Friday Morning Coffee Club bids fond farewell to 'team members' at Cranbrook Target store as Starbucks closes

FMCC final meeting at Target Starbucks in Cranbrook

The Friday Morning Coffee Club, aka FMCC, held its last meeting at the Starbucks in the Cranbrook Target store today (January 23/15) bidding a fond farewell to the "team members" for their friendly service and hospitality over the almost two years we have been meeting there.

FMCC is a minor casualty of course,compared to the situation facing the more than 100 "team members" at the Cranbrook store as Target closes its 133 stores in Canada, but we really did not want to  move.

In fact, upon arrival today, we did not know that Starbucks was closing so soon, until executive team members, always professional, came and gave us the news, thanking us for our weekly visits.

Merry Christmas to Target guests

FMCC was founded at Target Starbucks shortly after the store opened. I started having coffee there simply to show support for former students from College of the Rockies, who had become part of the new venture.

Joel Vinge joined me within a week, followed by Jim Roberts: the word spread and we have had up to 15 members show up for coffee, and we are all from different walks of life, and different parts of the country and one from the United States.

As FMCC membership grew, we chatted about the possibility of moving to a larger place, but decided to stay with our friends at Target.

We have celebrated birthdays, Halloween (and my birthday), and during the holiday season delivered a rousing rendition of "We wish you a Merry Christmas' to Target guests -- assisted by store team members.

Our weekly get togethers have led to new friendships and also resulted in Breakfast at the Ranch hosted by Jim Roberts and Mark Spence-Vinge, with Chef Justin Cleland, and a Christmas party at the home of Ron McFarland.

Next week, we will hold another Breakfast at the Ranch for a special meal prepared by Chef Justin, assisted by Jim and Mark.

FMCC plans to continue. A search committee has been formed and is scouting suitable locations for the group.

However, it won't be the same. Without getting into the pros and cons of Target's decision to pack up and leave Canada, they have an excellent team at their Cranbrook store, and on a very personal basis. I will miss them.

Many have become personal friends, and I wish them all the best. You gave FMCC a great home, and quite frankly deserved better. Thank you.

Friday Morning Coffee Club Wishes You a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Friday Morning Coffee Club, aka FMCC, brought holiday greetings to shoppers and team members at the Target store in Cranbrook with a rousing rendition of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". It was part of the regular weekly gathering at the Starbucks location in the store. Trina (Starbucks) and Leona (Target) joined the group.

From FMCC were MJM, Joel Vinge, Gerry Warner, Yme Woensdregt, Ron McFarland and Bill Nightingale.

Jim Roberts was travelling but in touch by phone and Mark Spence-Vinge was late arriving as he was assisting packing boxes for Christmas at the Salvation Army.

FMCC extends thanks to Trina (Starbucks) and Leona (Target) as well as store team leader Mike for their assistance with the production.

Antoine, Ron

Although FMCC has been meeting at the Starbucks in Target for a year and a half now, two very special occasions have taken place "off campus"

Brian, Antoine, Bill, Ron

Recently, an awesome Christmas party was held at the home of Ron McFarland which was really enjoyed by all. While FMCC, was at Ron's place for their party, the ladies went out for dinner.

Justin and  Jim at Ron's

Thanks so much Ron for your hospitality and special thanks to Judy!

Back Joel, Mj, Brian, Ron, Mark, Jim, seated Gordon and Bill

The other occasion was Breakfast at the Ranch, organized by Jim Roberts and Mark Spence-Vinge, with special assistance provided by Justin Cleland.

Peter, Yme, Gordon at Ron's

Thanks Jim, Mark and Justin for making it happen. A very special thanks to Joel Vinge for being our "official" photographer.

Back Jim, Bill Joel. Seated Antoine, Gordon, Peter, MJ, Ron, Bob, Mark

FMCC has also celebrated birthdays and sends thanks to Target Starbucks for helping make these occasions special.

MJ and Mark at Ron's

 "We wish you a Merry Christmas, best wishes for the holiday season and a Happy New Year!"

Winston and MJ

FRIDAY MORNING COFFEE CLUB JUST KEEPS ON CELEBRATING

Front Antoine, Gordon, Peter, MJM, Ron, Mark. Back Jim, Bill, Joel, Bob

Friday Morning Coffee Club aka FMCC, just keeps on celebrating with its Halloween party complete with treats back at its usual location at the Starbucks in the Cranbrook Target store.

We had a pretty full house last Friday as a couple of our regulars were back from travels.

A couple of weeks ago it was Breakfast at the Ranch organized by Jim Roberts and Mark Spence-Vinge. Another ranch visit with Jim is in the works before Winter really sets in, but if it has, so what, FMCC members are a hardy group.

In fact, I wouldn't doubt it if some could still cross country ski to the ranch in the Fort Steele area. LOL!

Thanks to Trina at Starbucks for preparing the tray of treats complete with pumpkin loaf and muffins. Awesome.

Thanks also to Joel Vinge for the group photo.

And finally, thanks guys for the rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday". Much appreciated.

As you were singing, it struck me that almost all of you, still sing, or have sung in choirs and groups bringing great enjoyment into peoples' lives here in Cranbrook and beyond.

As an aside, I had a very brief career in the Junior Choir at St John's Anglican Church in Chapleau where my Mom was choir director. When my voice started to change, one night as Mom was washing the supper dishes, I asked her if I should join the Senior Choir, She said, "Sing the scales", so I started, "Do, re, me...." and she interjected, "No," Thus ended my singing career.
Here is link to Thanksgiving Breakfast on the Ranch http://michaeljmorrisreports.blogspot.ca/2014/10/fmcc-holds-thanksgiving-breakfast-on.html

FMCC Holds Thanksgiving Breakfast on a Ranch in the Mountains

Joel, MJM, Brian, Ron, Mark, Jim with Gordon, Bill seated

The Friday Morning Coffee Club, aka FMCC, launched Thanksgiving weekend with Breakfast on a Ranch in the Mountains, a huge change from its usual meeting place at Starbucks in the Cranbrook Target store.

Organized by Jim Roberts and Mark Spence-Vinge, with Joel Vinge and Bill Nightingale as the chauffeurs, off we went to the Fort Steele area where Jim lives. Others along for the special occasion were Brian Passey, Ron Mcfarland, Gordon Ingalls and of course me.

On a bright sunny clear Fall day, it was the ideal place to spend a morning with good friends, and has left me listening to and humming  "Climb Every Mountain" made famous by Julie Andrews in "The Sound of Music" by Rodgers and Hammerstein ever since.

Jim Roberts

When I arrived in Cranbrook for the first time in 1988 to look around, on the first morning I was here, I looked at those very same mountains, and said to myself, "I think I would like to live here," Just over 25 years later, I am still here, and have always lived where I could see "my mountains".

This time, as Joel pointed out, we were looking from the "other side" from Cranbrook and what a spectacular, humbling experience it was. No wonder I stayed here.

After enjoying a mountain breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausages, toast and coffee prepared by Jim with Mark as "overseer", we went up to a higher level from where we were and looked far and away at "the back" of Fisher Peak and the Steeples.

Justin (Jim's nephew and assistant)

Joel, Brian, Justin and I walked up while Jim drove Bill, Mark, Ron, and Gordon in an ATV.

Then, because of my bragging about the two times in my life when I was on a horse, it was time to visit the corral to meet Winston. Justin looked after the visit. To be honest Winston did not like me very much -- for some reason, horses, (ponies) don't, although Cinammon, one of the ranch dogs became my instant buddy.  However, for the historical record, Joel did manage to get a photo of me with Winston. Joel was official photographer.

What a wonderful place to spend some moments with good friends, for some laughter, good food, fellowship and spectacular scenery. Thanks so much guys and here are some familiar words from "Climb Every Mountain".

"Climb every mountain,
Search high and low,
Follow every byway,
Every path you know.

Climb every mountain,
Ford every stream,
Follow every rainbow,
'Till you find your dream."

May all climb their mountain and find their dream!  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Friday Morning Coffee Club Holds Birthday Party for Three Members

From left Jim, Joel, Bill, MJ, Ron, Yme, Mark, Gordon

The Friday Morning Coffee Club (FMCC) which meets at the Starbucks in the Cranbrook Target store celebrated the birthdays of three of its regulars with Joel Vinge, one of the founders, leading a rousing rendition of  "Happy Birthday",

Celebrating birthdays and getting a muffin with a candle on it and a card were Ron McFarland, Gordon Ingalls and Bill Nightingale, youngsters all!

FMCC was founded over a year ago shortly after Target opened its store here. I started having coffee at its Starbucks mainly because I discovered that several of my former students from College of the Rockies were working there, and I wanted to show them my support. I also liked the friendly staff, (team members in Target jargon), excellent prices and customer service (guest service in the Target manual)

Shortly afterwards, Joel, who had just moved into the neighbourhood, decided to walk over from his new home, and  join me. We told Jim Roberts about it, FMCC was launched and has had as many as twelve show up for coffee.

Before FMCC some of us did not know each other too well, and we come from a great variety of backgrounds, personally and professionally, from all over Canada, with one from the United States.

For me, who has not gone for coffee "with the boys" since I was in high school, a few years ago, it has been a new experience. I look forward immensely to our weekly meetings where conversations range from being asked to check our wardrobes to see where our clothes were made to attempted smuggling of booze across the border, the latter in younger days of course.... and everything in between but all in a lighthearted vein.

I really enjoy hearing the stories the boys share, and I laugh a lot. Some of the members are at least a couple of weeks older than me, and some younger, but the lighthearted conversations bring us together. It is great fun.

I am a great believer that we should make every effort to focus on those things which bring us together rather than divide us, and FMCC does it for me. Thanks guys.

And, thanks to the Target and Starbucks  "team members" who extend the hand of hospitality to us each week.

I tweeted to Target Canada about the party and here is reply:

@MichaelJMo - Birthday greetings to your Friday Morning Coffee Club members. We're delighted you choose to celebrate with us. Thanks.