MAD Club in Cold January

President Irv Mac Donald, Secretary Kathern Lawrence,

Vice-President Joe Babineau, Treasruer Albert Budd

MAD Club during Cold January
January 14, 2012
by Kathern G. Lawrence

Deaf people usually gather at Lions' Hall at Pleasant Street in the Saturday afternoon every month for a meeting of Moncton Association of the Deaf  (MAD) or a social function. The MAD Club has been in existence since 1948 or 1949. The club started at home with a small number of Deaf people. A married couple took turns hosting the club until 1970's. Since then, we have been renting a place someplace for a few hours. It is one indication of our social needs for survival, as a part of our Deaf Culture, that we maintain social contact with another one as, of course, we rely on information through sign language for communication purposes. We tell stories, share news, or discuss issues or views like hearing people. We are visually stimulated and mentally healthy.

Bill Hall & Sheldon Wood

Albert Budd signed "Me"

Margaret Babineau signed "Can..."

Chris Mott signing "2"

Irv MacDonald showing his Nokia
hand-set as Bill Fillmore scrutinized
its features.

From L to R - Roland & Connie

Legge, Anne Mac Donald

All smiles for the photo:

Front - Armand & Eileen Babineau

2nd row - Cora & Reggie Babineau

Back row - Anne MacDonald

The cold weather in January did not keep us at home, even those people travelling from Sussex, N.B.; Sackville, N.B., River Hebert, N.S., and Amherst, N.S. up to about an hour of drive.

Thanks to the Lord who kept the travellers safe as the weather was pleasant enough for their travel. After half an hour of friendly chat in a Pidgon combination of ASL (American Sign Language) and MSL (Maritime Sign Language), the monthly meeting proceeded with President Irv Mac Donald and 26 Deaf people present. The new motion was animously passed; we do not bring our dish of food for our snack as the social function started at 1 PM and closed at 5 PM in the future. We usually eat lunch and supper meals between the meeting so there is no need to overeat ourselves during the gathering. However, we would bring our own drinks: water, pop, or juice to quench our thirst.

After the meeting, we made two choices of playing games: Hedbanz Jr. and Skip-Bo. Meanwhile, the others chose to chat.

Margaret Babineau was listening to
the description of an object as shown

Marion Wood & Claudet Goguen

Doreen Mott & Jude Mills



Patti Hall placed a card that she could not look at.

Ruby Taylor of Newfoundland explained the
SkipBo game to Bill Fillmore as Cora was listening.

Connie Legge and Gerry Buchanan were
 amused by a story told.