February 2026 

Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 80 Main Street, Lockport. Our speaker for this program is Erin Strassburg from the Dale Association. Ms. Strassburg is the Travel Coordinator/Program Provider and is planning on talking about the travel opportunities, community engagement and volunteering opportunities offered by the Dale Association. She is a graduate of Buffalo State College with a degree in Communications and Public Relations. She has been creating engaging programs, travel adventures, and special events, together with championing the quality of life for senior citizens and community members alike for the past five years with the Dale Association. The program should be timely and interesting, so please plan on attending. Remember that guests are always welcome to attend, so bring a friend! The doors will open at 5:30 PM for registration. Dinner will be served at 6:00 PM. 

The menu is Panko Parmesan crusted chicken, served with potato and vegetable, rolls and butter. Coffee and tea will be served. The cost of the dinner is $25.00. Hostesses are Gail Marshall and Anna Beth Kinyan. Please call in your reservation to the Telephone Committee by Thursday, February 26, 2026. You may also make an email reservation with Susan Grigg at smmgrigg@aol.com. Reservations may also be made by calling Gail Marshall (716-434-4306). Please do not call Marybeth Wilson as she is away for the winter. Every meeting is a guest meeting, so bring a friend. We had a great turnout at the last meeting so let’s do it again!! It sounds like an interesting program. 

The recommendation of the Scholarship Committee was passed at our last meeting. It reads as follows: “At this time, the Scholarship Committee recommends for the year 2026 that we support awards up to $8,000.00 as applications are received and reviewed by the Scholarship Committee. Members of this important committee are: Nancy Fischer, Chair, Daniele Priest, Treasurer, Ann VanDusen, Patricia Kennedy and Ann O’Byrne.

 Dues are now $50.00. If you have not paid your dues, you may do so at the meeting or by mailing them to Anna Beth Kinyon, 7259 Clark View Drive, Lockport, New York 14094. If you would like to receive your Megaphone by electronic mail, please forward your email address to Judy Johnson-Paonessa at jljgesq@aol.com. Remember electronic delivery will save the cost of the postage. 

Our College Scholarship Fundraiser is scheduled for Sunday, March 29, 2026 at the Lockport Town and Country Club. The doors will open at noon, with luncheon served at 1:00 PM. Tickets and other information has been mailed to members and you should have received this information. It is time to be thinking of themes for baskets. The Basket Raffle has been historically successful in raising scholarship funds. Basket are fun to make and are always needed. Members are expected to contribute a basket. Remember that gift cards are always an option and it is helpful to place them in either a small frame or basket. We are in need of volunteers to sell tickets and distribute baskets on the day of the Fundraiser. Please let Patty Russell or any Board member know if you are able to help out. So please consider volunteering. 

Thank you for continuing to support the College Club with your attendance at meetings and support of the annual Fundraiser. Other volunteer opportunities include becoming a member of the Leadership Team that constitutes the Board of Directors. Program Leaders are always needed and are of such importance because they help to find our speakers and topics for meetings. If this is something you may be interested in helping with please let either Patty Russell or any Board Member know of your interest. 

 The next Board of Directors meeting will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at the home of Patty Russell, 102 Continental Drive, Lockport, NY at 7:00 PM. Call to confirm your attendance

 January 2026 

Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 5, 2026 at the 80 Main Street, Lockport. Our speaker for this program is Heather Hare, one of our newest members! Heather is the Chief Marketing Officer at Buffalo Toronto Public Media, where she has worked in marketing and communications for more than seven years. BTPM is the local public television and public radio service for the Western New York area. Programming includes our local PBS station, Create and PBS Kids; local public radio provides both NPR, classical and jazz formats. Heather has a Bachelor’s Degree in print journalism from George Washington University. She has served on the Lockport City School District Board in the past and is currently serving on the Boards of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Mended Little Hearts. She will be sharing the effects of the cuts in Federal funding on public television and radio and giving us an overview of what we can look forward to in current programming. 

 The doors will open at 5:30 PM for registration. Dinner will be served at 6:00 PM. The menu is Pork tenderloin with peach chutney, served with mashed potatoes, vegetable and rolls and butter. Coffee and tea will be served. The cost of the dinner is $25.00. Hostesses are Gail Marshall and Leslie Tobin. Please call in your reservation to the Telephone Committee by Thursday, January 29, 2025. You may also make an email reservation with Susan Grigg at smmgrigg@aol.com. Reservations may also be made by calling Gail Marshall (716-434-4306). Please do not call Marybeth Wilson as she is away for the winter. Every meeting is a guest meeting, so bring a friend. We had a great turnout at the last meeting so let’s do it again!! It sounds like an interesting program. 

Please make every effort to attend the February meeting as we will also be hearing and voting on the recommendation of the Scholarship Committee with respect to the number of scholarships the Club will be giving this year.

Dues are now $50.00. If you have not paid your dues, you may do so at the meeting or by mailing them to Anna Beth Kinyon, 7259 Clark View Drive, Lockport, New York 14094.

 If you would like to receive your Megaphone by electronic mail, please forward your email address to Judy Johnson-Paonessa at jljgesq@aol.com. Remember electronic delivery will save the cost of the postage.

 Our College Scholarship Fundraiser is being planned with the details to follow soon. The event will be held at the Lockport Town Country Club. We need to thank Patti Russell and Anna Beth Kinyon who are making arrangements with the Lockport Town and Country Club for this wonderful event. It is time to be thinking of themes for baskets. The Basket Raffle has been historically successful in raising scholarship funds. Basket are fun to make and are always needed. Ticket Chair is Daniele Priest. Table Decoration Co-Chairs are Anna Beth Kinyon and Patty Russell. Leslie Tobin, Heather Hare and Karen Young have volunteered to serve as of Basket Raffle Co-Chairs – their duties are setting up and arranging the baskets on the day of the fundraiser. We are in need of volunteers to sell Basket Raffle Tickets on the day of the Fundraiser. Please let Patty Russell or any Board member know if you are able to help out. So please consider volunteering. 

Thank you for continuing to support the College Club with your attendance at meetings and support of the annual Fundraiser. Other volunteer opportunities include becoming a member of the Leadership Team that constitutes the Board of Directors. Program Leaders are always needed and are of such importance because they help to find our speakers and topics for meetings. If this is something you may be interested in helping with please let either Patty Russell or any Board Member know of your interest. 

 The next Board of Directors meeting will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2026 at the home of Karen Robison, 7256 Clark View Drive, Lockport, NY at 7:00 PM. Call to confirm your attendance.