Board of directors
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As we transition into April, it is once again time for our many Snowbirds to bid farewell to their ORPS friends and neighbors. For our full time residents it is time to tune up you ’ re AC units in preparation for looks to be another long hot summer here in the valley. This season was thoroughly enjoyed by owners, guests, and renters alike. The Lifestyles Committee curated a full calendar of entertainment, including the customary Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evening events, various tours such as Oktoberfest and the Reagan Library, and special events like the opening and closing celebrations. New activities were introduced this year, including Trivia Night, Silent Disco, and the inaugural “ Pickle Golf ” fun tournament, all of which served as successful fundraisers for the Fitness Committee and the PAWS Club. The ORPS sports committees continued to host both enjoyable events and more competitive tournaments, with the ever - popular CAN - AM tournament remaining a highlight of the season. The past year has been a demanding but productive period for the Board. In addition to the standard twelve monthly Board meetings and twelve executive sessions held prior to those meetings, this year included numerous additional sessions involving legal counsel, insurance company representatives, landscape companies, and contractors. Furthermore, eight days were dedicated to hearings concerning A&A appeals and matters related to the ORPS Code of Conduct. April marks the beginning of budget planning. The Board, Finance Committee, and Management will diligently work together to establish priorities for the coming year. We welcome and encourage your input at boardofdirectors@orps.com or through your attendance at Finance Committee meetings. April 7 will be the official start date for our new General Manager, Synthia Salazar. Please be sure to introduce yourself and extend a warm ORPS welcome when you see her. Our current General Manager, Ed, will remain with us for a short transitional period to provide assistance to Synthia as she gets to know our community and to conclude a few ongoing projects. Finally, we extend a warm welcome to our new Board Members, Debbie Price and Milton Aguilar. We look forward to their contributions to the continued success of ORPS.
General Manager
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Architecture & Aesthetics
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A Tale of Palm Boulevard
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Safety & Security
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Golf
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Pickleball
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Tennis
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Cornhole
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Chapel
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Health & Fitness
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Sew N Such
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Fmca
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Paws at Orps
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Ukulele Crew
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Event Highlights
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Lifestyle & Events
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At Your Service
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David Quick
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It is hard to believe that the 2024 - 25 winter season at ORPS is coming to an end. The committee and I have been able to get to know more people at ORPS and help them make their lot uniquely theirs. This is a great Resort and we should all be proud of the efforts of many that make it so great. As I have stated multiple times, if you are contemplating making any improvements to your lot or RV be sure to determine whether or not you need a permit. If you do remember that work cannot start before the permit has been approved by the A&A Committee. If you have any questions about the process, please stop by the front office and talk to Julia our A&A Coordinator. The A&A Committee will be meeting throughout the summer on a monthly basis. Meetings to approve permits will be done once a month via Zoom starting in May with the last summer meeting in October. The committee will attempt to hold meetings on Wednesday of the 2 nd week of the month but specific times will be determined prior to each meeting. Due to vacations, summer meetings are not necessarily at a consistent time but will be announced ahead of time. Permits need to be submitted to the A&A coordinator five business days prior to the next meeting to be reviewed at the meeting. Owners will have the opportunity to ask the committee questions on the Zoom meeting. I want to thank the volunteers who donate their time to serve on the committee and help you with your projects. Current committee members include Monica Car, Tim Collins, Murray Hales, Sonia Joyal, Herb Nyquist, Michele Power, Janet Ream and Skip Wimer. In closing this will be my last Oracle article as the Chair of the A&A Committee. I volunteered to take this position shortly after I was appointed to the Board to fill an opening due to a resignation. While the last three years have been challenging at times, I feel confident that the committee has made changes that have and will continue to benefit the owners in ORPS. Debbie Price has accepted the position of A&A Chair for the 2025 - 26 season and I look forward to working with her as your Board President next season. Have a great summer season wherever you spend time. Safe travels to all and I look forward to seeing you in the fall.
End of the Road . . . for Me
As I write this, tears form in my eyes and a lump forms in my throat, even if only figuratively. For you see, this is the last column I will pen for the Oracle. If you don ’ t know, I am retiring from not only this great Resort, but from the community association industry generally, a career which I have enjoyed immensely. Oh, I may take on a consulting gig from time - to - time, but the day - to - day “ grind ” stops on April 7. I ’ m terrified! I have experienced more interesting occurrences in the more than five years as the General Manager of ORPS than any other time in my career, starting with the 2020 pandemic ending with the 2024 summer, the hottest on record in the Coachella Valley. In the middle of all that, a tropical storm visited the Resort! Managing those events, for which there is no “ training ”, along with all of the off - season projects successfully accomplished, gives me great satisfaction. People who ’ ve experienced retirement before me assure me that life occurrences will fill the void . . . yet I ’ m terrified! This community has something that no other place I ’ ve managed has . . . a decidedly upbeat, active and involved Ownership . . . a social culture unlike any. It has been my joy as I ’ m out and about to see the outdoors enjoyed to its fullest. Whether the golf course is lined up tee to green . . . whether the Pickleball courts have a waiting list; . . . whether the pools are packed, particularly at Spring Break . . . whether packing the El Saguaro Clubhouse for Singo; there isn ’ t a day that you aren ’ t enjoying all this place has to offer. And don ’ t think people don ’ t know it. Two new Owners who resided in other Coachella Valley RV Resorts recently commented, while at the management office, that they have experienced more “ Hellos ” and “ Good Mornings ” in their three weeks of ownership here than in the whole three years they were at the “ other place! ’ I love it when I have to detour my cart around the impromptu “ conferences ” at the edge of a road as I go about my duties. While some may suggest that those conferences are a hazard, I look on it more as folks stopping by a home as they walk on the sidewalk and see their neighbors on their front porch . . . as it was in the Midwest town where I grew up. They say that one can take satisfaction if you leave a place better than you found it and I like to think that I have done that . . . Synthia Salazar will be taking the helm on the 1st Monday of April and I wish her only the best . . . as I do all of you.
Steve Farley
Perhaps I ’ ll see you again . . . down the road.
Ed Vitrano - General Manager
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“A TAle of PAlm BoulevArd “ by Greg Farmer
King Ed the 1st of ORPS. Wisely, Sir Gregory had pursued an agreement with the former King, King Atherton, that once we had a new King, he would come back and fill the new King in on all the pertinent facts and officially turn over the keys, (aka prox card), to the new King. And, as requested, the two Kings met, and the Kingdom was now in the hands of King Ed the 1st to rule. But as King Atherton was walking out of the walled compound, he mentioned to King Ed that he had left three Scrolls in the desk in front of the throne. He advised King Ed, to only open them in times of trouble and turmoil. Otherwise, they should be left under lock and key until needed. Life was good in the Kingdom for many months. King Ed and Sir Gregory worked well together, as did the other knights of the rectangular table. But alas, this did not go on forever. A terrible plague would soon descend upon the Kingdom. In fact, the entire known world was so affected. This was a time of great discontent, and it had severe consequences. Revenues from fees were reduced. Our great neighbors to the North could not come down. On the bright side, for those who were here, it was really easy to get tee times. But yes, again I digress. Laws imposed from the larger ruling Kingdoms were often conflicting. The Kingdom of California would have a law that would conflict with the Kingdom of Riverside which conflicted with the Kingdom of Cathedrals. Funny side note, I have been to the Kingdom of Cathedral many times, yet I have never seen a Cathedral. Ponder that. Now Sir Gregory and the King were so confused by these conflicting laws that they had to contact the court advisors for clarification. The Kingdom of Riverside ’ s advisor was Earl Jose Arballo, who they contacted almost on a daily basis. One rule, that struck Sir Gregory as quite odd, was the pool could now be used, but only one person at a time. He thought, I can sleep in the same bed as my wife, but I can ’ t be in the same pool with her? They had many other issues, like having to close down the weights and torture facility. They had one Orpian who refused to comply. The pressure was mounting, and the King was at a loss for how to appease the Knights and the masses. He then remembered the three scrolls. He went to his desk and pulled out this scroll. Scroll #1. He untied the ribbon and unfurled it. It simply said, “ Blame the previous King ”. Hmm, he said. Could that work? He thought, I have nothing to lose. He approached the Knights, who were sitting at the rectangular table, and said, “ It was King Atherton ’ s fault ”. While some of the knights gave a rye smile, for the most part, the squabbling abated. Life in ORPS was again calm and peaceful. Our friends from the North, came back and life inside the walls was good again. Oh, of course, there were always a few disgruntled residents, but that was to be expected. But the reserve coffers were getting low, as the road project took a massive toll. The knight ’ s secretary, Lady Susan, retired, and the King wanted to have his own Court Adviser and assistant, a Kingdom Reporter and maybe a new pro to run the great green expanse. How would this be possible. He pondered this for some time before he again thought of the scrolls. He wondered how they might assist him in his desires. So, he went to his desk and retrieved scroll #2. His assistant, Lady Miranda, had to come assist the King, as his desk was so cluttered with this and that, that he could not find the drawer that contained the scrolls. She thought to herself, perhaps someday, the Kingdom will be ruled by a Queen, and surely, she will be much neater. He again untied and unfurled the 2nd scroll. It read, “ Reorganize ”. Yes, that was it! He went to the Knights of the
Once upon a time, in a land both faraway, and near, was a Kingdom, known as Outdoor Resorts Palm Springs. By the locals, ORPS. This great walled Kingdom was founded in the year of the Lord, 1984. Over the ensuing years, the village grew. Many rulers had come and gone. In more recent times, it was Governed by King Atherton of The Polo Club. King Atherton ruled from December of 2013 until February of 2020. King Atherton did not rule alone, as he had his Knights of the Rectangular table, that formed a Governing Board, to assist in guiding the large Kingdom and its hefty budget. During these years, the knights also had a leader, his name was Sir Gregory. It came to light, in January of 2020, that King Atherton was looking for greener greens to rule. One day, the King came to Sir Gregory and said he had found a new Kingdom to rule, and he would be gone in one week ’ s time. Sir Gregory was in a panic now, as the Kingdom could not be left without a King. He was very afraid that HE might actually need to take over the throne until a new King could be crowned. Fearing this greatly, Sir Gregory reached out to many former Knights and Kings on how to possibly find a new ruler. One name that arose, was that of Lord Jeffery Evans Management Matters. Sir Gregory reached out immediately to Lord Jeffery, to see if he might be of assistance. While some of the commoners do not believe in miracles, Sir Gregory certainly did. And one such miracle did indeed occur. Lord Jeffery said he was aware of a King, who was actually, a King that oversaw other King ’ s, that had just left his oversight function in the southern desert to the east. His name was King Ed of Rio Vista. This King was headed home to his wife, Lady Dora of Rio Vista and his sons, Prince David and Prince Douglas of Disneyland. He agreed to stop into the Kingdom of ORPS and at least Sit on the throne (Don ’ t go there) on a temporary basis, until a permanent King could be crowned. As King Edward rode his great steel steed onto the Palm Tree Lined (Washingtonian Palms to exact), Palm Boulevard, and approached the entrance, he was struck by the beauty of it all. The flowers were colorful, and the fountains flowed. Well, three out of four. But I digress. Which I shall do frequently. He was surprised that the walled Kingdom did not have a standard gate. In its place were two mechanical knights raising and lowering massive, albeit dull, swords. There were also armed guards, (yes, they both had arms). As he rode under the great swords, he began to fall under the spell. The spell all who enter the gates have come to understand. He knew, as we all do, he was in, the second, happiest place on earth! As he eased by the first stop sign without stopping, he turned right. He did stop at the second stop sign, as it was well lighted. His breath was taken away. The view of the snowcapped mountains, the water flowing magically out of rocks, the colorful flowers again, and the vast body of water. He vowed then, if he was to be King, his first action would be to name the body of water, “ The Gulf of ORPS! ” As he drove on, he noticed immediately, that the roads needed an expensive resurfacing. He said aloud, “ Don ’ t they know, roads are the most important asset a Kingdom can have ”. He wondered, to himself, how much reserve monies the Kingdom had in their vault. Did they even have a vault, he thought? Sir Gregory approached the “ fill in King ” and asked if he might be interested in being the “ permanent King? ” King Ed, being under the Orpian spell still, said yes. Assuming the compensation was adequate for a King of his stature, of course. Thus, ORPS had a knew King! He was crowned,
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Rectangular table and said, I shall reorganize. I will combine the Knights assistant with my assistant, Lady Miranda. I will hire a Kingdom Reporter. She will be located in the little room at the back of the Chapel. Henceforth, she will be called Abby. Further, we will have a new pro for the great green expanse. And finally, I will name a new Sheriff, Sheriff Julia, to make sure all of the residents are compliant. There were many questions of course, but in the end, the knights all cheered the plan. From then on, ORPS was in a state of bliss. As King Ed the 1st, approached his fifth year of his reign, he began to become unsettled. He had indeed promised Sir Gregory, a reign of 3 to 5 years. As he thought about that, he was quite conflicted. Yes, he wanted to retire and have more time with Dora, David and Douglas. But he was still under the Orpian spell. He loved his kingdom and its residents. He liked being among the masses. What should he do. You guessed it, he went to his desk and took out scroll number 3. He untied it, unfurled it, and read, “ Prepare 3 Scrolls ”. He knew then, in an instant, he needed to turn over his realm to a new King, or Queen. Ed, you were, in my mind, a real miracle. For me, the Board and the owners. I consider you a great leader, mentor and friend. I wish you and your family great happiness in retirement. And finally, you shall, hereby, go down in ORPS History, as King Ed the First of ORPS. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!
• Make sure lead acid batteries have plenty of water. • Treat lot for insects. • Consider driveway chains. IN THE DAYS BEFORE YOU LEAVE: • Arrange for golf cart storage, or cover it with a high - quality cover, secure with ratchet straps and/or clips. • Cover any items you will leave outside, make sure covers are in good working condition and able to sustain the hot summer temperatures. • Pack or donate all food, cleaners and perishables. • Flush water heater - check anode. • Flush and chemically treat black & gray water tanks. • Take batteries out of clocks, remotes, etc. THE DAY YOU LEAVE: • Store sewer hoses, power cords and water hoses inside. • Put water filters and softeners inside. • Shut off all propane, and loosen or remove hoses, including FP and BBQ hoses. • Plug all inside drains with Saran Wrap, including the toilet. • Turn off and drain hot water tank. • Tape over the exhaust for furnace, water heater, and kitchen and dryer vents. • Empty, clean, and disinfect refer, leave doors open. • Leave all interior doors & cabinets open for air cir- culation. • All slides should be in if possible. • Turn off main battery switch. • Cover windows with foil to keep heat out. • Cover inside furniture with dust sheets. • Put Bounce dryer sheets inside and out to deter mice and insects. • Double bag three 32 - gallon garbage cans. Fill with water. Put two in living area and one in bedroom. • Last thing to do inside, set off an insect bomb, then lock door. • Double check all outside locks. • Shut down 50 - amp pedestal power - leave address light switch on. LOCK IT UP: • RV windows and fans. • RV compartments. • 5th Wheel Enclosures (doghouse). • Storage containers. • Bikes / or store in your doghouse. • Lawn furniture - run a steel cable through with a lock. • Golf carts - consider a wheel clamp, anti - theft brake, pedal lock, and/or removing a battery so it is not as easy to drive it away (store the battery in a safe place)
How to SAFELY and SECURELY Store Your Rig Storing and securing your lot & RV over the summer takes some time and planning. We gathered some neighborly tips and ideas for you.
IN THE WEEKS BEFORE YOU LEAVE: • Buy any supplies you might need. See shopping list below. • Let the mailroom know your departure date and provide them with forwarding labels • Ensure the Administration Office has your correct contact information in the event of an emergency. • Cancel or place holds on seasonal services such as internet, water softener, TV, car wash memberships, etc. • Set up an arrangement with a neighbor or local vendor to check on your lot & RV throughout the summer season. • Test the operation of your slides. • Lubricate slide seals and jacks – treat any rubber items with 303 or an equivalent dressing. • Oil cabinetry & woodwork, inside and out.
Shopping List: Slide Lube Rubber Treatment Cabinet cleaner, Wood oil Distilled Water Insect Bomb Garbage Cans, Liners
Outdoor Insect Spray Black and Gray tank treatments Saran Wrap Bounce dryer sheets Painter ’ s Tape Disinfectant for fridge
Take a break, you earned it! Happy Travels Home!
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Past Golf What a fantastic month of exciting golf here at ORPS. We have had the CanAm golf tournament and the Club championship along with the Tuesday and Thursday golf and let us not forget the beer & wine nine. I would like to thank everyone that helped to make all the great golf events run like a Swiss watch whose secondhand skips now and then but gets right back on time. There was a lot of fun and self - made pressure to play well for your flag, your country, and your flight, yet still have fun. In my eyes all of the golfers and even the spectators who cheered players along are to be remembered as to why we chose to come here to ORPS. It does not matter if you won your match, flight or scramble, just know that it took all of us to make every event great. Check it out We hope that all of you will find your way to the Facebook page with information by our golf coordinator, it is ORPS Golf on Facebook for anyone that has not seen it, please check it out. This page is for information and positive things about golf. Rules, we don ’ t need no stinking rules Did you know that there are only 25 rules in golf, yes that is what I have read, BUT in every rule, there are sub - rules and different scenarios, that is why they call it a rule BOOK not just a list of rules. I don ’ t proclaim to know every rule or scenario and neither do most people, but this is an honest person game. This is the one sport that we call out penalties on ourselves and not each other. Could you imagine a golf course full of people taking a flop to get a foul called on our fellow golfers. We all make mistakes, but let ’ s learn from them and not try to make a mountain out of a gopher hole. Tee it up, line it up and keep - up, so we all can enjoy the greatest par three in town.
Chris Tomsen
February 1st February 2nd February 8th February 10th February 10th February 11th February 15th February 17th February 19th February 24th February 25th
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Kris Olsen
7 8 9
Fred Schwartz Gina Sanstrum Nancy Hassen Micheal Beal Doug Denham
17 17
7
Greg Bach
17 17
Allen Gayken Michael Moore
3
Frosty Duby
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Tournaments may be over, but as always, golf is well and alive! Open tee - times from now until we close the course for reseeding in September. As it starts to settle down at the resort, expect the shack to start closing closer to 2:00pm. The Shack will be completely closed starting on May 1st. Get out there and have fun before you go home, and before it's over 110 degrees outside. A special thanks to the Golf Committee for helping with every tournament and then some this season. Also, a big thank you to all the starters, Ron Wallace, Bill Clifford, and Greg Zimmerman. And of course, thank you all for a great season.
Ryln Hadley - Golf Coordinator
John Mullins - Golf Secretary/Treasurer
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Mixed 2.5
Mixed 3.5
Debi and Dan Vodvarka
Cynthia Rose/Ridge
Baker
Jill Trelawmy/Greg Bach
Leila and Cliff Leitz
Debbie and John John-
son Mixed 3.0
Chris Minor/Chris
Thompson Mixed 4.0
Stephanie Knox/Mike
Van Keelkaken
Margaret Hill/Nick
Rosdal
Men 2.5
Women 2.5
Leona Brennon/Brayden
Lewis
Kristen Rosdal/
Greg Lum/Joe Jewison
Lucy Denham/Jill
Rogan Baker
Trelawana
MaryAnn Charles/
John Jensen/Dan
Richard Brown
Vovanka
Donna Hansen/Linda Shade
Mindy Feldman/
Jason Peplinski
Brad Krahn/Doug
Anne Happe/Leslie Crow
Denham Men 3.0
Women 3.0
Shelly Slugett/Kelly Don
Rich Orr/Kelly Hanson
Sue Sullivan/Julie Farmer
Tyler Bishop/George
Andrejan
JaniePollard/Debbie Jensen
Women 3.5
Lee Edmondson/Glen
Peters Men 3.5
Jill Whitney/Cynthia Rose
Shirley Radtke/Colleen
John/Maysmith/Harvey
Iwanka
Pfulger
Cheri Boudin/Chavalla
Steve Wallace/Mike Titus
Lopez Women 4.0
Ridge Baker/Russ Baker
Men 4.0
Cindy Wilson/Mindy
Feldman
Talon Baker/Rogan
Baker
Kristen Rosdal/Ann Carney
Jay Tuscan/Nick Rosdal
Elaine Davies/Karen
Schaper
Guy Cook/Casey Gwinn
What a wonderful way to enjoy St. Patrick ’ s Day! A very special THANK YOU to all of the volunteers who make these events possible. Be sure to tell them how much you appreciate what they do.
THANK YOU KEITH! After 8 years, Keith Bassham has decided to step down as Chairman of the Pickleball Committee. Through thick & thin, rain & shine, lawsuits & beer & more beer, his leadership has grown the ORPS Pickleball Club to the wonderful group it is today. We appreciate all you have done. SEE YOU ON THE COURT!
The season is ending but friends and good times are forever. Happy Pickling!!!!
Submitted by Gerrie Hord
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The Tennis Committee welcomes four new members next year. Diana St. Clair — Mixer Coordinator, Nancy Chase — Secretary, Debbie Jensen — Fritters & Fun Coordinator, Leslie Kaplan - Court Maintenance.
A Big Thank You to our retiring Committee members for their service and commitment, a job well done! Brian Goltz, Karen Forsberg, Janet Whiteside, and Debbie Vodvarka.
CAN/AM GAMES
Three very full days if exciting competitive tournament play in soaring hot temperatures! Below are the medal winners in each category and flight, listed in order; Gold followed by Silver and Bronze.
Men ’ s Doubles
Women ’ s Doubles
Flight A: Dave Sabens and Tim Frick; Kevin St. Clair & Jason Peplinski; Bill Grannary & Trevor Lind Flight B: Arnie Tenbrinke & Mark Lavertu; Jerry McIntire & Talon Baker; Doug Denham & Chuck Condon Flight C: Dennis Duncan & Shawn Hines; Paul Haberman & Kelly Hanson; Jerel Forsberg & Jerry Whiteside
Flight A: Kim Krahn & Katie Lind; Susan Cowan & Leslie Zauher; Karen Forsberg & Maryann Charles Flight B: Pam Sutton & Janie Pollard; Fran Swanson & Debi Vodvarka; Lucy Denham & Vicki Condon Flight C: Janice Henry & Martine Frew; Cindy Rose & Jill Lawler; Janet Whiteside & Laurie Duncan
Mixed Doubles
Flight A: Blaine Clouston & Katie Lind; Sue Cowan & Tim Hicks; Bud Krahn & Kim Krahn Flight B: Greg Farmer & Julie Farmer; Karen Forsberg & Jerel Forsberg; Scott Napier & Jolie Walsh Flight C: Julia Buckland & Eric Buckland; Janice Henry & George Andrejew; Paul Haberman & Gena Orban Flight D: Bev McIntire & Jerry McIntire; Laurie Duncan & Dennis Duncan; Dave Bright & Sandy Bright
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Famous Last Words By the time you read this, our Chapel season for 2024 - 2025 will be over. It was a year of transition for the Chapel as we said our goodbyes to Jim and Karen Gwinn, who served as our Chaplain for 19 years, and welcomed Paul and Judy Cassidy as our new Chaplain. Fortunately the Gwinn's were able to return to ORPS as residents and we were able to retain our strong friendships. Paul and Judy will be returning to provide leadership next year and are already preparing an interesting schedule of visiting speaks and musical guests. Since this is our last time to communicate with you until next season, let me leave you with some “ famous last words. ” This will be a short meeting. I don ’ t burn, I tan. We ’ ll only stay five minutes. This won ’ t hurt at all. Don ’ t worry. You can ’ t miss it. When the gas tank reads empty, there ’ s always a gallon or two left.
Wow what a great season we have had!
CanAm turned out fantastic with 44 teams playing this year! The pulled pork turned out great as always and we would like to thank our many volunteers for helping us make this event come off without a hitch! If you haven't come out to play with us we invite you to come and play on Wednesday, Sunday and Friday's.
Submitted by Carolyn Chanez
Let ’ s conclude with the Apostle Paul ’ s much more important final words:
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ will be with you. 1 Thessalonians 5:28
Paul Cassidy — Orps Chaplain
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on the wall of honor in the fitness center. It took our committee three years to raise the $140,000. GL: If you could change or add one thing to ORPS, what would you do? LW: I would like some changes to the restaurant. Some improvements. I ’ ve talked to a lot of people. It would be nice to have the restaurant serve breakfast.
Where did the time go this year?
There aren't enough words to describe the gratitude I have for our Health & Fitness Team and to those who started this committee and literally built the walls for our gym. Thank you to our current team: Cindy Rose, Bobbie McDonald, Dana Moore, Cathy Stockman, Mo Reininger, Stephanie Knox and Greg Lum. We put in a great season and I ’ m looking forward to the next one. Here is a little history of our Health & Fitness Center. I nterview with Leo Walsh by Greg Lum, Health & Fitness committee member. Leo Walsh, a 25 - year ORPS resident and 92 years young, started his ORPS journey in 1999. Hailing from Wenatchee, Washington, Leo (or Mr. Leo) drove his rig down to San Diego, then to Texas, and finally wound up here. Leo was one of the seven founding members who started the Health and Fitness Center. Leo walks every day! He has recorded over 3,400 miles of walking in the last ten years! Now, that is impressive. In mid - March, I had the pleasure of interviewing Leo. Here is a condensed version of our conversation. To listen to the complete interview, click HERE.
GL: Thanks again for your service in the Marine Corps, Leo.
Readers, look for an Oracle interview with Skip Pisor this fall. Skip was also one of the founding members of the Fitness Center and served six years on the Board of Directors.
GL: Can you share about your service in the Marine Corps?
LW: I served from 1951 to 1954, starting at Camp Pendleton, California. During the Korean War, I fought in three different battles including one year fighting the Chinese Communists. I was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries that I received during the war.
GL: Thank you for your service. Let ’ s talk about ORPS. What do you enjoy most about ORPS?
LW: The camaraderie. I don ’ t go to a lot of lifestyle events, but I enjoy the people and the weather, of course. I usually come down in early November and return early April to Wenatchee.
GL: Tell me about your fundraising efforts for the Fitness Center?
LW: The current location was three shuffleboard lanes. I was one of the members of the fitness committee. We had to get about $340,000 to build the fitness center – $100,000 came from the ORPS general fund, $100,000 from an increase of $17 per month for the 1213 lots for one year, and then the final $140,000 was raised by fundraising and the generosity of people that are listed
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If you think you might enjoy being part of the Sew ’ N Such Club, please join us in the West Room in El Saguaro or contact us via email at orpssewnsuch@gmail.com. We are a creative club and provide inspiration for each other. All levels of expertise are welcome!
It has been another creative season for the Sew ’ n Such Club. Many beautiful quilts, bags, and table runners have been created, just to name a few. Our successful fund raising has enabled us to donate $3,500 to Shelter from the Storm, the only shelter for the abused in the Coachella Valley, and $4,500 to Samaritan ’ s Purse for the LA fires. This wouldn ’ t be possible without the partnership between the Sew ’ n Such Club and the ORPS community - way to go ORPS! As the season ends the ORPS Sew ’ n Such Club is still busy learning new techniques such as using the 10 Sisters Easy Piecing Grid and enjoying each other ’ s company at a Saturday PJ party. April ’ s Spotlight is on Joanne Roberts. Joanne and her husband Brian are from Chetwynd, BC, where they raised their three daughters. They now have 8 grandsons and only 1 granddaughter who lives in Australia with her brother, mom and dad. Joanne and Brian spent 4 years in Las Vegas after retiring in 2010. They then spent time travelling around the southern US until they discovered ORPS in February 2020, buying their lot only 3 weeks after arriving in the resort. Joanne has been sewing for most of her life but started quilting 25 years ago when her friend was worried she was soon to become a bored empty nester and talked her into quilting. Joanne has sewn many beautiful items since and is a very active member in the Sew ’ n Such Club. Thank you for all you do Joanne.
May you all enjoy the summer months and safe travels to wherever your journey takes you. We look forward to seeing everyone next season.
Submitted by tannis haddrell
“ Our tap shoes are our instruments, and our feet are the musicians ”
This season The Tuesday Tappers welcomed some beginning dancers, performed at the January Talent Show and learned new steps and routines for next season during their weekly classes. Check The Daily Planner in November and join The Tuesday Tappers as they Tap at 2:00 PM on Tuesdays. For more information contact Marilyn: marilyn.sabens@gmail.com Even William Shakespeare knew the value of tap: ``To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful. ’'
Submitted by Marilyn Sabens
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April 2025 FRVA is 30 + Years at Outdoor Resort Palm Springs
Life is Better with Friends, Especially our ORPS Family RV Association friends. Please know that the former FMCA is now better known as Family RV Association. The FMCA National Facebook is still alive and well with almost 12K members. Now the website www.FRVA.com is the correct path to join the organization and see all the benefits you may part take. The name change was to encompass all RV friends, not just motorhome owners. Both U.S. and Canadian residents are eligible to join FRVA . Read all about all the benefits we have as members of the one of the largest RV organizations there is. In order to join our local official chapter of Family RV Association, please sign up first at www.FRVA.com to get your national FRVA ID number. FRVA National membership is open to all RV owners, who own M otorhomes, 5th Wheels, Travel Trailers, Vans or Truck Campers, as well as commercial businesses that support the RV world. To join our local ORPS FRVA chapter, sign up to see our schedule of events currently at www.fmcaorps.com We are 100+ families here at ORPS. We are always looking for volunteers to serve at events, join in the fun and meet great people. “ It ’ s takes a village ” someone recently said. Thanks to Michele Joiner for assuming the Volunteer Coordinator and Alternate National Director position. Friends coming off the ORPS FMCA board are Mac Felt FMCA National FMCA Director Lot 963 and Kris Olsen, Past President. Their service to our resort, friendship and wisdom afforded to our FMCA Chapter is immeasurable. Thank you both.
2025 - 2026 Season ORPS FRVA Schedule Check our website regularly for events scheduled into the 2025 - 2026 season. www.fmcaorps.com Enjoy amazing pictures from our “ End of the Season Dinner ” and thanks to Suzanne Strauss and others for photos this past season. Please welcome Marge and Alex McDougall as honorary ORPS Family RV Association members.
Your 2025 - 2026 FRVA ORPS Officers elected at our “ End of Season ” Dinner which was attended by 130 individuals. L - R, Ken Hearn - Secretary, Linda McClain - Treasurer, Michele Joiner - Volunteer Chair and FRVA National Alternate Rep, Sherri Crouch - FRVA National Rep, Suzanne Strauss - Vice President, Debbie Price - President and Ty Rollins - Past President
Ken Hearn — Fmca Secretary
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APRIL 2025
Making Strides for Our Furry Friends! Paws at ORPS has been busy making tails wag and paws prance! We took several exciting steps forward this season, bringing fun, fundraising, and a little friendly competition to the resort. First, our Trivia Night was a smashing success! So much so that we decided to follow it up with a second one in March. These fun - filled evenings of brain - teasing questions and laughter were a hit, and we hope to keep the tradition going next season. So start brushing up on your trivia—we ’ ll be back! But that ’ s not all! We ’ re working hard to bring a new amenity to ORPS: a dog wash station! This convenient addition will make keeping our pups clean after a day of fun so much easier. The club met in March to discuss the project, and we ’ ll be submitting a full report to the ORPS Board ahead of their next meeting. Stay tuned for updates! On the fitness front, we ’ re continuing our partnership with the Health and Fitness Committee to host the monthly Yappy Hour Dog Walk on the last Tuesday of each month. It ’ s a great way to get some fresh air, meet fellow dog lovers, and let our four - legged friends enjoy a social stroll through the resort. And speaking of strutting their stuff, we stepped down the streets of ORPS once again for our second ORPS Can - Am Pet Parade! Our adorable participants showed off their costumes, personalities, and wagging tails, making it another unforgettable event. We ’ re thrilled with everything Paws at ORPS has accomplished this season and can ’ t wait to see what ’ s next. Whether you have two legs or four, thank you for your support—let ’ s keep making ORPS the most pet - friendly place to be! See you (and your pups) around the resort!
The Ukulele Crew wrapped up this season with a performance at VillageFest Palm Springs on March 13.
The audience sang and danced to their upbeat music and the little kids and their parents defeated Baby Sharks, which had invaded Palm Canyon Drive. It was the perfect farewell to the desert. The Crew will be back in November on Wednesdays and Saturdays (check The Daily Planner). We welcome all interested players and beginner lessons are available from November 2025 to January 15, 2026. Join us as we play the happiest instrument in the world.
For more information contact Marilyn: marilyn.sabens@gmail.com
Submitted by Jeff sheldon
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The 3rd Annual 3 - 2 - 1 Mini Triathlon has been renamed the Ed Vitrano 3 - 2 - 1 Triathlon to honor our visionary General Manager, Ed, who sparked this incredible event at ORPS. This triathlon inspires participants to either unite as a team or embrace the challenge individually.
Flamingo Pool Party was a blast with DJ Cindy Lou playing tunes! There are more coming your way this month!
An In - n - Out Food Truck made its way to ORPS for the Annual Concert Under the Palms! There was dancing and singing along with JB & The Big Circle Riders.
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P: 818-384-3547 E: anassif@sbcglobal.net
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ORACLE VENDORS LIST ALL PRO WATER - FLOW 951 906 5200
69411 Ramon Road Cathedral City, California 92234
760 - 328 - 3834
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Ext.
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Picture Credit: Gill Graham
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