News January 2016
Celebrating 35 years!
Get More!
Get HRCA!
HRCA unveils a new "get More" campaign The Highlands Ranch Community Association (HRCA) has a lot to offer, more, in fact, than any other homeowner’s association in Colorado. Where else can you find excellent home values, rich amenities like the Backcountry Wilderness Area, four state-of-the-art recreation centers, excellent covenant enforcement, and top-notch programs and events for the entire family? HRCA is the community’s first choice for programs and services that support health & wellness, fitness, and community engagement. All these amenities add up to value, excellence, adventure, opportunity, and quality programming. In other words, HRCA is the place you come to “Get More” out of life. You will soon see the HRCA staff sporting new t- shirts with the Get Fit! Get Inspired! Get Outdoors! Get Wet! Get Busy! Get Culture! Get Game! Get Involved! Get More! themes. All these "Gets" give you opportunities to enjoy something new or continue with something you love. We encourage you to "Get More" with all the HRCA has to offer.
Get More! Get HRCA!
Winter Cultural Series Join us as we celebrate the arts as the Highlands Ranch Cultural Affairs Association presents the 15th year for this exciting cultural series featuring the best of theatre, dance and music. The 2016 Winter Cultural Series line-up features the high-quality entertainment you would normally find downtown in the big theatres without the hassle! We bring the best performers from the metro area here to the Ranch! Opera Colorado kicks off the series on Thursday, January 7 with their performance of Arias & Ensembles. Don't miss the other shows in this series: January 21: Chalet Dancers – Tour of Europe February 4: Broadway Sings! – Broadway's Top Hits February 18: Denver Pops – A Night at the Movies Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door, if not sold out. For Military, 65+, and children under 12, tickets are $7 in advance and $10 day of event, if not sold out. Performances are in the Cherry Hills Community Church Chapel. Purchase tickets at any HRCA recreation center, online at www.HRCAonline.org/Tickets, or call 303-791-2500.
Highlands Ranch and the HRCA turn 35! What began as prime hunting grounds for Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe Native American tribes has now become one of the most desirable places to live in the Denver Metro area. Highlands Ranch was part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, and in 1867 the first 80-acre homestead was filed. For the next 100 years, the prairie was the farm or ranch to many notable pioneers such as Johanne Welte, Curtis H. Field, Samuel Allan Long, John Springer, Frank Kistler, Lawrence C. Phipps, and Rufus “Dad” Clark. The planned community of Highlands Ranch welcomed its first residents in 1981. Thirty-five years later, Highlands Ranch is nationally renowned for its schools, mountain vistas, neighborhoods, parks, trails, wide roads, outstanding lifestyle and amenities, and pristine wilderness area. The HRCA has been there since the beginning and has continued to grow and thrive with our community. Congratulations Highlands Ranch!
35th Anniversary
Jerry Flannery
CEO and General Manager HRCA|news is published monthly by the Highlands Ranch Community Association, Inc.
HRCA|Event/Weather Line 303-471-8888
Board of Directors 303-471-8958 Scott Lemmon Brock Norris Melissa Park Jeff Suntken Dennis Seymour
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES at Eastridge 303-791-8958 9568 University Blvd. M-F: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
RECREATION CENTERS 303-791-2500 Recreation Center at Northridge 8801 Broadway M-Th: 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. F: 5:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Sa. & Su: 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Recreation Center at Eastridge 9568 University Blvd. M-F: 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Sa: 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Su: 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Recreation Center at Westridge 9650 Foothills Canyon Blvd. M-F: 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Happy New Year! We at the HRCA hope that the New Year is filled with health and prosperity for all. Get 2016 started off right by keeping your resolution to get fit and healthy. We have many health and fitness programs for all ages. In addition, January is filled with a variety of events and activities that will keep everyone busy and active during the long winter month.
Activities and Events: With New Year Resolutions comes a high volume of visitation at our recreation centers. Programs are gearing up for an influx of registrants, so register early. Don’t miss out! This month brings the Winter Cultural Series on Thursdays, January 7 and January 21 at the Cherry Hills Community Church. This is a wonderful series that brings the best of music and dance to our community. From the Best of Broadway and Opera to Dance and Big Band, the series offers a little bit of everything for the entire family. The Coffee and Tea Tasting on January 9 will be sure to get your year started out with a jolt, and Adult Glow-in-the-Dark Yoga on January 23 will get you back on track after the holidays. Beer enthusiasts will enjoy the Home Brew Class on January 16. Buy your tickets now, the class will sell out quickly. The Family Magic show on January 29 is a great way to wrap up a busy January.
Budget: As many of you know, the Board approved the 2016 budget in November of last year. The new budget includes a 2.1% (0% on administration and 2.3% on recreation) overall assessment increase, which is equivalent to $12 annually. Some of the highlights from the budget process for the New Year include replacing outdated and worn out exercise machines at all four facilities, remodeling two additional racquetball courts at Northridge, replacing all the Circuit Training Weight Machines at Westridge, and adding another kiln in the Pottery Studio at Southridge. The slight increase in assessments will continue to allow HRCA to operate all four recreation centers in addition to growing the programming and events that are enjoyed by so many members of the community. More information about the budget is available online at www.HRCAonline.org/Budget. For anyone who wasn’t able to attend the Finance Committee Meetings this year during the planning process, all meetings are open to the public, and members of the community are encouraged to attend. Mentoring: January is National Mentoring Month and I want to encourage all of you to take their slogan to heart, “Be Someone Who Matters To Someone Who Matters.” Take the time to spend a few moments and work with the youth of our community. We all have so much knowledge, and mentoring the next generation is not only rewarding for them, but you can be surprised at what you will learn from the experience yourself!
Sa: 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Su: 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Recreation Center at Southridge 4800 McArthur Ranch Rd. M-F: 5:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Sa: 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Su: 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Copyright ©2016 Highlands Ranch Community Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission is required to redistribute, reproduce, modify or republish information from Highlands Ranch Community Association, Inc, in print or electronically.
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quarterly assessments The 1st quarter 2016 assessment was due January 1, 2016. Homeowners may continue to pay assessments online using PayLease by Credit/ Debit card or e-check (PayLease charges a nominal fee for their online processing service). Please visit our web site at www.hrcaonline.org and click on “Pay Assessments Online” then follow the setup up instructions. Please help HRCA save costs and the environment by signing up for E-Statements. Just visit https://highlandsranch.opt-e-mail.com/signup. Should you have any questions regarding your account or need to make an address change, please call 303-471-8958.
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2016 Budget/hrca
The annual budget for the Highlands Ranch Community Association, Inc. (HRCA) is a financial and operational document that is designed to carry out the obligations of the HRCA. The annual budget also follows the policies of the board of directors which reflects the requests for services and facilities by the members. The HRCA budget anticipates the level of services to be provided, the costs of doing so, and the funds that will be available to provide these services. The complete 2016 budget is online at www.HRCAonline.org/Budget.
SUMMARY 2016 ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATING BUDGET
SUMMARY 2016 RECREATION OPERATING FUND BUDGET
REVENUE: Assessments Revenue............................................................. $1,524,050 Late & Lien Fee Revenue.............................................................. 227,000 Transfer Fee Revenue................................................................... 373,400 Legal Fee Revenue....................................................................... 170,000 Sub-Association Services Revenue.............................................. 531,940 Architectural Fines and Fees......................................................... 210,000 Community Events Revenue......................................................... 359,650 Other Revenues............................................................................ 116,500 Total Revenues......................................................................... 3,512,540
REVENUE: Assessments................................................................................ $15,434,070 Facility Revenues (NR, ER, WR, SR): Facility Rental - Pool............................................................................ 94,000 Facility Rental - Tennis...................................................................... 109,500 Other Facility Rentals........................................................................ 104,000 Other Facility Revenues.................................................................... 158,290 Multi-Facility Program Revenues Multi-Facility Program Revenues.................................................... 4,761,821 Multi-Facility Revenues: Membership & Guest Fees................................................................ 348,730 Other Multi-Facility Revenues............................................................. 85,000 Total Revenues............................................................................. 21,095,411
EXPENSES: Staff Expenses [incl. Payroll & Benefits]..................................... 1,887,042 Legal Fees..................................................................................... 311,000 Professional Services.................................................................... 109,200 Volunteer, Committee & Bus./Comm. Relations.............................. 35,200 Utilities, Computers & Technology................................................ 194,750 Sub-Association Expense.............................................................. 163,140 Office & Copier Lease Expense...................................................... 84,000 Supplies, Printing & Postage......................................................... 233,000 Liability Insurance............................................................................ 18,000 Vehicle Expenses............................................................................ 29,200 Community Events Expenses........................................................ 250,400 Other Expenses............................................................................... 51,000 Total Operating Expenses....................................................... 3,365,932 NET OPERATING INCOME BEFORE TRANSFERS.................................................................
146,608
TRANSFERS Operating Transfers - Capital Equipment..................................... – Transfer to Administrative Reserve Fund..................................... (62,630) Total Transfers ........................................................................... (62,630) NET OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)............................................
2016 aNNUAL Assessments The 2016 budget includes a 2.1% (0% on administration and 2.3% on recreation) overall assessment increase, which is equivalent to $12 annually, for an annual assessment of $568.
$83,978
EXPENSES: Facility Expenses (NR, ER, WR, SR): Facility Staff Expenses................................................................... 4,688,691 Utilities............................................................................................... 843,140 Maintenance................................................................................... 1,078,444 Other Expenses - Facilities................................................................ 153,335 Multi-Facility Program Expenses: Multi-Facility Program Staff Expenses............................................ 2,589,912 Multi-Facility Program Supplies ........................................................ 365,326 Multi-Facility Expenses: Multi-Facility Staff Expenses.......................................................... 4,041,055 Professional Services.......................................................................... 90,076 Telephone, Computers & Technology............................................... 344,200 Bank, Credit Card & Trustee Fees ................................................... 164,250 Supplies, Printing & Postage............................................................. 100,600 Liability Insurance.............................................................................. 245,000 Copier Lease....................................................................................... 40,000 Vehicle Expenses................................................................................ 24,000 Other Expenses - Multi-Facility............................................................ 51,500 Total Operating Expenses.......................................................... 14,819,529 NET OPERATING INCOME BEFORE TRANSFERS.............................. 6,275,882 TRANSFERS Bond Principal and Interest Payments.......................................... (3,420,000) Transfer to Recreation Reserve Fund .......................................... (1,810,000) Operating Transfers - Capital Equipment......................................... (125,000) Transfer to Capital Improvement Fund............................................. (625,000) Transfer to Backcountry................................................................. (310,000) Total Transfers............................................................................... (6,290,000) NET OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)...............................................
$(14,118)
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Father & Daughter Sweetheart Ball The historic Highlands Ranch Mansion is the setting for this annual tradition. Enjoy dancing, dining, and a commemorative photo. Each girl receives a corsage and special necklace upon arrival. Carriage rides are available, weather permitting. • Friday, February 5, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. • Saturday, February 6, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. or 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. • Highlands Ranch Mansion • $25 each in advance, $33 each day of event, if not sold out • Carriage Rides $3 per person
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ranch updates
Westridge Batting Cage Season Passes The “GRAND SLAM” Batting Range Season Pass is on sale starting January 2. This pass is an eight-month season pass and sells for only $175! What is included in the Batting Cage Season Pass? • Unlimited batting per day, every day of the 2016 Westridge Batting Cage Season • Free 15-minute “Team Rental Reservation” (over 5 players needed) • ALL-U-CAN HIT everyday from February 27 - October 22 (weather permitting) Check web site for current season hours. We also have two other types of passes for sale for families: • Family with 2 kids - $250 • Family Pass Season Pass - $300 Purchases before February 27 are made at Westridge Recreation Center registration. For more details call 720-348-8267 or visit the web site at www.HRCAonline.org/ BattingCages.
Parties and Celebrations at Westridge Calling All Trade Show Exhibitors Applications are open for our 2016 Spring Bazaar, Home Improvement Expo, Fall Craft Show, and the Jewelry & Holiday Gift Fair. Vendor applications are available at HRCAonline.org/Vendors.
Celebrate a birthday at the batting cages or indoor turf at the Westridge Recreation Center. Our inspired party staff goes to great lengths to create the party you envision and attend to every detail. From the action-packed, customized indoor turf activities and team celebration rooms, to decorated boy’s or girl’s “themed” party rooms, our service remains unparalleled ensuring your birthday party or team event is unforgettable. We offer a variety of options for ages 3 and up. Call now for details and booking at 720-348-8267 or visit the web site at www.HRCAonline.org/Party for party options.
Chinese New Year and Cultural Fair Join us for traditional Chinese performances on stage. Enjoy traditional music, Chinese dragons, lion dances, folk dances, and amazing Kung Fu demonstrations. The various performances are from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. with a Cultural Fair that runs from noon - 3:00 p.m. • Saturday, February 6 • Performance: 2:00 - 3:00 p.m., Cultural Fair: 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. • Tickets are $8 in advance, $11day of event, if not sold out • Southridge, Debus Wildcat Mountain Auditorium • Ages 2 and under are free if they sit on a parent's lap.
4 | January 2016
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Upcoming events
Coffee and Tea Tasting Starbucks Coffee Masters are on hand to teach us the art of coffee and tea enjoyment! Learn how to choose coffee and teas, brew them, and pair them with tasty accompaniments Saturday, January 9 • 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. • Eastridge, Community Room • $10 in advance, $13 day of event, if not sold out. • Ages 16+
Adult glow-in-the-Dark Yoga Come get your Glowga on! Your ticket for the evening includes a glow necklace, wine or beer, and appetizers. Bring your own mat and water bottle. One of HRCA's yoga instructors will be leading the class. Saturday, January 23 • Southridge, Debus Wildcat Mountain Auditorium • 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. • $25 in advance, $30 day of event, if not sold out • 21+ only, IDs will be checked.
Family Magic Show
Home Brew Class Take your love for beer to the next level - learn to brew your own! Castle Rock Homebrew Supply teaches this beginner's class. Taste samples and enjoy light snacks while you learn. • Saturday, January 16 • 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. • Southridge, Kitchen • $30 in advance, $35 day of event, if not sold out • 21+ only, IDs will be checked.
Join us as we kick off the New Year with a magic show like no other! Stuart Hayner brings his amazing magic to Southridge. Stuart is sure to dazzle, amaze and amuse both young and old. He includes magic and stories from his world travels and styles of magic from Sleight of Hand to Grand Illusions to make for a great show for all ages!
Purchase tickets Online!
Friday, January 29 • 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.• Southridge, Debus Wildcat Mountain Auditorium • $8 in advance, and $11 day of event, if not sold out (Children 2 and under are free if they sit on a parent’s lap.)
Visit the web site at www.HRCAonline.org/Tickets.
Princess Tea Party Spend a special morning with your little prince or princess as you enjoy tea and treats with Cinderella. The princess herself will share special stories, songs and photo opportunities throughout the tea. No children under 2 please. Children must be accompanied by a paying adult. Saturday, February 13 • Southridge, Debus Wildcat Mountain Auditorium • Tea Time: 10:30 a.m., Show Time: 11:15 a.m. • $11 in advance, $15 day of event, if not sold out
Upcoming events February 2016 4, 18 Winter Cultural Series 5 - 6 Father & Daughter Sweetheart Ball 6
Chinese New Year
Celebration & Cultural Fair
13
Princess Tea Party
13
TR Sweetheart Dance
27
Spirit Tasting - Tequila
Please check the web site for the most current event information.
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Therapeutic Recreation (TR) Yoga! Come and experience TR Yoga with your peers with special needs in a fun and friendly environment. Improve balance, focus, strength and coordination, and learn poses to reduce stress, fatigue and stiffness. This yoga class stimulates the motor and sensory areas of the brain while providing a great workout. • Mondays, 5:15 - 5:45 p.m., monthly registration • Westridge • Ages 5 & older • All abilities welcome For more information please visit www.HRCAonline.org/TR, call 303-471-7043, or email saden@hrcaonline.org. If you’d like to join our volunteer team, we’re currently looking for those interested in helping with our current program offerings.
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Classes, camps & activities
2016 Tennis League Meeting Although you may not get to play in the U.S. Open, there are plenty of opportunities to play league tennis through HRCA! Don’t let the upcoming 2016 tennis league season start without you! The annual HRCA Adult League Meeting will be held on Saturday, January 30, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. in the Wetterhorn Room at the Recreation Center at Northridge. League calendars, registration information and fees, online league player registration deadlines, and all changes for the upcoming season will be presented. Add your name to our player index of players looking to join a team, and in our captain book which lists captains looking for players for their teams. If you’re planning on playing league tennis this year, be sure to mark January 30 on your calendar! Please call 303-471-8940 with any questions.
HRCA/CARA Volleyball Is your 8-13 year old looking to play volleyball in a fun environment that fosters love of the game? Check out HRCA/CARA Volleyball! The HRCA is proud to partner with the Colorado Association of Recreational Athletics to bring you this non-competitive volleyball league. This league allows your child to play volleyball in a fun, team-focused environment where learning is the main goal. This program is wonderful for beginners or players who are looking to continue play but are not ready for the competitive team commitment. This league features weekly practices with games or tournaments on the weekends. Single games will be held at Southridge, while CARA tournaments are held at various locations throughout the Front Range. For more information please email cmaes@hrcaonline.org or 303-471-8869.
Explore Springboard Diving LEARN TO SWIM AT HRCA Make a New Year’s resolution and sign up today for swim lessons for your family. Drowning is the #1 preventable reason for deaths of children under the age of five. HRCA offers small class sizes with certified instructors eager to help your children learn skills they will be able to use for a lifetime. Classes are offered at times convenient for your busy schedule but fill quickly for this very popular program. Enrollment is now available for January through April. Sign up 24/7 and learn more at www.HRCAonline.org/Swim or call 303-471-8867, or email laura.osborne@hrcaonline.org.
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HRCA’s program, run by Mile High Dive Club, is the perfect opportunity to learn the basics and see if your child may be a future Olympian. The Mile High Dive Club (MHDC) is Colorado’s top-ranked Olympic style diving club. HRCA and MHDC have teamed up to offer training for ages 5 and older as well as all levels of athlete, from the beginner to the elite level diver. Divers learn how to do tuck dives and somersaults in the four diving directions (front, back, reverse, and inward) as well as the correct technique to enter the air and the water to maximize scores and avoid injury. Classes are offered Monday and Wednesday evenings at Northridge. Registration and more information can be found at www.HRCAonline.org/Swim, call 303-471-8935, or email diane.ball@hrcaonline.org.
New Sessions Beginning
New Year, Brings Cheer! Help your child start the New Year off on the right foot by tapping into their creative side! This month we are offering a variety of classes that will help your child learn something new. Check out these fun offerings: Portraits of Winter Thursdays January 7-28 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. 5-8 years old Outdoor Winter Fun Wednesdays January 6-27 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. 3-7 years old Minecraft Art Wednesdays January 6-27 6:15 - 7:15 p.m. 6-11 years old Rodeo Round Up Wednesdays January 6-27 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. 2½-5 years old Mud Pies Wednesdays January 6-27 9:00 - 9:45 a.m. 3-5 years old Intro to Wheel Fridays January 8-29 3:30 - 6:00 p.m. 12-16 years old For more information, please call 303-471-8928.
Preschool Classes for the New Year! We are kicking off the New Year with some exciting opportunities for your Preschooler! These programs, for children ages 3-6, are a great way to expose them to something new and interesting that might just set them off on a lifetime of exploration! We start the month with Gear it Up, our Preschool science class offered by Science Matters. From Merry-GoRounds to skate board parks, kids will get a great chance to explore laws of motion, among other things. Build It, LEGO® Duplo fun will begin January 12. Kids will get to explore fun themes like carnivals, castles and zoos while they exercise their interest in building things. Iron Chef is our Preschool cooking class this month and is bound to expose your little one to fun in the kitchen! We are also beginning our new sessions of Creative Kids classes such as Snowflakes and Hot Chocolate on Fridays, A New Beginning on Tuesday, January 5, Winter Whimsy on Mondays, Penguins and Snowmen on Thursdays, and Snowman Luminaries on January 21. For more information, please call 303-471-8818.
Students Get Hands-On Learning in the Backcountry The Backcountry Wilderness Area partnered with Fox Creek Elementary School this fall to allow students to connect with nature through hands-on learning. Over the course of five weeks, students braved the weather be it rain, shine, or snow with eagerness and a smile. Each week, students focused on a new topic. When studying flora, students learned how soil type, acidity, slope and moisture level relate to each other and how, in turn, it affects the plant species. While studying fauna biodiversity, students identified tracks, scat, and signs. Students collected and weighed litter as one method of examining the cost of human impacts. They also experimented in a mobile lab to monitor water quality. And finally, students had a blast catching and identifying aquatic macroinvertebrates. Staff and teachers helped students see how everything is interconnected – how humans affect water quality which affects aquatic species, etc. Students proudly presented their findings to their community at a Celebration of Learning. We’re excited to build on this experience with Fox Creek and potentially other schools next year.
January kicks off new sessions in our Ballet program with Tots and Tutus for ages 2-5, Dancing Princesses for ages 3-5, Disney Pip Hop for ages 3-5 and Ballet, Tap, and Jazz for children ages 3-12 and our ever popular Hip Hop class for children ages 8-12. For more information on these wonderful classes, please call 303-471-8853. If your little one just needs a way to exercise their gross motor skills and burn some energy, try our tumbling sessions that begin the week of January 4. Programs for children ages 18 months-9 years include Preschool gymnastics and Pom classes. For more information, please call 303-471-8818.
Migrate, Hibernate, Adapt Winter can be tough for wildlife in the Backcountry Wilderness Area with limited food supply, colder temperatures. That’s why animals migrate, hibernate, or adapt to survive. The geese are a good reminder that many animals, particularly birds, migrate to warmer weather and higher food supplies. Other animals, like bats and our resident bear, build up fat and hibernate through winter. But if you can’t leave or sleep, you must adapt. Deer have adapted to have hollow hair that traps warm air against the body. Many rodent species spend much of the summer collecting food to cache for winter months while other species alter their diet to meet winter’s bounty.
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PRESORTED Standard US postage paid Highlands Ranch Co Permit #170
9568 University Boulevard, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
Facility Closures January 1
All Recreation Centers and Administrative Offices
Check the web site for the most up-to-date closure information.
Postmaster: Time Sensitive Material. Please deliver by 12/31/15
Community Partners The HRCA’s ability to bring events to Highlands Ranch is made possible in part by our Community Partners, the Highlands Ranch Cultural Affairs Association (CAA), and the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD).
January Events
For event details, see page 5 or visit www.HRCAonline.org. January 7
Winter Cultural Series - Opera Colorado Arias & Ensembles
January 9. . . . . . . . . . Coffee and Tea Tasting January 11. . . . . . . . Board Working Session* 6:00 p.m. January 16. . . . . . . . Home Brew Class January 19. . . . . . . . Delegate & Board Meeting* 6:30 p.m. January 21. . . . . . . . Winter Cultural Series - Tour of Europe, Chalet Dancers January 23. . . . . . . . Adult Glow-in-the-Dark Yoga January 29. . . . . . . . Family Magic Show * These meetings are open to our members.