{"id":7279,"date":"2017-02-28T00:36:27","date_gmt":"2017-02-28T00:36:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/silveridge.com\/?p=7279"},"modified":"2017-02-28T00:36:27","modified_gmt":"2017-02-28T00:36:27","slug":"march-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/silveridge.com\/?p=7279","title":{"rendered":"March Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n

CLICK HERE<\/a>to view as PDF you can PRINT <\/p>\n

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THE FUN PLACE TO PLAY<\/h2>\n

The Story of Bingo at Silveridge<\/h3>\n

By

\n Dale Dauten, Syndicated Columnist
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\n When bingo at Silveridge started back in the 1980s, it was the only place to play in the East Valley. Now, there are over a dozen others within a 20-minute drive, with four others on Wednesdays alone; yet Silveridge bingo still flourishes, occasionally getting as many as 200 players. I sat down with the two men who run the program to ask them how they keep it thriving after all these years.\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

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\n \"Rick<\/p>\n

\n Rick Winter (left) and Armand Gagnier\n <\/p>\n

\n Armand Gagnier took over as manager five years ago. He proposed a motto:\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cThe fun place to play bingo.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n It stuck, and everyone involved works to make it so.\n <\/p>\n

\n The spirit of Silveridge bingo starts with the fact that all the callers and other staff are volunteers, and all profits go to support clubs and activities at Silveridge. (There are expenses, of course, and the State of Arizona, gets 1.5% off the top, but everything else goes straight to the Renters\u2019 Association.) It falls to Rick Winter, who\u2019s been Finance Manager for over six years, to make sure that every dollar is accounted for, including reporting quarterly to the state\u2019s Bingo Unit. The total provided to the park\u2019s clubs\/activities now exceeds $200,000.\n <\/p>\n

\"Bingo<\/p>\n

\n It also helps the energy of bingo nights helps that Armand and Rick greet the players, that there are door prizes and free games for those with birthdays, and that the callers work to keep the games lively. Armand polled players last year, seeking to determine what could be made better. One thing he learned that there were too many games on any given night. By cutting the number per evening, they could shorten the night and cut the cost. The cost fell from $19 to $15, and Rick adds, \u201cOur goal is to have people out by 9 o\u2019clock.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n While the bingo evenings have been shortened, Armand\u2019s and Rick\u2019s bingo days are still long. Armand arrives about 2PM to begin preparations. Rick comes in about 10AM to start his work, then leaves and returns about 4. The volunteers arrive around 5 for a buffet dinner, then start selling cards at 5:30.\n <\/p>\n

\n I asked one of the callers, Linda Williams (more on her below) why people choose Silveridge bingo. She said, \u201cWe have the best callers in the Valley. And whether it\u2019s your first time or you\u2019ve played for years, you\u2019re always welcome. Absolutely.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Armand adds, \u201cWe always thank our players for joining in. We appreciate them, and I think they can feel that.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n If you\u2019ve never played, or haven\u2019t played in years, Armand and Rick urge you to stop by and say hello. The volunteers who will get you started and answer all questions. Bingo goes through March 22nd, which is also the last night for one of the group\u2019s favorite callers.\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
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MARCH 22 — FAREWELL TO LINDA WILLIAMS AS CALLER<\/h3>\n

\n Like so many good things, Linda William\u2019s time as bingo caller started with a fluke. It was back in 2005 that Linda and her husband, Vail, moved to Silveridge. Given that she was an avid bingo player, she was approached to be the manager of the bingo program. Her response, \u201cThat would mean I couldn\u2019t play, right?\u201d Right. So she volunteered Vail for the job. Then came that fluke. It was a bingo night in 2008 when all of the callers had to beg off. Vail scrambled around, even considered canceling that night\u2019s program, before turning to Linda to fill in. Linda enjoyed herself, and thus joined the rotation of callers.\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n \"Linda\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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\n I asked if there were tough nights as a caller, and she laughed, then said, \u201cBingo players can get a bit antsy. When that happens, I just say, \u2018Remember, we\u2019re doing this for charity,\u2019 or, \u2018There\u2019s one rule: No throwing dabbers at the caller!\u2019\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Linda was known for her jokes where there was time to kill between games. I asked her for one but she drew a blank. So I had to settle for this one I found on a bingo website…\n <\/p>\n

\n What do you say to your husband if he says,
\n \u201cYou\u2019re going to have to choose between me and your bingo game”?
\n Answer: \u201cI\u2019m going to miss you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n Although Linda came to enjoy being a caller, she\u2019s stepping down for two reasons. Last year she developed a serious lung condition and at one point realized, \u201cI couldn\u2019t both call and breathe.\u201d And while she had a lung transplant and has bounced back to full health, she\u2019s ready to move off the stage and just play. Her farewell night as a caller will be the last bingo of the season, March 22nd.\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n \"Silveridge<\/p>\n

\n The Silveridge Bingo Team: (left to right) Laverne Hinzman, Russ Blanchard, Lil Blanchard, Roger Quast, Linda Hinzman, Rick Winter, Carol Tyra, Laverne Johnson, Wayne Freeman, Armand Gagnier, Sue Fouche, Roger LeBlanc, Bill Rainville\n <\/p>\n

\n Not pictured: Mike LeBlanc, Deb LeBlanc, Jim Neill, Betty Neill, Maureen Stinson, Ken Stinson, Joanne Smith, Connie Kinport, Nancy Gording, Rita Catalano, Brona Freeman, Keith Martin\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Volunteers Make the Difference<\/h4>\n

\n Message From Sue Arneson,
\n Activity Director\n <\/p>\n

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Dear Friends,<\/h3>\n

\n It is hard to believe that the end of the season is fast approaching. Many of you have shared that you cannot believe how fast it has gone. Thank you for another fabulous year! It is only right and proper that I give thanks to all the volunteers in my last letter of the year. Our volunteer party is on Thursday, March 16th at 4:30pm. I have a catered dinner planned with entertainment by Bernie and Red and some special door prizes.\n <\/p>\n

\n Whether you have been the leader of a large club or have washed dishes after a food event, you are all equally important! I remember that my husband\u2019s Grandma had a sign above her sink that said \u201cThank God for dishes because we had food to eat!\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Every one of you is important!\n <\/p>\n

\n Equally important are those of you are new volunteers who are replacing those who are taking on new goals or moving on to other opportunities. Thank you to those who have served for years and thank you for our new courageous leaders. The way you learn is by doing and we have so many mentors to guide the way.\n <\/p>\n

\n A special thank you to Jerry Colling and Tracy Gagnier and all the kitchen volunteers who bring a new meaning to our food, fellowship and fun for us. I so appreciate my efficient assistant, Jill Belcher, and William Shelton, my set up person. Our GM Rhonda and our entire staff have put in countless hours to make our park run smoothly. Thank you to my Mom, my \u201cBalcony Friends\u201d (you know who you are) and to my best friend and husband Jeff who has been my \u201cgopher\u201d, running for food and supplies. When asked at the Anniversary Party what 3 things I most appreciated about my husband, I said\u201d that he is a good father, he helps my parents and he is my #1 volunteer!\n <\/p>\n

\n Thank you for making this the best year ever with your encouragement and support. I am busy planning for next year\u2019s activities and entertainment that you will love! Watch for my summer newsletter online with a listing of entertainment and outfits to bring. My Ticket Order List will be online by mid- summer. Once again you will be able to order by October 1st. May you all have a safe and healthy summer. Rest up and before you know it we will all be back to celebrate with our Silveridge family. You know that we are the Friendliest Park in the West!\n <\/p>\n

\n With Appreciation,
\n Sue\n <\/p>\n

Click here to read\/download a printable copy
of the entire paper version of <\/p>\n

The Silveridge Sun<\/i><\/a> <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

\n \"Piecemakers<\/p>\n

\"Pickleball<\/p>\n\n\n
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CLUB NEWS SPECIAL EDITION<\/h4>\n

Sue Arneson has put together a full update on clubs\/organizations at Silveridge. It’s available here as a PDF you can read online or download and print out.<\/p>\n

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VIEW UPDATES<\/a>
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DIRECT TV: OUR NEW EXCLUSIVE PROVIDER<\/h3>\n

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\n Empire Communications is our exclusive provider of Direct TV. Instead of simply getting installers sent out from an out-of-town office, we get personal attention from Empire, nearby in Mesa.\n <\/p>\n

\n Empire Communications
\n 4830 East Main St #5
\n Mesa, AZ 85205
\n 800-403-8402<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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