Spring 2009 Edition

Member ProfileGloria George

Gloria became a member of the Forteniters Club in November 2008. She was born in Philadelphia but has lived in Norristown most of her life. She is close with her family, even though they live far away. Her sister keeps in touch with her by letter and she often visits with her brother and his family who live in Pittsburg. She went to Bartram High School and liked art, math, home economics, and bookkeeping.

About 4 years ago she traveled to California to see her sister, whom she hadn’t seen in 20 years. They had a wonderful time. She works at Developmental Enterprises Corp, doing piece work and serving coffee and tea to clients. She likes art, reading, sports, and going to see the Phillies with the Forteniters. She says she likes the friendliness of the Forteniters and it is a nice way to meet new people. She says, “They make me laugh too sometimes.” We are happy to have Gloria with us.

S C H E D U L E D H O S T G R O U P S

APRIL 20092 CENTRAL SCHWENKFELDER CHURCH

9 MT. ZION A.M.E., NORRISTOWN

16 ST. PAUL’S CATHOLIC CHURCH

23 EBENEZER METHODIST CHURCH

30 WOMEN’S PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE

MAY 20097 ST. MARK’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, CONSHOHOCKEN

14 SILOAM BAPTIST CHURCH, NORRISTOWN

21 REFORMED ASCENSION CHURCH, NORRISTOWN

28 CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH, WAYNE

JUNE 20094 CONSHOHOCKEN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

11 ST ANDREW’S LUTHERAN CHURCH FIRST PICNIC 18 SEI INVESTMENTS

25 LOWER PROVIDENCE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

T H A N K Y O U T O O U R R E C E N T H O S T S !

DECEMBER 20084 MONTGOMERY HOSPITAL, SUE DELANEY

11 METHACTON KEY CLUB

18 ADVISORY BOARD CHRISTMAS PARTY

JANUARY 20098 TRINITY LUTHERAN, FAIRVIEW VILLAGE

15 MACEDONIA BAPTIST CHURCH

22 LOWER PROVIDENCE OPTIMIST CLUB

29 VALLEY VIEW COMMUNITY CHURCH

FEBRUARY 20095 VISITATION CHURCH – C.Y.O.12 NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH, NORRISTOWN

19 ASBURY METHODIST CHURCH, NORRISTOWN

26 PLYMOUTH VALLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH

MARCH 20095 GE HEALTHCARE

12 HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH, LANSDALE

19 KENNEDY-KENRICK HONORS PROGRAM

26 TEMPLE BRITH ACHIEM, KING OF PRUSSIA

Here Macedonia Baptist ladies from the Jeremiah Wellness group are serving dinner to members at the St. Patrick Church Hall. They also shared a program and literature on healthy eating. We are glad to welcome these ladies as a new group this year.

FEBRUARYWe had about 43 friends and 3 staff members visiting us at Forteniters Bingo at Building 9 on February 25.  There were a lot of new faces and many of our regular friends there for our visit.  They all enjoyed the clothing, jewelry, cosmetics and the yummy goodies that we brought.  Susie was our big winner of the money for the last game of the night.

MARCHWe had 42 friends join us for bingo on March 18 at Building 9.  It was nice to see so many new faces as well as our regular friends among the group. They all enjoyed the snacks and drinks we provided as well as the clothing and other personal items.  The stuffed animals were really a welcomed option this month because of number of Easter Bunnies we had to choose from.  There was one winner for the final game of the evening and she chose to take a radio for her gift rather than the money.

APRILWe had a great time with the 40 friends that joined us for bingo at Building 9.  Again, there were a lot of old friends and new ones that we are anxious to get to know.  Everyone enjoyed getting to choose their bingo prizes that included snacks, soda, stuffed animals and dolls, clothing, jewelry and fragrances.  We had a brand new winner for the final bingo of the night, we now offer the winner, if there is only one, a choice between a radio and $5.00. If there are multiple winners, the money is divided between the winners.  Our April 15 winner chose the money.  We look forward to playing bingo again next month with our friends.

JANUARY 2009

Allen Werstler is entering three art drawings at the Building 33 in October.Sacred Heart citizens of 71 people have to move said Lillian and it also was

in the newspaper.We’d like to thank Ruth Ann Perry and Buddy Matt for preparing snacks and

providing coffee and juice!Shannon has a new Play station box from Christmas from his 2 uncles,

Warren and Bill Davenport.We’d like to thank Brian Stoffregen for his entertainment and music for

Forteniters. We would also like to thank Alicia for her announcements at Forteniters and Sharon Beyer for keeping the Club running every Thursday (weather permitting).

We’d like to thank John Jefferson and Jeff Glenney for the $5 drawing every Thursday night.

John Hoffer said that the Eagles are going to beat the Cardinals and Tampa Bay and will get to go to the Super bowl.

FEBRUARY 2009

Brett likes all styles of music: original, digital, and guitar. He considers himself a singer/songwriter.

Rose Samara’s birthday is February 28th.Allen Werstler has been doing a lot of painting for his landlord and is

working on a house. He has been tearing up old carpeting and helps clean for his mother.

We’d like to thank Ruth Ann Perry for serving all the snacks on every Thursday at St. Pat’s Hall.

Shannon Davenport’s birthday will be on April 28th. He will be 39 years old.We’d like to thank Brian Stoffregen for the music he plays for the

Forteniters club at St. Pat’s Hall.Joe Nunan has been doing a really good job here; he says he enjoys the

delicious meals and door prizes, and also likes the birthdays. His birthday is September 13, 1956.

John Hoffer says Connecticut will win the National Tournament in Basketball.

Roving ReporterBy Margaret Pietrowski

MARCH 2009

Brett is working on fresh guitar music and spiritual music for EasterJeff Glenney recovered from the Hospital.Dawn is doing very well on the computer and she does well on typing with no mistakes. Her neighbor invited Dawn over for lasagna dinner.Allen Werstler’s mom is in the hospital and we hope she has a speedy recovery.Sue Russell’s daughter is having a baby in August and Sue will become a grandmother. We’d like to thank Ruth Ann Perry for serving snacks every Thursday night.Tania shows movies every Saturday at the Resource Center at Building 6. She works there Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. There is Bingo there every Friday evening at 6:00 pm.Mary Ryder has been working at Applebees for 8 years.John Hoffer predicts that Pittsburg will win the National Championship this year.

HappyBirthday

March Harold Peiffer- 8, Bill Beyer- 9, Joe Rocchino- 14, Kristen Butcher- 20, George Fayert- 21, Ron Brown- 27, and Alicia Young- 29

April Lillian Heck- 2, Buddy Matt- 4, Wendy Carter- 7, Sharon

Frielich- 13, Bryan Stoffregen- 13, James Bryan- 19, Kevin Casten- 19, George Nicolaus- 26, Shannon Davenport- 28, Tonia Green- 29; Joanne & Bill Foster’s 12th Wedding Anniversary - April 20.

May Gloria George- 1, Dawn Melville- 4, Bob Waters- 7, Bobby Sanders- 7, Scott Shirey- 9, Ginnae Rueber- 13, John Malkasian- 15, Tom Miklosik- 15, Sue Gersdorf- 21, Ruth Ann Perry- 29, Mae Harden- 30, Louis Shapiro- 30; Becky Brown’s Wedding Anniversary - May 7.

June Joanne Foster- 3, Richard Bellam- 7, Sue Hassinger- 11, Carole Beswick- 18, Bill Muntzer- 28

NEWSLETTER PREPARED BY:CONTRIBUTORS: MARGARET PIETROWSKI, DAISY LAUBERT, SHARON BEYEREDITORS: SHARON BEYER, JENNIFER WONGPRINTED BY: HEDWIG HOUSE NORRISTOWN CLUBHOUSE

Director’s Corner

Our congratulations go to Shirley Kresge, who will receive an award at the Mental Health Luncheon on May 13 for her many hours of helping people with mental illness. On behalf of the Forteniters, she has brought the monthly Bingo program to Norristown State Hospital patients in Building 9 for many years. She helps sort clothing in the Toggery Shop where people at the hospital and in mental health treatment can shop for free gently-used clothing. She has also been a valuable asset as a volunteer and board member of the Forteniters where all of us are enriched by her smile and generous spirit. We thank her for being a

Thank you also to our Bryn Mawr students

Jennifer Wong is a Bryn Mawr College student who has been helping us with our technology needs. She helped update the newsletter format and showed us how to do it ourselves in the future.

We are glad to have Katharine Penzo with us again this semester. She plans to attend graduate school in the area after she graduates in May.

Natsu Fukui is back with us while she prepares to apply to medical school and has begun to develop a website for Forteniters.

Caitlin McGowan and Allison Lee are in a Community Based Research class and are doing a survey of our members to help us evaluate how our program meets their needs.

Bowling

Rose Samara organized a bowling trip at Facenda Whitaker Lanes on February 21 with 12 members attending. They used 3 lanes and all enjoyed the good-natured competition. They plan to go again in April. We want to thank Facenda Whitaker for providing the shoe rental without cost to our members.

Thank you to our recent donors!!

Gallagher’s, Cecil Birch, Mary Kane, Trinity Lutheran Church, NORSCO Federal Credit Union, Larry Brown/ Merck Partner, David Kohn, the Genuardi Family Foundation, the Fourjay Foundation, Ray’s Diner, Patricia Kind, and St. David’s Roman Catholic Church (donated wrapped Christmas gifts)~

Coming events

FORTENITERS CLUB INC.P.O. BOX 962NORRISTOWN, PA 19404

Return Service Requested

Bingo at Norristown State HospitalWednesdays 6-8PM

May 13, June 17Bldg 9 Dining area

Annual Mental Health LuncheonMay 20

Westover Country Club

Phillies Game bus tripTo be scheduled the end of May