You are invited to the unveiling of our 2015 Calendar, Okanagan Moments, and the announcement of the photo contest winners. There were many high quality photos entered and we’re sure you’ll agree that the calendar is well worth celebrating.

On Friday, October 17, 7 p.m., at the People Place the calendar will be unveiled, after announcing the 13 winning photographs, including the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners.

Please join us to celebrate and for the awarding of the prizes. See all the photos and vote for the People’s Choice Award. Yes, we will have refreshments and calendars for sale ($15 each).

Get ready for our next set of travel adventures.  Grannies à Gogo will present 2 evening travelogues on Friday May 2 and Friday May 9, 2014 at  7:00 at the People Place.

SILK ROAD ADVENTURES
Across China

Presented by Givonna De Bruin

Givonna follows in the footsteps of Marco Polo along the modern day Silk Road across China, with ancient sights in Beijing, Dunhaung, Turpan, Karakul Lake and Urumqi.

Friday, May 2 – 7:00

 CYCLES OF LIFE
Cycling Vienna to Budapest

Presented by Sue Ulmer

Sue joins 11 BC women on an 8-day bicycle trip alongside the Danube River from Vienna through Austria, Slovakia and the splendid countryside of Hungary.

Friday, May 9 – 7:00

Both presentations are in Suite 006 (Lower Level) at the People Place, 3402 – 27th Ave.

Admission is $5 per travelogue payable at the door – all proceeds go to help the Gogos (Grannies) in Sabie, South Africa.

What says community, friendship, and good times more than a big bowl of fresh, tasty salad?

Here’s your opportunity to obtain this fabulous collection of recipes AND support the African grandmothers.  All recipes are favourites and were shared by members of the Grannies à Gogo.

And if your cookbook shelf is already overflowing, this recipe book makes a fabulous hostess, birthday or thank-you gift and is priced at only $15.

The book can be obtained by emailing granniesagogo@gmail.com and requesting a book, or by contacting Granny Marilyn Wardlow, to buy recipe books at a time that works for both of you. Phone Marilyn  (250 545 1263) or email her  (mwardlow@telus.net) for more information.

All net proceeds will go directly to help Grandmothers in Sabie, South Africa, who are raising their AIDS-orphaned grandchildren.

Recently, Sandra Rogers, a member of Grannies à Gogo,  donated one of her paintings to the group.  It was decided by the Steering Committee to present the painting to Ginny Cormack, who was the original volunteer administrator of our project in Sabie.  She located and drew together the Gogos in the Sabie Township of Simile, the Gogos raising their AIDS-orphaned grandchildren.  She ensured that the funds that we sent to Sabie were all used to help ease the difficult lives of these grandmothers.  The painting is of the Anglican church in Sabie; before moving to Sedgewick, Ginny was an Anglican priest at the church.  As it happened, Granny Lynn was going to be in Sedgewick, South Africa while visiting South Africa.  She volunteered to deliver the painting to Ginny.

Here’s Granny Lynn presented the painting to Ginny Cormack overlooking the beach at Sedgefield:

For the 2nd year in a row, with completely blind judging and a completely different judge, Janus Steyn has walked away with 1st prize in the Grannies à Gogo Photo Contest.  His outstanding photo showing a distant view of the city of Vernon with sunlight filtering through the clouds will be featured both on the cover of the 2014 Calendar and the month of May.

Janus Steyn accepts his 1st place prize.

Professional photographer Martin Vegt helped announce the following winners October 18 at the Gala Celebration (photos here).

1st Prize – View of Vernon fom Middleton Mountain – Janus Steyn – May

2nd prize – Okanagan Reflections by Hugh Clarke – January

3rd prize – Pond Reflections of an Old Pier by Carol Schroeder – October

A Winter View of Okanagan Lake by Janus Steyn – February

Canada Goose Family at Kin Beach by Anne Clarke – March

Twisted History by Sue Harnett – April

Ready to Fly (Male Flicker) by Ray Hansen – June

Green Hills, Blue Mountains by Janus Steyn – July

Friends in the Okanagan by Carol Schroeder – August

A Favorite Fall View from Kalamalka Lake Park by Eileen Kaul – September

Evening Sun Reflections on Kalamalka Lake by Katy Schroeder – November

Winter Jewels of the Mountain Ash by Beverley Barling – December

BONUS

Whistling Swans – a Morning Lift-off by Hugh Clarke – January 2015

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

Laurel Neufeld won the People’s Choice with “Turtle Reflections.”

Calendars are $15 each and come with a mailing envelope. Calendars are available from members of Grannies à Gogo.  If you wish to reserve one please email us at granniesagogo@gmail.com.

We’re sorry (actually quite pleased!) to announce that the calendars have sold out.

Join us once again for the walkathon to raise money for our Gogos (Grandmothers) in Africa.

The walkathon takes place:

Sunday, October 6, 2013
at Polson Park
12:30

Bring your grandkids and, weather permitting, bring a picnic lunch and join us in the park at 2:00 after the walk.

Not in Vernon that day? Wherever you are you can fill out the pledge sheet, get some sponsors and walk for the children.

Money collected and sponsor sheet can be brought to any of the steering committee members.

Download the pledgesheet and bring it to the walk or contact Kathy deGrace at 778-475-4724 and she will come and pick up your donation.

Time to dust off the lens and start to shoot some of the remarkable views, events and experiences that make us reflect on the beauty of the North Okanagan.  Winners of our photo contest will be featured in our fund-raising 2014 calendar.

All the details, AND entry forms here.

Grannies a Gogo are sponsoring another series of evening travelogue presentations on Friday May 3rd and Friday May 10.  The presentations will be held at the People Place, Lower Level, Suite 006 – 3402 27 Avenue at 7 pm.  Admission is $5 per travelogue, payable at the door.  Refreshments are available by donation.

View of Turkey with Beverley Barling on May 3, 2013

Beverley will share her pictures of the historical and cultural sights of Turkey, including a unique view of Cappadocia from a hot air balloon.

Tibetan China – A Land with Heart with Mary Stebbins on May 10, 2013

Mary, a long time Vernon resident, spent a year in Qinghai Province of China, in a Tibetan town nestled beside the Yellow River and surrounded by red earth mountains.  Through her stories and the eye of her camera, she will share a glimpse of the land and the people she grew to love.