July 2026 President’s Message
America’s 250th
July has arrived, and this year we celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. I did my part by reading the Declaration out loud to a number of Port Angeles’ citizens—almost none of whom had read it—and then answering their questions for over an hour. I also had the opportunity to ring Port Angeles’ copy of the Liberty Bell, which was quite a treat.
Area Food Banks
Late last year your Newcomers’ Board decided to help both the Sequim and Port Angeles Food Banks. There are boxes for both Food Banks at our monthly Luncheons, and Newcomers’ will transport your contributions to both food banks. The most important food items needed throughout the year are canned proteins (tuna, chicken, beans, stews), fruits (canned, dried, applesauce), canned veggies, peanut butter, pasta, cereal, hygiene items (diapers, wipes, soap), and pet food. We have contributed $262 plus 357 pounds of food thus far. Let’s keep it going this fall, and thanks to everyone who has helped!
Annual Picnic
Reminder for new members: There are no Newcomers’ Luncheons in July or August. On August 4th we will have our annual picnic at the Salt Creek Recreation Area County Park Picnic Pavilion. This is a great time to enjoy food, the outdoors, and each other. It is also the last opportunity to renew your club membership if you haven’t already done so. We will have Membership Application Forms at the picnic. You can pay your 2026-2027 dues by check or cash. If you have already renewed, THANK YOU! A picnic broadcast and a reminder broadcast with all the details about the August Picnic have been sent to all members, and our Newcomers’ website has been updated to reflect this information. The cost of the picnic is $10 per member or guest.
50/50 Donation Fund Distributions
Newcomers will be distributing the money (about $450) we raised through our 50/50 program this last year. The Board has agreed to split our donation between Guide Dogs for the Blind (Sequim) and the Joe Rantz Rotary Youth Fund for homeless youth.
June Appetizer
Darius and Vicki Richards had an excellent June Appetizer Event which was very well attended. Thanks to the both of them for sharing their beautiful home with us.
July Dining Around
Our Dining Around Event for July is a good one. Our hosts, Doris and Dave Stuart, are taking us out of town for a summer’s day outing at the Finnriver Farm & Cidery in Chimacum on July 24 at 3:00 PM. Sign up for this event on our Dining Around Webpage.
President’s Pick for July
Our President’s Pick for July is the Kathy Metz-Carson Memorial Port Angeles Underground Tour on July 17 at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased at the Port Angeles Visitor Center just prior to the tour. Please RSVP on our website so I know how many members to expect.
Board Member Position
We reluctantly accepted the resignation of Dale Jackson from the Newcomers’ Board at our June meeting. Your Board, according to the Newcomers’ Bylaws, can appoint someone to fill the remainder of Dale’s term and would be grateful for a volunteer to step up to the plate and offer their services. Do we have any takers?
For other events in July, please check the Events Calendar.
Finally, getting the word out about our wonderful friendship organization is our continuing challenge for our members. Membership renewal continues and we’re making progress, so spread the good news and please renew your membership if you haven’t done so yet!