American Cancer Society "Relay for Life" in Alamogordo, New Mexico

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Finish the Fight

The day began at 9:00 a.m. in the Alamogordo High School Cafeteria with the Survivors Brunch at which Carla Kerr was the keynote speaker. The school cooks outdid themselves on the food, serving scrambled eggs, sausage patty, fruit, croissant, blueberry/granola compote and coffee. Everything was delicious. The young people in the Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors Group did a great job of waiting on everyone, keeping those coffee cups refilled.

Ms. Kerr related that the American Cancer Society's new mantra is "Finish the Fight" and that their scientists are working hard in their laboratories to find a cure. She talked about her journey with cancer, starting in 1961 when she was just 22 years of age when she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Then in 1984 she had a tumor in her vaginal wall and in 2005, she developed tumors in her tongue. She said her mantra beginning in 1984 is "God's not done with me yet." She then reminded everyone to walk over to the football stadium to take the Survivors Walk around the track to begin doing their part to "Finish the Fight".

Several survivors were introduced at the brunch including the most recent diagnosed with breast cancer just one month ago, to a beautiful young boy, the youngest survivor, and gifts were given to each. The event was organized by the Alamogordo Cancer Resource Center (CRC), which is jointly sponsored by ACS and the Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center. The CRC mounted its own team, the Sassy Survivors, composed of CRC volunteers and their friends.

Kudos to the volunteers at Alamogordo's Cancer Resource Center on 9th and Cuba for hours of hard work to pull this together as well as the Team Captains who worked diligently to raise funds to make this a successful Relay for Life.

Members of the Cancer Resource Center checking Survivors in and handing out t-shirts

Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce Junior Ambassadors were servers for the brunch

It takes a lot of cooks to feed a crowd and they created some delicious food for the brunch

Ann Marie Gallagos did a stellar job of emceeing the program for the brunch

Local pastor' wife, Kathy Crispin giving the invocation

Carla Kerr, keynote speaker, stressing "Finish the Fight"

Group shot of one section of the crowd at the brunch

Carla Kerr telling her story about her cancer journey

Youngest survivor, Nicholas with his little sister, Christiana

Lacey Daniell, ACSCAN Grassroots Manager from Albuquerque and Louis Jeantete, Specialist, Relay for Life, also from ACS, and Vivian, owner of Hairitage Salon and founder of Cancer Resource Center here in Alamogordo.

Carrying banner for the Survivors Lap are L to R: Lacey Daniell, Newest Survivor, Mayor Susie Galea and Louis Jeantete followed by the ROTC Junior Honor Guard.

Bringing up the rear as the longest survivor (53 years) is Carla Kerr.

Mayor Galea speaking at the event

Newly diagnosed survivor with Mayor Galea

Recognition of all the Team Captains for Relay for Life

Vivian was honored for her years of volunteerism with the Cancer Resource Center. She does the "Look Good, Feel Better" make-overs for survivors and styles their hair and wigs in her Heritage Salon.

Chaparral High School Cheerleaders in their pink shirts cheering everyone on

Jerry, another dedicated survivor and volunteer giving his time at the fund-raising Baker Walking Taco Trailer.

Berene, another Cancer Resource Center dedicated volunteer cooking up those tacos.

As of this posting, haven't heard any figures as to how much was raised, but I'm sure it was substantial. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this event the success it was. Special thanks to Sue Baker and all the volunteers from the CRC  as well as the team captains and their teams.  Great job!

Thanks to Louis Jeantete and Mike Spencer for the great photography of the event.

This is all I have to say for now.





 

Meet and Greet for Ray Powell for Commissioner of Public Lands, New Mexico

Saturday, October 11, 2014

I rushed from my Red Hat event to pick up my husband, Doug, and head up the mountain to High Rolls, New Mexico to attend a Meet and Greet for Commissioner of Public Lands Ray Powell. This was held in the delightful mountain home of Dayna and Charles Bisbee. One really needs to know where they are going to find this lovely hideaway. We were happily greeted by their German Shepherd, Buddy.

Ray was there visiting with everyone individually before speaking to the group. He is a very unassuming man with eyes that twinkle and a ready smile. After hearing this man speak, I'm sure everyone in attendance was well aware of the steely determination and passion, behind those eyes and that gentle smile, that Ray has for this great state of New Mexico and the care of its land. He explained so much that we weren't aware of (Doug and I, being newcomers) regarding the trust and integrity needed to maintain the lands properly and to oversee that the funds in the millions of dollars therein produced get to the proper entities.

He also talked about how the Constitution of the State of New Mexico gave a massive amount of power to the position of Commissioner of Public Lands and how the wrong person could undermine the trust given them to do the right thing and basically make themselves rich before anyone else was the wiser. Ray had been Commissioner of Public Lands for eight years when his term ran out. He was happy to go back to the normal life with his wife. However, he stayed alert to what was going on around the state and when it became apparent to him that this position was being badly mishandled four years ago, he got back in the fight.

He can serve four more years before he must step aside again. We need to vote Ray Powell in for another four years. Hopefully, by that time someone will show up on the horizon who is deserving of this position.  We received quite a history lesson about the Statehood and Constitution of the State of New Mexico as Ray talked and we are extremely happy that we took the time to go meet him.

Thank you Dayna and Charles for inviting people into your lovely home to meet Ray Powell.

Ray Powell in deep discussion with Karen Hutchison

U/K gentleman on left. Right is Charles Bisbee

Ray talking with Carla Kerr

The Tularosa Basin can be seen all the way to the other side from the Bisbee veranda

Nadia Sikes talking with Mike Espiritu

Nadia and her husband, Aaron

Random group shot. People still arriving

Center: Ray Powell talking with Chris Jones, Linda Barker and Ellen Wedum

Carla must be making a point about something!

Ray Powell speaking to the group

Karen and Steve Haydu

Ray Powell

Linda Barker asking questions

Our hostess, Dayna with neighbor Peggy Holland

Ray listening as Nadia expounds on something

Chris Jones asking for clarification

Host Charles Bisbee talking with Ellen Wedum

L to R: Ray, Chris, Steve Brockett, Linda

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photography for taking pictures of this event.

RHS New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter Gather at the Veenpere's

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society gathered at the Veenpere's home for a potluck luncheon and games. Thirteen members were in attendance at this beautiful home on the local golf course in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Plans were made for upcoming events including a "Meet and Greet" at the local mall on November 8, 2014 and dinner at the Elk's Lodge on December 11, 2014. Tickets have been bought and reservations have been made for the Turquoise and Silver Tea for October 19, 2014.

There were so many salads and desserts, I couldn't keep up with it all. Our hostess, Carmen, treated us to pizza which her husband Jerry picked up for us. Thanks to Jerry for taking pictures (I will get copies later) and for the pizza delivery.

We played "Farkle" out on the beautiful patio right on the golf course and the back yard which is just stunningly alive with flowers and plants of every description. Jerry is the gardener and he must have an amazing green thumb!

Jean Courtier was the only birthday girl in attendance and we serenaded her on our kazoos and presented her with a little red hat and a card. Birthday cards were mailed to Lorraine and Esperanza.

Darla and Marian getting a fast lesson on the rules of "Farkle"

L to R: Rosemary (former queen of a former RHS Chapter), Dorothy E., and Darla

L to R: Donna, Alice and Margie discussing the rules

L to R: Dorothy S., Jean and Donna

Melissa and our hostess, Carmen

Jean switching out her purple beret for the new red hat

Jean's official birthday photo

We had a great time playing "Farkle" and there was a lot of discussion and laughter going on. Wherever there are Red Hatters, you will always hear yakking and laughter!

This is all I have to say for now.

Busy Wednesday October 8, 2014

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

At 1:00 p.m., I went with Linda Barker to the home of Donna and Jeff Swanson for a "Meet and Greet" for Mariaelena Johnson running for New Mexico State Representative of District 53. I am not in her district, but went to give her moral support for her campaign. She is an amazing woman and very passionate about giving great service and representation to her constituents.

A number of people were in attendance and enjoyed delicious food provided by the hosts. Afterward, we took a short walk to visit their animals. They have horses, donkeys, goats, a cow and a bull (T-Bone is the bull's name) who is about to visit the butcher. He looked extremely healthy! They also have guinea hens and chickens and huge tomato vines covered in blossoms. I hated that I forgot my camera because I especially love taking pictures of critters!

At 4:00 p.m., upon arriving home from the "Meet and Greet", my husband, Doug, and I drove to our local fire station for their open house. It is Alamogordo Fire Station #4 and a young fireman named Andy took us on a tour of the station and explained all the parts of the fire truck. It was evident that he was quite knowledgeable and proud to be a fireman.

Alamogordo Fire Station #4 with a truck from #6 in the driveway driven by a fireman who came to assist with the open house

Andy had been doing inventory of all the equipment

A mother was there with her two children exploring the fire truck

Carla with Andy in front of the fire truck

As we were leaving we happened to look up to see a sailplane (glider) being towed

At 5:00 p.m. Carla went to the National Education Association (NEA) meeting at Pepper's Restaurant where Mariaelena Johnson and Senator William P. Soules gave speeches regarding their thoughts on the upcoming election and the state of the education system in New Mexico. There was an excellent attendance by educators as well as other politicos.

Senator Soules talked about various remarks by Governor Martinez and refuted a number of declarations she has made about her achievements in the state education system and saving the tax payers money. It is always interesting to get the whole story and not just the one part they want you to believe. Senator Soules is an excellent speaker and, being an educator as well, is quite serious about the situation in the state government concerning education and teachers.

Mariaelena Johnson running for representative of District 53 also spoke about education and what is happening in the schools from a Hispanic point of view. She too is an eloquent speaker and feels strongly about the education snafu with Ms. Skandera at the helm although her appointment as such has not been recognized in the Round House.

Mariaelena Johnson

Unidentified gentleman in conversation with Nadia Sikes, DPOC Chair

Stephanie DuBois who seems to be everywhere

I was so engrossed in Senator Soules' speech I forgot to take a picture. When I asked him to pose, he asked someone to take a picture of the two of us.

By the time this day was over, I was ready for the couch. But, my participation was well worthwhile on all counts.

This is all I have to say for now.

Birds of a Feather and Voter Registration in Mescalero, New Mexico

October 3, 2014

I just happened to glance out my patio glass door where I saw these delightful little birds frolicking in the bird bath and it was too cute to pass up photographing.

Not sure of the proper name for these little birds, but they seem to be having a grand time

Isn't nature wonderful!

This bathing went on for quite some time

We must have the cleanest birds around the area

October 4, 2014

I drove up to the Mescalero Apache Reservation not far from Alamogordo, New Mexico to join some good folks to do voter registration. It was a windy day and we sat outside their Tribal Store in the sun. I didn't exactly go prepared to sit outside and the result was some amount of sunburn on my face and both arms. At least it isn't severe. Oddly enough, most of the people we talked to were already registered and I, out of all the registrars there, only registered one new voter. We had fun visiting anyway.

Stephanie DuBois, who is running for a seat on the Otero County Commission, kept us entertained with tales of campaigning and results of same. Seriously, she is running for the job in District 2 so if you live in that district and want great representation, vote for Stephanie DuBois on November 4, 2014.

L to R: Stephen DuBois (Stephanie's 93 years young father) a veteran of Pearl Harbor, Stephanie, and Jeni Alexander

L to R: Stephen, Stephanie, Jeni and Carla Kerr

L to R: Stephen, Stephanie, Jeni and Carla (Photo by: Nadia Sikes)

L to R: Chris Jones, Linda Barker and Alamogordo City Commissioner Nadia Sikes

We talked to a lot of people as there was good traffic at the Tribal Store. One lady sent her husband over to our table to inquire if we were selling turquoise. We got a kick out of that and yes, he was registered already!  An Indian man had a little dog following him that was limping along on three legs. We asked him what happened to the dog and he said someone cut off her paw. Strange!!!

This is all I have to say for now.