On Saturday, December 2, forty-eight people journeyed to Shelby Township to Filippa’s Italian Restaurant for our annual JAGM Holiday Party. The event was well attended with most attendees domiciled locally. However, we did have two couples there from Ontario and Indiana.
Our group was in the Crystal Room, which was bright and nicely decorated. Mother Nature blessed us with decent weather for the day. As people arrived, they put any new unwrapped toys on the “Toys for Tots” donation tables. We also had a donation box available for those who wished to give via personal check or cash. We are a generous group as we filled the tables with toys and the dropbox with $737. JAGM provided a gift basket, Steven and Connie Myerscough also provided a second gift basket, and Moss Motors contributed a blanket. All three gifts were used as door prizes. Each place setting received a raffle ticket for the door prizes and a decorative box of chocolates. In addition, a 50/50 raffle officiated by Connie and Steven Myerscough with assistance from Jane Griffith and Pete Conway, brought in $204, with $102 going to the lucky ticket holder and the other $102 going into the total of $737 to be sent to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.
As the number of people in the Crystal Room rose the mingling and conversations started. Many “catching up” conversations were taking place, and since we had a few new people in attendance, some new friendships were also in the making. Filippa’s set up a very nice buffet that was enjoyed by all.
Following the buffet lunch, the winning ticket for the Blanket was drawn and the winner was Mark Griffith. Connie and Steven next called upon Ilene Harris to draw the winning ticket for the Wine & Cheese basket. That basket went to Pat Majetek. Pat drew the next winning ticket for the English Tea basket, which went to Robert Charlier. The 50/50 raffle winning ticket was drawn by Robert, and that went to a new member - Dianne Gouin. Congratulations to all! Judging by the many smiles and the jubilant conversations taking place, everyone had a grand time. A perfect end to a great year.
Phil Crutchfiel