Get ready to Spring Ahead. 

March brings many things to look forward to.

Daylight Savings time arrives on March 8 at 2:00 am. We will gain a little more daylight each day, so get your garden gloves out and your lawnmowers ready to go. Did you know that Spring has two different arrival dates? March 1 marks the first day of “meteorological spring” as opposed to “astronomical spring” which begins on March 20 at 10:46 am. Whichever date you adopt, I am sure you will see flowers popping up and the pollen season beginning.

Our March Membership Luncheon will be held at Waldhorn German Restaurant in Pineville. I will announce our slate of elected officers for the board for the year 2026- 2027, followed by a buffet lunch and guest speaker, Sally Brewster. Sally is the owner/buyer for Park Road Books. She will be discussing new and exciting Fiction and Non-Fiction. Registration opens February 25 at 9:00 am. 

March also brings the Better Homes & Gardens annual "Souper" lunch. This will be held on March 19th at the home of Carol Henderson. Please be sure to call Sandy Cummings once you register and tell her what you plan to bring. 

Creative Adventures will be visiting the Secret Chocolatier on March 25. You will be tasting delicious samples and creating your own bark. Check the calendar for more details and don't miss registration on February 25 at 9:00 am.

New Membership Challenge will begin at the February luncheon. Let's see how many new members you can refer and get a chance at a free membership for the 2026 – 2027 year. (Details in VP of membership article.)

In February, I visited Mexican Train 2, Sip & Stitch and was a substitute at our Dining with Divas Group. If you want a relaxing few hours of Mexican Train with no stress and not having to worry about playing for money, Mexican Train 2 is the event to visit. They welcome those new to the game or never played before and will provide firsthand training, as our other Mexican Train groups do also. You have the convenience of being in the Whole Foods building where you can grab a coffee before you start to play and then grab lunch when you take a break. This group meets from 11:00 AM to 1:00 pm the second Wednesday of the month at Whole Foods in Southpark.

Sip & Stitch met at the home of Kathy Couture, who provided a lovely fruit and cheese charcuterie. These ladies make hats, scarves, and other items to donate to local charities or send to our servicemen and women. They also have donated many beautiful items for our NFC auctions in the past. I was happy to see them welcoming new members and teaching Anne Warren how to crochet. If you want to learn or just have friendly conversation as you watch them knit, crochet, cross stitch or whatever, I am sure they would love to have your visit. This group meets the second Thursday from 1 – 3:30 at members' homes.

I was a substitute at our Dining with Divas group on February 6. This group is made up of 8 ladies who have lunch at a member's home once a month. The hostess determines the main entrée, and 4 other members provide the appetizer, side, salad, and dessert. They enjoy delicious meals and have enjoyable conversations. If you would like to be put on the sub list or are interested in starting a second Dining with Divas group please contact Pauline Trautman, Dining with Divas Coordinator 704-507-5680. All participants must be current members of New Friends of Carolina. 

Operation Event Cancellations – It's working!  This month’s numbers are...cancellations in February are 38 compared to 61 last month at this time and No Shows – None!  Thank you all for taking the time to evaluate your schedule before registering or canceling once you realize your schedule changed and you can no longer attend. I will be tracking attendance for 3 more months until my term is up. We are on the right track. Let's keep it going.

Thank you for being a New Friend,

Jeanne Deiger, President