Missing Monterey Musings Spotlight on Members

Missing Monterey Musings

Discussions with Agemates, a variety of topics Experiences shared; lives lived in biopics.

Laughter and challenge when Carpet Bowling Sometimes those bowls just keep on rolling.

Opinions expressed and shared at Book Club To agree or not, therein lies the rub.

To colour on Thursday gives me much pleasure To sit and create; those mornings I treasure.

Serving and clearing at special events Entertainment varied and menus delicious

Thank goodness I don’t have to wash all those dishes.

Chef Linda’s goodies have to be on my list Lunch specials and soups not to be missed.

Rummage and Bazaar, the sorting and selling The stuff people give, the stories they’re telling.

Friendly faces and staff whose hellos I miss To be open again, such joy, such bliss.

Go Well, Be Well. Stay well!

By Jo Wigmore (musings at 6:00am) Monterey Member and Volunteer

Spotlight on Monterey Recreation Centre Members

Linda Foubister interviewed members about their participation with the Monterey Recreation Activity Association (MRAA) at the Monterey Recreation Centre. The members discuss the opportunities that the Centre has provided for them to pursue their passion for dance, music, and art, as well as for meeting new friends and giving back to the community by volunteering.

John Tiffany

John Tiffany joined Monterey Recreation Activity Association at the Monterey Recreation Centre in 2013.

Would you tell me something about your life? I was born and raised in the Hudson River Valley in New York State. I lived in New York City for over 20 years where I worked as a chemical technician. After receiving a graduate degree in Environmental Science, I started a consulting business in 1990 that specialized in indoor air quality. What first brought you to the Monterey Recreation Centre? When my wife and I moved here in 2012, we looked at many recreation centres and determined that the Monterey Recreation Centre was the place for us. We moved to Oak Bay several years ago and we now are only a three-minute walk to the Centre, a great benefit of living in Oak Bay. To what clubs do you belong? I serve as the representative for the Classical Music Club. This involves not just listening to music but also choosing live recordings. As one of three presenters, I pick out the best, most interesting, recording to present and give a background on the piece, the composer and the music. We then watch the recording on a large television screen, coupled with a good audio-visual system. For me, it heightens my appreciation of a piece I don’t know that well. The Club meets monthly at the Centre. My grandmother was an opera singer. She studied at the Sorbonne in Paris in the late 1890s, then performed with the Philadelphia Opera Company. One day, my grandfather went to the opera where he saw my grandmother’s ankles and became entranced. I grew up listening to classical music. My favourite piece is Sibelius’s Symphony #5. I am the treasurer for the Garden Club. The club meets once monthly. We may have speakers or visit gardens within the Victoria region, such as the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific.

Also, I facilitate the discussion group on current events. The group was set up four years ago. As the facilitator, I help pick the topics with input from members. The group operates bi-weekly on a drop-in basis. We do have people with different viewpoints but we don’t throw gravel at each other.

What are your other volunteer activities? Since 2015, I have volunteered at the Coffee Express. Originally, I volunteered to pay back the Centre as a duty, but now I really enjoy the personal interactions. Over the years, I have gotten to know who likes what and who prefers what kind of cake. I have also enjoyed getting to know the people at the Reception desk. Any other activities? The Centre holds theme-related dinners and entertainment, and my wife and I enjoy these events very much, especially getting to know the other people at the tables. What would surprise people to know about you? At age 16, I hitchhiked across the United States for the summer. One day, I was picked up by a group of mountaineers and we all climbed the challenging Grand Teton in Wyoming together. It took two days to climb the 14,000-foot (4200 metre) mountain, and I did it in Hush Puppies shoes, all that I had with me.

Pat Chung

Pat Chung has been an active member of the Monterey Recreation Activity Association at the Monterey Recreation Centre since 1996.

Would you tell me something about your life? I was born in Saskatchewan. As my father was a bank manager, we moved around a lot in my younger years. We settled in Victoria, where I was a student at Oak Bay High School. I trained as a nurse at the Royal Jubilee Hospital, and later worked in Prince George at a time when the city was booming. In Edmonton, I worked at the Aberheart Memorial Sanatorium, caring for children under 5 years old who had tuberculosis. Back in Victoria, I was the bookkeeper and controller at Gibson’s Ladies Wear. What first brought you to the Monterey Recreation Centre? I was recruited from a fitness class at Henderson Recreation Centre by the class teacher, Marie Bradshaw. Marie and Ian Gilbert wanted to create a club at the MRC that would stage performances. Marie asked if I had a dance background; when I replied that I had, she asked if I would do choreography for the club. A sufficient number of members were interested in the club, and so the Monterey NOTE Ables began. Our first show, A Musical Revue, was held in the spring of 1997, and included notable songs such as “Garbage Day in Old Oak Bay.” Club members worked hard at weekly rehearsals to produce two hour shows with up to 40 numbers. People who had never created or directed shows had the opportunity to do so. Members sewed wonderful costumes as they critiqued our performances in rehearsals. The costumes for the song “Follow the Yellow Brick Road,” for example, gave a strong visual on stage with the performers wearing colourful clown wigs and polka dot dresses and vests. I’m hoping to have a sale of the NOTE Able costumes in the future. Some shows had up to thirty cast members, so many costumes will be available.

The last large show was held in 2016. Called The NOTEAbles Spring Revue, it included performances by the NOTE Ables, as well as the Monterey Players Drama Club and Hula Dance for Health dancers. During the 20 years that the club operated, we raised a total of $60,000 after expenses for the MRAA. Some funds were spent for equipment, such as stage curtains, lighting and sound equipment for the MRC. Recently, the Monterey Cabaret replaced the NOTE-Ables in providing opportunities for members to perform in musical productions. What are your other volunteer activities? In 1990, I was again at a Henderson fitness class when I was asked to volunteer at the blood pressure clinic at the centre. As a retired Registered Nurse, I found this to be a good fit. The blood pressure clinics are held for members on Thursdays at the Centre. In 2017, I was asked to coordinate the spring rummage sales and the fall bazaars. It’s a big job, requiring over 100 volunteers. Every year, donations to the sales increase. It is exciting to figure out what some of the things that come in actually are. As volunteers, we see everything that comes into the sale, and that’s fun. The sales provide a combined $22,000 a year revenue for the programs and support offered by the MRAA. I also enjoy being a member of the Craft Carnival Club where crafters get together to knit, sew and do their favourite crafts to sell in the display cabinet at the Centre. Another interest that started for me at the MRC is the Hula for Health class where I enjoy fitness combined with dance.

What do you like about being a member? The MRC has something for everybody with its clubs and programs. Prices are reasonable, the atmosphere is nice, and the centre is a friendly place to be.

Gloria Cox

Gloria Cox joined the MRAA in 1995. She belongs to several clubs and has volunteered in numerous roles.

Would you tell me something about your life? I was born in England; my husband and I emigrated to Canada, sailing on the maiden voyage of the Empress of Britain in 1956. After 16 years in Toronto, we moved to Victoria, where my husband, Howard, took charge of the prosthetic and orthotic unit at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. I worked at the Legislature as a legislative assistant and have many happy memories of working there. After we retired, we travelled, took cruises, did square dancing, and participated in the many activities at the Monterey Recreation Centre. What first brought you to the Monterey Recreation Centre? A friend recommended the centre. The NOTE-Ables club was asking for volunteers that year and as I have always liked dancing, I joined. I was the club secretary and performed in the shows. The producers and directors wanted everything to be perfect. It was hard work, but it was worth it. We were like a family and we had fun. The audience members agreed that the shows were wonderful. I have performed with the Monterey Cabaret as well.

What are your volunteer activities? As a former Board member of the MRAA, I served as the director of social clubs liaising with the six social clubs: Agemates, Chess, Poker, Merry Widows, Scrabble and MahJong, reporting any issues to the Board. I gained insight into Board operations which, are mostly done by volunteers. The MRAA supports fundraising, and provides subsidies for many of the Centre’s functions. The Board minutes are posted at the Centre so members can see what is happening and how finances are handled.

Two years ago, I volunteered in Food Services where I worked in the kitchen, washing dishes and helping the chef. At special events, I helped set up tables and served dinners. For the annual Rummage and Bazaar sales, I sorted items and welcomed guests. To what clubs do you belong? When the Family History Club started about 20 years ago, I sat on the steering committee and then served as the secretary. We learned to use computers at the Computer Club where Joyce Bevan would give lessons with handouts, which I still have. I joined the Merry Widows Club that Joyce Bevan started a few years ago. We are a support group and get together once a month. I have modelled in the club’s spring and fall fashion shows. Without the Centre, I would have been lost when my husband died. What would surprise people to know about you? I’ve never put gas in my car—I always go to full serve gas stations or get my kids to do it! What do you like about volunteering? I meet a lot of people at the Centre, and some become friends. As someone who has always been communityminded, I like to give back. What you give, you receive back ten-fold. The Centre is so friendly, and is the envy of visitors from other places.