Lee Carlson

Christmas Banquet
This meeting was our annual Christmas party and as usual it was an entertaining evening filled with food, friendship, and fun, three of the four “F’s” that keep our chapter cooking. Flying, the fourth “F”, took a holiday for this event.

On the Thursday prior to the event, tables were coordinated by Shirley Baker and Nancy Mason guided the chapter house decorations. The lights and the candles and the tablecloths made your chapter house look like Kris Kringle’s home away from home.

The night started with some excellent appetizers by Skip and Martha Barchfeld. Then, after a thoughtful prayer by Norris Warner, the meal was efficiently served by the folks from Bill and Rosa’s. After eating way too much, we had the Team 35 awards presented by Norris Warner. His colorful praise made us all saints. Team 35 reciprocated with plaques of appreciation for Norris and Don Staats. I just can’t say enough about the solid foundation these two have built under our chapter.

Next was the circus known as the gift exchange. Dave Baker did his level best to keep a lid on the inevitable riot that ensued. His level best was, as is typical, aimed well wide of the mark and the result was highly entertaining. There were a couple of aviator bears that went around the room through several owners, but the hands down winner for the most sought after gift was a small girl’s bicycle kit. I don’t even know where it ended up, but in this centennial of flight year it was somehow appropriate that the bicycle was so popular. This is a chapter of builders.

All attendees are requested to remember the evening’s good points and even the not so good ones so we can put on an even better affair next year. Send your comments in to the newsletter or send them to any board member.

Lee Carlson