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June 28, 2024 Friday Update

Published on 6/28/2024

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Friday Update, July 5, 2024

Attention Please

Closed Canada Day & July 9

Please note that Brock House will be closed on Tuesday July 9 due to a controlled power outage.

Summer Programs Guide

Our Summer Programs Guide is officially out.

Japanese beetle warning

Any plant that we cannot confirm to have come from outside the regulated area will have to be destroyed. If you have plants to donate, please email bhsgardeners@gmail.com to arrange delivery.

2024 AGM Minutes

The minutes of our last Annual General Meeting have been posted on our website and a link to them has been provided for you here.

Load AGM Minutes

Volunteer help wanted

Kitchen & Bistro

Have you noticed those delicious aromas that greet you when you walk into Brock House? They’re wafting from the BHS kitchen, where volunteers are helping Chef Najia prepare food for the Bistro–and having a great time, judging by the bursts of laughter you often hear. These devoted volunteers would love to have your help. Come join the friendly team! Shifts are available Mon, Tues, and Thurs, 8:30 to 11:30 am.

Contact Joanna Walentowicz at 604-803-5660 or joanna2662@gmail.com.

Call for Donations

Summer Fair, July 13

Our summer fair is fast approaching and is almost at full capacity for donations. We are now ONLY collecting vintage clothing and vintage, antique or estate jewellery.

Other in-kind donations

We welcome in-kind donations of all sorts. Please consult our In-kind donations page for details of items we accept, what we really need, and how to best get them to us.

Book donations for the library

Please note that we are NO longer accepting donations for the Summer Fair.

For more information contact Nadine Baldwin (nbaldwin@telus.net) or Barbara Holder (bholder@telus.net).

Activities Update

Tuesday Conversational Italian

Back by popular demand!

Weekly Tuesday classes at both beginners and intermediate levels are led by Wojciech Ostrowski.

Italian Beginners Conversation: Speak very basic beginners Italian without the expectation of perfect grammar and pronunciation. 1 to 2:30 pm in the Sunroom.

Italian Intermediate Conversation: Already have a good understanding and speak Italian? Want to practise your existing Intermediate Italian without expectations of perfect grammar and pronunciation? 11 am to 12:30 pm in the Sun Room.

No drop-ins please. Class size is limited. To participate please contact brockhousemembership@gmail.com.

Computer drop-in

Though our Monday sessions are suspended for the summer, consider whether you or some tech-savvy friend or family member might like to volunteer to be a coach in the Computer Room. Contact Brian Luchak at bluchak@gmail.com or Megan at communications@brockhousesociety.com.

Upcoming events

July 2: Member Forum

Discover all that Brock House has to offer by joining our round table 60-minute session. Enjoy light refreshments and engage with our Executive Director, Membership Director, board members and activity/program leads. You can ask questions, present new ideas, or simply explore new interests. If you're a Convenor or Activity leader, you can learn how to attract more participants and keep your current team engaged. The session is designed to gather input from our valued members and volunteers, so your attendance is highly appreciated. You can join in person in the Sun Room or through Zoom (upon request).

While registration is not required for in-person attendance, it's appreciated. Additionally, we offer Brock House Tours upon request or directly after 2 pm. To reserve your space for this 20-minute tour, please email brockhousemembership@gmail.com.

Tuesday, 1 pm to 2 pm, July 2, Halpern Room (or Zoom). FREE!

Member Forum info | Register

July 9: Sunset Social

Join us for an enchanting evening of live music with Rob Weaver. His soulful melodies blend soft rock, jazz, and pop, creating an unforgettable experience. 🎶🎸🎵

July 13: Summer Fair

The Brock House Summer Fair is one of our premier fundraising events, and essential to our ongoing financial stability. People from all over Vancouver are invited to this free outdoor event. It’s a happy day of music, refreshments, bargain-hunting, and fun for all ages.

We’ll be selling plants, original artwork, handcrafted woodwork, jewelry, painted porcelain and needlecrafts. We’ll also be selling vintage clothing and pre-loved jewelry, books, games and other treasures.

Please bring your own bag. Cash or debit preferred.

Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm, July 13. FREE!

Summer Fair poster

July 26: Joan & Dick Stace-Smith Pancake Breakfast

The Pancake Breakfast is held outdoors every summer on the beautiful grounds of Brock House. It’s a relaxed fundraiser for Brock House, where you can enjoy friendly company and tasty pancakes made on site according to a traditional Brock House recipe. Everyone is welcome!

Friday, 8:30 am to 10 am, July 26. Adults $15 in advance, $20 at the door; children under eight $5.

Pancake Breakfast info | Register

Miscellanea

BH Heritage Tours

Did you know that the Membership Committee offers tours? To schedule a 30-minute Brock House Heritage Tour, please contact brockhousemembership@gmail.com.

Art in the House project

Some members of the Friday morning art group are putting together a committee to plan this project. Our purpose is to showcase BH members’ art, and to support BHS fundraising. If you would like to join us, contact Beverly Grice, beverly_grice@telus.net.

Bistro

For Frozen Meals to Take Home

If you don’t like cooking every night – especially in the summer – you need to know about the delectable frozen meals made fresh by the BH Kitchen team. What could be more convenient? They’re available at the Bistro for you to pick up and take home, and starting in July they’re priced at only $12.

For a Snack or Lunch

Relax and enjoy coffee, tea, sandwiches, fresh baked goods, or the daily lunch special in the beautiful Whittaker Conservatory. Members are welcome to bring guests (maximum three). Note that if we can’t serve lunch because of a special event, we will post notices beforehand in the foyer, Bistro, and on our web page. Monday to Friday, 9 am to 3 pm.

Bistro info | Menu

Library book of the week

Weyward by Emilia Hart.

2019: Under the cover of darkness, Kate flees London for ramshackle Weyward Cottage, inherited from a great-aunt she barely remembers. With its tumbling ivy and overgrown garden, the cottage is worlds away from the abusive partner who tormented her. Kate, however, suspects that her great-aunt had a secret —one that lurks in the bones of the cottage—hidden ever since the witch hunts of the seventeenth century.

Beyond BH

June 29: BH Big Band, free concert

2 to 4 pm, Leg-in-Boot Square, False Creek South, Market Hill & Millbank. FREE!

Reminders

Perfume awareness

The ingredients in fragrances can cause some people to suffer headaches, wheezing, and other reactions—especially if they have asthma or allergies. When we all remember to minimize or forgo our use of fragrance, Brock House will be safe for everyone. Thank you for this kindness.

Book your event at Brock House

Are you planning a special occasion? Would you like to have it in a lovely venue? With specially prepared food and beverages tailored to your event? Then book it at Brock House! You’ll have a wonderful gathering, and you’ll be supporting BHS. We welcome bookings from non-members as well as members. For help creating your perfect get-together, email communications@brockhousesociety.com.

Membership cards

As you enter Brock House, kindly present your membership card to our greeter. Membership cards and parking stickers are available at the office.

Parking Stickers

Please ensure your current parking sticker (orange) is visibly displayed on the inside front window on the driver’s side. If you're an active member and haven't retrieved your membership card and sticker yet, kindly collect them from the office (third floor).

Friday Update: deadline for submissions

Submissions for the Friday Update e-newsletter must be received by 4:30 pm of the Thursday preceding the Friday of publication. If they are received after this deadline, we can’t guarantee that they’ll be published. Send all submissions to communications@BrockHouseSociety.com.

Questions?

Ask our friendly office volunteers:

In person: Third floor of Brock House (take stairs or elevator)
By phone: 604-228-1641
By email: Communications@BrockHouseSociety.com
Mon to Fri: 9 am to 3:30 pm

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