Interests

Bergfreunde has adopted 1 mile of Hwy 26 between Sandy & Mt Hood. We pick up litter in this area at least once a year as a group activity.

The Board hosts a picnic each summer with a nice catered lunch and recreational sports in the morning and socializing in the afternoon. This event is free to all members.

Bridge meets in member’s homes on the first and third Saturdays of every month from 5:30 until approximately 10:30 or 11 pm. Play is by American Standard Rules. Bring a snack to share and a beverage of your choice. RSVP is necessary. You will be emailed at least a week before each meeting regarding location. If your name is not on our email list, please contact the coordinator.

The bridge group meets in member's homes on the second Wednesday of each month from 6 pm until 9:30 or 10 pm. Play is by American Standard Rules. Bring a potluck contribution to share and a beverage of your choice. RSVP is necessary. You will be emailed at least a week before each meeting regarding location. If your name is not on our list, please email the coordinator.

Bunco is a social dice game that takes no skill or strategy so the fun is in switching tables. You will change partners every round and during the course of the evening you will have a chance to be a partner with every other person. We have a great time with cash prizes. Easy to learn if you are new to the game. Bring a snack to share and your own drink. We meet once a month on a Sunday evening starting at 5PM. If you would like to host, give Thea a call. The exact date is the host's choice, so check the calendar for details. You must RSVP to the leader by phone to play! The number is limited to 16 people. The cost is $3 and the money goes for prizes. Please bring exact change (no $10s or $20s).

The monthly game night is held in the homes of volunteer hosts/hostesses. Bring a favorite game of your own or try one of ours. Tables and chairs are provided, but bring a folding chair in case we have a larger than expected turnout. Bring a snack to share and your favorite beverage. NO RED WINE. Please RSVP to the host/hostess so he/she will know how many people to expect. Hosts contact information is listed on the Event Calendar posting. Call the coordinator to volunteer to host.

The Board hosts a MONTHLY CLUB SOCIAL 10 months of the year at restaurant where you can purchase food and beverages. These events are open to all members. Guests are welcome. It's a great way to meet event Coordinators and Trip Leaders, sign up for trips, and greet old and new friends. The other two months of the year the Board hosts an ANNUAL CLUB PICNIC for all members to enjoy and a special LEADERSHIP APPRECIATION DINNER just for the volunteers who coordinated and led activities or arranged overnight trips.

Come join us at the movies on the third Tuesday of the month at the historic Academy Theater, 7818 SE Stark Street, Portland. The theater features second run films. Admission is $4 ($3 for seniors). Even better – Tuesday is two for one night. Two people seeing the same movie pay for one ticket (two dollars each for adults and $11.50 each for seniors). We meet around 6:00 pm at the theater. We socialize in the lobby until the movie starts. The theater offers food for purchase to eat during the movie. Film times vary, so check the schedule at the Bergies Do It Together Meetup site, or at www.academytheaterpdx.com. Before you pay, check in the lobby to see whether someone has already paid, and you can split the fee with him/her.

We meet the first Tuesday of each month at The Main Event Pub, 800 Main St., around 5 PM for Happy Hour food and drinks. Afterwards we walk over to the Regal Cinema 12 on C Street. With a Regal Card you get in for $5.55 and get popcorn for 50% off.

We meet the second Tuesday of each month and alternate between two locations. See Event Calendar for details. Join fellow Bergies at either Cinetopia Mill Plain 8, 11700 SE 7th St 98683, on the second Tuesday of the month when admission is only $6. We will meet at Vinotopia first for snacks and socializing at 5PM. OR Regal Cinema 16 - Red Robin at 5 PM 1101 SE 160th Ave, Vancouver, WA 98683 We will have snacks and socializing and then head to the theatre.

Bergie Pinochle is on the second and forth Saturdays. Participants engage in advanced play using a 4 or 6 handed double-deck format. Those less experienced may come to observe and fill in as needed to brush up on their skills. Costs: Members $3, guests $5 (if space available), pay at event. Bring a beverage for yourself, a potluck item to share, and a folding chair. Some evenings are limited as to the number of players a home can host. Please RSVP by email. First RSVPs get first reservations. You can ask the coordinator for the current PDF of Rules of Play or download it from the Documents tab, under MembersLibrary, in the Guidelines and Rules file folder.

Thank Goodness It's Friday is arranged on a different side of town each week. See Event Calendar for details. We sometimes have happy hours on other nights as well. TGIFs or Happy Hours cost only what you eat and drink--plus a generous tip to the hard working servers so we will be welcomed back! Call the Coordinator of your area to suggest your favorite local meeting place: Vancouver- Michael Grossnickle-360-882-7955; Portland Eastside-Mary Ann Swanson 503-467-1121; Portland Northside- Joe Faracchio 503-334-3724; Portland Westside- Dave Ebright-503-502-8148; Gresham/Boring-Jean Drake 503-666-7473

We enjoy several theater events each year from local community theaters and some major performances in down town Portland. The group meets for Happy Hour dinner before the performances. Events are posted well in advance on the Event Calendar and tickets are pre sold at the Socials.

The club enjoys several wine tasting tours a year with bus transportation, a catered lunch, tasting fees, and driver gratuity included. It is a delightful way to sample wines at three wineries and replenish your stock with your favorites. Margaret DeFrancisco and Bill Leeper have been our hosts for many years.

The club organizes various backpacking events in regional mountain trail areas. Call "Bixie" with your ideas or offer to lead a trip to your favorite place.

Each Spring the coordinator hosts a dinner to gather leaders to sign up to lead bike outings from April thru Sept. It is a fun event to meet other bike leaders. If you would like to lead a ride or learn more about the program contact her. She has led the bike group for over 30 years. Leaders can offer both mid week and weekend events. Jean offers a trip each summer that includes bike, hike and paddle activities.

Bergies have a number of skilled and knowledgable birders among our members. They occasionally gather for a hike, walk, ride, or trip to a birding destination. Birders walk quietly, stop often to observe with their binoculars, and take photos. Birding walks are often included in our overnight travel trips.

Our golf program is a casual and fun environment for all. On Tuesday evenings, May thru Sept, we play 9 holes alternating among 4 different SW locations. Tee times are usually around 5 PM. The Event Calendar postings provide the details for location, tee times, and RSVP instructions. We often stop for refreshments after the game.

We meet at least once a year for leaders sign up to lead outings spring through fall. See Event Calendar for postings. Contact the coordinator to offer to lead a day trip. He can send you the PDF explaining how to get Oregon's required Invasive Species Permit or get the information in the Documents tab, under Member Library, in the Guidelines and Rules folder, Mandatory Paddling Requirements.

The club offers a number of subsidized tickets to Tea Cup ski area each season. Those are first offered at the Winter Sports Kick Off Social in November each year. We have day trips to the mountain on both weekends and weekdays. The Coordinators offer some day trips with coaching available from experienced members to help new skiers get more comfortable with the sport. Watch the Event Calendar for these outings. Reach out to Willa or Paul if you would like to lead a day trip or have suggestions. There are usually two or more overnight ski trips each winter that include DH, XC and snowshoe activities. Coordinators - Willa Ralphs 503-504-8117 willa.ralphs@yahoo.com or Paul Hanes 503-734-5281 Paulh55@comcast.net.

The club subsidizes a number of downhill tickets at Mt Hood Meadows each year or watch for them to be sold at the Winter Sports Kick Off at the November Social. We have many members who downhill ski and meet up to carpool to the mountain both weekdays and weekends. There are usually two or more ski trips each winter that include DH, XC, and snowshoe activities.

PACRATS-Pacific NW Area Club Recreational Alpine Teams- is a league of local ski clubs that support down hill racing teams, enjoy across club camaraderie, and compete for prizes. The group also offers training workshops to improve your skills.

We snowshoe lots every winter and love to have beginners join us too. We have a few pairs for newbies to borrow. There are snowshoe outings that are easy to more difficult. See Event Calendar for postings by Jeff and Heidi Munson.

Email rather than phone Recreational Sports Director Michael Grossnickle at michael683_98@yahoo.com with your ideas for a local city walk or regional hike. He will get your event posted on the calendar and help you lead if you have not done it before.

The Board generally offers both a Memorial Day and Labor Day Weekend Campout that includes both RVers and tent campers. These are active trips with bike, hike, and paddle options. The meals are planned by the leaders but everyone helps with food prep chores and clean up. The evening campfires are great fun and show off the talents of our members who sing and play music. Leaders offer other campouts throughout the season as well. Watch the Event Calendar for these postings.

Coordinators Dwight and Victoria Busch post several RV Campouts in the region for RVers to explore together. Do you have an idea or want to lead an outing to your favorite place? Email Dwight ddbusch@msn.com or Victoria anyu28vb@gmail.com or call them at 503-941-5936.

Overnight travel opportunities may include trips in the USA and international. Opt in to this sub group to get advance notice of trips in the planning stage or newly posted trips. Board members have approved trips to cities, national parks, the beach, ocean cruises, and seasonal sports trips to ski or bike, hike, and paddle. We are open to new ideas for adventure.

Our members enjoy trips to savor good food and wine in various regions around the Pacific Northwest. These include hotel stays and chauffered transportation to wineries each day. Watch Event Calendar for postings or if you have a favorite area to suggest contact Coordinators Michael Grossnickle michael683_98@yahoo.com or Judy Green judygreenpeace53@yahoo.com 503-975-3724. Email is preferred.