Membership in Owls is limited to residents who have successfully reached their 50th birthday. Cost of membership is only $10 per year. The group meets every month, usually on the second Tuesday at 11:30am in the Lodge for lunch and a program, and then makes other special trips to eat out at area restaurants or special attractions. See monthly article in the Passages for more details.

OWLS members enjoy lunch at Tom's Ribs in November 2004. Photo by Janet Doherty.

"OWLS" stands for "Older Wiser Leisure Seniors" and was formed in 1993.

By Janet Doherty

Now that I have officially retired from teaching and do consulting from time to time, I have begun to realize that there are a great number of retired seniors living in the Great Northwest.

While I have always managed to stay busy with my various activities in the Watch, the Sounds, the Owls, and now as a Director on the Board, plus my hobby of painting with acrylics… I ‘m sure that there are many folks living in this community who would like to pursue an activity during the Daytime in our very own Lodge.

We have a tremendous amount of talented people living in our midst and I am hoping that they will enjoy teaching a hobby or skill to others as a class or activity. For starters, please respond to my list below by going to the Great Northwest website: www.greatnorthwest.org

You may also call the office at 681-2983 or my residence at 521-6201 and I will document your responses. Send email to Janet by using this link. The following named activities in the next column are just a start. If you can suggest others please let me know.

• Daytime Aerobics Exercises
• Bridge Class and/or game
• Poker
• Canasta
• Other kinds of card games
• Ping Pong or Table Tennis game
• Flower Arrangement Class or activity
• Acrylic Painting
• Water Color Painting
• Scrapbooking
• Line Dancing
• Ukelele Class and/or activity
• Decoupage Class/or activity
• Chess

We will be looking for volunteers to teach these classes / activities and for folks to participate or sign up. A fee will be a necessity to cover the electricity, use of materials, instructor, and clean-up.

Some of the neighboring associations and/or Senior Centers charge a yearly fee of $15. YOUR RESPONSE WILL DETERMINE IT ALL!!