P r o b u s - G u i l d w o o d Our Strength is Fellowship, Our Success is Participation. ISSUE #71 NEWSLETTER February 2018 President’s Message 11-17 - International Flirting Week (Expect an uptick in harassment charges) I was so tempted as I sat down February noted days: to write this missive to just use 2 - Spunky Old Broads Day (It wasn’t enough last year’s February’s you have a whole month?) President’s Message, it was so 2 - Groundhog Day good that I almost just copied it 2 - Working Naked Day (Preferably inside and and went about doing out of sight) something else (and the editors would have caught it). 3 - Ice Cream For Breakfast Day (I’m in) But no, my conscience overruled my tendency 5 - Dump Your Significant Jerk Day (Yeah, you to laziness and here we are again. One would get your own day too) have thought that February being a short month 5 - Shower With a Friend Day (Tell them it’s to not much would be going on. Well, it seems the save water) cold really brings out the odd in a lot of people 7 - Wave All Your Fingers at Your Neighbour’s (stop looking at me like that). That, and it’s my Day (Give the middle one a rest) birthday again and I am so not ready for that. 9 - Toothache Day (Really? They plan these So, what’s some of what is happening in too?) February: 11 - World Marriage Day February is: International Boost Self-Esteem 12 - Clean Out Your Computer Day (That Month; International Expect Success Month; definitely needs more than a month) International Month of Black Women in the 12 - Extraterrestrial Culture and Visitor Day Arts; National Black History Month; National (Where do we sign up?) Laugh-Friendly Month (Helps with self-esteem 13 - Get a Different Name Day (Just call me and success); National Mend A Broken Heart %%^$&*()) Month (February is the month of Love); Spunky 13 - Madly In Love With Me Day (Nope, not Old Broads Month (Let me just say you know touching that) who you are.) 14 - Valentine’s Day The weeks of February: 16 – Do A Grouch A Favour Day (Why?) 3-9 - Dump Your Significant Jerk Week (I think 17 – Random Acts Of Kindness Day (Thought I’m lucky Wendy didn’t know about this!) that happened yesterday) 7-15 - International Week of Black Women in 18 - Cow Milked While Flying In An Airplane the Arts Day (No, I don’t make this up) 7-14 - National Marriage Week (If you liked it 18 - Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day (Hey, it’s the first time – do it again – maybe with your worth two days for that) partner) 23 - Single Tasking Day (Either really boring or 8-14 - Love Makes the World Go Round; But very occupying) Laughter Keeps Us From Getting Dizzy Week 27 – No Brainer Day (This is unlike other days (I’m declaring national Monty Python Week for for some in what way?) this) 28 - Inconvenience Yourself Day (I do that 11-17 - Celebration of Love Week (How is enough already, I’m a parent) entirely up to you, just stay out of the news) 28 – Public Sleeping Day (Get out early and 11-17 - Random Acts of Kindness Week (Go pick your park bench) on, you can do it) 28 - National Tooth Fairy Day (Just add it to your allowance) Probus-Guildwood Meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of each Month, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Guildwood Community Presbyterian Church, 140 Guildwood Parkway, Guildwood Village – Everyone is most welcome. February 2018 Probus-Guildwood Newsletter Page 2 Black Canadian Women: Stories of Strength, Our January Presenter Courage and Vision,” is the official theme for this year’s Black History Month in Canada which started February 1. The federal government introduced this special month in 1996 to raise awareness about Canadians of African descent. Canada recognizes a special decade, also. The statement on this theme comes days after the Canadian government announced it will officially recognize the UN International Decade for People of African Descent. The decade goes from 2015 to 2024, and the Andria Teather – CEO government news release says it “is an opportunity to highlight and celebrate the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada important contributions that Black Canadians From childhood, Jane loved animals and have made to Canadian society.” It goes on to dreamed of living in Africa. She grew up in her talk about combating racism and discrimination family home, The Birches, in Bournemouth, UK and delivering better outcomes for black where she retreats between tours. Canadians. Initially Jane graduated from secretarial school and at 26 travelled to Gombe, Africa. Dr. Louis Leakey hired her to study chimpanzees in their natural habitat. There she recorded their interaction with one another and called them by names rather than number, the acceptable practice of modern research. National Geographic funded her study and sent a professional photographer to film her interaction For more details on how this month is being with the chimpanzees. Her novel research celebrated in Toronto you can visit this website proved that the chimpanzees were sentient. http://www.shedoesthecity.com/shedoesthecitys Subsequently Leakey facilitated her entrance to -top-10-black-history-month-2018 or your local Cambridge for Jane to earn her PhD without library. former traditional accreditation. With Valentine’s Day and Family Day coming Today Jane’s Gombe Research Centre continues up be sure to enjoy the time with special family to research chimpanzees which have the closest and friends. Be the secret admirer to someone DNA to humans. They are endangered along special (with Valentine’s cards), indulge in with the great apes due to loss of habitat, some nice chocolate and flowers (or ice cream) hunting and trafficking. The JGI has also and have fun. Alan Burt established a sanctuary in the Republic of Congo for over 100 orphaned chimpanzees until the animals can be rehabilitated. The JGI also works with the Democratic Republic of Congo encouraging the community to have smaller families which require less exploitation of resources and teaches them to be stewards of their natural resources for the future. In April 2018, Jane will be 84. She is an activist concerned about the treatment of animals, climate change, genetically modified food, the plight of humans around the globe and indigenous peoples. Consequently, Jane, via the Life can be Fun… as long as you do it with the right people. February 2018 Probus-Guildwood Newsletter Page 3 JGI Canada, is promoting the program ‘Roots Lunch with Friends and Shoots’ to engage youth from elementary, secondary and now post-secondary schools to take action and to create the next generation of activists to solve environmental problems with local initiatives such as bee propagation, organic gardening, and improving human relationships with nature and the environment. There are many books written by her and about her such as: Jane Goodall, The Woman Who Twelve guests attended on January 26 at Defined Man, Harvest For Hope, A Guide For Remezzo Italian Bistro. Our February luncheon Mindful Eating, Reason For Hope, Africa in My will be held at the NEW La Scogliera Italian Blood, The Jane Goodall Effect, 10 Trusts and Cuisine at 2277 Kingston Rd. (W. of Midland at Hope for Animals and their World. Andria Ridgemoor Dr.[the old location of BoPeep]) on recommends Jane Goodall:50 Years at Gombe Friday, February 23, at 12:30 p.m. There will which she gifted via our January draw to Bruce be a sign-up sheet at the February meeting or Minaker call Jan Eaton at (416-261-8857). Jan Eaton ______________________________________________ Recently National Geographic, in collaboration Children’s Reading Program with the Jane Goodall Institute, made a Guildwood Junior Public School is searching for documentary called JANE from 50 year-old reading volunteers. archived film. It may be nominated for an Oscar Previously our Probus-Guildwood members in 2018. There have been international volunteered one morning a week from 9:30 to screenings of this film. Google National 11:30 to support young readers improve their Geographic, Jane, to see the film schedule. reading skills. The school has students from JK Her final words are: Live in harmony with to Grade 6 and is located at 225 Livingston nature. If nature suffers, we eventually will Road. If you are interested, please contact: suffer. Reduce consumption. We need to make Principal Marilyn Leighton choices thinking not only how this is good for [email protected] or secretary Mary me now but how will this affect future Kokinakis [email protected], or call generations. 416-396-6295. For further information contact Andria Teather _________________________________ at 416-978-3558; [email protected] and www.JaneGoodall.ca. Membership At our January 10, meeting we had 68 people attending including one new member and six guests. Please welcome Suzanne Lajeunesse as our newest member. Our membership now totals 109. Updating Your Information – Occasionally we need to contact members either by phone or email. A reminder that if you have changed your address, phone number or email address, please advise the membership team when you sign in at our meetings. Alternately you can contact: Enid Comars at 416-264-2816, or email: I intend to live forever… [email protected] to update your or die trying. information. Membership back-up contact is Elizabeth Williams at: 416-282-8595 or email: [email protected]. Life can be Fun… as long as you do it with the right people.