KAMSACK — Circumstances are threatening the continuation of a group of Kamsack district bingo players.
For more than 30 years, a group of bingo players who enjoy each other’s company, have been meeting to play the game for a couple hours once a week at the Kamsack Seniors’ Centre.
At one time the group numbered between 20 and 30 players, they agreed at the conclusion of a session played recently. “We enjoyed getting together with one another to chat, reminisce and catch up on all the community news.”
But time has conspired against them.
Over time, the group has become smaller and smaller, they said. Recently, an automobile accident has forced one core member into hospital and in another week, another core member will be moving out of the community.
“We need more players to join us or we will no longer be able to continue,” said Lise Rochefort, who for the past few years has been the bingo caller.
“Under the N, 34,” Rochefort announces as she retrieves yet another ball that was spit out of the machine.
“We play ‘old fashioned’ bingo using chips and magnetic wands with cardboard cards rather than with ink dabbers and newsprint cards,” she said, adding that the centre has lots of chips and wands available for additional players.
“After Georgina leaves next week, we’ll be down to only four players and that’s just not enough to play,” she said. “It will be over.”
“And that will be a shame,” Vicky Koreluik said, adding that all the players enjoy meeting once a week, not only to play the game but to socialize as well.
During their afternoon games recently, a sadness affected a group of normally upbeat and happy Kamsack area bingo players as they realized that without additional players their weekly sessions would have to end. Among the players on March 13, from left, were: Vicky Koreluik, Georgina Harambura, Margie Popoff and Dorothy Pfeifer. | Photo courtesy Kamsack Times
About halfway through the three-hour afternoon session, the group is in the habit of stopping play in order to enjoy coffee and a snack, as well as catching up with one another.
“We have lots of fun, lots of laughs,” Margie Popoff said.
“We pay $1 for three cards and 25 cents for each additional card,” Dorothy Pfeifer explained. “And that’s good for 10 games.”
“We can’t carry on unless we have a minimum of five players,” Rochefort said, urging area residents to join the group, thereby allowing them to continue.
All one needs to join the group is to show up at the centre on First Street on Thursday at 1 p.m. and be prepared for a few hours of fun, the group agreed.
“Let anyone of us know that you’re interested in playing and we’ll welcome you,” she said.
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