October 2023

Dear Newcomers and Neighbors,

How exciting to have such a great turnout for our September Luncheon at the Bellingham Yacht Club!  We had a delicious lasagna lunch supplied by Hilltop Catering.  Jennifer Mackey, the Stewardship Director of the Whatcom Land Trust, gave an informative presentation about the work of the trust.  The trust has 12 employees and many volunteers who preserve and protect wildlife habitat and scenic, agricultural, and open-space lands in Whatcom County.   

Our next luncheon is set for Thursday, October 12th, at the Yacht Club.  Information regarding the speaker and signing up is below.

We had a suggestion from a member to add a more casual, happy-hour style format to our current Monthly Potlucks, which have historically been a sit-down dinner.  In the new format, the host will still offer their home as a venue, but instead of a more formal sit-down dinner for which attendees will bring main courses, etc., attendees will bring happy-hour style appetizers and edibles.  The monthly host will determine the format, and the format will be published in the newsletter.  We are inviting all members to sign up to host a monthly Potluck/Happy Hour in your home.  Please email Barbara Balfour if you are interested.

We are also encouraging members to invite a friend to a Monthly Luncheon or other activity on a space-available basis.  If the friend enjoys our group, please note that we would ask them to join Newcomers & Neighbors as a dues-paying member before attending other events.  It is very easy to join Newcomers & Neighbors on the club’s website at https://whatcomnewcomers.org/join-us

We are thrilled that our new member website is working well!  We ask you to register for luncheons and activities using the site.  And please take pictures of events and send them to Sylvia Bernstein or Jeff Cathey so we can post them.

Have fun carving your pumpkins!

Mary Lou Papich