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.

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 attend IMAX Theater

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Members of the New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter of the Red Hat Society in Alamogordo, New Mexico attended a showing of "National Park Adventures" at the IMAX Theater on Saturday, May 12, 2017. It is an excellent film of several national parks that many of us may never get to see in person so this is the next best thing.

We then went to a new restaurant in Alamogordo, "Rachel's" for lunch and we were so glad we did. The food is absolutely delicious, the service terrific and we had a lovely time dining and visiting as we always seem to wind up doing, whatever our main event is. We serenaded the birthday girls on our Kazoos and other patrons enjoyed our unexpected entertainment.

L to R: Jan Jennings, Mary Wadley (Donna's friend from Hotchkiss, CO), Gail Swineford, Dorothy Edwards, VQ Donna Williams and Nadia Sikes

The cactus garden on the grounds

Gail (our hostess for the event) and Dorothy

Nadia, one of our May birthday girls

Visitor Mary and birthday girl VQ Donna

Love Jan's smile with Gail

Trudy Reese figuring out what to order at this new restaurant

Queen Ladybird aka Carla with our hostess, Gail

Florence Dean and Alice Johnston-Evans

Nadia sporting her new hat with Mary

Some didn't make it to the IMAX, but met us at the restaurant so we had a lovely group. We will definitely be returning to Rachel's Restaurant in the near future.

This is all I have to say for now.

Alamogordo Democrats Hold Public Land Rally

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Members of the Alamogordo, New Mexico, local Democrats held a Public Land Rally at the corner of 10th and White Sands Boulevard on Sunday, October 30, 2016 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. They were energized by the horns honked and people with "thumbs up" as they drove by.

Only one negative incident when a man in a large red pick-up truck drove by; turned and drove around the block and when he got to the corner again, revved his engine and blew horrible black smoke all over a couple of our people standing there with signs. This was just mean and tells a lot about that person!

Thanks to Chris Jones for spearheading this gathering. There were only nine people attending and carrying signs, but it only takes one person to make a difference in this world.

Helen Harding is always so enthusiastic

Chris Jones

Jeff Swanson

Nadia Sikes and Linda Barker

Henrietta Stockel

Carla Kerr (Thanks to Henrietta for taking this shot.)

Paul Duran and Joan Price were also present helping out, but I failed to get a picture of either of them. It was a good two hours and well worth our time and efforts to make people aware of how important it is to stand up for and protect our public lands.

This is all I have to say for now.

Alamogordo Public Land Rally

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Members of the Democratic Party of Otero County (DPOC) gathered at the Southeast corner of Tenth Street and White Sands Boulevard to protest in favor of keeping public lands public through the efforts of the United States Forest Service.

An organization called "Stand By Me For Liberty" was joined by a local group of ranchers and Republicans speaking out against the United States Forest Service on the Northwest corner of White Sands Boulevard and Tenth Street.

There were many colorful signs carried by both groups espousing their arguments for and against. Also supporting the DPOC group was Democrat Merrie Lee Soules who is running for Congress against Republican incumbent Steve Pearce. Merrie Lee strongly believes we need to protect our public lands not only for New Mexico, but for the entire nation.

Also attending was Democratic State Senator Bill Soules (Merrie Lee's brother) who was instrumental in helping get the Organ Mountains designated as the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. He had the honor of going to Washington and meeting with President Obama when this designation was made. Soules said, "I'm hoping the general public will pay close attention and the public will choose the federal government role as protecting this legacy for all of us, not just a few, but for the many."

Rancher Jeff Swanson said, "I believe if these lands are transferred to the states and counties, they will soon be privatized and sold. They will go to rich corporations, they will go to rich global investors and the American public will be locked out. I think it is crucial to protect our national heritage by fully funding the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of Interior, the BLM, the local fire agencies including the fire departments, county and state fire departments - so that we have the resources to care for this land."

Nadia Sikes, DPOC Chair, creating another sign

Denise Lang, running for State Representative New Mexico House District 51 with her campaign dog

Karen Hutchison carrying on with her protest

Rancher and Democratic activist Jeff Swanson

Donna Swanson expressing her views

Rosanna Heath doing her bit to save our public lands

Nadia Sikes with her newly created sign

Another shot of Rosanna

L to R: Unknown lady, Denise Lang and Merrie Lee Soules

Merrie Lee Soules addresses the DPOC rally

Merrie Lee continuing her address to the group

State Senator David Soules addressing the group

I will say it was hot out there, but we had fun. A lot of car horns were honked in solidarity and I saw many "thumbs up" as people drove by. When I got home I went to the couch for the rest of the afternoon!

This is all I have to say for now.