Club News

The SCSH Desert Gardeners Club's Citrus Roundup on March 6 was a huge success with 46 homes donating 475 bags of fresh citrus. This was enough for every family in the Neighbor4Neighbor program to have a fresh bag of washed and assorted citrus on Tuesday, March 7.

Thank you so much to all who contributed.

We believe that every member of Desert Life is a STAR. However, occasionally one Star shines a little brighter.

Quoting from the McCallum Theatre Winter Program “Roz started buying tickets for the theater approximately 12 years ago. Someone she met was a volunteer at the Theatre and thinking that sounded pretty fantastic she came in for an interview and within five minutes we knew we wanted her as part of our family.

Today Roz is not only one of the most active and welcoming of our volunteers, but she is also a President’s Circle Silver Member. She loves seeing the children come to the Theatre for the first time. To quote her “Their eyes open wide, and they look around and they are amazed. They are the sweetest patrons.”

Roz tells us that the Ten Tenors are her favorite performers. “And they love me too” she said. She always gets a front row center seat and at one Christmas show, one of the Tenors came down into the audience and brought her up on stage and they all sang to her. They even gave her a Koala Bear as a memento of the experience.”

Not only is Roz a star at the McCallum and the first volunteer to ever be featured in a program; she is a star in Sun City Shadow Hills. You will always find her volunteering to sell tickets for events! Roz always makes us dig into our wallets; and do whatever is necessary to help whenever help is needed.

Roz Watkins, we honor you as an incredible human being and as our first ever Star Award recipient.

The Desert Life Board

On October 20, the SCSH Dems Club invited the community to come hear from our Congressman, Dr. Raul Ruiz. Dr. Ruiz spoke with over 100 SCSH residents about his work in Congress and the challenges ahead.

Dr. Ruiz grew up in Coachella, and after earning several degrees from Harvard, returned, becoming both a community leader and an emergency physician. He was elected to Congress in 2013.

In Congress, Dr. Ruiz works to protect Medicare and Social Security and stands up for Veterans, especially where their healthcare is concerned. On July 14, 2022, the House passed legislation authored by Congressman Ruiz that addresses the military’s use of toxic burn pits and helps educate veterans on benefits they may be entitled to as a result of their service near burn pits.

The SCSH Dems Club thanks Congressman Ruiz for his service to our country and our district.

Performing Arts Club wants to let the community know how high the quality of the plays we present here is. Congratulations to all the following people who have been nominated for Desert Star Awards from among ALL theater productions here in the Coachella Valley.

• Outstanding Production of a Comedy:
  • • Hilda’s Yard
• Outstanding Director of a Comedy:
  • • Linda Bostjanick (Hilda’s Yard)
• Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy:
  • • Judith Bennoch (Hilda’s Yard)
    • Judith Bennoch (Old Hams)
• Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy:
  • • Earl Warner (Hilda’s Yard)
    • Gene Gambale (Hilda’s Yard)
• Outstanding Set Design:
  • • Marlys Costello (Hilda’s Yard)
• Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy:
  • • Laurie de Gonzalez (Old Hams)
    • Jo Beth Henry (Old Hams)

A group of photographers who became friends through the Sun City Shadow Hills Camera Club took a trip in early March to photograph in the parks near Moab, Utah.

For information about the SCSH Camera Club, go to www.scshcameraclub.com.

The Desert Life Club, founded in 2005, has grown to 166 members as of March 2022. Desert Life focuses on activities, lifestyle and charitable organizations in the greater Coachella Valley.

Club members enjoy a delicious meal served by the incredible staff at Heritage Palms. Monthly meetings are convened there to accommodate the level of attendance and are held on the third Tuesday of each month except during July and August.

Each meeting features a guest speaker who shares information regarding the many entertainment options located in our valley, while other speakers may focus on such topics as safety awareness, senior learning opportunities, the latest kitchen gadgets and each year a fashion show is part of the lineup.

Desert Life members love giving back to the community and each month a charitable organization is identified by the Board. Members are apprised of the needs of the selected charity and, while no one is required to donate, we are always amazed at our members’ generosity!

Some examples of charitable organizations assisted by the Desert Life Club include, the Alzheimer’s Association Local Chapter, Safe House of the Desert (for youth in crisis), Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, Friends of PS Animal Shelter (CV no-kill), Palm Desert College Den food pantry, the Galilee Center services the underprivileged and disadvantaged in the Coachella Valley and Desert Best Friend’s Closet helping seekers of employment.

In recent months our programs have featured speakers from the Cabazon Indian Tribe regarding Pow Wows and their history, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), Coachella Valley History Museum, Palm Springs Windmill Tours, the annual Holiday Fashion Show, Holiday Celebration featuring Music for the Season and the Palm Springs Air Museum.

Annual membership is $15, and our luncheon cost is $30, which includes a meal (veggie option available), desert, tea, lemonade and coffee and 7 tickets for door prizes and the Club also sponsors a free lunch giveaway. Menu, Program and Charity information is featured in the View. Interested but not sure? Attend once without joining and try us out!

The Desert Life Club would love you to become a member and to share with us friendship, the spirit of giving back, a beautiful meal and learning more about the incredible organizations and entertainment and lifestyle options our desert has to offer. For additional information please contact our membership chairperson, Charlene Sandin at (818) 427-5765.