A Visit from Santa!
Posted by Adele Gibbs
Minutes of the Missoula Sunrise Rotary Meeting December 17, 2008.
Again this week we met at the Hilton, this time for our annual Christmas breakfast with the Youth Homes. It was a wonderfully festive event with much laughter and many smiles.
We had numerous guests, visiting Rotarians and family members join us for this holiday celebration. Guests included Tera Poindexter (guest of Sonia Mussiett); Peg Novatny (guest of Anne Guest); Kevin Johnson, Jose and Michael Juarez (guests of Ellie Hill); Julie Titchbourne (guest of Linda Pijon); Linnea (Interact club advisor and guest of Susan Anderson); and Noon Club Rotarians Tim Furey and Geoff Birnbaum. Family members included Margot Belden's brother Rob; Krista Frederikson's parents John and Micki; Ric and Kristina Mussiett (Sonia); Jeanne Clark (Jim); Kathleen Miller (Brad); Sarah Anderson (Susan); Ginny Marangelo (Glenn); Paige and Max Williamson (Norm); Lori, Finley and Ashton Warden (Chris); and Chad and Derrick Bardwick (David). And, of course, our special guests included the wonderful staff and kids from the Gallagher and Francetich Youth Homes.
Following an invocation by Paul Sepp (a lovely and timely reminder for the "reason for the season") we held a short business meeting before we got down to fun. Chris Warden began by thanking Geoff Birnbaum for nominating our club for the Western Montana Fundraisers Association's Service Club of the Year award and for giving a very kind speech at the awards ceremony.
Chris also announced that the Nominations Committee has met and is currently speaking with prospects for club leadership positions. An email announcing nominations will be sent this Friday to all club members.
Anne Guest announced that the Past President's Committee will meet on Monday, December 29th at 11:30 at Finn & Porter (in the fish bowl room) to elect a new Advisor to the Board. All Past Presidents: please confirm your attendance to Anne!
Chris Warden announced that six Rotarians met last evening at Montec to put together more Baskets of Plenty. As example baskets were circulated through the room, Bill St. John explained the basket contents: a great bottle of wine, a unique "bread in a bottle" kit (including a bottle of Moose Drool beer to help you make it), a bag of Wheat Montana flour, a beautifully scented Montana candle, some awesome jam and some huckleberry candies. Baskets are $60 and through the holidays will be discounted 10%.
Once again to the accompaniment of David Bardwick on the train whistle, Jeanine Nguyen reminded us that she has tickets to the Money Train, for Saturday, February 7th. ONLY EIGHT TICKETS REMAIN-get yours today!
Chris Warden reminded us that we will NOT have regular meetings on 12/24 and 12/31. Our holiday social will be held Tuesday, December 30th at Cynthia Bryan's home at 5:30. Invitations and directions to Cynthia's were circulated at the meeting.
We then moved on to fun with Santa John Engen. Santa first said he was looking for a gift: a stimulus package! Santa thanked our club for our fine work, especially with children. Santa then presented each child (Youth Homes and Rotarian family kids) with a gift and shared warm wishes and good cheer with all. Smiles were abundant, and one young boy even offered "IT'S COLD!" when Santa asked if he had any words of wisdom to share.
In addition to the gifts presented at today's meeting, there were countless gift bags from Sunrise Rotarians to each of the Youth Homes kids. They'll receive those gifts Christmas morning. A big thank you to all in the club for supporting this event!
Following this festive program, we closed the meeting with a recitation of the Four Way Test. Happy Holidays to all and we'll see you the evening of December 30th for our holiday social at Cynthia Bryan's home!
We had numerous guests, visiting Rotarians and family members join us for this holiday celebration. Guests included Tera Poindexter (guest of Sonia Mussiett); Peg Novatny (guest of Anne Guest); Kevin Johnson, Jose and Michael Juarez (guests of Ellie Hill); Julie Titchbourne (guest of Linda Pijon); Linnea (Interact club advisor and guest of Susan Anderson); and Noon Club Rotarians Tim Furey and Geoff Birnbaum. Family members included Margot Belden's brother Rob; Krista Frederikson's parents John and Micki; Ric and Kristina Mussiett (Sonia); Jeanne Clark (Jim); Kathleen Miller (Brad); Sarah Anderson (Susan); Ginny Marangelo (Glenn); Paige and Max Williamson (Norm); Lori, Finley and Ashton Warden (Chris); and Chad and Derrick Bardwick (David). And, of course, our special guests included the wonderful staff and kids from the Gallagher and Francetich Youth Homes.
Following an invocation by Paul Sepp (a lovely and timely reminder for the "reason for the season") we held a short business meeting before we got down to fun. Chris Warden began by thanking Geoff Birnbaum for nominating our club for the Western Montana Fundraisers Association's Service Club of the Year award and for giving a very kind speech at the awards ceremony.
Chris also announced that the Nominations Committee has met and is currently speaking with prospects for club leadership positions. An email announcing nominations will be sent this Friday to all club members.
Anne Guest announced that the Past President's Committee will meet on Monday, December 29th at 11:30 at Finn & Porter (in the fish bowl room) to elect a new Advisor to the Board. All Past Presidents: please confirm your attendance to Anne!
Chris Warden announced that six Rotarians met last evening at Montec to put together more Baskets of Plenty. As example baskets were circulated through the room, Bill St. John explained the basket contents: a great bottle of wine, a unique "bread in a bottle" kit (including a bottle of Moose Drool beer to help you make it), a bag of Wheat Montana flour, a beautifully scented Montana candle, some awesome jam and some huckleberry candies. Baskets are $60 and through the holidays will be discounted 10%.
Once again to the accompaniment of David Bardwick on the train whistle, Jeanine Nguyen reminded us that she has tickets to the Money Train, for Saturday, February 7th. ONLY EIGHT TICKETS REMAIN-get yours today!
Chris Warden reminded us that we will NOT have regular meetings on 12/24 and 12/31. Our holiday social will be held Tuesday, December 30th at Cynthia Bryan's home at 5:30. Invitations and directions to Cynthia's were circulated at the meeting.
We then moved on to fun with Santa John Engen. Santa first said he was looking for a gift: a stimulus package! Santa thanked our club for our fine work, especially with children. Santa then presented each child (Youth Homes and Rotarian family kids) with a gift and shared warm wishes and good cheer with all. Smiles were abundant, and one young boy even offered "IT'S COLD!" when Santa asked if he had any words of wisdom to share.
In addition to the gifts presented at today's meeting, there were countless gift bags from Sunrise Rotarians to each of the Youth Homes kids. They'll receive those gifts Christmas morning. A big thank you to all in the club for supporting this event!
Following this festive program, we closed the meeting with a recitation of the Four Way Test. Happy Holidays to all and we'll see you the evening of December 30th for our holiday social at Cynthia Bryan's home!