In the News - 2012
Congratulations to David and Gretchen Meixner who celebrated their 70th Wedding Anniversary on December 29th, surrounded by friends and family from across the USA - Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey - as well as from Russia, Austria and Sweden. Their party was held in the Florida Room and was also attended by David's best friend for more than 65 years.
They were married on January 18th, 1942.
Gretchen has been Sun City Center Lawn Bowling Club's instructor, giving free lessons for one week every month, for many of the 24 years that she and David have lived in the community.
Click here to see her lawn bowling videos.
In the News - 2011
Sun City Center's
50th Anniversary Parade
Geri Shayman and her merry band of workers labored long and hard to put together a float for the parade that began Sun City Center's 50th Anniversary celebrations on May the 1st, 2011.
Work started in the cool of Geri's garage (above) but had to move outdoors when headroom proved to be a problem (below).
The completed float featured three Champions: Joe Mignona (Pebble Beach Singles), Linda McDougall (Sun City Center Club) and Chris Heller (Sun Coasters Singles) - below.
A great job, folks!
Left to right: Joe, Linda, Chris, Gary Heller, Geri (above)
Congratulations Ladies!
Southeast Playdown Results
Linda McDougall will be representing the Southeast Division in Seattle on August 21st to 24th as their Singles Champion
at the National Championship Games.
Best of luck, Linda!
Sue Bellerose and Sandy Gill were Runners Up
in the Pairs and will be on stand-by for the
same games, in case the Winners have to step down.
Well done all three of you!
Lawn Bowling Coach – Someone Special
Most Clubs - tennis, football, hockey or lawn bowling - have someone who goes that extra mile, an unsung hero, or heroine, who is there giving their support for years and years, as the committees and Presidents come and go.
At Sun City Center Lawn Bowling Club, that person is Gretchen Meixner.
Gretchen has been running the monthly lawn bowling classes for the past eleven years and it is through her unselfish dedication that the membership has grown, and more and more people are taking up the sport - and having so much fun doing it!
Each month, with the help of some of the other dedicated club members, she teaches new lawn bowlers the art of Bowling, shows them how to grip the bowl, how to deliver it, the rules and etiquette of the game and above all imparts confidence, so that after a few days of instruction they feel confident to go out and play along side the other members of the Club.
In addition to that, she also organizes weekly casual lawn bowling evenings after which hots dogs and other fine foods are enjoyed.
Gretchen and her husband David have been members of the Sun City Center Lawn Bowling Club since 1993.
They moved to Sun City Center from Collegeville, Pennsylvania in 1988.
With her vast knowledge, you would be permitted to think that Gretchen had been Lawn Bowling all hr life and that she had experience before she arrived in Sun City Center. That, however, is not the case. In fact, she knew very little about the sport before she joined the Club and has gained her nowledge from 4 or 5 past members who were experienced lawn bowlers.
Her first competitive challenge was in the Southeast Open in 1994 when two bowlers from another club were one player short. She was drafted into their team and although she had only taken up the sport a year earlier, they went on to win second place!
Both David and Gretchen have many other interests apart from lawn bowling. Until recently, they were volunteers in the Emergency Squad with 17 years' service. They were also members of the Sun City Center Security Squad for 15 years and Gretchen is a talented member of the Stained Glass Club.
So from everyone at the Club, a big Thank You to Gretchen and to everyone like her, in all walks of life, who give so much - without looking for acclaim or praise.
If anyone reading this feels that they would like to come and see what Lawn Bowling is about, please feel free to sign up for next month's course of lessons. You can sign up in the Clubhouse, phone Gretchen on 633 2909, or phone 642 2093.
David Burbery 21st February, 2011
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Sun City Center Lawn Bowler
Gets Top Job
Sue Bellerose's term as President of Sun City Lawn Bowling club concluded this month after two successful years, and she has now moved on to be the President of the Southeast Division of the United States Lawn Bowling Association.
As President of Sun City Lawn Bowling Club, her leadership and initiative have been an important factor in the growing popularity for the sport in Sun City Center.
Membership of the Club had fallen from its peak a decade ago of just under 500, to an all-time low of 160 two years ago.
Recently the Membership has grown, and this year it is expected to exceed 200 with new Lawn Bowlers signing up for lessons every month.
Sue can take credit for promoting the Social side of the Club with evening Lawn Bowls followed by hot dogs and burgers or a meal at a local restaurant, plus a number of social events all of which add to the goodwill and fellowship within the Club.
So what now Sue?
Always up for a challenge, Sue is about to take up the mantle of President of the United States Lawn Bowling Association, South East Division.
This is an honor, both for Sue and for the Sun City Center club.
So where did it start?
Sue, age 64, is married to Art. They moved to Sun City Center from Apollo Beach in 2000; she and her husband are originally from Connecticut.
Sue had never played Lawn Bowls before she arrived here, in fact she had never even heard of the game.
She took lessons and soon became an accomplished Lawn Bowler, playing in Tournaments here in Florida and also, during the summer months, in Canada and Australia.
Her new position of USLBA President is critical for the promotion and organization of Lawn Bowling in America and in the South East Division.
Unlike other Countries such as Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, Lawn Bowling in this country is still a minority sport.
Many are advocating that Lawn Bowling should be included in the Olympic Games. If that were to happen, it would surely become as popular a game here as it is elsewhere.
The Sun City Center Lawn Bowling Club wishes Sue well in her new position. John Bailiff has been elected President of the Sun City Lawn Bowling Club for 2011.
David Burbery - 5th January 2011
Linda McDougall
International Lawn Bowler
Linda McDougall has been representing the United States in their International Lawn Bowling Team for the past 16 years, playing in International matches all over the world, including Canada, Scotland, Australia, Ireland, and Malaysia.
In September of 2010, she won the US Open Pairs Tournament in Newport Harbor, California with her partner, Mary Ann Beath from Arizona. She also represented the Southeast Division in October as the Singles player in the National Championships in Sun City, Arizona. This was the first time she represented the Southeast Division, having previously represented the Northeast Division in 13 National Championships, both in Singles and in Pairs.
In recognition of her vast experience at the highest level and because of her knowledge of the game, Linda has been appointed to the position of Selector for the United States National Lawn Bowling Team.
Linda, 69, lives in Sun City Center with her husband John and mother, Violet Baxter, after moving from Stratford, Connecticut in 2005. Born in Scotland, she has lived in America for the past 64 years and became an American citizen in 1953.
Apart from being a member of the Sun City and Suncoasters Lawn Bowling Clubs, Linda is a keen golfer and a member of Caloosa Golf and Country Club.
David Burbery - 8th January, 2011
