ANNUAL SENIOR HOLIDAY LUNCHEON December 11, 2017
Conviviality reigned supreme at our annual Senior Holiday Luncheon, held at the Portsmouth Country Club. We initiated this event more than 20 years ago. It’s been a welcoming Christmas Social for local senior residents ever since.
This is the fourth celebration organized by our own Cindi Shanley. She earns hearty kudos for the event’s continued success. How successful? Well, word has clearly gotten out. This year seniors were asked to RSVP starting on November 13. By 10:40AM that day the 150 senior guest maximum had been filled up!
Like most effective Rotarian leaders, Cindi enlisted a co-coordinator this year, Julia Ghigliotti. Thanks, Julia, for stepping up. You helped make this year’s event more fun than ever!
On to the luncheon itself. President Ben was an enthusiastic Master of Ceremonies. Background music was provided by the Portsmouth High School Band while Santa mingled among the guest tables. John Rice gave the invocation.
President Ben thanked the gift donors: Salvation Army of Portsmouth, HALO Branded Solutions (Janice Cassidy), Infinite Imaging (a fellow named Bill), State Farm Insurance (Aileen Dugan), Direct Printing & Graphics (Lindsey Hery) and Portsmouth Regional Hospital.
The “spotted turtle room” of the Seacoast Community School provided spirited renditions of seasonal songs. Afterwards President Ben interviewed the precious preschoolers. While inquiring about their Christmas gift requests to Santa, Ben’s adult façade fell apart. All of a sudden we were watching a young Ben Wheeler connecting with kids about his same age! Very cool!
The 50/50 raffle was enthusiastically embraced. A magnificent $127 prize was won by an unknown woman. We noted that she was suspiciously seated next to the Liff Cartel table.
Our own “Rotations” led the attendees in singing several secular and spiritual songs. This slimmed-down version of the vocal group consisted of John Rice and Ashley Bush. We know John’s good baritone voice. A pleasant unveiling was Ashley’s superb alto voice. Mark well your scribe’s prediction: Ashley will be leading our club in song at future meetings!
After a sumptuous meal and this fine entertainment, our senior guests left with a nicely filled swag bag.
