Memoir Writing

• Tuesdays
• 11:30 am – 1:30 pm

This group meets weekly to work on their own memoirs.  Open to all VACC members.  No need to sign up, just simply show up.  

Painting

• Tuesdays
• 9 – 10:30 am

This group meets weekly to paint.  Open to all VACC members.  No need to sign up, just simply show up.  

Spelling

• Tuesdays
• 10:30 – 11:30 am

This group meets weekly to compete in a friendly competition Spelling Bee.  No need to sign up, just simply show up.

VINE Book Club

• Third Tuesday of the Month
• 3:15 – 4:30 pm

Any VACC member is welcome to join the VINE Book Club.  The group meets once a month to discuss the book.  The books are free to check out and can be picked up at the front desk of the VACC.  

YARN CLUB

Grab a ball of yarn, a set of needles or a crochet hook, and let’s get creative! Come when you want. Stay as long as you want. Bring your own supplies (and questions)! You may bring a project you are working on. There will also be several patterns available for easy projects such as a felted bowl, a bunny blanket, and a mitered pot holder. Knitters and crocheters of all levels are invited!

Cost:  No charge. Members only. Bring your own supplies. Call the VACC at (507) 386-5586 the day before the meeting to let us know you are coming. The number of participants is limited to 12.

FAGEN FIGHTERS WWII MUSEUM & LUNCH AT GRANITE RUN GOLF CLUB

• September 21

Plan to take a jaunt to western Minnesota in late September. A sandwich and soup buffet is on the menu at the Granite Run Golf Club. Visit the fascinating Fagen Fighters WWII Museum in Granite Falls. The museum is home to a pristine collection of fully operational, active aircraft and vehicles from World War II. Three airplane hangars house fighters, bombers, trainers, troop carriers and gliders. There are interactive multimedia displays, WWII tower equipment, a Sherman talk, and a Holocaust Box Car. The Fagen Museum provides a rare glimpse into the lives and legacy of the Greatest Generation. On the way home we’ll stop to enjoy an ice cream treat along the Redwood River in Ramsey Park in Redwood Falls. When you call to register, please indicate if you are a veteran, or spouse/widow of a veteran. VINE staff will call to ask about your military service.

Cost: $59 ($30 half price for veterans, their spouses and widows). Register by 9/3

THE GROTTO OF THE REDEMPTION IN WEST BEND, IOWA

• October 5

The Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend, Iowa, has been described by The Iowan magazine as a “Miracle in Stone.” The location was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 2001 and has been included in such features as Roadside America and Disney’s The Straight Story. A
composite of nine separate grottos, each portrays a scene in the life of Christ. As a young seminarian, Father Paul Matthias Dobberstein contracted pneumonia and pledged that he would build the Grotto to the Blessed Virgin Mary if she would intercede. West Bend was the site of his assignment following ordination, so became home to the Grotto. It contains the largest collection of precious stones and gems found anywhere in one location!

Cost: $59 – Register by 9/7.

RADIO GALS AT THE MINNESOTA MASONIC HERITAGE CENTER IN BLOOMINGTON

• October 25

Set in the 1920s when radio ruled the airwaves and small stations thrived, Radio Gals is a charming musical about Hazel Hunt from Cedar Ridge, Arkansas, who broadcasts from her front parlor with her “all-girl” orchestra, the “Hazelnuts,” as radio WGAL. What comes over the local airwaves is an array of hilarious, toetapping songs, However, Hazel’s broadcasts are not always so local due to her habit of impinging on other frequencies, such as NBC, attracting the attention of a federal radio inspector who’s intent on shutting down WGAL. It turns out, though, he has a fine tenor voice, plays a mean accordion, and quickly becomes enchanted by the “Hazelnuts.” Includes lunch.
Cost: $72 – Register by 9/21.

AIN’T RETIREMENT GRAND AT THE DAYTRIPPERS DINNER THEATER

• November 28

Enjoy a hilarious musical that confirms retirement is, indeed, grand! The show is for those about to retire, baby boomers, and ANYONE who wants a FUN time at the theater! The cast of four performs twenty original songs about early bird specials, the silver cord, and pets. A buffet style lunch before the show is part of the theater experience.
Cost: $69 – Register by 10/29.

IRVING BERLIN’S HOLIDAY INN, BASED ON THE FILM FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES, AT THE CHANHASSEN DINNER THEATER

• December 5

Holiday Inn, the New Irving Berlin musical, tells the story of Jim, who leaves the bright lights of show business behind to settle down on his farmhouse in Connecticut. He quickly discovers life isn’t the same without a bit of song and dance. Jim’s luck takes a spectacular turn when he meets Linda, a spirited schoolteacher with talent to spare. Together they turn the farmhouse into a fabulous inn with dazzling performances to celebrate each holiday, from Thanksgiving to the Fourth of July. But when Jim’s best friend Ted tries to lure Linda away to be his new dance partner in Hollywood, will Jim be able to salvage his latest chance at love?
Cost: $89 – Register by 10/24.

STREAMING AND ONLINE MEDIA SOLUTIONS

• August 27
• 5:30 – 7 pm

Streaming media (a way of playing files as they download) is central to the information revolution. A decade or two ago, phone lines brought into your home were simply a way to talk to friends and family when meeting face-to-face was not possible. But in the 21st century, people have started to see telephone lines in a different way. Phone lines make it possible to view YouTube videos, television programs, news, and information in our homes 24 hours a day! Learn about different kinds of streaming, and how to view material without annoying interruptions. Professional staff from Mankato Computer Repair will be available to answer your questions.

Cost: No charge for members; $5 for non-members. Call the VACC at (507) 386-5586 by 8/24 to register.

Group Fitness classes are FREE with a Premium or Platinum membership, $5 with Basic membership, $7 with Supporting Membership or $10 for non-members.  

BASIC YOGA

• Mondays
  5 – 6:15 pm
• Tuesdays
  9 – 10:15 am
• Wednesdays & Thursdays
  9 – 10 am

Basic Yoga will challenge you physically while helping maintain and improve your flexibility and form.

BEGINNING YOGA

• Tuesdays
  10:30 – 11:30 am

If you have little or no yoga experience, our beginning yoga class will teach you some of the basic poses.

CARDIO-STRENGTH

• Mondays & Wednesdays
  4:30 – 5:30 pm

Participants in Cardo-Strength will be challenged each week with a variety of aerobic and strength training activities: you never know what to expect!

CHAIR YOGA

• Mondays
  9 – 10 am

10:15 – 11:15 am

• Wednesdays
  2 – 3 pm
• Thursdays
  10:15 – 11:15 am

This class is for those individuals who want to try yoga but are unable to get down onto the floor.  Many yoga poses can be done from a chair rather than the ground.  

GENTLE YOGA

• Fridays
  9 – 10 am

Gentle Yoga focuses on moving slowly through poses with awareness on form and breath.

MOVE IT MORE

• Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays
  9 – 10 am
• Mondays & Wednesdays
  10:30 – 11:30 am

Movie it More offers a challenging workout for those with little or no difficulty with balance and walking.

PARTNERS IN ACTIVE LIVING (PALS)

• Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays
  1:30 – 2:30 pm

PALS is a great class for those who want a safe and gradual increase in their activity level to improve strength, flexibility and balance.  PALS is suitable for people of all fitness levels, including those who use a cane or walker.  

QIGONG PRACTICE GROUP

• Thursdays
  4-5 pm

Qigong incorporates coordinated body postures and movement with breathing and meditation.  All activities can be done sitting or standing, and no previous Qigong experience is necessary.

STRETCH AND FLEX

• Tuesdays & Thursdays
  9:30 – 10:15 am

Start your day with some gentle stretches.  Staying flexible can help you move better throughout your day and prevent common muscle injuries.  In this 30-minute class you will move through simple stretches that target your upper, middle, and lower body muscles.  Some stretches will be done from the floor.  Warming up your muscles prior to class is recommended.  

TAI CHI FOR HEALTH

Level 1:

• Mondays & Wednesdays
  11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Level 2: (completion of Level 1 is required)

• Tuesdays
  12 – 12:45 pm

Tai Chi Practice:

• Friday
  12:30 – 1 pm

This Tai Chi program is easy to learn and provides many health benefits in a relatively short time.  Medical studies show that practicing Tai Chi can reduce joint pain, prevent falls, and improve a person’s general health.

TE-KI-DO

• Wednesdays
  10:15 – 11 am

This unique blend of easy martial arts was designed for people with little or no knowledge of its practice.  The class is a way for older adults to increase their energy, improve balance, and decreases stress.  

TREKKERS/SNOWSHOERS

• Thursdays
  10-11 am

Join the fun and adventurous trekking/snowshoeing group who meet rain or shine at different parks and trails in the area each week for a leisurely one-hour outing.  Trekking poles and snowshoes are available to members for FREE or $10 for non-members.  Call 507-387-1666 to find out the location each week.

ZUMBA GOLD

• Tuesday & Thursday
  10:30 – 11:30 am or 5 – 6 pm

Zumba Gold is designed with active older adults in mind: gentle on the body and easy-to-follow dance moves.  If you enjoy listening to fun music while you dance, then ditch your workout and join the party!

The VINE Adult Community Center offers a number of different activities to partake in.  

• 500 – Wednesdays at 1 pm
• Billiards – Mondays through Fridays from 8 am – 5 pm in the Game Room
• Bridge – Thursdays at 1 pm
• Cribbage – Tuesdays & Fridays at 1 pm
• Dominoes – 2nd & 4th Mondays of the month at 10 am
• Duplicate Bridge – Mondays at 1 pm & Wednesdays at 6:30 pm
• Mahjong – Mondays at 1 pm
• Pheffer – Wednesdays at 1 pm
• Ping-Pong – Mondays & Wednesdays from 11:30 am – 1 pm
• Whist – Fridays at 9:30 am

FOOT CARE CLINIC

• Third Tuesday of the month
  9 am – 5 pm

Pathstone Home Care staffs this monthly foot care clinic.  Bring your own basin and towel.  Call the VACC at (507) 386-5586 to schedule an appointment.

Cost:  $27

CAN ANYONE HEAR ME? – WHY YOU SHOULD LEARN TO LOVE HAM RADIO

• August 27
  2:30 – 4 pm

There are over 700,000 amateur, or ham radio, operators in the U.S. Some ham radio operators talk to remote countries, but many more of them alert the National Weather Service and local communities about tornadoes and other severe weather. Operators also build repeater systems that can relay messages and even talk in Morse code. To encourage newcomers though, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) no longer requires ham radio operators to know Morse Code. There’s even a Smart Phone app that allows ham radio transmission! Join local amateur radio operator Joe Reinemann, K0JCR, to learn about the public services amateur radio operators provide, and how they support communications in disasters. Find out how to become a licensed amateur radio operator. See a demonstration and have a go at using an amateur radio (Morse code key provided!).

Cost: No charge for members; $5 for non-members. Call the VACC at (507) 386-5586 by 8/24 to sign up.

FAGEN FIGHTERS WWII MUSEUM & LUNCH AT GRANITE RUN GOLF CLUB

• September 21

Plan to take a jaunt to western Minnesota in late September. A sandwich and soup buffet is on the menu at the Granite Run Golf Club. Visit the fascinating Fagen Fighters WWII Museum in Granite Falls. The museum is home to a pristine collection of fully operational, active aircraft and vehicles from World War II. Three airplane hangars house fighters, bombers, trainers, troop carriers and gliders. There are interactive multimedia displays, WWII tower equipment, a Sherman talk, and a Holocaust Box Car. The Fagen Museum provides a rare glimpse into the lives and legacy of the Greatest Generation. On the way home we’ll stop to enjoy an ice cream treat along the Redwood River in Ramsey Park in Redwood Falls. When you call to register, please indicate if you are a veteran, or spouse/widow of a veteran. VINE staff will call to ask about your military service.

Cost: $59 ($30 half price for veterans, their spouses and widows). Register by 9/3

Level 1: Gentle movement including walking, stretching, and balance activities. May include use of noodles, kickboards, and weights.

Level 2: May include jogging, jumping, twisting, and constant movement. Weights, kickboards, and noodles are often incorporated.

Level 3: May include deep water exercise and rigorous movement. Weights, kickboard, noodles, and water belts are often incorporated.