Our elections took place recently, and we are happy to report that all candidates were elected to their respective positions! Thank you to all members who took the time to vote!

As you know we had no candidates for the First VP and President positions. At our last meeting and in accordance with our Bylaws, the Executive Board unanimously voted to allow our current First VP and our current President to remain in their respective roles for one extra year. This means that the positions of Secretary and of Membership VP are now open. Any member interested in filling one of the two positions can contact me for further details.
 
The 2021-2022 Executive Board is as follows:
 
          President: Debbie Colburn
          First VP: Julianne Catlin
          Treasurer: Stephen Wang
          Membership VP: Open
          Secretary: Open
 
Thank you!

Katrine
Parliamentarian
Katrine Giroux   katrinegiroux@gmail.com

Please join us on Wednesday, June 16 at 7:30 pm when we meet virtually to discuss this month’s book, Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. Copies of the book are reserved at the Holliston library for HNN club members.
 
We hope to see you as we wrap up another year of reading together. Let us know if you plan to come by submitting an RSVP to the upcoming Facebook event invite, or by email to Cindy or Sue at addresses below.
 

Taken hostage by a failed bank robber while attending an open house, eight anxiety-prone strangers--including a redemption-seeking bank director, two couples who would fix their marriages, and a plucky octogenarian--discover their unexpected common traits.
 
See you on June 16!

Cindy and Sue
Book Club Co-Chairs 
Cindy Carr   carr.cynthiad@gmail.com
Sue Hatton   hncbookclub@outlook.com

Now that Spring has arrived, it seems like time is flying by - it’s May already! 
 
First, I would like to thank all those who attended our April General Meeting. We had a few ‘new’ Newcomers attending. One so new that she hasn’t even moved here yet! But the bigger news is that we discussed and voted in Bylaws 2021! This has brought us up to date with the changing membership, community and technology that has occurred over the years.
 
This is the newsletter where we usually look back on the fun we had at our Princess & Superhero Party and are in the middle of planning our Touch-A-Truck event. But even though this isn’t a ‘usual’ kind of year, things are looking up and we look forward to fundraising in the fall. In the meantime, PLEASE support the 2021 HNN Community Grant Fund by purchasing calendars from our ‘A PRIZE A DAY FOR THE MONTH OF MAY’ fundraiser - May 1 is the last day to purchase calendars.
 
As you can see - even in this not-so-usual year - there still is work to be done behind the scenes. Bylaws, Executive Board elections, general position recruitment for Fundraiser Chair and Newsletter Editor are all progressing as usual thanks to Katrine Giroux, our Parliamentarian. All part of the fun of coordinating an organization. And yes - I did say our work is fun. All thanks to the great group of member volunteers we have running our civic, social, and fundraising events.
 
Hope to see you at future events!

Debbie
President
Debbie Colburn   president.hnn@gmail.com

It is almost election time at HNN, and we have a number of openings on the Executive Board! Please consider throwing your name in the hat! We would love to have you join the executive team! Next year will be special, as hopefully, life returns to normal (fingers crossed here!), which means the likely return of our favorite  activities and the possibility to create new ones for the benefit of our amazing community.
 
We know it is very difficult to make any plans and commitments for next year. While we all hope things will get back to normal, we don’t really know when it will happen, and we don’t really know what “normal” will look like. Please don’t let those uncertainties deter you from joining the Executive Board. There is no set time requirement: you give what you can, and as a group, we work together to make things happen.
 
If you are interested in joining the Executive Board, or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. We need your help to make next year a success for HNN!
 
Enjoy your day!

Katrine
Parliamentarian
Katrine Giroux   katrinegiroux@gmail.com

Please join us on Wednesday, May 19 at 7:30 pm, when we meet virtually to discuss this month’s book, Shanghai Girls by Lisa See. 

Copies of the book have been ordered and are available at the Holliston Public Library.

Zoom invites will be sent by the morning of the meeting. Please RSVP to the upcoming Facebook event invite, or email either Sue or Cindy at the addresses below to let us know you’re interested.
 
From Amazon:
At its heart, Shanghai Girls is a story of sisters: Pearl and May are inseparable best friends who share hopes, dreams, and a deep connection, but like sisters everywhere they also harbor petty jealousies and rivalries. They love each other, but each knows exactly where to drive the knife to hurt the other the most. Along the way they face terrible sacrifices, make impossible choices, and confront a devastating, life-changing secret, but through it all the two heroines of this astounding new novel hold fast to who they are: Shanghai girls.
 
Looking ahead to June, we’ll be reading Anxious People by Fredrik Backman.

Cindy and Sue
Book Club Co-Chairs 
Cindy Carr   carr.cynthiad@gmail.com
Sue Hatton   hncbookclub@outlook.com

Spring is here! Or at least the sun is shining for longer every day! I’ll take that!
 
Our spring activities are in full swing and with just a few adjustments, Easter Baskets were a success thanks to Tricia Benson.  Some of us enjoyed a Saturday afternoon tea tasting thanks to Jennifer Mott and Timea Kovacs, and others enjoyed all the fixings for three great meals thanks to the fundraiser organized by Jennifer Mott and Amy Forman.  And a special thanks to my co-chairs, Bo Yai and Pamela Pinter Parsons; our Prize A Day calendar raffle fundraiser is starting today!
 
Even with all the uncertainty swirling around us, HNN was still able to fulfill our civic, social, and community mission. That’s all thanks to the volunteers who organize and carry out our events as well as the members who participate. What a great organization! 
 
Hope to see you at future events!

Debbie
President
Debbie Colburn   president.hnn@gmail.com

Introducing our 2021 Sponsors!
 
Platinum             AnyFence Co.
Gold                      Harelick Dental
Silver                    Abbess Instruments & Systems, Boudreau’s Automotive
,                               Bright Jensen Sheehan Insurance and
                                Tink’s Magical Vacations with Donna
Bronze                 Archambault Construction, Blessed Beginnings Preschool and
                                John's Superior Shoe Repair

Special thanks to Quality Auto Body for their general donation to HNN.
 
Whenever possible, please frequent these businesses that are supporting the good works of HNN!

Welcoming all HNN readers to join us on Wednesday, April 21st at 7:30 pm for a “choose your own book” conversation about whatever you read for this month. We hope you will share the title, author, a brief summary, and your overall opinion of your selection. Let the group know if it is something you would recommend, or perhaps want to suggest that we add it to our 2021/2022 book club selections. This style of meeting has been popular among other book clubs, and we look forward to giving it a try for this month. We hope you will join us. A Zoom link will be emailed to all who register on the HNN Book Club Facebook page, or by emailing one of the co-chairs. See you then!
 
Looking ahead, we will resume reading shared titles, starting with Shanghai Girls by Lisa See for May, and then wrap up the year in June, with Anxious People by Fredrik Backman.

Cindy and Sue
Book Club Co-Chairs 
Cindy Carr   carr.cynthiad@gmail.com
Sue Hatton   hncbookclub@outlook.com

Hope everyone had a great Valentine’s Day!  Those that attended the Ladies Escape Valentine Baking get-together made decadent brownies under the expert direction of Timea Kovacs (thanks Timea!). Chocolate, brown butter, Bailey’s Red Velvet Cream - delicious!
 
But now we look forward to spring and so much is going on! Easter Baskets with the Holliston Pantry Shelf thanks to Tricia Benson, Prize-A-Day calendar raffle planning thanks to my co-chairs Bo Yai and Pamela Pinter Parsons, and the coordination of new fundraisers making dinner a snap thanks to Jennifer Mott and Amy Forman are all in the works - read further in this newsletter for all the details!
 
Hope to see you at future events!
 
Debbie
President
Debbie Colburn   president.hnn@gmail.com

Here are our 2021 Sponsors so far (a couple more are in the works - so more are coming!)
 
Platinum - AnyFence Co.
Gold - Harelick Dental
Silver - Tink’s Magical Vacations with Donna and Bright Jensen Sheehan Insurance Agency
Bronze - Archambault Construction, Blessed Beginnings Preschool, and John's Superior Shoe Repair

Special thanks to Quality Auto Body for their general donation to HNN.

If you or someone you know would like to sponsor HNN, please email committee.newcomers@gmail.com.
The details of the sponsor benefits are on our webpage at
https://hollistonnewcomers.org/Become-a-Sponsor.