Can you believe we are already looking at March? Where does the time go? Spring is coming! The days are getting longer, and the weather is getting warmer.

The presidents and the board have been busy at the start of the year formulating the 2026 budget, lining up speakers for our luncheons, planning monthly events, collecting membership renewals, and creating the directory. The 2025 budget was reconciled, and the 2026 budget was presented at the February board meeting and was approved. We carried over just over $3000 from 2025 into 2026, which allowed us to comfortably add a couple new expenses in the budget this year. We have bought a subscription to Jacquie Lawson so our corresponding secretary can send e-cards to each member on her birthday. We also will be offering a free luncheon to 5 members each quarter of the year, so fingers crossed that you are a lucky winner of a lunch paid for by the club. If you would like to see the budget, let one of the presidents know and we can share it with you.

Our 2026 membership directory is being printed and will be available soon. We had close to 90% of our members renew this year! We have confirmed many luncheon speakers and are close to finalizing more. Our spring social is also in the works. Kari and Jenny will check out Gather COLA to make sure it fits our needs and we will confirm a date soon.

We will be increasing our charity efforts this year. We support Midlands Orphan Relief monetarily each month, but we will also support them and other organizations with donations of needed items. Our goal is to have a collection at each luncheon. To kick us off, at our February and March luncheons, we will be collecting bottles of wine to be donated to Midlands Orphan Relief to use for their wine pull at their garden party fundraiser event in April.

Heads up: The March luncheon at Spring Valley will be the 3rd Thursday of the month, March 19, due to a conflict at Spring Valley CC. RSVPs will be due to our new assistant treasurer, Robin, March 11" Thank you so much to Robin for volunteering to take this position! We have a full board, yippee!

Make sure to be active in the club and think about trying out a new interest group. All our groups are so welcoming, and many friendships have been formed through our club and its events.

Remember we are always here for you and want to know your thoughts, suggestions, concerns, and praises!

Your 2026 Co-Presidents,
Kari & Jenny