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Support our Seniors and Friendsgiving celebration Both next Sat Nov 2 ! Check upcoming
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quick links:
NEW! Join our meeting remotely* (Online Zoom Meeting Link)
Meetings are at 10:AM on the second Saturday. Guests are welcome, remote and in person
Attend the next 2nd Saturday meeting at the Buttercup Inn, 660 Ygnacio Valley Rd, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 We start gathering at about 9:30 to start the meeting at 10:00
Recent Events Updates
Upcoming events page
Join Our Club
Monthly Meeting Minutes
Sign up for the BATOC Holiday Party
hosted by Adams & Cummins
Sunday Dec 8th start at noon – out by 4:00PM
Cattleman’s Restaurant
2882 Kitty Hawk Road, Livermore, CA, 94551
$42 PP Send check to BATOC via Cathy
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President’s Message
A New Year / New President
Happy New Year to all our BATOC Membership! I am excited and looking forward to 2025 events, tours, comradery and mischief.
The BATOC board is meeting on January 3 to discuss 2025 planning and strategy. If you have any ideas for 2025, please let Lisa or me know and we can add your ideas to the agenda.
It’s hard to believe that we are already in January. It seems like 2024 flew by and in other respects, I feel we couldn’t get through it quickly enough. I hope you all had a fabulous holiday season, and that Santa brought you everything that you wished or hoped for. The holidays are always a good time to reconnect with family and friends…and overeat all of the goodies around us at every turn. I know Matt and I had our share of See’s Candy and cookies hand delivered by well-wishing friends!
BATOC ended 2024 with a fabulous holiday gathering at the Cattleman’s restaurant in Livermore. Everyone was so engaged that time eluded us. Unfortunately, we ended up racing through our gift exchange. My apologies to anyone who may have been disappointed with the outcome; we will do better in the future. I want to thank everyone who worked so hard to secure the venue, plan the meal and music, decorate, bring gifts, and execute the event. And I want to give a warm shout-out to Jim and Maria Guthrie, who drove all the way from Idaho to visit and participate in the party.
I also want to give a warm shout-out to Cathy and John Hager, who were unable to attend the holiday party. John had a bad fall on his bike during the second week in November and ended up in the hospital for a short period. He has been recovering with Cathy’s care and lots of physical therapy. We hope to see them both (and their beautiful car) very soon! I would also like to give a warm shout out to Kathy Lloyd who was not able to attend the party due to illness. Kathy has been a longtime member and was responsible for making our wonderful table center pieces, I look forward to meeting you in person when you are feeling better.
In early December, Cathy, Matthew and I met with Dawn Manley at the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano to deliver part of the Change for Charity that Sue Mathieson and others have been collecting from us throughout the year. Dawn gave us a quick tour of their facility in Concord and shared with us all of the great work they are doing. Dawn was very appreciative of the donation. Did you know that for every dollar that is donated to a food bank equates to two meals? Towards the end of the month, Jack Mathieson and Dave Little presented another check to the Alameda County Community Food Bank. Between your direct donations and matching funds from the BATOC treasury, our club donated $900…the equivalent of 1,800 meals!
Speaking of food, in November, I was able to catch up with Carlos (our waiter at the Buttercup Restaurant) to deliver a fond farewell on behalf of BATOC. I met up with him Wed. Nov. 13 at the end of his shift and presented our card and token of appreciation. Carlos was visibly moved by the gesture and shared how much pleasure it had been for him to serve our club. Carlos was heading for El Paso, Texas for the next chapter: marrying the love of his life. I congratulated him on his pending marriage and told him that he will be missed.
Looking ahead, I hope to see you all at the January meeting and at the President’s Mystery tour on January 25.
Warmest regards and best wishes for a great New Year.
JOE
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