Qualicum Beach Area Newcomers' Club

Men's Golf Group
2022-11-15 12:00 - 16:00 (America/Denver)
Golf Group – Men’s

Group Coordinator: Allan Wood
email: mensgolf@qbnewcomers.org
This is a casual group activity designed to introduce you to other Newcomer and Alumni golfers and to a variety of golf courses in the area.
We play a full 18 hole round on Tuesdays every week around noon. We look after tee times and groupings. You don’t have to find a course or other players!
An invite email is sent out on Wednesdays with course info, start time and cost. Reply only if you want to play. On Sundays players will get a confirmation. On Tuesdays you play golf! Foursomes are mixed every week so that you will meet as many golfers as possible. You do not have to play every week.
We play a different course every Tuesday – in cooler months we frequent our excellent local golf courses – QBMemorial, Eaglecrest, Morningstar, Pheasant Glen, Fairwinds and Arrowsmith. In summer months, every second week we experience courses in Nanaimo, Courtenay, Port Alberni, Campbell River and Chemainus (up to a 60min drive).
We enjoy preferential rates for our group. We also recommend the BC Lung Association savings book for further discounted rates at courses we play and 100s of others – www.golfandsave.ca – available at participating pro shops.
If you are interested, or have questions, email mensgolf@qbnewcomers.org or sign up at the Newcomers Meeting.

Golf Group - Ladies
2022-11-02 13:00 - 16:00
Group Coordinators:

Arlene Johnson
Lynn Bury

Newcomers’ Ladies Golf Group plays every Wednesday.
Players of all skill levels are welcome. Our aim is to follow good course etiquette while having fun and getting to know other Newcomers. Foursomes are mixed every week so you can meet as many members as possible.
You can sign up at a Newcomers’ meeting, or click ladiesgolf@qbnewcomers.org and send an email to the Coordinators.
Discounted greens fees:
By using the BC Lung Association golf coupon book (the “Lung Book”), golfers can obtain discounted greens fees. Normally 2 golfers for the price of 1, or 3 golfers for the price of four, depending on the golf-course.
The “Lung Book” advertises discounts at nearly 500 courses in BC, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Washington State. “Lung Books” are often available at pro-shops; alternatively, they may be obtained by writing or phoning the BC Lung Association directly.
It’s a great deal for the regular golfer! Check it out on-line at www.golfandsave.ca/

Art Group
2022-11-10 13:00 - 16:00
Ever had the desire to make art? Or, are you already making art and want to connect with other artists in your new community?
An art group is a great way to make new friends, develop your skills, grow as an artist and learn about the thriving arts community here in Qualicum Beach. Sign up with the Art Group Coordinator at the monthly meeting and, once we have enough people interested, the coordinator will contact you and a new art group will be formed. The coordinator will meet with you at the first meeting to help facilitate the start of your new art group.
If you have a little to no experience in art and a desire to start, or you have already some experience in art, you can sign up our “All Levels Art Group.” An art group typically consists of 8 to 10 members who gather in each other’s homes or other locales on a regular basis to discuss art, share techniques, paint or draw together. Your art group could also decide to meet for coffee at a local restaurant or “en plein air” in the warmer months. The members run their own group and make all decisions on date, time, place, and the format of meetings. The only rules are ones you all agree upon!
This group is specifically for newcomers interested in developing their skills in fine arts and would like to sketch, draw, paint in a group in any mediums at the same time as making friends with similar interests. At this time, these groups are for visual artists wishing to sketch, draw, paint in any mediums a group. They are not for potters, photographers or crafters. If you wish to start a group for any other than the above, please contact the activity coordinator and he or she will be happy to include you in the “other interest group”.

Each art group is independent of the Newcomers’ group and we hope you spend many years with your new friends exploring the arts.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email the coordinators.
Coordinator:
Matina Paris

Email: artgroup@qbnewcomers.org
* If this link doesn’t work for you automatically, copy it into your email system to send a message.

Friday Hiking Group
2022-11-25 09:30 - 11:30
We are a group of people who like to hike, and – no surprise – we hike on Friday. In fact, we hike every Friday morning at 9:30, rain or shine, though we did skip a couple days last winter when all the trails were covered with ice.
While the COVID situation has changed up our normal operating procedures, the format is still pretty simple. The group coordinators send out an email every Monday, describing the week’s hike and providing driving directions to the trail head. Interested hikers must indicate their intent to hike by Wednesday at noon. The coordinators will then arrange groups (up to 6 persons), set start times at 10-minute intervals between 9:30 and 10:00, and advise those specific people. No RSVP is required if you are not interested in hiking that week.
We usually hike for an hour and a half or two hours, and cover 5 to 7 km. It is not a very fast pace, but it is a hike, not a saunter, and there are sometimes steep sections or rough trails with exposed rocks and roots. We advise that everyone wear sturdy shoes and bring poles or hiking sticks when warranted. Please dress appropriately for the weather.
We try to go someplace different every week, though there are some favorite trails, and some trails are worth visiting several times a year because they change with the season. Most of the trails are within about 30 minutes drive from Qualicum Beach, but we sometimes go a bit further afield. Once or twice a year we undertake a more ambitious full-day trip to Mt. Washington, Hornby Island, or the like. While we are operating under the COVID protocols, the trails that we choose will be close to the Qualicum Beach area and allow for proper physical distancing while still providing opportunity to socialize.
Dogs are welcome on most hikes. However, they must always be on a short leash to ensure the safety of everyone on the hike and any wildlife in the area. Notice of dogs not being permitted on a particular hike will be given in the hike description email.
In addition to hiking, we seem to talk a lot. We are more a social group than a serious hiking group; we just find that hiking provides a great activity to do together so that we can get to know each other. We can no longer meet up for coffee after the hikes, but everyone is encouraged to bring drinks and a snack so that the groups can “picnic” along the trail in order to socialize some more.
Safety is a factor in determining the choice of hikes. However, all hikers are ultimately responsible for their own personal safety and comfort. We recommend that all hikers:

Remain with the group until it returns to the point of departure.
Try to maintain the pace of the hike leader.
Assess your personal fitness and suitability for hikes over various types of terrain.
Wear footwear that is suitable for occasional rough or slippery terrain.

In summary, the Friday Hiking Group provides a great opportunity to explore some great trails in the area, get to know some new friends – and get a little bit of exercise.
To join, please sign up at the next monthly meeting held each month on the second Tuesday, or send us an email at fridayhikinggroup@qbnewcomers.org
Friday Hiking Group Coordinator(s):

Jodie LaRiviere

Email: fridayhikinggroup@qbnewcomers.org
List of hikes: Hike Descriptions – 2020
List of hikes: List of Hikes 2017

lighthouse walk

Mt. Washington – February 2014

Rogers Creek

Englishman River Estuary

Ramblers' Walking Group
2022-11-07 11:00 - 12:30
Ramblers’ Walking Group
Group Coordinators:
Debbie Sabourin, Ron and Laurie Brunstad & Dave Paris

email: ramblers@qbnewcomers.org

Do you like to walk for pleasure as you stroll, saunter or amble…. while taking time to talk, snap pictures and enjoy nature? Then the Ramblers’ Walking Group may be just for you.
We invite you to join us each Monday at 10:00 am (during summer months), rain or shine (unless the weather is quite miserable), for strolls in the Qualicum Beach/Parksville area. Visiting over coffee to follow (location to be determined at each walk). Members are informed of the hour long walks via email. Dogs welcome, on short leash only please.
Points to Remember:

Walks take place weekly on Monday mornings at 11:00 am (during summer months) and Monday afternoon at 1:30 pm (during winter months)
The walk is meant to be a ramble with time to enjoy surroundings and to be on level ground with no steep inclines
The duration is intended to be about 60 minutes + or …
Ramblers walk rain or shine (unless it is really miserable)
Dogs are welcome (leashes are required)
For Walk Leaders: a Pre-walk is strongly recommended if the route is new to you or recent weather has been extreme

Mahjong (American)
2022-11-15 12:30 - 15:30
photo from: https://www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/mahjong.html
Mahjong is a game of Chinese origin usually played in groups of four, but can be played with 2 + players. The object of the game is to build a winning combination using a game card and 144 tiles marked in suits, winds, dragons and jokers! It is a fascinating, rummy-like game played with tiles rather than cards.
We play on the first, third, and fifth Tuesday of each month, from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm, starting March 31st. We will play 1 or 2 tables of Mahjong at Tina’s home.
Experienced and Beginners are welcome.
Once a year (Spring) a Mahjong card must be purchased (about $14). While learning, cards from previous years can be borrowed from Tina.
A fun and social experience! For more information, or to join the group, please contact Tina.
Coordinator: Tina Johnston
Email: mahjong@qbnewcomers.org

Wine Tasting Group
2022-11-20 08:00 - 17:00
Group Coordinator:
Norm Patzer
email: wine-tasting@qbnewcomers.org

You may sign up to participate in a wine tasting group at any monthly meeting of QBANC or by emailing the Wine Tasting Group Coordinator at wine-tasting@qbnewcomers.org. Once approximately 12 people sign up, a new group is formed with guidance from the Coordinator. Groups are comprised of a mix of couples and singles. While operating within QBANC activity group guidelines, each decides generally how it will function and how they will operate in terms of roles and costs. It’s flexible!

Nevertheless, here are some common practices:

groups meet once a month at a member’s home;
group members take turns hosting;
the time, date, theme (e.g. summer wines, wines of Tuscany, etc.), and who will bring
food and who will bring wine to the next meeting is generally decided by group
consensus at the meeting or by the host after consulting group members;
each session should involve sampling several different wines (e.g. 6 bottles for 12
people). Each wine can be introduced by the member(s) bringing the bottle
(e.g. country or region of origin, type of wine, cost, reason for selection, etc.);
the general price range of wines to be sampled is decided by group consensus;
and keep things casual, fun, and relaxed.
Remember the purpose of this activity is to make new friends, learn a bit about wine,
and, most of all, have fun!

Going Solo Club
2022-11-26 08:00 - 17:00
Coordinators:

Laura Zaggara & Denise Haberlin
email: going-solo@qbnewcomers.org

Our group offers friendship and social support for the unique needs of single folks.
milner gardens – may 2018
Member generated activities augment the program offered in the mainstream Newcomer’s Club. If your interests include theatre, travel, dining, special events, walking, fine arts events…. and more….join us for fun with the group!
milner gardens – may 2018
If you have an idea for a particular activity or interest, put it out to the group and get together with like-minded people or select a group in your area that you would like to get to know and get together for coffee, walking, or just talking.
We do not have a social committee and activities are initiated by individuals in the group.
What are your interests??
Check the photos of our recent events below…
pot luck supper at barb’s lovely home in march 2018 enjoyed by all
Going Solo Group members enjoyed the eagle release and tour of the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre on April 8th.
Coffee at Trees on the Alberni Highway after. Despite rain and hail, we had a fun time!
