The Potsdam Après Ski Club
Holiday Dinner and Ornament Exchange Meeting
at Shirley and Bob Metcalf's
December 11, 2010
There are always three highlights of the Potsdam Après Ski Club Holiday Meeting
Festive Decorations -- Great Food -- THE Ornament Exchange
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| The Menu | |
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 Where is the food? | |
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This is why the Wonderful Dinner was gone.
The Ornament Exchange
Five Golden Rings
Again this year we were able to capture the group singing of "Five Golden Rings". This prize winning rendition is about 5 minutes long. You can click below to hear our performance. (You will probably have to download the file.) Play Five Golden Rings
12 Days of Christmas - Origins and Religious Meaning
Courtesy of Shirley and Bob
- Part 1
- Part 2
Photos by Shirley and Bob, Dave.
Potsdam Apres Ski Club Meeting Minutes
Meeting hosts: Shirley and Bob
Members Present:
Bob and Shirley Metcalf, Judy Lowell, Joe and Jutta Fitzsimmons,
Heather and Russ Nelson. Carolyn and Gene Kaczka, Ron and Doris
Frazer, Tellie and Dave Bray, Sue and Bob Northrup, Bob and Susan
Meyer, Tom and Karen Fuhr
Bob Meyer called the meeting to order and Susan read the minutes
of the October 2 meeting.
Welcome to our guests, John and Cathy Kaplan.
Treasurer’s Report: The treasury has a balance of $94.89
after reimbursing Dick and JoAnne Partch for the Thanksgiving turkey.
Many thanks to our hosts Bob and Shirley Metcalf for their
wonderful hospitality.
First order of business is the matter of money. The dues
discussion was suspended until this meeting. At the last meeting,
Dick Partch had raised the issue of meetings – how many and
when. The matter is somewhat linked with the question of dues. Our
distinguished president suggested a meeting schedule along the
following lines:
A late September/early October meeting
One meeting between Thanksgiving and Christmas (first couple
of weeks of December) for he ornament exchange
January cross country ski meeting with soup and sandwiches
A meeting in March – more or less midway between the
January meeting and the Derby Day meeting in early May
Derby Day in early May
Summer meeting sometime in July or August
Traditionally, the club has provided the main meal for three of
these meetings (holiday, Derby Day, and summer) and the cost has been
about $50 for each of these meetings. This works out to on the order
of $10 per couple for dues. The treasury has $94.89, so it would
appear that dues of $5 per couple ($2.50 per person) would be
appropriate for this year.
Proposal to the membership: For the 2010-11 season, dues are
$5.00 per couple, $2.50 person. Next year, depending on the treasury
at the end of this year, it may need to be $10.00 per couple $5.00
per person. The question was asked – Everyone OK with this?
Overwhelming consensus is yes.
The principal order of business is the ornament exchange.
Shirley passed out numbers to people who brought ornaments to
exchange. Our president led a discussion of the rules. Under the
“old” rules, whoever drew number 1 got to exercise a
right to choose at the end, and there was the perception that this
may have led to some hard feelings. No reason for hard feelings –
this is supposed to be fun!
Suggestion: Regard this as any situation in which numbers are
drawn at random – it is the luck of the draw, and the first
picker picks a gift without getting any special consideration later.
Each subsequent person/couple has a choice: take one that has been
opened or pick an unopened gift.
Exchange rules: At every round, the number of “steals”
is limited to the number of gifts that has been opened so far. So, if
it is round 4, there can be no more than 3 “steals”.
Also, taking back the same ornament that was ”stolen”
from you on the same round is not allowed.
Everyone agreed with this set of ground rules, and the ornament
exchange was on:
Cathy and John Kaplan drew #1 and opened a nice skiing Santa.
Tellie and Dave Bray went next and Tellie fought with a
really well wrapped gift. Skiiers in a hot tub (appropriate after
a day on the slopes!)
Bob and Sue Northrup had number 3 and opened a pewter skiing
Santa.
Russ and Heather Nelson exercised the first steal of the
evening – they stole Bob and Sue’s pewter Santa. Sue
chose a new package to open – a skiing sheep!
Carolyn Kaczka spied a bright red package. Gene opened it
with maximum drama – nice Santa ornament!
Doris and Ron Frazer up next. Doris steals Tellie’s
hot tub. Tellie steals the Santa from Gene, and Carolyn steals Sue
Northrup’s sheep. Sue opens a new ornament – a BIG
skier in 4th position!
Bob and Susan Meyer are up next. Bob wanders over to check
out John and Cathy’s skiing Santa, then opens a new one.
It’s a snowy Santa carrying a tree.
Karen and Tom Fuhr drew number 8 – and Karen opened a
new package. It’s a snowboarding Santa. We’re into a
new way of enjoying the snow for this group!!
Shirley and Bob are on next, and they opened a pair of round
ornaments – very pretty!
Joe and Jutta drew the last number, but they had to leave
early so left their proxy with Bob and Shirley. Bob chooses the
last package under the tree and starts to open it – BUT WAIT!
Shirley say no!!! She steals Bob and Sue Northrop’s big skiier
ornament for Jutta and Joe. Hmph! Sue opens the last box, and it’s
a very nice skiing snowman.
End of the ornament exchange, and all had a great time.
Aaahh – the drawing for the fruit sent by the Beane’s.
Everyone put their numbers back in the basket and John Kaplan chose
a number. It’s Russ and Heather – AGAIN!!
Congratulations.
One last piece of business – THE SONG. Ron Frazer leads us
in our own inimitable rendition of the 12 days of Christmas. Ron
parcels out numbers and we get started. (But what is this –
Tom Fuhr is talking about 9 ladies swimming! Visions from where,
Tom??) With some anomalies, the group had a lot of fun singing the
12 days of Christmas. It all kind of fell apart at 12 and we then
regrouped and did it again starting at 12. Thanks to Ron for leading
us. Our fearless leader says Thank God there are only 12 days of
Christmas!!
Last order of business: Dues are due ($5 per couple, $2.50 per
person). Susan is collecting.
Next meeting is January 22 for skiing at Higley followed by soup
and sandwiches at the Fitzsimmons.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Meyer
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Five Golden Rings
|
| Again this year we were able to capture the group singing of "Five Golden Rings". |
| This prize winning rendition is about 5 minutes long. |
| You can click below to hear our performance. |
| (You will probably have to download the file.) |
| Play Five Golden Rings |
- Part 1
- Part 2
Photos by Shirley and Bob, Dave.
Potsdam Apres Ski Club Meeting Minutes
Meeting hosts: Shirley and BobMembers Present: Bob and Shirley Metcalf, Judy Lowell, Joe and Jutta Fitzsimmons, Heather and Russ Nelson. Carolyn and Gene Kaczka, Ron and Doris Frazer, Tellie and Dave Bray, Sue and Bob Northrup, Bob and Susan Meyer, Tom and Karen Fuhr
Bob Meyer called the meeting to order and Susan read the minutes of the October 2 meeting.
Welcome to our guests, John and Cathy Kaplan.
Treasurer’s Report: The treasury has a balance of $94.89 after reimbursing Dick and JoAnne Partch for the Thanksgiving turkey.
Many thanks to our hosts Bob and Shirley Metcalf for their wonderful hospitality.
First order of business is the matter of money. The dues discussion was suspended until this meeting. At the last meeting, Dick Partch had raised the issue of meetings – how many and when. The matter is somewhat linked with the question of dues. Our distinguished president suggested a meeting schedule along the following lines:
A late September/early October meeting
One meeting between Thanksgiving and Christmas (first couple of weeks of December) for he ornament exchange
January cross country ski meeting with soup and sandwiches
A meeting in March – more or less midway between the January meeting and the Derby Day meeting in early May
Derby Day in early May
Summer meeting sometime in July or August
Traditionally, the club has provided the main meal for three of these meetings (holiday, Derby Day, and summer) and the cost has been about $50 for each of these meetings. This works out to on the order of $10 per couple for dues. The treasury has $94.89, so it would appear that dues of $5 per couple ($2.50 per person) would be appropriate for this year.
Proposal to the membership: For the 2010-11 season, dues are $5.00 per couple, $2.50 person. Next year, depending on the treasury at the end of this year, it may need to be $10.00 per couple $5.00 per person. The question was asked – Everyone OK with this? Overwhelming consensus is yes.
The principal order of business is the ornament exchange. Shirley passed out numbers to people who brought ornaments to exchange. Our president led a discussion of the rules. Under the “old” rules, whoever drew number 1 got to exercise a right to choose at the end, and there was the perception that this may have led to some hard feelings. No reason for hard feelings – this is supposed to be fun!
Suggestion: Regard this as any situation in which numbers are drawn at random – it is the luck of the draw, and the first picker picks a gift without getting any special consideration later. Each subsequent person/couple has a choice: take one that has been opened or pick an unopened gift.
Exchange rules: At every round, the number of “steals” is limited to the number of gifts that has been opened so far. So, if it is round 4, there can be no more than 3 “steals”. Also, taking back the same ornament that was ”stolen” from you on the same round is not allowed.
Everyone agreed with this set of ground rules, and the ornament exchange was on:
Cathy and John Kaplan drew #1 and opened a nice skiing Santa.
Tellie and Dave Bray went next and Tellie fought with a really well wrapped gift. Skiiers in a hot tub (appropriate after a day on the slopes!)
Bob and Sue Northrup had number 3 and opened a pewter skiing Santa.
Russ and Heather Nelson exercised the first steal of the evening – they stole Bob and Sue’s pewter Santa. Sue chose a new package to open – a skiing sheep!
Carolyn Kaczka spied a bright red package. Gene opened it with maximum drama – nice Santa ornament!
Doris and Ron Frazer up next. Doris steals Tellie’s hot tub. Tellie steals the Santa from Gene, and Carolyn steals Sue Northrup’s sheep. Sue opens a new ornament – a BIG skier in 4th position!
Bob and Susan Meyer are up next. Bob wanders over to check out John and Cathy’s skiing Santa, then opens a new one. It’s a snowy Santa carrying a tree.
Karen and Tom Fuhr drew number 8 – and Karen opened a new package. It’s a snowboarding Santa. We’re into a new way of enjoying the snow for this group!!
Shirley and Bob are on next, and they opened a pair of round ornaments – very pretty!
Joe and Jutta drew the last number, but they had to leave early so left their proxy with Bob and Shirley. Bob chooses the last package under the tree and starts to open it – BUT WAIT! Shirley say no!!! She steals Bob and Sue Northrop’s big skiier ornament for Jutta and Joe. Hmph! Sue opens the last box, and it’s a very nice skiing snowman.
End of the ornament exchange, and all had a great time.
Aaahh – the drawing for the fruit sent by the Beane’s. Everyone put their numbers back in the basket and John Kaplan chose a number. It’s Russ and Heather – AGAIN!! Congratulations.
One last piece of business – THE SONG. Ron Frazer leads us in our own inimitable rendition of the 12 days of Christmas. Ron parcels out numbers and we get started. (But what is this – Tom Fuhr is talking about 9 ladies swimming! Visions from where, Tom??) With some anomalies, the group had a lot of fun singing the 12 days of Christmas. It all kind of fell apart at 12 and we then regrouped and did it again starting at 12. Thanks to Ron for leading us. Our fearless leader says Thank God there are only 12 days of Christmas!!
Last order of business: Dues are due ($5 per couple, $2.50 per person). Susan is collecting.
Next meeting is January 22 for skiing at Higley followed by soup and sandwiches at the Fitzsimmons.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Meyer
12 Days of Christmas - Origins and Religious Meaning
Courtesy of Shirley and Bob
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