December 8, 2008 Meeting is at Sedgebrook...

... located at 901 Milwaukee Avenue in Lincolnshire on the east side of Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21) between Half Day Road (Route 22) and Aptakisic Road from 10 AM to Noon. Sedgebrook is directly across Milwaukee Avenue from the new Barnes and Noble store.

Enter through the main gate and tell the guard in the gatehouse you are with the Elderhostel meeting in the Clubhouse. Turn right past the gatehouse, and drive to the parking lot on the left. Enter the building and tell the receptionist you are with the Elderhostel and get directions to the music room. You will be asked to sign in.

Following the meeting, some of us will be eating in Sedgebrook's cafe (dutch treat) and there are also eateries across the street from Sedgebrook. After lunch, there will be a meeting of the spin-off writer's group in Don's unit. New members are invited to join both the general meeting and the writer's group.

Writers' Group Meeting of 10/20/07

A number of our Elderhostel alumni group members gather together regularly to create memoirs under the tutelage of Don Nylin of our group, who has taken several Elderhostel courses on this subject. We have been meeting for several years now, and some of us have a couple dozen of these memoirs finished, and are in essence writing autobiographies, one chapter/incident at a time.

Today's meeting began with a delicious brunch (sausage ring with eggs) served by our hostess, Phyllis...

... and enjoyed by (l to r) Pete, Don, Phyllis, Ellen, and me (Chuck)...

... followed by each reading the latest lifestory (memoir) to the group for comments and to give the others new ideas. Perceptive comments, practical suggestions, and sincere encouragement abound, all with friendly good humor. And sometimes cathartic release and personal discovery during the writing process as we delve into our own memories and psyches, often unearthing buried treasures -- and of course fond reminiscences.



Now if you are getting the impression this group is simply an excuse to socialize with fun people and eat sensational food, you are wrong. Those are just wonderful fringe benefits of membership, but the writing is truly what it is predominantly about.



The concept behind memoir writing is for the author to divulge who he/she is and how he/she became that person over the years, by relating formative experiences so later generations (children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc.) have an understanding and appreciation of the life and times of the author. And YES, new members to our writer's group are welcome!

NICE Meeting of 10/13/07

Our regular bi-monthly meeting starts with conversation as the early arrivals gather around the sign-in table (Kurt and Pat, Pat, Pete, and Jan).


Pete takes us through the business part of the meeting.

Ed and Judy share photos and information about their recent Elderhostel program in Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park and their subsequent visit to Great Sand Dunes National Park and also their ride on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad which crosses the Colorado/New Mexico border 23 times on its narrow gauge tracks between Chalma, NM and Antonito, CO.

Then Pat and Kurt told us of their Elderhostel trip, Land, Sea, and Skye, in Scotland.


The hour-plus presentation by Jean based on her extensive knowledge of Pakistan where she served as a medical missionary for 40 years was the highlight of the meeting, as she showed photos, artwork, and a DVD on Pakistani life and culture. Her garment demonstrates traditional dress, complete with the shawl, which is worn covering the head when a married woman is in the presence of males.

Jean also explained about Pakistani geography, history, culture, water problems, schooling, government, politics, customs...


... religion, and much more -- an exhaustive lesson on Pakistan which had the audience enthralled and later asking many follow-up questions.


After the meeting, we held our traditional post-meeting social gathering at a local restaurant. Hope to see everyone at our next meeting!