Club Hubbub 12.11.14

WINDERMERE

+ Windermere Garden Club

Windermere Garden Club members recently transformed the Town Hall tree to create a festive setting for all the town of Windermere’s activities and meetings this December.

The color scheme this year is silver and blue. Carolin Warren and Vicki Hearst organized the project, and all club members helped decorate. The community is welcome to stop by and enjoy the tree during business hours.

+ Rotary Club of Windermere

The Rotary Club of Windermere welcomed Orange County Commissioner S. Scott Boyd to its meeting in late October, along with Florida State Rep. Eric Eisnaugle.

In 2013, the Tri-County League of Cities named Boyd as Commissioner of the Year; Eisnaugle currently serves Florida District 44. At the meeting, Boyd and Eisnaugle spoke to Rotary members about the significance of the various amendments on the Nov. 4 ballot.

In early November, the Rotary Club of Windermere welcomed Christina McGuirk, RN, and Bibi Alley, LHRM, of Health Central Hospital in Ocoee. McGuirk is the chief nursing officer at the hospital with more than 21 years of experience in the health care field. Alley works as a patient advocate and has devoted more than 22 years to raising patient and public awareness about patient rights. She currently directs the Patient Advocacy program at Health Central. 

McGuirk and Alley spoke to the club about the ongoing program at the hospital that is aiming to take the guest service experience from good to great.

At the following meeting in November, certified Kidney Smart educator Susan Thomas, RN, of DaVita Healthcare Partners, Inc., shared her passion for educating patients about how kidneys function, the effects of kidney disease and the various treatment options available. Thomas also teaches about the role medications, diet and nutrition play in disease management and prevention.

Kidney Smart classes are open to the community and are designed for at-risk individuals, or those already diagnosed with kidney disease.

Last week, the Rotary Club of Windermere welcomed Robert Dent, director and founder of the International Life Foundation. Dent shared with the club his work in the barrios of Bogota, Colombia, partnering with local Rotarians to open and maintain a YMCA.

At the Hogar Amanacer YMCA in Bogota, emphasis is placed on rehabilitation for youth and adults with drug addictions or who work in the sex trade industry. The focus is highly on education, detoxification and working toward self-dependence while maintaining employment in a field of each person’s choice.

For more, visit windermererotary.org.

WINTER GARDEN

+ American Legion, Hugh T. Gregory Post 63

The American Legion, Hugh T. Gregory Post 63 recently donated $1,000 to the Winter Garden Police Athletic League for the Holiday Gifts for Kids program at the police department.

The legion, in conjunction with Florida Blood Centers, also will conduct a blood drive from 2 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, in front of the Hugh T. Gregory Legion Post, 271 W. Plant St., Winter Garden. 

Each pint of blood donated is equivalent to three lives saved. Successful donors will receive free movie ticket vouchers. The post will be open with sodas, coffee, tea, water, fruits and pastries available for those who attend.

For more information, call (407) 656-6361.

WEST ORANGE

+ Robinswood Garden Club

The Robinswood Garden Club recently gathered for its annual covered dish party and gift exchange. The hostess was Doris Tindall.

During the meal, Mark and Dee Stack reported the club’s delivery of two complete Thanksgiving meals to the Pine Hills Community Center for members to share.

Also, a freewill offering was made to Dee Stack for her nursing home crafts expense.

Club President Wilma Lentz and her husband, Bill, helped celebrate the holiday season by placing a solar dancing reindeer at each table setting — the third solar gift they have given each member. The Lentzes hope to share the warm greeting these items give them in the kitchen window every day.

The Robinswood Garden Club will gather for a program on Bonsai at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, at the Pine Hills Community Center, 6408 Jennings Road, Orlando.

+ O.C. Retired Educators Assoc.

The Orange County Retired Educators Association will meet at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, at College Park United Methodist Church, 644 W. Princeton St., Orlando.

Gary Moser, of OCREA, will discuss Florida Retirement System Benefits and frequently asked questions. 

For more information, visit ocrea-fl.org or call (407) 677-0446.

+ Rotary Club of Lake Buena Vista

Rotary Club of Lake Buena Vista members, guests and others interested in Rotary gathered last week for the club’s First Tuesday Social at the Buena Vista Palace & Spa in Downtown Disney, 1900 E. Buena Vista Drive, Orlando.

The event included fellowship and delicious hors d’oeuvres and cocktails.

OCOEE

+ W.O. Seniors

The West Orange Seniors will hold its annual Christmas luncheon at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, at the Ocoee Lakeshore Center, 150 N. Lakeshore Drive. The cost is $8 per person.

Bingo night is held from 3 to 6:30 p.m. every Sunday and from 1 to 3:30 p.m. every Monday, at the senior center.

Free arthritis chair exercises, sponsored by Health Central Hospital, take place at 8 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays.

Every Tuesday, line-dancing classes are available at 10 a.m., with a minimum $2 donation, and free belly-dancing exercises are offered at 1 p.m. 

The seniors play cards from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. They also enjoy dominoes, walking, social activities, coffee and more beginning at 9 a.m. each Wednesday at the center.

Crafts take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays, and chorus practice takes place from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Fridays.

For more information about the West Orange Seniors and upcoming events, call (407) 592-4498 or visit westorangeseniors.yolasite.com.

WEST ORANGE DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB

Results from Nov. 13

N-S: 1. N. Fortin – S. Landis 2. Y. Peabody – M. Voorhees 3. B. Ballenger – E. Quinn 4. J. and R. Jett 5. S. Kmiec – M. Ryan; E-W: 1. B. Binkley – B. Brantley 2. J. and B. Hebert 3. B. and F. Taylor 4. S. Jordan – T.K. Miller 5/6 tied B. Young – A. Snook, B. and R. Blair.