Friday, October 27, 2017

Red Hatters Attend the Flickinger Guild Tea

Sunday, October 15, 2017

 Somehow I managed to skip over a very important event so herewith is the report and photos taken at the Flickinger Center Theater Guild Turquoise and Silver Tea which took place on Saturday, October 15, 2017 at the Tays Center here in Alamogordo, New Mexico. This is probably the social event of the year here and is always well attended and tons of FUN.

They have a silent auction with everything you could imagine to bid on. Then there is a fabulous style show with local residents strutting their stuff on the stage from many retailers not only in Alamogordo, but surrounding areas as well. Entertainment was provided by several sets of local talent. The Alamogordo High School ROTC students were servers and they did an excellent job.

Eleven members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society attended. I attended dressed in the ensemble I wore when I was selected "Divine Diva" at "Hatters Get There Kicks on Route 66" in Wichita, Kansas. Several Red Hatters won door prizes and a grand time was had by all.

Trudy Reese and Darla Shelley looking lovely
Florence Dean and Alice Johnston-Evans all decked out
Vice Queen Donna Williams with Nadia Sikes looking so great
Margie Purcella sporting her stunning bra hat she made at a chapter crafts day the first year we were organized. The emcee said she looked like a Vegas show girl!
L to R: Rosanna Heath, Dorothy Edwards and Gail Swineford all a-smile!
Margie won a door prize
The young man on the right is a family friend, Andrew Spencer
This was a lively dance troupe and the one man managed to stay up with them
Fellow thespian, Monica Helm, modeling a lovely ensemble during the style show
This is yours truly in the same ensemble I wore in Wichita, Kansas at their Red Hat Convention when I was selected "Divine Diva" of the convention.
The tea was, dare I say, "Divine"? We all had a grand time and our bra hats were a big hit. Everyone wanted to take pictures of us. This was a new venue for this event and it was absolutely fabulous. The Tays is much larger and the models were able to walk around the tables giving us a better look at the fashions being modeled. I should have taken more pictures because several of the girls won door prizes, but we were split between two tables and that made it a bit more difficult to do a good job of it.

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photography for taking the picture of me.

This is all I have to say for now.


Monday, October 23, 2017

Hatters Get Their Kicks on Route 66 Convention in Wichita, Kansas

October 6-8, 2017 in Wichita, Kansas

Wichita Red Hat Convention

This is the last event with photos until this coming Saturday. On Friday, October 6, 2017, I boarded a plane to Wichita, Kansas to take part in their "Hatters Get Their Kicks on Route 66" event. This was a FUNtastic event and I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of it. I got acquainted with Connie Pearl, Queen Mum of the Toto-ly Oz-some Red Hatters Chapter in NYC at the RHS International Convention this past February. When she realized I was from New Mexico, she said, "Oh, you simply must come to our convention in Wichita, Kansas in October." I told her I would think about it.

As time passed, we emailed each other and I made the decision to represent New Mexico on Route 66 at their convention. I arrived too late on Friday to judge the old car show, but I put myself together for the evening FUN as Janis Joplin and sang "Mercedes Benz" on the stage. Many attendees really got into portraying themselves as famous 1960's characters. The "singing" was hysterically funny and entertaining. We enjoyed a nice dinner in the ballroom. Michael Wallis, curator of the Route 66 museum, author and voice of the Sheriff in all the "Cars" movies, told a lot of great stories about Route 66 and making the "Cars" movies.

Saturday morning, we attended a breakfast and were entertained by LaDonna Gatlin (little sister of the Gatlin Brothers) gave a fun talk entitled "Sometimes You Just Gotta Laugh." She was originally a singer with her big brothers but gave it up for marriage and motherhood. She also has a great voice and sang to us.

The second person on the agenda was "Ms. Woman of the United States", Sierra Scott, also a television personality. She thoroughly entertained us with some great stories.

Saturday afternoon, we were to dress as a character in one of five choices of 60's TV shows. I had chosen "Gilligan's Island" as Ginger. But, alas, I discovered I had left my costume hanging in my closet at home. As all of you know, when Red Hatters get lemons, they tend to make lemonade. I walked across the stage in my red and purple and told Connie that I was Ginger fifty years later! I did have the poster I made for "Let's Make a Deal" which was next. I kept waving my poster and shouting "Pick me! Pick me! I finally got up there and took the money a couple of times, but they teased me with the "What's Behind the Curtain" routine and I went for it with everyone shouting, "Don't do it! Don't do it!" I won a "washer and dryer" which turned out to be a huge metal washer covered with silver glitter and a huge clothespin covered with purple glitter! I have it in a place of honor right now in my living room!

Saturday evening was dinner and big time dress-up night to vie for the title of "Divine Diva". I got number 13! We traipsed across the stage and the judges narrowed the group down to six. Amazingly to me, I was still in. We six went back onto the stage while the judges did some more figuring. Then we were sent off-stage to a small alcove. We were all talking among ourselves as Red Hatters are prone to do when Connie said, "We have a winner and it is number 13." I froze and the girls were saying, "Carla, that's you. Get up on that stage." I was almost in shock as I went back on the stage and Connie was there saying, "Tell us who and what you are." I was almost in tears saying, "I'm overwhelmed." I did regain my composure and the next thing I knew they were pinning a sash on me with "Divine Diva" printed on it; gave me a half-dozen long-stemmed red roses (plastic, of course, because how would you get them home on the plane alive?); and a red carry-bag filled with individually wrapped gifts. It was like Christmas!

We had a lovely breakfast on Sunday morning and we paid tribute to military and service professionals and it was amazing how many Red Hatters have served in the military. We were also entertained by Curtis the Mentalist. He was amazing. Very difficult to figure out how he reads your mind!

I wore my sash home on the plane and got quizzed about it many times. WOW! This is one memory that will stay with me forever. I must add that Carol K. Drake "Goddess of Design" was the person who created her version of "Let's Make a Deal" and it was spectacular, no wasted motion and tons of FUN. Kudos to Carol and the whole committee on creating a fabulous event. I'm so glad I went!

However, when my plane got to Phoenix, Arizona on my way home, there was a security breach in our terminal (suspicious package) and we sat on the tarmac over an hour. When we finally were able to deplane, my flight to El Paso was already gone and I had to sit there until 10:45 PM before getting another flight. When I arrived in El Paso, it seems my luggage had gone to LAX. My poor hubby, Doug, had spent the whole of Sunday afternoon waiting at an Applebee's Restaurant for my arrival. My luggage did arrive on Monday afternoon about 7:00 PM intact and everything was there and nothing broken. Boy, were we both tired!

Some of the Flower Children singing Karaoke
More Flower Children singing Karaoke
Michael Wallis, Curator of the Route 66 Museum, author and voice of the Sheriff in the "Cars" movies
Sierra Scott, Wichita TV personality and Ms. Woman of the United States winner
LaDonna Gatlin (little sister of the Gatlin Brothers) gave a talk "Sometimes You Gotta Laugh" and sang
L to R: Unknown, Mary Kay and Mary Stewart, table mates
Ana and Belle, table mates
Pam, a table mate
Cheryl Fiesbeck, table mate
Pam, Carla Kerr (just before I won Divine Diva) and Ana
Representing the U.S. Navy
U.S. Air Force veterans
Connie Pearl, U.S. Army Veteran and the Convention Chairperson
Red Hatters helping Curtis the Mentalist do one of his mind bending tricks
Curtis wrapped his head in duct tape while Connie looks on incredulously!
I do not have any photos of my winning "Divine Diva", but will be receiving a DVD of the whole event which I will share with anyone interested.

This is all I have to say for now.

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

COPE Open House in Alamogordo, New Mexico

Thursday, October 12, 2017

The Center Of Protective Environment (COPE) held an Open House for the residents of Otero and Lincoln Counties in Alamogordo, New Mexico on Thursday, October 12, 2017 from 2:00 to 4:00PM. Delicious refreshments were provided by the COPE Board of Directors as well as tours of the new improved offices of the organization.

The Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce orchestrated a ribbon cutting ceremony with COPE Executive Director Kay Gomolak handily wielding the scissors.

Mayor Richard Boss read a proclamation issued by the city to COPE. Kay gave an interesting short history of the organization of how it started and how it arrived to this point.

Glenda Mendoza, board member
Board Members Linda Carr and Judy Pingle. Judy was the original founder of COPE
Board Member Carla Kerr
Teresa Ham, Producer and Director of the COPE annual fundraiser concert with Executive Director Kay Gomolak
President Jerold Wiley of the COPE Board of Directors
Rebecca Williams is secretary of the Ruidoso Satellite office of COPE
Angela Randall, Volunteer Coordinator of Thrive in Alamogordo
COPE Board Vice President Carol Teweleit talking with current COPE Secretary/past President Sheila Harrison
An attendee talking with City Commissioner Nadia Sikes
Kim Boss makes a point to her husband, Mayor Boss, while Reverend James Forney looks on
COPE Board Member and Treasurer Reverend James Forney
The ever lovely Teresa Ham
Executive Director Kay Gomolak cutting the ribbon
Kay receives a plant and a certificate from the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce
Kay relating the history of COPE to the group
Judy Pingel, COPE founder, adds her thoughts and information on COPE
Kay's daughter from Las Cruces, NM also photographed the event
Alamogordo Mayor Richard Boss reading the Official Proclamation
Kay, receiving the Proclamation from Mayor Boss
Everyone held hands as Reverend Forney prayed for the continued success of COPE
Carla with the Alamogordo Daily News writer and photographer Tara Melton
This was a lovely event and well attended by the citizens of Alamogordo. The food was plentiful and delicious. Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photography for the event photos.

This is all I have to say for now.

Red Hatters Day Trip to Ruidoso, New Mexico

September 23, 2017

Nine members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society in Alamogordo took a day trip to Ruidoso, New Mexico. It was a rainy day and plans were to tour the Mescalero Indian Reservation Chapel, but it was raining when we got there so we continued on to the Adobe Art Museum in Ruidoso. The Adobe is a stunning museum on Sudderth Street and they show beautiful pieces by local artists and artisans.

We made a short shopping stop at Rosemary's Herb Shop where some purchases were made. We then drove across the Sudderth to the Cornerstone Bakery Cafe for lunch where the food was absolutely delicious and the service superb. While there we hummed "Happy Birthday" on our kazoos to Darla Shelley and she was gifted with a lovely red hat.

L to R: Dorothy Edwards, Margie Purcella and Alice Johnston-Evans enjoying the food
Jan Jennings and Lu Mattson
Our birthday girl, Darla Shelley and Jan
Alice and Vice Queen Donna Williams
Our waitress kindly offered to take a picture of us. L to R: Margie, Alice, VQ Donna, Queen Ladybird aka Carla Kerr, Darla, Jan, Lu and Dorothy (standing).
Darla with her gift. From the looks of that smile, we think she liked it. She is a recent widow so we were so glad to have her with us this day.
A big thanks to Dorothy Edwards and Lu Mattson for planning this event. Everyone had a grand time and the food was over the top.

This is all I have to say for now.