COPE Christmas Party in Alamogordo, New Mexico

Friday, December 9, 2016

Board members and employees of the Center Of Protective Environment (COPE) gathered for a dinner and Chinese Auction at Carino's Restaurant in Alamogordo, NM. This is one of the few times during the year that everyone gets to meet and converse with all the people in the organization and it is a great way to make new friends.

For those of you unaware, COPE is an organization formed to give assistance to spouses and children suffering abuse. COPE provides Emergency Shelter, Crisis Intervention, Legal and Medical Advocacy, Counseling and Support Groups, Children's Programs, Community Education, Information and Referral, Emergency Clothing and Household Items. They have a 24 Hour Crisis Hotline 575-437-2673 in Alamogordo and 866-350-2673 in Ruidoso.

Executive Director Kay Gomolak gave a brief overview of the year and we ate dinner and visited. Then we began the Chinese Auction game. In this version, an item can be stolen three times. Everyone seemed to have a grand time. I know the conversation at our table was most interesting.

COPE Attorney Michael Keedy and his beautiful wife, Susan

Kay Gomolak, Executive Director of COPE, table hopping and talking with Molly and Susan

Perry Lawson, Community Education and Outreach Director of COPE, and Judy Pingle, board member

Carla Kerr, board member of COPE and husband, Douglas

Kay Gomolak, Esteemed Executive Director of COPE

Former COPE attorney Molly Kicklighter

She can't decide which one to pick

Molly on the right and they are both obviously amused at something

Yvonne Sours, Cope board member inspects her package

What a beautiful cross. Hope she got to keep it.

Perry got a Crown Royal set (but not for long)

He is seriously contemplating his gift

Cute pose

Looks like Ingrid Fowler (newest COPE Board Member) got a RumChata package

Carla Kerr got a Scentsy candle, but not for long

Carla picked one for her husband, Doug and it is a frame filled with scratch offs

She got a lovely bottle of Cabernet Savignon with those magazines

Party attendees visiting

Carla, having lost another gift, contemplating which other to choose

Looks like Kay got the champagne

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photography for taking the great pictures. If he missed someone, we do apologize, but his stander-upper is not well so he just shot from where he sat.

This is all I have to say for now.