B-r-r-r-r! January has been Brutal!

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1 THE ROYAL-TEA CLUB NEWSLETTER B-r-r-r-r! January has been Brutal! I hope that upon opening this newsletter you feel the warmth of an aromatic cup of tea. Just transport yourselves to a recent tea you attended and remember the warmth of friends gathered around the table. It may require some effort, but I am trying to create atmosphere. Maybe reading what is planned for future Royal-tea club events will help you feel the warmth. HOUSEKEEPING: 1) Often parking space is limited or the tea room is a distance away. Car pooling is a smart option to consider. Anyone interested in car pooling, contact Donna Lerew and she will assist in finding other attendees in your area. 2) How do I make a reservation for tea? First, contact Donna Lerew either by at donnalerew@gmail.com OR phone her at When your reservation is confirmed, mail a check, payable to The Royal-tea Club, to Donna Lerew, 110 Reynolds Mill Road, York, PA Payment is due within 10 days of your reservation. (NOTE - this is a change from Checks are to be sent to Treasurer Donna.)

2 NOTE: Reservations for tea close 2 weeks prior to the event. If you need to cancel after reservations have closed, contact Donna. If there is a waiting list she will try to fill your seat. Cancellations cannot be accepted after reservations close unless we can fill your seat. NEW EVENTS A NEW VENUE -- La Petite Patisserie, 136 North Prince Street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania ( ) Saturday, March 24, 2018 This is a small tearoom and bakery. OST --$37.50, inclusive; guest fee $ Cut off date --March 10 There are two seatings: choose either 11:00 am or 1:30pm. (MAX- 18 at each seating) NOTE: there is a handicap entrance in the back. Street parking is available, but there are no meters. You pay at the computer kiosk located on the sidewalk near the tearoom. Also, the Lancaster market is nearby where you might want to shop before or after your tea. The Royal-Tea club will be returning to Infusions, 432 Old Market Street, Mt.Joy, Pennsylvania ( ) Tuesday, April 17, at 11:30 am. COST: $20.00 members, $25.00 guests. Max -70. Cut off date March 20 This is a student-run restaurant, part of Lancaster County Career and Technology Center.

3 Dollies Tearoom 150 Cumberland Street, Clear Spring, MD ( ) Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 2:00 pm. COST: $31.00 members, $36 guests Max - 32 seats; Cut off date- April 14. We first visited this tearoom last year and had a great response. It is in a charming town in western Maryland. Before or after the tea, visit Wilson Store a couple miles east of the tearoom at Rufus Wilson Rd. open 10 am - 5 pm. Step back to early 1900's in this store and find penny candy and cheese. Stop and chat with the owners Patty and Bonnie (sisters). Granite Rose Parlor Tearoom Davis Avenue, Granite, MD ( ) Thursday, May 24, 2018 at 1:00 pm COST: $27.25 members, $32.25 guests Max - 32 seats; Cut off date May 10. This tearoom is in the historic village of Granite, Maryland. The granite for the Washington, DC monuments came from the quarries in this town. Last year this tea filled up quickly and some members were disappointed that they could not get a reservation. Here is your chance to visit or revisit this charming tearoom. UPCOMING EVENTS -- More details in the next newsletter. Saturday, July 21, is the date for our Annual Luncheon. Saturday, August 11 - This tea will include three local Pennsylvania authors who will discuss writing and getting a book published.

4 FUTURE BUS TRIPS Saturday, May 12, Club Bus trip to St. Michael s, Maryland. 34 have signed up, 11 seats available--- Interested? Visit the web site to read October, 2017 newsletter. Final payment $84 (guests--$89) is due February 12, Tuesday, June 26, 2018, Club Bus trip to HILLWOOD, Washington, D.C. Hillwood is the home of Marjorie Merriwether Post. Please read flyer. If you have any questions about what one may see, Nancy Jones September 24-28, Club Bus trip Corning, NY and the Finger Lakes region. (See flyers attached to Newsletter for Hillwood and Corning, NY trips. WALES and IRELAND TRIP UPDATE Our June 2018 trip to Wales and Ireland was announced the end of August. In less than two months the trip was full. Not only was it full, but an additional four seats were obtained due to the great interest. We now have 39 very excited people going on this wonderful adventure. There are usually emergencies necessitating someone having to cancel. We have already had one person do this and I had one fortunate person on the waiting list eager to take her place. If you would like to go, please contact Sharon at to be placed on the waiting list. You never know. You just might get a seat!

5 CHRISTMAS MARKETS of GERMANY and AUSTRIA November 30th - December 7th, 2018 Although Christmas 2017 is past, some of us are already looking forward to Christmas On November 30th, we will depart for Germany to begin our 8 day Christmas Markets tour. There will be lots to see beside Christmas Markets, and should you decide to do so, you may also travel to Bratislava and/or Oberammergau on optional excursions. We will be traveling with Gate 1 Tours. One nice feature about this company is, if you make your payments by check, you will save 5%, even on your air fare and optional excursions. Please contact Sharon Hart at if you have any questions. For reservations, contact Felix Hassid at Gate 1, , ext The trip flyer is (or soon will be) posted to the club's web site, If you receive a paper newsletter, it should be included. RECENT EVENTS BUS TRIP TO OTTAWA AND QUEBEC CITY During the brutally cold weather, I reveled in my photos from our bus trip. Who knew it could be eighty degrees in Canada? It was unseasonably warm there. Flowers were blooming everywhere. Beautiful! When traveling with Donna Lerew, one is treated to snacks and games. Here is part of one game we enjoyed. Can you figure out these word puzzles? They are common phrases: 1) another thing 2) few far few 3) _nhappy (the answers are at the end of this newsletter.) Chateau du Frontenac

6 I asked for comments from several travelers to answer What was your favorite part of the trip? Below are the responses I received: Our favorite was the topiary gardens in Gatineau and Old town in Quebec City, Bill and Sandy Gawel Walking through Old town Quebec City, I felt like I had crossed the pond, to Europe, Claire Rankin For many people the favorite was tea at Chateau du Frontenac, Including Donna Lerew, the Gawels and Claire Rankin Christmas Tea A wonderful tea held in the Drawing Room of the Garrett-Jacobs Mansion in Baltimore was enjoyed by 63 members of the Club on December 8, Tables were set with white linen tablecloths and china. A large Christmas tree and numerous red poinsettias positioned throughout the room added to the festive atmosphere that prevailed throughout the Mansion. Our tea consisted of a delicious lump crab bisque, a mixed green salad, five very tasty tea sandwiches and, last but not least, four petite desserts that were both appealing to the eye and to the tastebuds. Teapots of hot water for the tea of your choice were continuously kept filled by the Servers. The professionalism of the Mansion s staff also served to provide a most delightful Christmas tea experience. As Club members were leaving the Mansion most everyone voiced their opinion that the Club most definitely should have the Mansion host another club tea in the not-too-distant future. Betsy Green A Country Tea This is one of the favorite tea rooms, in a farmhouse, in the country near New Freedom. Currently the tea room is closed. The farm and house have been sold. Do not despair! The closure is Temporary! Susan and Ken Freese are building in a new location. Hopefully, the tea room will re-open the beginning of summer. Here is the new information: Ken and Susan Freese, Susquehanna Trail South, New Freedom, PA (717)

7 THE ROYAL-TEA CLUB: POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, JANUARY, 2018 The Royal-tea Club was started in February 2005 by a committee of women who just love to do tea. Our purpose is to have fun and fellowship. At least one tea event a month is scheduled March through December of every year, usually in Maryland or Pennsylvania. We also love to travel, incorporating visits to more distant tea rooms on our trips. Our members are currently from 8 different states and we average 300+ members per year. NEW MEMBERS AND MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS Membership dues for new members and for membership renewals are payable on a calendar basis, beginning 1 January of each year. Dues for electronic copies of our quarterly newsletters are $5.00 annually; for a paper (mail) copy dues are $10.00 annually. However, dues paid after 1/15 of any year will cost $10.00 and $15.00 respectively. An additional $10.00 for new members is required to be included with your initial dues payment. This one-time only $10.00 charge for new members allows the Club to purchase a magnetic name tag for you to wear at all Club events. Renewing members are also encouraged to purchase the magnetic name tag for $ All dues, together with a completed new member or renewal application form, are to be sent to Betsy Green, 1233 Old Fridinger Mill Road, Westminster, MD Betsy can be reached at (410) or anbgreenacres@gmail.com for any questions regarding your dues or membership status. New member forms and renewal forms can be found on the Club website The Royal-tea Club. NEW MEMBER FORM (WORD) NEW MEMBER FORM (PDF) RENEWAL FORM (WORD) RENEWAL FORM (PDF) TEA RESERVATION PROCEDURES You must contact Donna Lerew by phone, (717) , or by (donna lerew@gmail.com) for a tea reservation. DO NOT CALL THE TEA HOUSE TO MAKE A RESERVATION. Reservation requests must be confirmed by Donna and she must receive your payment for the tea within 10 days after your reservation request is confirmed. Mail checks

8 payable to The Royal-tea Club (not to Donna Lerew) and mail to Donna at 110 Reynolds Mill Road, York, PA If payment is not received by Donna within 10 days your reservation may be canceled. REFUND INFORMATION Each tearoom prepares food for the number of people who have reservations. Money you send to Donna for a tea reservation is non-refundable unless a cancellation is made by you to Donna prior to the cutoff date posted in the newsletter, or if a person on the waiting list is available to take your place. Any money due you from a cancellation will be refunded to you unless it is less than $1.00. GUEST POLICY Guests are welcome to become members of the Club. Any additional guest fee that would be charged by the Club to attend a tea would be credited to the individual and deducted from their membership fee. CANCELLATION POLICY If you need to cancel your reservation for a tea contact Donna immediately. If it is before the cutoff date specified in the Newsletter your money will be refunded. If it is after the cutoff date Donna will try to fill your seat. If your seat can be filled by another member or guest you will receive a refund. Please do not give your seat to another person contact Donna first. The Club must be fair to those who are on the waiting list. ANSWERS TO WORD PUZZLE GAME: 1) ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER 2) FEW AND FAR BETWEEN 3) UNHAPPY WITHOUT U

9 ITINERARY FOR GERMANY AND AUSTRIA TRIP DAY 1, Friday - Depart for Germany DAY 2, Saturday Munich Arrive in Munich and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure to discover Munich's Christmas Market. This evening, enjoy an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager, followed by a Welcome drink and dinner at your hotel. Overnight: Munich Meals: Dinner DAY 3, Sunday - Munich City Tour & Christmas Market This morning, tour Munich and view the major sights of the city, including, Nymphenburg Palace, former summer palace of the Wittelsbach dynasty. Continue via the Olympic Stadium to view many of the famous squares, including the delightful Marienplatz to see the Glockenspiel clock with its playful mechanical figures. Here, you can begin exploring the largest and most famous Christmas market of Munich. This afternoon is free to further discover the over 20 Christmas markets located throughout the city or, join the optional trip to Linderhof & Oberammergau. Admire the artistically decorated Linderhof castle, built by "Mad" King Ludwig II along with a guided tour of the palace. Proceed via the Ettal Monastery to Oberammergau, world-famous for its Passion Play. Optional: Linderhof & Oberammergau (PM) Overnight: Munich Meals: Breakfast DAY 4, Monday - Nuremberg Christmas Market This morning, travel to Nuremberg to visit Germany's most famous Christmas market. With nearly 180 wooden stalls richly decorated with traditional wares, the market has earned the colorful title Little Town from Wood and Cloth. Enjoy free time to perhaps sample a glass of mulled wine and the local roasted sausage. Overnight: Nuremberg Meals: Breakfast, Dinner DAY 5, Tuesday - Salzburg City Tour & Christmas Market This morning head to Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart and famous setting for the Sound of Music movie. Upon arrival, take a guided walking city tour of Salzburg where you will view such sights as the cathedral, Getreidegasse, St. Peter's monastery and views of the mighty 11th-century Hohensalzburg fortress. Enjoy free time to browse Salzburg's Christmas Market with a variety of stalls full of decorations, holiday gifts and gingerbread. Overnight: Salzburg Meals: Breakfast, Dinner DAY 6, Wednesday - Vienna City Tour & Christmas Market Today, travel to Vienna, the former center of the Hapsburg Empire. Begin along the famous Ringstrasse and view the State Opera House, Parliament and City Hall, the site of the lively Christmas Market. Tonight, attend the optional Mozart & Strauss Concert, featuring the classical masterpieces of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Strauss, two of Vienna's most famous citizens. Optional: Mozart & Strauss Concert (PM) Overnight: Vienna Meals: Breakfast DAY 7, Thursday - Full Day in Vienna Enjoy a day at leisure to explore Vienna's Christmas Markets or, join the optional tour to Bratislava. This morning, enjoy an excursion across the border to Bratislava, capital of Slovakia. For centuries, this city has been famous for its charm and beauty. It has undergone a major revitalization and now flourishes as

10 one of Europe's newest capitals. The beautifully restored old town with its winding lanes and medieval courtyards is nestled between the steep Castle Hill and the Danube River. Tonight, enjoy the optional Austrian Wine Tavern Dinner. Spend a pleasant evening in a cozy Viennese wine tavern in one of the many villages surrounding the city in the Vienna Woods. A hearty meal is accompanied with local wine and music. Optional: Bratislava, Slovakia (AM) Optional: Austrian Wine Tavern Dinner (PM) Overnight: Vienna Meals: Breakfast DAY 8, Friday - Depart Austria Transfer to the airport for your departure flight Meals: Breakfast Escorted Package Includes 6 nights accommodations: 2 nights Munich, 1 night Nuremberg, 1 night Salzburg, 2 nights Vienna Special Features Experience the charm of the world-famous Christmas markets in Munich, Salzburg, Nuremberg & Vienna Tour Munich, Bavaria's capital with its delightful "dancing" Glockenspiel clock Visit magical Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart and scene of the Sound of Music View Vienna with its magnificent Baroque palaces, parks and monuments. Not Included: Four optional excursions, guide and bus driver gratuities, meals other than those noted. Deposit Amount: $200 per person. Possible Additional Savings: You will receive a 5% discount if you pay your balance to Gate 1 by check. Optional Trip Protection Insurance: Insurance premium will be between $109 and $159 depending on air costs. Premium must be paid at time of reservation to include pre-existing conditions. FOR RESERVATIONS: Please contact Felix Hassid at Gate 1 Travel, , EXT Our reference # is This tour is subject to Gate Travel booking guidelines and cancellation policies. You may view these at