Lunches from September through May
Some years ago, several Kingston Branch members initiated the practice of getting together every month for a social lunch. Word spread, interest picked up quickly, and it is now a regular event. And while most attendees are members of the Kingston Branch and the conversation tends to involve a lot of genealogy, everyone is welcome to join us, no matter their membership status or their experience level. It is a good way to meet others with similar interests and to ask some basic questions about genealogy.
The main point is social. Especially with our move to Zoom meetings due to the pandemic, many of us find that we crave in-person interactions. So this gets us out of the house and away from the computer for a few hours with real live humans! We each pay for our own lunch, so the cost is manageable.
We meet at noon on the second Tuesday of each month from September through May. Our usual spot is the Loaf ‘N Ale Pub at 645 Gardiners Road, Kingston. They are able to set up a table for the group in a room that we usually have to ourselves. The setting is informal and the menu is varied enough to keep us coming back.
Each of us buys our own lunch from the extensive menu. The Loaf ‘N Ale is a pub, so alcoholic beverages are available for purchase.
Picnics in June through August
We continue our informal lunches to network, visit, catch up, and discuss genealogy throughout the summer. But in June, July, and August, we move outside to the Pavilion in Lake Ontario Park. Same rules: informal, social, inclusive. Different menu: bring your own lunch.
For our summer picnics, we meet on the same time and day of the month as we do for the lunches in the colder months: noon on the the second Tuesday of each month. The location has typically been in the Pavilion in Lake Ontario Park exiting from about 949 King Street West. The covered Pavillion means the events are not affected by rain.
How to Connect with Us
So, if you’d like to dip your toe in the social side of genealogy, please join us!
For your first time joining us for a lunch or picnic, please contact Jane Miller through the webmaster. Jane will get you on the mailing list for future lunches and will let the restaurant know the expected number of people.
(Or, you could just drop in. The restaurant will be happy for the business and we’ll be happy to meet you! 😉 )
We look forward to meeting you in person soon, either for lunch or a picnic, or at a regular Branch meeting!