December 13

Annual Christmas party & auction

What a great way to end the year – a festive party and silent auction. There was a big variety of delicious and tasty food: sandwiches and wraps, several great sides, and many yummy desserts.

Richard played the piano while some folk sang Christmas songs.

The silent auction was fun as there was a plentitude of beautiful gift baskets. What a fun way to do your Christmas shopping.

November 8

We gathered to honor our veterans with our Annual Veterans Day Program. Richard McLeod, Kevin McKinney, and Betsy Siemers presented a program of piano, trumpet, and voice of patriotic music to remember all that have protected our country in the past, present, and future.

Thank them for their service!

November 1

Matt Peron of Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens brings us up to date on this Columbia showplace as they celebrate their 50th year of delighting the Midlands with the many sights (and sounds) of this marvelous attraction.

October 25

There was much participation this year for the Halloween Costume Contest. Three winners !

We saw many great costumes:

Mother Nature
Little Po-Peep
Glenda, the Good witch, and
The Wizard of Oz
The Cookie Man
Cleaning Ladies
A Witch
Cookie Monster & Cookie
Cereal Killer

Just to name a few

October 18

Our own Linda Rose shares “Nothin’ Could be Finer” Southern stories.

October 11

Today we heard from David Hall of Midland’s Orphan Relief (MOR). Their mission is to provide services and aid to meet the needs of children identified as at-risk, or suffering from abandonment, abuse, and/or neglect.

October 4

Nancy Smith, General Manager of South Carolina State Fair, welcomes us to the fair. She shared highlights of the 2023 fair and remind us of all our enjoyable memories. We were given a spinner and each of us received our very own viewfinder, just like we were used to, back in the day.

September 27

Dr Michael Sullivan tells us about the benefits of volunteering as well as the Meals on Wheels program.

September 20

Author Tom Poland shares from his books about South Carolina Country Roads

September 13

Town Theater presents a glimpse from their opening performance Sound of Music

May 31

Memorial Day holds a special place in our hearts as we pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. The lunch program today was a deeply moving event organized by the American Legion Post 193 of Chapin.

Steve Goulet, Ed Wilkes, and Jean Ray Williams took the stage to present an awe-inspiring Memorial Day remembrance, showcasing their project, “Forgotten no More.” This initiative is part of the unclaimed veterans program, aiming to ensure that the courageous men and women who served our nation are not overlooked.

May 24

The Columbia Peace Pole Initiative. Elaine Frick took us on a journey through the inspiring history of the Peace Pole movement, both globally and within our own community.

Peace Poles are symbolic pillars carrying the powerful message, “May Peace Prevail On Earth”? These symbolic pillars were first introduced by May Peace Prevail On Earth International, which was founded over half a century ago in Japan. Since then, dedicated supporters around the globe have embraced this beautiful initiative, planting Peace Poles in every corner of our planet.

May 17

Today, we had the pleasure of hosting Mark Rapp, the renowned musician and founder of the ColaJazz Foundation, for a mesmerizing jazz appreciation discussion and concert.

May 10

Today’s lunch speaker, Gene Atkinson, took us on a trip down memory lane with his talk on ‘A Bit of Nostalgia.’ From ‘The Little Rascals’ to ‘Ringling Brothers Greatest Show on Earth,’ and even a tribute to General Patton, it was a delightful journey through some of our favorite memories. And to top it off, we were treated to a patriotic slideshow that left us feeling proud to be Americans.

May 3

Bill Stangler, the Congaree River Keeper and emphasized the crucial role that waterways play in preserving local ecosystems and supporting human life. His message reminded us all of how vital it is to protect these natural resources and make every effort to reduce pollution and promote sustainability. Thank you for speaking with us, Bill! #WaterMatters#Environmentalism

April 26

On April 26, our lunch speaker, Scott Vaughn from Cooperative Ministry enlightened us on this important community program.

April 19

Dr. Pat McNeely, retired USC professor and writer, presented “Ghosts of Columbia.”

April 5

Lunch speaker for April 5, 2023 was Tom Elmore, author of five books, presenting his latest – Celtic Columbia.