Activities and Travel - PSOP Center - Southwestern Illinois College

Day Trip Reservation Line

Day trips, long trips, eating outside, playing inside… whatever you join us for, please remember to let us know you are attending. Leave a message on our phone. Thanks so much. 618-234-4410 ext.7042 (Melissa) or 7043 (Theresa). Thank you and see you soon!

Download the PSOP trip reservation form.

CARDS! Here at PSOP we love playing cards. We have different groups playing almost every day. Please remember when you come in, there is a binder on the table to sign-in. Please always leave your name and phone number so if there are ever any changes we can contact you.

Bridge – Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. This group is for players who already know how to play. New players are always welcome.
Pinochle – Tuesdays, 1:30 p.m. and Thursdays, 10 a.m. This group is for pinochle players who already know how to play and new players are always welcome. Although, we do have a few people who are willing to teach if you are interested in learning to play.
Hand and Foot – Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. This little group is willing to teach new people interested in how to play hand and foot. Already know how? What are you waiting for? Join the fun.
Canasta – Fridays 12:30 p.m. Know how to play? Join the game! Don’t know how? They will teach you!
Euchre– We have had some interest in starting Euchre again. If you would like to play, please call Activities. Once we have a few of you we will begin again.

Fashion Show 2024

Looking for Models! Do you have a partner, best friend or spouse that you could be a famous couple together for our fashion show?? Think Lucy and Ethel, Thelma and Louise, Fred and Wilma, Fred Astaire or Ginger Rodgers. If you would like to be part of our 2024 Fashion show on March 22, and can commit to some rehearsals, please give Melissa or Theresa a call.

Flowers 101

Flowers 101 with Grimm & Gorly. Wednesday, March 20, 10 a.m. This month Jeff and his staff from Grimm & Gorly are doing an Alice in Wonderland type theme with flowers in a teacup. Cost is $30 which includes teacup or $25 if you bring your own. Please let us know when you register if you are bringing your own teacup or if you are getting one from Jeff. Call 618-234-4410 ext. 7042.

PSOP Book Club

This group welcomes everyone to join them at 10 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month. Take a look at what they’re reading:

Mar. 21 – West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge   Discussion leader – Ann Krivi

Apr. 11 – Rough Sleepers by Tracy Kinder   Discussion leader – Judy Higgins

May 9 – Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain   Discussion Leader – Peter Will

Men’s Club

Friday, March 8 at 11:00 a.m. – This month our speaker is Dr. Malcom Hill, principal of Belleville West high School. You will hear a lot about his experience of what schools are like in 2024, and of course the Athletics! This group is led by Art Voellinger. Please register so there will be plenty of lunch. 618-234-4410 ext. 7042.

Bingo

It’s 2024 which means we will now have Bingo on TUESDAYS. So, when we have a dance or an outing on a Thursday, we won’t have to cancel Bingo! It will still begin at 10 a.m. Bingo is still free and with a different sponsor every week bringing the prizes. Concession stand will still be available with the awesome hotdogs.

March   5- Lucky Bingo- Celebrating our love for all things green with Cedar Ridge.

March 12- We are closed. Enjoy your Spring Break

March 19- Sponsored by Cedar Creek

March 26- Sponsored by United Healthcare

Dances

Dances in Belleville and Shiloh are $5, $1 entry and $4 for lunch. It is VERY important to make your reservation so we have enough lunch ordered. Dances open at 9:30 and Band starts at 10:30. We take a 30-minute break for lunch. Dances last until approx. 1:30 pm. Reservations later than two days before the dance may not be guaranteed a lunch, so make reservations early! Call 618-234-4410, ext. 7042 (Melissa) or 7043 (Theresa)

With a Little Luck- Wednesday, March 6  You don’t have to be a leprechaun to enjoy the fabulous music of the RSVP Orchestra. Whether you dance every dance or just sit and enjoy the music, its sure to be your lucky day with lunch and entertainment.

Bunko and Dominoes

Every Monday in Shiloh. This is a room full of laughing ladies and led by a silly guy that makes them laugh, Ron Hilgedich. They alternate Bunko and Dominoes, playing begins at 10 a.m. but they start coming in around 9:30 a.m. to have coffee and chat. Held at Shiloh Community Center, 7 Park Drive.

Tai Chi

Tuesday and Wednesday, noon

Led by Tai Chi instructor Dolores Gordon. Tai Chi enhances physical and mental health, as well as improves posture, balance, flexibility, and strength. Tai Chi is said to boost mood, strengthen the immune system, improve health and it’s cool too. Call Activities to reserve a space, class is limited. Regular Tai Chi is Tuesday, beginner is Wednesday. Each class is an hour long and is $5. Call 618-244-4410, ext. 7042.

Crafts and Conversation

Wednesdays, 1 p.m.

Call to see what this month’s craft will be and check out the sample by the
receptionist desk. Please make sure to reserve a spot so we have enough supplies for everyone. Please call Melissa or Theresa to join or lead the group at 618-234-4410, ext. 7042 or 7043.

Knitting and Crochet

Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m.

Bring what you are working on and sit with other knitters and crocheters. They talk and laugh more than they knit.

Fingerstyle Ukulele

Noon on Fridays. This group is for advanced Ukulele players

Ukulele Jam Session

Fridays at 1 p.m. This group is with both instructors combining the talents of the advanced ukulele players and the confident beginners (can play 12 chords or more).

Line Dancing

Wednesdays, 1:30 – 3 p.m.

Donna Holcomb is our new instructor. She has studied with Carol for years and knows all of the dances. You’ll be two-stepping in no time. Come learn the latest dance with this fun, social group. Cost is $2.

Art Group

Fridays, 9 a.m.

These artists bring whatever they are working on and bring it to the group to be creative together. If you are working on a painting or something at home and would like feedback from others or just want to paint with other artists, come on in. If you have a fun craft you like to make and are willing to show others, please call Activities and we will have a craft day! We love to see what others are doing and learn how to make it.

Breakfast Club

Breakfast Club: Wednesday, March 27, 9 a.m. – Long Story Coffee- 732 South Illinois St, Belleville Il. Clara B’s and Long story is together at one location ( by the railroad tracks near Tribout’s)  Get the best of both worlds with Clara’s delicious homemade melt in your mouth biscuits and breakfast items, along with Long Story coffee.

Dine Around

Dine Around: Monday, March 18, 5 p.m. – Red Lobster at 110 Ludwig Dr., Fairview Heights.  Shrimp, crab legs, steak, cheddar biscuits, what else do we need to say? See you there! And we will know you will be there because you made a reservation! Hint.

Lunch Bunch

Lunch Bunch: Thursday, March 7, 11:30 a.m. – We have been hearing about No Jacks in Smithton for a long time and now we finally get to go. You can choose from a huge menu ranging from chili to pizza, steaks, and great unique appetizers. Located in Smithton. 4001 IL-159, right before you get to Dollar General. Make sure you give us your reservation!

Road Trippin with Activities

Fox Theater – We have tickets to two exciting shows for 2024! Both shows are seats on the Orchestra floor and a delicious dinner at the Fox after the show. Charter bus included.

Play Ball: Opening week for the Cardinals, tickets for Cards vs Phillies, April 10, 12:15 game – We are doing the ball game in style this time. Cheer on the Cardinals with us from our own private party suite. Enjoy watching your favorite players while feasting on a full buffet including: Beef Brisket, brats, hotdogs, pasta dish, Caesar salad, cookies and brownies for dessert. And we can’t have a party suite without Budweiser products with beer, wine and a full bar with our own bartender. Price is $168 which includes charter bus, all you can eat and drink buffet and party suite with heat or AC (St. Louis so you never know) to root root root for the Cardinals in style!

Save the date – September 7, Saturday, 6:15 game. Cardinals vs Mariners with give-away of a unique canvas print, featuring an iconic photo of some of the most beloved Cardinals Hall of Famers.

Eclipse trip: April 8, Monday 10:45. Scientists say the best place to see the eclipse is in Cape Girardeau. That’s perfect for us because our favorite casino is there. Travel with us to Century Casino, have lunch and try your luck with some gambling. Bring a lawn or bag chair to go into the parking lot at 2:00 and watch the eclipse. Experience four minutes of “totality” nearly double the length of 2017. We will stop for dessert at Hoeckele Bakery and Stonie’s too. Bus leaves from Schnucks on North Belt West. Cost is $48.00 and you will receive $5 in play money and $5 towards your lunch at the Casino.

Fox Theater   Moulin Rouge – Saturday,  May 11. Enter a world of splendor and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur and glory! A world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. A wonderfully entertaining musical with a fantastic dinner afterwards at the Fabulous Fox Theater! Tickets are on Orchestra Floor. $144 is motor coach, ticket and dinner.

Niagara Falls, Ontario

September 15 – 21, 2024 – Did you miss out on one of our favorite memories, zip lining over Niagara Falls? Now is your chance! We are going to Niagara Falls, but not in a barrel! We have so much to do and explore. We will tour Niagara, ride the Hornblower in our ponchos, have dinner in the sky at Skylon Tower, relax at a Canadian Winery, game at a beautiful Casino, tour a chocolate factory and more! Double room is $1349 per person and includes adventurous bus ride with Melissa and Theresa, 4 nights IN CANADA, en route hotel there and back, all your breakfast and dinners while in Canada and amazing memories and photos. This is with a new company for us White Star Tours. Deposit is due when signing up.

Chattanooga Train Trip

October 15-18, 2024, $899 includes 3 nights lodging, Southern Belle Riverboat Cruise and 3 train rides: The Missionary Ridge Local which is part of the Tennessee Railroad will take us over bridges and into tunnels. We will depart the train and watch the locomotive rotating on a turntable before re-boarding. Blue Ridge Scenic Railway stopping in McCaysville Georgia and Copperhill Tennessee nestled deep in the mountains. Board the Incline Railway climbing the Lookout Mountain ( Worlds steepest railway)and see the 100 ft waterfall, and swing- along bridge in Rock City. Dinners are included each night.
$200. Deposit per person.

Travel & Activities Reservation/Cancellation Policy Changes

We are making some changes to provide everyone with a fair opportunity to sign up for trips, avoid empty seats and keep trips affordable.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2014 – To make a reservation for a day trip, dial the extension listed with the trip description. The recording will ask you to give your name and phone number, the date and name of the trip, and the names of people you are making reservations for. You will then be given seven working days to complete the registration form in the PSOP newsletter and mail it or bring it to the Activities & Travel office along with your payment. Any payment not received within seven days will result in your reservation being cancelled.

If a cancellation is received seven days or more before the trip, then a full refund will be given. If a cancellation is received seven days or less to the start of the trip, and a replacement is found, then a full refund less a $5 processing fee will be given. If no replacement is found, no refund will be given. Special cancellation policies may apply if the trip involves the purchase of non-refundable tickets.