Alamogordo Senior Volunteer Programs Hosts Luau

Friday, April 17, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.

Literally hundreds of people showed up at the Volunteer Luau, so much so that the Alamogordo Senior Center looked almost like "The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe".  They did manage to seat everyone in various places and provided a delicious buffet dinner. Many attendees came dressed in the spirit of a Hawaiian Luau so there were many leis, grass skirts, Hawaiian shirts, etc. and the decorations were delightful.

There was ham, a rice dish, salad, coleslaw, edamame beans (which we had never had and our table mates taught us *how to eat them), pulled pork, rolls and butter. Also in abundance was iced tea, coffee and water. Dessert was served in gigantic plastic champagne glasses and I'm still not sure exactly what it was called, but it was scrumptious.

*Edamame beans are either boiled or microwaved. You can peel the beans out of the pod or just stick the pod in your mouth and rake them out with your teeth. I tried to eat the whole pod and almost choked-it definitely is not edible-like eating hay! At any rate, they are quite good and are very nutritious.

Our Mayor Susie Galea was in attendance to read a city proclamation and to read a letter from President Barack Obama in honor of Teresita Aragon who received the Presidential Award Lifetime Achievement for 35 Years of  Volunteer Service. A total of 42 people received service pins for years of volunteer service all the way from 25 years down to 5 years.  Geneva Wooten was recognized for 10,000 hours of service and five other volunteers were each recognized for 5,000 hours of service.

Margaret Lucero, Senior Volunteer Program Administrator, and Karen Groves, Foster Grandparents Program/Senior Companion Program Coordinator did a capable job of giving out door prizes to door prize ticket winners of which there were many.

A little bird told me they are planning a Mardi Gras party for next years volunteer celebration. I'm already thinking  about a costume!

Carla Kerr ready for the luau

Mayor Susie Galea with her daughter, Lola. Susie is reading the official proclamation

New friends, Terrie and Paul Sena who taught us how to eat edamame beans

L to R: Mayor Galea, Award Recipient Teresita Aragon and Margaret Lucero, SVP Adminstrator

Lola, Mayor Galea and Carla Kerr

I apologize that there aren't more photos of the crowd, but my photographer/husband is a bit disabled at present and we did what we could given the circumstances.

This is all I have to say for now.