team attire and come join in a fun happy hour, potluck dinner and social. We ask you to bring store bought dishes for our potluck. Food will be served by volunteers wearing gloves. If your last name begins with P-Z: Salad or Appetizer, A-H: Main dish (ie. Chicken, pre-cooked Lasagna, etc.) J-O: Dessert. We will have casual live entertainment and a cash bar. If you have any questions, contact Susan Brinkley at susanbrinkley7@gmail.com or Robin Weakland at laweakland@aol.com. $3/pp (cash only) | 5–7 pm | Lakeside Pavilion

WINE TASTING

Description: The group conducts tastings on wines and grapes from countries of the world. There is an introductory educational preview of the topic, followed by the wine tasting done in an informal atmosphere. Light foods and finger desserts are available. Members have the opportunity to learn about wine and find new varietals to enjoy. They also meet and befriend fellow wine enthusiasts. Meeting Information: We meet on the second Tuesday of each month except July and August at 7:00PM at the home of a host member. Annual dues are $10 per person and the tasing fee is $15 per person. We also have an annual Wine dinner, catered by Chefs Tell All (the original owners of Amuse Bouche) and held at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Surprise. Contact for the Wine Interest Group: Judy Helderman, 623-322-9425, jhelderm@yahoo

WISCONSIN INTEREST GROUP

Summer is winding down. The Fall will be upon us before we know it. Vacations and visits with family and friends has taken up our days. Wishing all our members the best of health and a safe return to beautiful Arizona. Our plans for the 2022-2023 Season are in place. We await confirmation from Grand for the dates requested. As If you would like to learn more about the Wisconsin Interest group, visit our website www. wigazinfo.weebly.com. You can also send us an email at wigmessge@gmail.com. You do not need to be from Wisconsin to become a member. We have members from Across America. If you enjoy making new friends, dining, travel and experiencing new adventures, you will find a welcoming home. As we enter into a new ‘season’, you can be assured that there will be a plethora of activities for everyone. Our monthly breakfasts the first Monday of each month at Tivoli Gardens provide a great opportunity for camaraderie and great food. Last month members had a wonderful social hour and dinner at Michaels in Sun City. Mark your calendar for October 25. We will meet again on the patio at Culver’s in Surprise. You will receive an email with specifics and there will be a limit based on patio capacity. Our Annual meeting will be on November 10, in the Apache RoomChaparral. This is our most important meeting of the year and we look forward to your participation. As this issue of Lifestyles went to press, we are still awaiting confirmation from Grand for event dates. As soon as we receive commitments, you will be notified via email. Our planning includes a trip to Silver Star theater via private Coach in December, a catered Holiday dinner with live entertainment in January, Pizza and Bingo night, Beer and Cheese tasting, Tailgate party and much more. For our card playing members, there is weekly Sheepshead. Safe and healthy return to all and we welcome our new members with enthusiasm.