Presidents Message – April 2026

It has been a chilly start to spring but isn’t it wonderful to see the crocuses in bloom and the daffodils and tulips peaking up from the gardens, promising warm and sunny days ahead.

We had a quieter March for Newcomers with many members away, visiting warmer climates.

There were no programs this month as the Shaw backstage tour moved to April 2.

Our game groups continue to be busy and are getting ready to start the spring sessions. Please see more information in this Newsletter, from our Director of Interest Groups, Anne Halloran, about updates and requests from our convenors, to help make each game enjoyable for all players.

Thank you to the 75 members who completed the Survey sent from our Programs team.

We would love to hear from more of our 249 members, so we are opening the survey again, for a final wave. Please follow this link to complete the survey:

 NOTL Newcomers Events Survey

You can also find it on our website:  notlnewcomers.com

It will take you 5 minutes to complete and that will provide us with the information we need to bring programs and activities that are relevant and interesting to our membership.

Mark your Calendars – May 20 is our AGM – this is when our membership gathers to elect a new Board of Directors and Officers to fill our various positions. We have 6 positions to fill: President (nominated Nicola Campbell); Director- Interest Groups (nominated - Caroline Kloss); Director- Membership, (nominated Julie Hagan); Director Programs, nominated- Laura Menna;

Director -Special Programs -Open;

Director Website and PR- Open.

This is an important day for our Newcomer members.

If you know of someone who is a Newcomer advocate, who has time to offer and who would like to volunteer and become involved in their community, this is a great time to speak to them and encourage them to step forward. Ideally, you want to have your Board diverse – representing all of our membership: new people moving to NOTL, alumni who have been here many years, younger members with newer interests, older members who have enjoyed past programs - it is important that all voices are represented. Newcomers' values diversity and inclusivity.

This year, we need to update 3 areas of our Bylaws. That means you, as a NOTL Newcomer member, have a vote to accept the recommendations. The Recommendations are included in this Newsletter, with the Rationale for the changes. They will also be published in the May 1 Newsletter and on our website. Please, take some time, consider what is presented and come prepared to vote.

Happy Easter to you and your Families – may the Easter Bunny be good to you!

Yours in Friendship

 
Megan Wood
President
NOTL Newcomers

The NOTL Newcomers Club is a Social Club for women who live in the Ontario municipality of Niagara-on-the-Lake, which includes Old Town, Glendale, Queenston, St. Davids and Virgil.

Membership is open to women who have recently moved to Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) and to women residents who have undergone a major change in their lives, such as retirement, divorce, loss of a loved one or other life changes that have them wanting to become more involved in local life.

Our goal is to welcome women and to help them meet one another and discover everything our unique town and region has to offer residents.

We are a social club – we encourage our members to join a new interest group, participate in a new activity, or come to Coffee and Conversation and meet some new friends.