PRESIDENT'S REPORT - Elaine Bernstein (474-5984/814-0286 or elaine.bernstein@earthlink.net)

Happy May!
My deepest apologies for missing the April Meeting. Thanks to everyone for the good wishes and positive thoughts sent my mom's way. I am happy to report that her tests revealed that her health situation is the best-case scenario. In terms of the good work that our group does, it was an honor to represent the Welcome Club at the recent Marion Sutherland Kirby Library donor reception. I will also represent us at the groundbreaking event for the Wright Township Park Expansion Phase II Project later this month. Please know that these organizations appreciate all of our support as they accomplish wonderful things in our community.
Additional exciting news is that the initial batch of Route 309 Banners has been ordered! This is due to the exhaustive efforts of our Past Presidents Karin Caporuscio and Shannon Williams. This has been a wonderful project, which will make a big impact in our community. Karin and Shannon cannot be commended enough for making this dream a reality.
I am very excited for our May Potluck Social Meeting. It will be a great way for us all to touch base one last time before summer, and I can't wait to try out all of our member's culinary creations. Hope to see you there!

1st VICE PRESIDENT - Kerri Fey (479-2739 or Kerrifey0723@aol.com )

Our final meeting of the year will be held Thursday May 20, 2010 at Noon at the Presbyterian Church 9 Chestnut Street Mountain Top. This will be a "pot luck" luncheon. We encourage everyone to bring your favorite dish to share with fellow members. No need to RSVP for this one however, if your dish requires chaffing dishes please let Khris Fox know so we can be prepared! I look forward to seeing all of you there!

2nd VICE PRESIDENT ­ Membership ­ Kim Carpenter (474-9020 or kimwc@yahoo.com)

Thank you to everyone who has helped me in my role as New Members Coordinator over the last three years! We've definitely helped a lot of people get acclimated to the area and helped them fit in to their new community. We've even helped people get closer to the community they've lived in for years!

A big thank you goes to Jo Taylor who has been helping me over the last year. She has done a great job and will be taking over my position for next year. I know you all will help her just as you helped me!

Let's end the year with a bang! May's general meeting (Pot Luck Social) is the perfect opportunity to reach out to those friends and neighbors who would love to learn more about the Welcome Club! Make some calls! Bring out those friends and neighbors! Let's get back to the reason for our club! They'll thank you for it! As an incentive, at May's gathering, we will have a gift for each new guest and also a gift for the person who brings the most guests!

In the meantime, if you'd like to send me the name and address of a new neighbor or someone you think might be interested in the club, I'd be glad to send them a letter of introduction and the current newsletter.

HOSTESS COORDINATOR ­ Khris Fox (906-8159 or khrisfox@hotmail.com)

I would like to thank Jo Taylor, Candice Denoo and Amy Rhodes for providing the desserts at April's meeting.

SECRETARY ­ Corinne Rodman (474-9501 or sasseboo@ptd.net)

Please let me know if there are any members in need of a card for a birth, get well, condolences, or even a thinking-of-you.

WAYS & MEANS - (Mary-Ellen Mcfarland 868-6467 or mcfarland12@epix.net and Corinne Racicky 474-6951 or corinneelizabeth23@yahoo.com)

For more information, please contact the committee members listed above.

TREASURER - Mary Kate Finney (682-2389 or therapy97@yahoo.com)

Please contact me if you have any club expenses.

SERVICES - Shannon Williams (474-5570 or richslani@verizon.net)

Toiletry Collection - We will collect toiletries for the St. Paul's Food Bank at our May meeting. We only ask that the items be unopened. Hotel samples are perfect!

Highway Clean up - Time for our spring clean up! Our club is responsible for a 1-mile stretch of Route 309 starting at St. Jude's Church and heading south. Please join us on May 26th at 9AM at the Rise and Shine Restaurant. The Welcome Club will buy breakfast! We will try to start by 9:30AM. We hope to be finished by 11AM. We will provide bags, gloves, and safety vests. Mary Kate Finney will provide babysitting at 155 Kestrel Road, Forest Pointe. Please let Shannon know if you can participate and if you will need babysitting. Thanks to all of you who have signed up.

Fire House Baking - Thanks to Tracey Lapinski, Tricia Russell and Lori Urosevich for baking in April.

Easter Baskets- Thanks to all who contributed. We were able to assemble 21 baskets for the children at St. Paul's Food Bank. The extra candy was distributed to the adults who come to the food bank. A special thanks to Sarah Williams and Lauren Ford for helping to assemble the baskets.

PUBLICITY / HISTORIAN - Ann Papciak (403-0488 or kgnfakp@aol.com)

Please send photos! I still need pictures from the picnic, the clean up, and the holiday parties. Those of you in the special interest groups, please snap a photo or two at your next meeting. Also if you have a special event or project you want in the newspaper just send me a photo and the names of all those in it and I will send it to our local papers. As always, I also welcome hard copies. If you bring them to the meeting, I can scan them and return them to you. Thanks!!!

NEWSLETTER - Diane Keating (474-6166 or mountain92@verizon.net)

If you know anyone that was expecting a newsletter and did not receive one, please let me know and I will be sure to correct my email list. Thanks!

Fine Arts Fiesta
Downtown Wilkes-Barre
May 21st, 10:30AM
www.fineartsfiesta.org

Please RSVP to Shannon

***Also, we are looking for one or two people who would be interested in leading the Moms & Tots group for next year (starting in September). Please give Lori or Shannon a call if you have interest.

CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUP - Tricia Russell (403-7785 or tricia.russell@wilkes.edu) and Elizabeth Shipton (474-5481 or lshipton@verizon.net)

The children's playgroup invites babies and preschool children to come and play. A big thanks to Maureen Petzold for hosting a playgroup in April!
Please contact either Tricia or Liz if you are interested in hosting a play date in the fall. We are also looking for a replacement(s) of our positions to coordinate the children's playgroup if anyone is interested. Please let us know and we would be happy to answer any questions.
Hope to see you at the next playgroup in May! Shannon-thanks for volunteering your home!

Date: Friday, May 28th
Time: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Place: Shannon Williams' home at 507 Morning Glory Place, Mountaintop (Bow Creek Estates)
Please RSVP to Shannon at 474-5570 by Wednesday, May 26th.

Through out the summer months the children's playgroup will gather at the Wright Township Park on Wednesdays from 10 am-12 noon.

CHILDREN'S PARTIES - Tracie Pratt (474-5942) or pppratt@yahoo.com

Please contact the committee member above for more information.

DINNER CLUB - Marie Duclos (678-7332 or duclosmarie@hotmail.com )

The Dinner Club end of year gathering has been changed to an Ice Cream Social. Meeting at Jane and Doug Evans at 4:30 on the 22nd of May.
Appetizers and Sundae goodies are needed.
If any one is interested in joining the Dinner Club this would be a good time to meet the current members.
Please contact me at 678-7332 or duclosmarie@hotmail.com if you are planning on coming.

WHAT'S COOKING? COOKING GROUP - Bobbi-Jo Romanishan (371-4317 or bojorom@yahoo.com)

For more information, please contact the committee member above.

NEEDLEWORK ­ Jan Pagodin (647-3908 or pagodin@pa.metrocast.net)

We are a small friendly group who meet every other Wednesday morning. You don't have to have a needlework project to attend, just come for the company and conversation. We love to welcome new members. Please contact the hostess or me if you will be able to join us.

Here is a list of our final three meetings for the season:
Wednesday, May 5th at 10 am, at Marie Duclos', 15 Revere Rd, 678-7332, Roberta and Roye- food hostesses
Wednesday, May19that 10 am, at Carmella Rovinski's, 4 Woodbryn Dr, 474-5669, Joan and Judy- food hostesses
Wednesday, June 2nd at 11:30 am, at Judy Grimm's, 9 Glendale Dr, 403-6194, Potluck Picnic

SCRAPBOOKING - Khris Fox (906-8159 or khrisfox@hotmail.com)

We are going to get together on Friday, May 7th from 10-3 at Khris Fox's house. It is located at 228 Circle Drive. Circle Drive is in the back of the Greystone subdivision. If you plan on attending please let me know. You can email me at khrisfox@hotmail.com or call 570/906-8159.

BOOK CLUB ­ Carol McGowan (868-6876)

We will be meeting May 21st at 9:30 at the home of Valerie Way, 506 Morning Glory Place, Bow Creek. We are reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson. We will also be discussing The Help from last month. RSVP to Val at 403-4017 if you plan on coming.