The Holiday season has come and gone in a blink of an eye and we once again start off a new year with fresh hopes for health, happiness and prosperity.  Hopefully the ski club will get you all through the chilly days of January with some healthful activities which will bring happiness into your lives.  I cannot do anything for the prosperity part, that’s all on you. We will just try to keep costs down on activities as many of us are probably paying off those Christmas bills.

WOW!! 2020! It’s the beginning of  whole new decade!  Did you make some New Year’s resolutions?  One of mine is to improve on last year.  Now that’s going to be a big challenge as we had an awesome 2019.  2019 was a specular year for CSOC through the accomplishments our board and club members. I want to shout out a BIG THANK YOU to: Kathy Britt, Mary Alice Blackburn, Judy Bledsoe,  Faith Campbell, Peggy Christie, Grey Culbreth, Jane Edwards, Karen Fitch, Paul Fitch, Linda Jones, Kathy Malloch, Jim Malloch, Bill Neumann, Rick Rodger, John Schwartz, Karen Schwartz, Pat Van, Sherry & Bob Walters, Gene Young, Gene Youtsey.  And of course, all the Monthly Activity Coordinators and Hospitality Hosts!! I hope I didn’t forget anyone!

Now we need your help to have an even better 2020.  We are getting a jump on achieving this as we kickoff January with Joe Allen’s New Year’s Day House party followed by an array of new events throughout January and February.  Maryann Giroso and Judith Steinmetz are putting together an interesting array of January activities while Pat Van and Kathy Malloch are working on February surprises for all of us.  John Schwartz has been diligently working on our trip to Portugal & Spain where club members will explore ancient sites and frolic in the snow. So, we are starting 2020 with a real jump start and we can use your ideas for future planning to make my 2020 resolution come true. Come to a board meeting to join in the planning or reach out to our VP in charge of Activities Gene Young.  It definitely takes a village to run this club and we have a fine community at that!  We would love to hear your ideas and value your input.

That’s about it for now. Looking forward to another fun filled year ahead. 

Elena Moglia, CSOC President

elmoglia@hotmail.com

843-443-5218

We had another successful and fun meeting of the Book Club on November 25. Thanks to Beverly Kradel for hosting and providing the yummy appetizers and to Elena Moglia for leading the discussion on The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict.  CSOC's Book Club was started in January, 2017 and since that time,  we've read and discussed 31 books.  THE BOOK CLUB WILL NOT MEET IN DECEMBER.

CSOC book selections for the next several months are:

January 27, 2020

Host – Faith Campbell - 1228 Ambling Way Dr., Myrtle Beach - (843) 455-0606

Discussion Leader - Judy Bledsoe

The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell – Robert Dugoni

A novel that, if it doesn’t cross entirely over into John Irving territory, certainly nestles in close to the border.”  Sam Hill always saw the world through different eyes.  Born with red pupils, he was called “Devil Boy” or Sam “Hell” by his classmates; “God’s will” is what his mother called his ocular albinism.  Her words were of little comfort, but Sam persevered, buoyed by his mother’s devout faith, his father’s practical wisdom, and his two other misfit friends.  Forty years later, Sam, a small-town eye doctor, is no longer certain anything was by design, especially not the tragedy that caused him to turn his back on his friends, his hometown, and the life he’d always known.  Running from the pain, eyes closed, served little purpose.  Now, as he looks back on his life, Sam embarks on a journey that will take him halfway around the world.  This time, his eyes are wide open, bringing into clear view what changed him, defined him, and made him so afraid, until he can finally see what truly matters.

February 24, 2020

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

A former POW comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man.  When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision to move his family to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier.  Leni, a 13-year old girl, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family.  Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man she loves, even if it means following him into the unknown.  At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers.  In a wild, remote corner of the state, they find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women.  The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the family’s lack of preparation and dwindling resources.  But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, the family begins to fracture and soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within.  In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in 18 hours of night, they learn the terrible truth, they are on their own, in the wild, there is no one to save them but themselves.

Host - Karen Fitch - 3830 Hobcaw Dr., Myrtle Beach - (978) 479-8289

Enjoy the read,

Peggy Christie