Sojourn Connections
Current Goal: opportunity to connect with friends once a month
Friday, February 21 - Bingo For The Arts
Play BINGO with your friends for a good cause! Admission is $20 and all proceeds benefit the Whitewater Arts Alliance.
I'll be arriving at 5:00pm when the doors open, and I'll hang out all night.
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Who: Open to anyone. Please register through the WAA website at whitewaterarts.org, or at the Cultural Arts Center during regular gallery hours. They will accept walk-ins - but it would be good to register so they have an idea of number of people to expect.
What: Bingo For The Arts
Where: Community Engagement Center, 1260 West Main St, Whitewater, WI (next to Walmart), Rooms 108 & 109. Accessible. Free parking available - front and back and side of building.
When: Friday, February 21, 2025. Doors open 5pm. Bingo 6-9pm.
Why: Community-building, fundraising, friendship.
Tuesday, March 24 - Learn to Knit or Crochet
Jackie Reilly will be at the library to teach beginners to knit or crochet. She will also help those to just want to learn some new stitches or who are stuck on a project.Yarn and needles/hooks are supplied during the event.Those who have a project started may bring their own supplies. Appropriate for ages 12+. Registration is required:
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Who: Open to anyone 12+.
What: Learn to Knit or Crochet for free
Where: Edgerton Public Library, 101 Albion St., Edgerton, WI
When: Tuesday, March 25, 2025. 6-8pm
Why: Community-building, fun, friendship.
Saturday, April 5 or 12 or both - (TBD) - Game Night
​Play games with your friends for no good reason!! Bring your favorite games and snacks and beverages, and all proceeds go to each other.
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Who: Open to anyone. Doors open 5pm - we'll play until I kick everyone out to go to sleep
What: Game night. Card games, board games
Where: Probably my house - may change depending on RSVP's. Whitewater, WI. Accessible. Free parking available.
When: Friday, April 5, 2025, 5:00 - ? pm
Why: Community-building, laughter, friendship.
Saturday, May 10, 2025 (still finalizing) - Mike Bench Dedication at YMCA Camp Benson
Honor "Mountain" Mike Rule at YMCA Camp Benson by taking part in a bench dedication ceremony. (Bench in Mike's honor made possible by donations to the Mountain Mike Memorial Fund.)
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Who: Open to anyone.
What: Mountain Mike Bench Dedication during Family Camp Weekend
Where: YMCA Camp Benson, 16355 Scenic Palisades Rd, Mount Carroll, IL 61053
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When: (TBD) Might be: Saturday, May 10, 2025 at ____
Why: Community-building, remembrance, friendship.
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Saturday, June 28, 2025 - Loew Strong Bike Ride
Go for a nice and easy 5.6 mile Family Bike Ride in beautiful northern woods of Wisconsin. (Or choose a longer distance - routes include 5.6 mile, 13 mile, 25 mile, 50 mile, 77 mile and 100 mile courses.) All proceeds benefit the Greater Marinette-Menominee YMCA.
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Who: Open to anyone. Learn more & register at https://mmymca.org/leowstrong-bike-ride
What: Biking together, then lunch after, then milkshakes at Micky's BBQ :)
Where: Starting location is the Greater Marinette-Menominee YMCA, 1600 West Drive, Menominee, Michigan, 49858
When: Saturday, June 28, 2025. Check-in & packet pick-up available the night before or early Saturday morning. Start time depends on your ride distance: 7:30am start for 5.6, 13, 25 and 50. 6:30am start for 77 and 100.
Why: Community-building, exercise, friendship.
Tuesday, July 8, 2025 - Random Tuesday Beach Day
Gather at Ottawa Lake State Recreation Area to swim, canoe, kayak or just hang out at the beach. Bring your own everything. Vehicle admission passes required - annual or daily. Info here: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/admission
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Who: Open to anyone.
What: Day of fun with friends at Ottawa Lake.
Where: Ottawa Lake State Recreation Area, S59 W36530 County ZZ, Dousman, WI 53118
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When: (TBD) Might be: Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at ____
Why: Community-building, outside time, friendship.
Saturday, August 2, 2025 - Ottawa Lake State Recreation Area, near Dousman, WI
MikeFest 2021 was a celebration of life for my husband Mike who passed away in 2020. Before he died, we had the chance to discuss the kind of memorial he wanted. From those tearful discussions blossomed MikeFest - which the boys and I scheduled just as soon as it was safe to hug again (global pandemic). With the help of dear friends and family, we threw a party that celebrated Mike's tremendous life and spirit with things loved....friends and family and togetherness, BBQ, swimming, fishing, canoeing, hiking, storytelling, home movies, watermelon, music, sweet corn, and an ice cream truck with a punny name (The Rolling Cones!) We gathered at Ottawa Lake State Rec Area near Dousman, WI.
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It was too beautiful to only do once. So now we gather every two years and do it all over again.
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Who: Open to anyone who knew and loved "Mountain" Mike Rule
What: MikeFest 2025
Where: Ottawa Lake State Rec Area, S59 W36630 County Road ZZ, Dousman, WI
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When: Saturday, August 2, 2025 - all day activities - dinner at ?
Why: Community-building, friendship.
Friday, September 26, 2025 - Bingo For the Arts
Play BINGO with your friends for a good cause! Admission is $20 and all proceeds benefit the Whitewater Arts Alliance.
I'll be arriving at 5:00pm when the doors open, and I'll hang out all night.
​
Who: Open to anyone. Please register through the WAA website at whitewaterarts.org, or at the Cultural Arts Center during regular gallery hours. They will accept walk-ins - but it would be good to register so they have an idea of number of people to expect.
What: Bingo For The Arts; play 10 bingo rounds, bid on big prize raffles, hang out with friends
Where: Community Engagement Center, 1260 West Main St, Whitewater, WI (next to Walmart), Rooms 108 & 109. Accessible. Free parking available - front and back and side of building.
When: Friday, September 26, 2025. Doors open 5pm. Bingo 6-9pm.
Why: Community-building, fundraising, friendship.