Holiday Dinner Dance
Saturday, December 7, 2002
The holiday season offers many delights and opportunities to give of ourselves and reach out to family and friends. With the now time-honoured tradition of the WRIB Holiday Dinner Dance, we are able to celebrate the season with our sisters in style, class and with elegance and sophistication.

It's hard to imagine a more stunning setting for the cocktail party that preceeded the dinner/dance than the Mountbatten reception hall of the Delta Chelsea Inn. Classical music performed exquisitely on a baby grand piano by our own very talented WRIB member Beth H. A spacious, beautifully decorated lounge area, twinkling lights within and matched by the dance of the sparkling lights from the cityscape outside. And what about the women! Decked out in best duds and shiniest finery, this gathering of women (and the venue) were clearly setting the stage for a night of magic!

At last, the mystery behind the sets of closed double-doors was revealed as guests were welcomed by the reception line, consisting of the WRIB Board of Directors, into the stunning dining hall and led to their tables by eager volunteers. Dinner choices included mouth-watering beef tenderloin, delicately prepared salmon and a delicious vegetarian entree, coffee and dessert, all prepared by the hotel's renowned chefs. Women conversed, connected and celebrated, and during the speech from Susan McLachlin, WRIB Chairperson, guests had an opportunity to reflect on the herstory of our community in Toronto and its incredible evolution over the past 20 years. "Just look where we've come!" were Susan's words and could there ever be a better setting to appreciate these words?

As dining slowly wound down, couples began to drift onto the large dance floor in the centre of the room, swirling to the music offerings of DJ Claudette, who served up a good mix of current and past tunes, with lots of opportunities for couples, as well as couples-in-the-making, to snuggle up and celebrate closeness in their own personal ways. The dance floor sizzled into the night and into the morning with romance, sexiness and just plain fun, and finally, tired but happy guests drifted off, many to the hotel rooms to continue reveling in the mood 'til dawn.

The Board of Directors is to be thanked for providing WRIB members and guests with a fabulous night to treasure. A special word of thanks to Vona Smith and her crew of excellent volunteers, Michelle Mapp, and Susan Cox, for all their dedication to making this a truly memorable and wonderful occasion for everyone present.

Our thanks and appreciation go to:

• The Decorators: Rosemary E. Jackie D. Shannon (Vona's daughter)
• The Seaters: Tammy M. Susan P. Carmen Laura D.
• The Desk Greeters: Carol P. Audrey K.
• Our Donors from the Community, for their generous gift certificates and continuous support): The Delta Chelsea Hotel This Ain't the Rosedale Library Slack Alice The Peartree Restaurant Le Petit Liban The Looking Glass Winchester Pub PJ Mellon's
• Finally, special thanks to... - The Delta Chelsea, Mary Jane and staff for their patience - Chair Decor, for their wonderful table overlays and chair covers - Domino's Foods (downstairs at St Lawrence Market) for giving us a great discount!

By Colleen P.

New Year's Day Lunch-Launch of 2003
Wednesday, January 1, 2003
When I made the reservation at the Peartree in early December, I asked for the beautiful solarium at the back of the restaurant. Last year's New Year's Day lunch had approximately 25 guests in attendance, so I figured that we'd have the same number, more or less. Well, "more"... and more, and more, and MORE was what we got this time around. At first, a trickle of RSVPs, and then a moderately bubbly stream, and then a roaring Niagara, and soon I realized (with apologies to Roy Scheider in Jaws), "We're gonna need a bigger boat." When all were present and accounted for, 50 (fifty!!) rowdy revellers had taken over the Peartree for a record-setting New Year's Day party. Lovely Co-Host Angela maintained order and soon, all were seated and the lunch was under way. The very capable and efficient Peartree staff are used to dealing with large groups of WRIBlettes by now, because our Singles Dinners regularly have 40 or more in attendance, so they kept everything going smoothly, and before we knew it, food, scrumptious food had arrived and folks got down to some serious chowing-down. Yum! Toastmaster Tin used her speechmaking skills to get us swiftly through the business of the day. Guests had been supplied with small bottles of bubbles, and Tin organized our "50-Bubble Salute" to 2003. Chair Susan McLachlin led the group in a hearty and more-or-less harmonious bellowing of "Happy Birthday" to poor unsuspecting Tin, and then we got on to the best part of the event -- PRIZES! Congratulations to Jo-Ann L. and Sara M., who won 2003 Calendars. Thank-you to all our guests for joining us at this splendid and exhilarating launch of the New Year. Here's wishing everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2003! - Susan Cox WRIB Website Coordinator

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December Potluck: "Home for the Holidays"
Sunday, December 29, 2002
Shirley A. (host of our very popular Fine Arts Group) opened her home for another Potluck Lunch, the third of the year. These events have been well attended, and have resulted in new members joining WRIB. Talk about a recommendation! This time around, we had 10 guests from all over the area (and we even one had one from Orangeville!). Five of the women were new to WRIB events, so they were given a very warm welcome by the regulars. Then it was time to get down to business -- food! It was no surprise that the various food contributions were excellent, as always -- a perfect mix of hot and cold dishes, and plenty of everything -- and the conversation and socializing were lively. The event kicked off at noon, and the guests enjoyed themselves so much that the event went on and on until late in the afternoon, when the last person reluctantly took her leave around 4 p.m. Shirley has plans for more potlucks throughout 2003. Non-members are most welcome at these events, and the only price of admission is a dish of their fine cookin'. Watch the Current Events page on our website for details.

You MUST try curling!
Sunday, Nov, 2, 2002
Maybe you think it's difficult. Maybe you think it's boring. Maybe you just couldn't make it. Those of us who attended Curling 101 on November 2 had the unique opportunity to learn from scratch, and play a couple of real games the same day. Bev is a great teacher, breaking the game into achievable steps with practice. We never lifted the rock. We just had a blast throwing, sliding, sweeping, falling flat on our faces, and other acrobatics. Laughter, cheers, groans, drinks, and shmoozing were all part of the wonderful afternoon. Watch your e-mail, newsletter, and WRIB website for the date of the next curling event in February or March. - Carol P

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Robin's Nest Hallowe'en Party
Saturday, October 26, 2002
The goblins, bikers and witches were out and the Crypt was rockin' while flashes were poppin'. Twenty-two of us showed up for the Hallowe'en Party at the Robin's Nest in Cambridge to blend in with the already 150+ in the room. The contest began and our one and only Maria L. won 1st Runner-Up for Best Drag! She saluted proud as she was handed her trophy. We danced until our feet ached and what a great time we all had. I want to thank everyone who drove the distance to have a great time. Vona Smith WRIB Social Coordinator Singles-Only Dinner Saturday, October 19, 2002 Well, what can I say? Another Singles-Only Dinner, another wonderful time was had by all. This time, we took over the BamBoo on Queen St. W. Sadly, as most of you know, the end of October marks the end of their reign on Queen West, and they're moving to Harbourfront in 2003. Forty-two delighted guests filled the dining room in record time because the word is out -- get there early for the best seats. What a stampede! And there was no need for an icebreaker game this time, because folks were in full conversational swing in seconds. The food was fabulous, and raves and kudos were passed along to the staff for their fine cookin' and great hospitality. Prizes were handed out to the three lucky-draw winners, and the highlight of the evening was a group serenade to our two birthday girls. We'll be scheduling a lot more Singles Events in 2003, so keep an eye on our Current Events page. - Susan Cox WRIB Singles Host

WRIB 2002 Golf Tournament
Sunday, Sept. 22, 2002
Forty-nine women teed off at our Annual Golf Tournament. Some found their balls, some lost them in a grass ditch or elsewhere. Just about any shot that wasn't straight down the middle had us scrambling through deep grass. I swear I lost a bright pink one just a yard from the green! Fortunately, all women were provided with extra balls before going out. They should have been given a compass as well, because the trek to the next hole would have challenged even Gisele! The weather was perfect -- the drizzle held off till the game was over, when Margaret held a fun putting contest, won by Janice. Cheryl got the prize for closest to the hole, and longest drive. Sandy, Jan, and Lynn were the best team, while Linda, Janice and Pat won the prizes for the most honest. The highlight of the day came while we were waiting for the dinner buffet. Tin provided the most fun trivia game I've seen in a long time. It had whole tables of women brainstorming and screaming. Special thanks to Jan B. for setting the tournament up, Susan T for on-site everything, Susan C and Michelle for admin and promo, Colleen T for money handling, and Margaret and Tin for entertainment. And of course, to Susan M and Vona, for putting up with me. :) - Carol P.

Thanks to our sponsors!

We are very grateful to those who donated prizes, which contributed so much to the success of our event. · Orkin PCO Services · Nancy W. · Helga I. · Anonymous · The Peartree Restaurant · The Winchester · The Berkshire Investment Group · Gurry & White Personnel Resources · S.O.S. Enterprises · WRIB · Envoy Business Services, and... · Hunter's Glen Golf Club. And thank you to those who solicited these prizes, or who own the company that contributed them: · Audrey K. · June J. · Sandy B. · Tin L. · Deborah E.-K. · Diana W. · Margaret L. and... · Dee Paul. Cheers, everyone! And we look forward to seeing you all again next year. - Carol

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Euchre Frenzy II
Friday, September 20, 2002
Back by popular demand, Euchre Night at the Primrose Hotel saw a crowd of 32 players take to the tables, ready and willing to fight for glory and great prizes... but all in good fun, of course. This ain't the big leagues, folks! Hosts Jackie and Susan (your reporter) made sure the snackin' bowls were stocked up, and the able hotel staff brought drinks to our tables. What a great evening! The winners were awarded prizes for their efforts, and once again, those with pathetic scores, including (also as usual) your reporter, were given Timbits. This is definitely turning into a regular event, so keep checknig our Current Events page. Susan Cox WRIB Website Coordinator A Week in Temagami: Exploring the Canadian Shield July 13-20, 2002 In July, I was fortunate enough to join a group of FABULOUS WRIB members for a glorious week in Temagami. Guided by our gracious host, Gisele, we settled comfortably at the historical Wanapetei Lodge overlooking a beautiful, clear lake, trees everywhere. Our days were spent reading, napping in hammocks, swimming at the beach (some of us sky-clad), canoeing, kayaking and playing spirited card games -- the silence of our peaceful surroundings was broken only by those raucous euchre players!! At night we enjoyed the waterside sauna, singing campfire songs accompanied by the talented M on guitar and CT/ aka CD on the violin. We were also part of a special "30 years at Camp" celebration marked by silent fireworks and sparklers. Did I mention the food?? It was sumptuous and our cooks made every effort to represent chocolate in at least one of our meals each day! A wonderful week, and many thanks to Gisele and her helpers for having such a vision and making this happen. I look forward to it next year. By Jennifer F.

[ Editor's note: Gisele has told us that because this event was such a resounding success, there will definitely be a repeat next summer, probably in August. Mark your calendars, and watch the WRIB website for info.]

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Mini-Putt, Go-Karts, and Golf (at The Docks)
Sunday, July 28, 2002
This day was a blast! Twelve women attended, some of them having just come from the Summer Singles Brunch (see below) and even though it was REALLY hot, the breeze from the lake made a big difference. We started off with the Mini-Putt event. Three of us, including myself, made hole-in-ones. The highest score won a WRIB cap. We then all trotted off to take a spin on the go-karts and boy, did the competition get tough, as women bumped and cut each other off, trying to take over the lead. Adel won this round. Then some departed for home as others stayed to get some practice at the driving range. A great day was had by all.

Vona Smith Social Coordinator Annual Singles Summer Brunch
Sunday, July 28, 2002
It was a glorious afternoon for the WRIB Singles, as we took over the solarium at the back of the Peartree Restaurant. This beautiful room is one of the nicest places in town to have a brunch, and because we had it all to ourselves, we were free to get up and mingle throughout the event. An icebreaker game ensured that everyone met everyone else, and as usual, we had a lot of serious competition as guests scrambled to finish first. Also as usual, cheating was rampant, but at least the guilty parties 'fessed up, which kept them in the running for the prizes. Great food left everyone happily satisfied, and when we finally ended the get-together, a number of guests went on to the Mini-Putt and Go-Kart event (see above) because there was absolutely no reason not to have more fun on such a lovely day. If you couldn't make it to this event, we hope you'll join us next summer when we do it again.

Euchre Frenzy
Friday, June 7, 2002
Euchre Night at Le Petit Liban drew a crowd of 20 participants, all eager to demonstrate their card playing skills. The progressive nature of the evening allowed all women to mix and mingle. The women at Table One with those boisterous voices were difficult to control. But we then realized everyone who sat at Table One became boisterous, so it was in fact the table itself that was the catalyst for this behaviour. We will get Jackie to label all tables with the number one for the next euchre evening...then watch out! Thanks to all the women for arriving on time and to the women learning the game, and finally the patience exhibited by the more experienced players...teaching can be a challenge. To our host, Jackie, I extend a heartfelt thanks on behalf of all the participants...in Italian...Mille grazie! Nilla C.

If you're a euchre player and you couldn't attend this super evening at Le Petit Liban, you missed out on a great time. We filled five tables, played fast and furious until about 11:30, and saw some VERY impressive score cards at the end. The winners were awarded prizes for their efforts. Those with truly pathetic score cards, including this reporter, were given one Timbit each, which is more than we deserved! This could turn into a regular event, so watch for more info. Thanks to Le Petit Liban for use of the upstairs room, and of course, for their excellent hospitality.

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Susan Cox WRIB Website Coordinator Scrabble Night
Wednesday, June 5, 2002
Thirteen women met at the 519 on June 5 to share in great Scrabble with a lot of laughs. It was easy for us to meet and chat with everyone, including the two who had never been to a WRIB event. After the first game, we changed tables for the second. No, there was nothing wrong with the tables! We just wanted to mix it up. Highlights of the evening included Vona's four-letter word 'dyke'. This brought her score up to 69, with belly laughs all around. And the Forensic Scientist at my table put down all her letters to spell 'cadaver'. Some people just can't take their minds off work. We'll do it again in October, so check the events listings regularly. - Carol

Le Petit Liban treats WRIB!
Sunday, April 28, 2002
One hundred lucky prize winners (selected at the April 20 dance) were invited by the owner of the Le Petit Liban to a late afternoon buffet dinner that was hand-cooked by owner Nizar himself. It was absolutely incredible and I even went back for thirds! Nizar's generosity has shown us that giving back to our community is far better than receiving. I want to thank Nizar on behalf of WRIB and its members for his warm hospitality and the wonderful dinner that he provided to our members on this day. I hope you'll stop by Le Petit Liban soon, to return the favour, and treat yourself to their fabulous cuisine.

Vona Smith WRIB Social Coordinator Singles Cocktail, Annual General Meeting and Dance
Saturday, April 20, 2002
First, we had our Second Annual Singles Cocktail. A very happy group of Singles mixed and mingled, played a fun icebreaker game with their usual enthusiasm and competitiveness -- new arrivals were actually pounced upon in order to get those game sheets filled up! -- and devoured the plates of yummy hors d'oeuvres prepared by the skilled Primrose chefs. At 7 p.m., we said goodbye, and moved over to the next room for the business of the night. We had a full house for our Annual General Meeting this year. Board members presented their reports on the past year's activities. The issue of accessibility was referred to a newly-formed Accessibility Committee, which will be studying all aspects of accessibility and reporting back to the Board, and will also perform physical audits of potential venues for WRIB events. Want to participate?

Contact us at wrib@gay.com and we'll put you in touch with the group. Chairperson Jan Butler was presented with a gift in appreciation of her efforts over the past year, and thanks were extended to all the Board members who have completed their terms. And finally, your 2002-2003 Board of Directors was elected and presented to the audience.

Seconds after the meeting adjourned, DJ Deb Parent fired up the first of a series of great dance tunes that had the floor filled for the rest of the evening. Great door prizes were handed out, and in keeping with our Western theme night, we also had contests for "Shiniest Boots" and "First Bandana-Wearer To Run To The Podium". Congratulations to all the winners! And the dancing went on until we just couldn't dance no more.

Thanks and appreciation go to our generous prize donors: · The Best Western Primrose Hotel · Le Petit Liban · Slack Alice · This Ain't the Rosedale Library

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WRIB goes FREE! March 9 Winchester Dance and Singles Dinner
Saturday, March 9, 2002
The word went out - FREE DANCE! And did we get a crowd! The night started with a bang as members and other guests strolled in to enjoy the March 9th Free Dance at the Winchester. As usual, we also had another fabulous Singles Dinner at the Peartree beforehand. Thirty-six happy guests enjoyed the great food and excellent company, and strolled over to the dance to take over the special area reserved for them -- primo real estate near the bar! The room filled up fast and DJ Claudette kept the dance floor hopping with great tunes (as always!). Everyone had a fabulous time and lucky winners enjoyed super door prizes.

What a night! 2002 Valentine's Dance and Singles Dinner: Wining, Dining, and Romancing
Saturday, February 9, 2002
It was a night to remember. I saw "red" that night, and no, I wasn't mad. I literally saw red as the women danced around the room with newfound friends and long-time lovers. Even though the numbers were small, we made the most of the evening and a super time was had by all. Thanks to Beck Tate for providing the music for the evening, and to Tony Pingitore and the staff at the Primrose Hotel for their usual splendid assistance. A special thanks to Rosemary E for making the stunning centerpieces; and to Mary Anne A., Lynn T. and Susan Cox for blowing up lots of balloons and decorating the room, emphasizing the romantic evening so that even Cupid would have been pleased. Thanks, everyone! Vona Smith WRIB Social Coordinator

The Valentine Singles Dinner hosted 35 very happy guests at the Cafe California on Church Street. Old friends and new ones had a very enjoyable evening of fine conversation and dining. The excellent staff provided exemplary service, and really got into the spirit of fun. A fast icebreaker game helped everyone get to know each other better, and also helped us pick our lucky prize-winners. Thanks, everyone, for coming, and I hope we'll see you again soon.

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Susan Cox WRIB Website Coordinator and Singles Host 2001 New Year's Eve Masquerade: What a Ball!
Monday, December 31, 2001
A "new" member's review of WRIB's first New Year's Eve Masquerade Party: It began as a look on the internet to decide where we wanted to celebrate our 1st New Year's Eve as a couple. We stumbled upon the WRIB website and from one look at the New Year's Eve invitation, we knew we had found the place. We were so impressed by what we read on the website we also decided to become members of WRIB. Anxiously, we awaited the arrival of New Year's Eve. On a cold, clear night, we entered the Primrose Hotel and were greeted by friendly faces. We were thrilled at having our picture taken and surprised that a copy would be mailed to us. It was shaping into a night to be remembered. The ambience of the room was full of excitement. Laughter and merriment abounded! The first members we met included the organizers. It felt as though we already knew each other. The celebration began by toasting everything we could think of. The culinary experience of dinner equalled the spectacular decor - it was fabulous (and what WAS that delicious soup?). And the dessert was divine. With our tummies very full, the next step was dancing the night away to a DJ who had the best sounds we have heard in a long time. Thanks, DJ, for the many "slow" jams! Fabulous door prizes were awarded. We won a two-night stay at the Country Willows B&B in beautiful Niagara-on-the-Lake (WOW! Thank you, WRIB). The 10-second countdown culminated with balloons, confetti and noise-makers, followed by a lovely glass of bubbly, and we all expressed our wishes for a happy 2002. It was indeed a night to remember. Sincerely, The Prince & Princess a.k.a Krys & Deb

Thanks go to Jayme, and all of our decorating and now highly skilled balloon-blowing volunteers; to Claudette, our truly excellent DJ, for groovin' us into 2002; and of course, special thanks to the Primrose Hotel and especially Tony Pingitore and his staff for their assistance in making the room gorgeous and our guests happy. And, of course, thanks and appreciation go to our generous sponsors: · The Best Western Primrose Hotel · Country Willows B&B · MGM Grand Platters Ltd. · Indian Hut Restaurant · Skyelander Healing · Gisele Roy Home Improvements WRIB