New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of RHS Halloween Costume Party

Saturday, October 26, 2013

New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society held their Halloween Costume Party in the home of Rosa Rico Fernandez (Lady Rosamar) in Alamogordo, New Mexico.

Costumes were colorful and imaginative, especially considering how difficult it is to come up with Red Hat colors of purple and red. Everyone brought snacks to enjoy from Waldorf Salad to Maple-Pumpkin Pie Bars, veggies with dips, chips with salsa, scrumptious brownies, nuts and cake.

Teams went out into the neighborhood with lists for a Scavenger Hunt and a time limit of 30 minutes. People were wonderfully accommodating and the only item not found was actual Crayola Crayons. We had no idea they were in such short supply. The crayons we did get were made in China! Winners were Margie Purcella (Countess of Karr Canyon), VQ Penny Pirrung (Duchess of High Rolls), and Alice Johnston. Each received a loaf of home made Pumpkin Bread baked by Queen Ladybird (Carla Kerr).

We played Farkle, a dice game that ends when someone reaches 10,000 points and the winner was Jean Courtier (Marquessa Corte Alegre). When one throws the dice and there is no one or five you have "Farkled" and must turn over  the dice. Actually, it's a bit more complicated than this, but I narrowed the game explanation to give you some idea of how it's played. We decided to use our Kazoos for "Farkle" instead of announcing it.

We had two Red Hatters celebrating October birthdays, Jean Courtier and Esperanza Duken. We serenaded them with our Kazoos and each received a large red and/or purple clip on flower for use in decorating hats. Alice Johnston was awarded the chapter mascot for the month, a Flying Purple People Eater stuffed creature featuring the song from forever and ago.

Thanks to Rosa for again for being the hostess with the mostest. Thanks to Doug for taking my picture before I left for the party. Also thanks to Rosa for taking a shot of the group with me in it.

Queen Ladybird (Carla) as a pirate

Hostess Rosa (Lady Rosamar) as a witch (top of hat was red satin)

Alice came as one of the "Duck Dynasty"

Margie (Countess of Karr Canyon) swears she is the "Good Witch"

VQ Penny (Duchess of High Rolls) looked like she stepped right out of Camelot

Esperanza expressed herself with a lovely Halloween tee shirt

L to R: Margie, Penny and Alice, winners of the Scavenger Hunt

Margie the Witch and Alice the Duck Dynasty

Rosa and Esperanza enjoying the snacks

Lu, trying to figure out how to keep from eating her feather boa

Jean (Marquessa Corte Alegre) in a fun tee shirt, mask comes later

Back Row: Lu, Margie, Penny and Jean (mask); Middle Row: Esperanza and Alice; Front Row: Carla with "15" in hand

Back Row: Lu, Margie, Penny and Jean; Middle Row: Esperanza and Alice; Front is Rosa holding "15"

L to R: Alice being presented with the Purple Flying People Eater mascot by Queen Ladybird (Carla)

This is all I have to say for now.

11th Annual Turquoise and Silver Tea "Western Romance"

Sunday, October 20, 2013

The ladies of the Flickinger Center Guild in Alamogordo, New Mexico held their eleventh annual fund raiser for the Flickinger Center for the Performing Arts at the Sgt.Willie Estrada Memorial Civic Center. The Flickinger Center is a non-profit performing arts center governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The theater sponsors an annual Performing Arts Series in addition to a Tailgate Series during the summer months.

Guests were served tea and an assortment of fruit, sandwiches and delicious dessert bites by the Alamogordo High School Elite Choir and the Varsity Cheerleaders. The delightful servers kept our teacups filled and trays of food coming catered by Mountain View Catering.

The event was emceed by the very capable Sarina Turnbull and Eli Levy. The whole production was quick paced and chock full of action the full two hours we were there. The Just Country Band with Bill Moore, Carol Noelle and Joe Roche entertained as we arrived. A Silent Auction was set up in one corner and the auction items were beautiful and plentiful. If allowed one suggestion, the area was too congested and it might be considered to set the auction up with more room next year. Apparently, it was quite successful because I noted many people lined up to purchase their items at the end.

Joni Castello and The Turquoise Gems, Carrol Bossart, Peggy Andre, Lee Selden, Linda Ruff, Ken and Janet Cooper, Monte and LaVerle Hoover, Swan Colpitts and Pat Douville, Rowena Laabs and Caitlyn Mackechnie were all beautifully dressed, sporting lovely turquoise jewelry of every description.

Janelle Hernandez danced a ballet number while Joel Hamilton expertly read "The Legend of Pavla Blanca", the story of the ghost of the White Sands. Janelle was a joy to watch as she interpreted the story with her ballet. This was followed by Cowboy Poet Sid Benson who was also quite entertaining.

Models wore fashions and accessories from Bealls, Burks, GCRMC Gift Shop, Maurice's and Yanelli's, all in Alamogordo and from Cloudcroft were Seasons at the Lodge and High Altitude. It is astounding, if one just knows where to shop, how many stylish clothes and accessories are available in the area. Models were just too numerous to mention, but very professional and seemed to be having a great time in their roles. As usual, Fashion Commentator Susie Hall kept the action moving with her expert commentary on each ensemble.

Red Hatters of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter in Alamogordo attended in their red and purple tea attire and had a lovely time. This is an event highly looked forward to by them as well as the rest of the attendees. Door prize ticket numbers were called at every lull in the proceedings with prizes donated by numerous merchants and individuals. Five Red Hatters won door prizes!

The tea was a grand event and we can't wait until next year when they hold their Twelfth Annual Turquoise and Silver Tea. Thanks, ladies of the Guild, for providing the social event of the year in Alamogordo.

L to R: Margie, VQ Penny and Marian

Dorothy and Lynne

Lu

Darla and Nadia

Margie was first in our group to win a door prize

Queen Ladybird (Carla) just before leaving for the tea

I had Doug take my picture because I'm always behind the camera at these events. Thank you, Doug for a job well done!

This all I have to say for now.

Relay for Life Wrap Party

October 19, 2013

The Relay for Life event was finished off with a wrap party at Carino's Italian Restaurant in Alamogordo, New Mexico. I'm trying to be understanding and kind, but I am compelled to say that Carino's is not the place to hold a group event. The room was extremely noisy because they had music playing (evidently no way to shut it off from the rest of the restaurant) and hearing one another in a regular conversation was difficult and impossible at best when our Committee Chair Nicole Tekell tried to conduct a rewards ceremony.

The food, once we got it, was quite delicious. They probably have the best margaritas in town, half price at Happy Hour and delicious hors d'oeurves. However, the two hour wait and mix-up on being out of one item in particular we were told when actually, they were not, did not add anything of a positive nature. Also, three orders were completely forgotten. When it was time to leave, the girl had to retake all of the orders and total each  and this took another hour of waiting because she couldn't total one and present it, but chose to total some 25 checks first. We never understood why all the tabs had to be redone.

At any rate, Nicole presented each committee chair in attendance with a very nice Relay for Life water bottle and a silver picture frame.

The youngest guest in attendance

L to R: Andrew (super volunteer), Carla and Nicole in deep discussion

Mike and Jennifer putting up the backdrop depicting the "Super Hero" theme

Alexis, one of our super volunteers

Committee members viewing something interesting on their IPhone

Nicole and Mason handing out chocolates and nuts representing the sweet and the nutty in our group

Nicole presenting two Team Captains with water bottles and photo frames

Nicole presenting gifts to another Team Captain

Nicole presenting gifts to Marissa, Finance Chair

Nicole presenting gifts to yet another hard worker

Nicole presenting gifts to Sue Baker, our super hero volunteer leader

Nicole presenting gifts to Carla, Chair of Survivor Dinner

Nicole presenting gifts to Jennifer Spencer, Sponsorship Chair

L to R: Nicole, Jennifer, Maddie and Alexis

Nicole with rewards for Sue, world's best baby sitter

Nicole with card she received in appreciation for her dedication and determination

Andrew really does love his sister, Alexis, or does he??

Total funds raised for the Relay for Life was almost $30,000, far less than last year, but we all know what the economy has done to many efforts and we are thankful for those sponsors and contributors who made this all possible. See you next year.

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photographer for the great photos.

This is all I have to say for now.

Relay for Life of Alamogordo/Otero County-American Cancer Society

September 28-29, 2013

Relay for Life of Alamogordo/Otero County, a fund raising event for the American Cancer Society, was held Saturday and Sunday, September 28-29 at Alamogordo High School. Teams are formed through local businesses and other organizations. Each team has a monetary goal to reach which may be met through personal donation, subscription by their sponsoring organization, contributions from friends and neighbors, or by group fundraising projects conducted by the team as a whole.

In the relay, teams walk, jog, or run, in relay fashion, around the AHS track. The object is to have at least one member of the team on the track at all times. The relay is an overnight event beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday and ending at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday morning. This represents the fact that cancer never sleeps.

Prior to the start of the relay, a  dinner took place in the AHS cafeteria for attending survivors at which the most recent, most long-standing and youngest survivors were recognized. Several survivors spoke during this dinner. The dinner was catered by the AHS food services organization and servers were members of the Junior Ambassadors.

The theme was two-fold; Survivors considered as Super Sheroes and Heroes and celebrating  ACS 100 years of cancer research. A giant (inedible) birthday cake was the centerpiece of the dinner and it was later placed at the entrance to the track.

The relay kicked off with a "Survivors Lap", in which all cancer survivors present circled the track in groups according to their range of survival years indicated by signs borne by Junior Ambassadors. The leading banner was carried by Ronda Bigger, the most recent cancer survivor, her husband, Jim, Alamogordo Mayor Susie Galea, and Louis Jeantete from the Albuquerque office of the American Cancer Society. The rear was brought up by the longest-standing survivor present, Carla Kerr, 52 years from her first diagnosis.

The opening ceremonies began with posting of the colors by an honor squad from the AHS Junior ROTC unit. The national anthem was sung by Samantha Madigan, Miss Cloudcroft's Outstanding Teen 2013. The keynote remarks were made by Mayor Galea, who then  declared the relay open. She has just returned from a one-day, 100 mile bicycle tour to Ruidoso and back. She made her ride in support of Relay for Life by gathering pledges to ACS from her supporters.

The event was organized by the Alamogordo Cancer Resource Center, 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.

General Chair of this event was Nicole Tekell. Chair of  the Survivor Dinner was Carla Kerr

Food for the participants was available through the entire event from the Baker family Walking Taco Trailer, all profits going to the event. 

Setting up the Registration Booth

Nicole Tekell, Relay Chair

The Baker Family Walking Taco Trailer. They even served pancakes and sausage from 4:00 a.m. on.

The ACS Birthday Cake assembled by Delton Baker and Doug Kerr

Teresa, AHS Custodian, instructing Carla on how to use the microphone

Samantha Madigan (Miss Cloudcroft's Outstanding Teen 2013) and Raini O'Connor (Miss Alamogordo's Outstanding Teen 2013)

Junior Ambassadors and their leader waiting for the dinner to start

Carla discussing the dinner with Sue Baker, Lead Chair of the CRC

Carla greeting one of the survivors at the dinner

Entertainment provided by James Ethington, singer and guitarist

Carla introducing survivor Jacob Ruiz

Some of our dinner guests

A shot of the crowd

C. R. Walton tells his survivor story

LaTonya Boyce, Relay Entertainment Chair

L to R: Survivor Felicia Tribbel with her brother, Nicole Tekell presenting her with a sunshine bag and Jennifer Spencer, Relay Sponsorship Chair

L to R: Nicole, Carla and most recent survivor, Ronda Bigger receiving her sunshine bag

Carla with her sunshine bag received for being the longest standing survivor (52 years)

James Ethington continues to entertain

Another shot of the dinner attendees

Louis Jeantete from Albuquerque ACS talking with Carla

Brenda Smith, dinner coordinator and provider with Carla

Mayor Susie Galea just arriving from her 100 mile bicycle trip

People registering for the walk

Walkers visiting and getting ready for the relay to begin

Carla, Jerry and Kathleen or could be "a thorn between two roses"

LaTonya Boyce interviewing the two Miss Outstanding Teens

LaTonya doing a last minute check of the honor squad of the AHS Junior ROTC unit

Posting of the Colors

Samantha Madigan (Miss Cloudcroft's Outstanding Teen 2013) singing the national anthem

L to R: Mayor Galea, Ronda Bigger, Jim Bigger, and Louis Jeantete

The Survivors Lap opening Relay for Life

Carla Kerr bringing up the rear as the longest standing survivor (52 years)

Jewell Rhodes making her way with a little help from her friends in the survivors lap

Nicole Tekell congratulating her committee members on a job well done

LaTonya with Jewell Rhodes as she is congratulated for consistently raising over $2000 each year for the Relay for Life

Mayor Galea emotionally telling about her bicycle ride and how much it meant to her to be a part of this event

Some dedicated walkers going around the track at 1:30 a.m. on Sunday morning

All monies are not in yet, but so far we raised $28,000. We had hoped for more, but this is a sign of the times we are in and we are indeed grateful to everyone who contributed their time, talent and money.

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photography for the great photos.

This is all I have to say for now.