In 2021, after a year without in-person events to welcome new neighbors to Lake Barcroft, the Newcomers Club roared back to life hosting several events, including the 50th Anniversary Barge Party. As our happy members and guests departed with their complimentary Newcomers Club wine glasses (we still have 80 btw), we breathed a sigh of relief in the club’s ability to safely host such an event. Then COVID said “Hold my beer!” and let loose with surges of the Omicron variant, wiping away hopes of enjoying Newcomers Club winter social events, such as the Holiday Party and Chili Cook-Off.
Seven months later, the club feels optimistic about a return to summer events to welcome new neighbors. Enthusiasm (and a potential host) for the Barge Party as well as other fun events on the lake is growing. Keep an eye on Lakelink, the LB Facebook page, and the Newcomers Club website for announcements of upcoming events. The Newcomers Club Board approved another extension of annual memberships to make up for the many months without activities.
One important Newcomers Club activity that did not stop due to pandemic surges was delivery of Welcome Bags. Welcome Chair Nomi Taslitt continued the important task of coordinating welcome bag delivery to new neighbors. In 2021, the club delivered 58 bags containing goodies and useful neighborhood information such as the Lake Barcroft Association (LBA) web page, all LB Club descriptions, and Lakelink instructions. As of mid-May 2022, the club delivered 18 bags. A big thanks goes to Nomi for her amazing efforts to ensure all our new neighbors feel welcome. We also congratulate Nomi for receiving the Lake Barcroft Exceptional Service Award from the LBA this year in recognition of her efforts.
We are excited to begin planning for our second return to in-person social events to bring our new and established neighbors together. We always look for volunteers to help plan and host parties, serve as Barge captains, and even serve on the board. As of this writing, the board is still considering the mix of fun events to safely host within the new guidelines. The club will publish more information on our website at https://lakebarcroftnewcomersclub.wildapricot.org/ and you can get involved by contacting us there or at lbnewcomers@gmail.com.
See you soon! And remember, Newcomers is for EVERYONE!
