The winds are howling, the snow is falling, and the snowbird migration has begun. Our activity calendar is filling up, beginning with our first registration and sign up day at the Fort Walton Beach Rec Center at 132 Jett Dr. on Friday, Jan. 5 from 9 a.m.  until 12 p.m. and continuing on Monday, Jan. 8 and Tuesday, Jan. 9 Our first meeting is set for Tuesday, Jan. 9th at 10 a.m. at the Rec Center.

The 2018 calendar of events is available on our website at fwbsbc.com and it is packed with a variety of activities, including, socials in Jan., Feb. and March along with our annual Valentines Dinner Dance on Feb. 14. We also are planning two casino bus trips and an overnight Mardi Gras bus trip to New Orleans on Feb. 4, two golf scrambles, a par three golf league at the Golf Gardens in Destin along with our card games, crafts and billards throughout the year. Information and times will be available at registration and also at our first meeting.

2018 Fort Walton Beach Snowbird club is governed by a Board of Directors and operated by a host of dedicated volunteers. We wanted to share the names of these busy volunteers with you to begin the new year and hope you find time to join us as we continue to improve and grow our FWB snowbird club:

Our officers are: President (Madam that is) Debbie Garrett from Ontario; Vice President, Bill Jones from Wisconsin; Past President, Larry Cox from Illinois; Treasure, Sheena Baker from Ohio; and Secretary, Judy Beine from Wisconsin.

Our Board of Directors are: Terry Sellman from Minnesota; John Stahl from Ohio; Dee Debele from Minnesota; Sue Leib from Illinois; Don Bussiere from Michigan; and Myrna Bertheau from Iowa.

So as a beginning to the year 2018 we wish for safe travel for all of our snowbird friends and family, and we look forward to making new friends and revisiting old ones. Remember, the most valuable antiques we have are our "dear" old friends. Bring your sun screen, an open mind, and a willingness to help make 2018 the best snowbird year yet.