The weather outside was not frightful so we did not need a fireplace to make everything delightful at the Holiday Party; all it took was friends, presents and a good meal to make it a great time.  The room at La Isla in Kendall was festively decorated thanks to Jean Hawa and all the tables had sprigs of evergreen and ornaments.  It was fun to see our old friends and meet new ones who were joining the club.

It was also time to recognize the club’s Most Valuable Member, and this year it was two: Manny and Millie Garcia who work so hard to provide for us at times of social and club events: the picnic, the Progressive Dinner, monthly meetings, and of course making all the arrangements for the Holiday Party.  Congratulations to you both from all of us.

The Board of Directors did their official duty of being present and sworn in for another term, even those who still have a year to go.  We welcomed our new board members as well.

Then we got down to the real business of the gift exchange, done to a turn by the reading of “A Visit from St. Nicholas” as read by Ken Kurtz.  We hope everyone ended up with something fun, useful, or tasty.  But that wasn’t the only gift: Ira and Susan Shapiro were the lucky winners of the drawing for a weekend at the Costa del Este resort, generously donated by Luis and Maria Quevedo.

Thanks again to Manny and Millie, and best wishes for a happy holiday season and a prosperous and safe New Year.

By Philip Williams
Photos by Bob Squier

The decor.

Most Valuable Member Award

Manny and Millie Garcia receive their award from President Ron Mitro.

The Officers and Board – L to R – Mel, Ira, Jean, Mike, Manny, Cindy, Bob, Mille, Gary, Ron, Philip, Gary, Tomas, Luis

Yovanna, Ralph and Carolyn

Millie, Manny, Tomas, Yovanna

Illiana, Carlos and Miille

Jean, Ralph, Philip, Ken, Carolyn and Maurice

Starting to settle in.

Table claimed by Ron, Ken, and Gary

Kelly, Oscar, Carlton, Nancy Carlos, and Illiana,

Al, Joyce, Carolyn, Ralph, Jean, Maurice, Paul, and Saundra

Cindy, Susan, Ira, Timothy, Freda

Mike, George, Cathy, Gary, Ron, Ken, Gary, Mel

Tomas, Yovanna, Maria, Luis, Al, Miriam, Millie, and Manny

Philip, behind the camera-Bob, Ken, Annick, and Marcel

Gifts aglore

Two tasks – eating and passing gifts

Passing gifts

Passing gifts

Trade anyone?

Looking at what everyone ended up with.

Paul was very happy wlith his gift.

Ira, Susan recieve the Grand Prize from Manny and Ron

Ira, Susan, Manny, Ron with Luis and Maria

Dessert

This year’s Holiday Party was like a visit to the old home.  It was held at La Isla in Kendall, which long-time club members will remember as the former Tony Roma’s where we met every month for many years.  Now the place has been renovated and redecorated and the room sparkled with friends and stacks of gifts.  We all enjoyed a great meal and lots of stories of car shows past and those to come.

The Holiday Party is also time for a bit of club business: the Board of Directors for 2016 was sworn in, welcoming new members Cindy Endres and Millie Valiente.  Past President Jean Hawa passed the symbols of office – the steering wheel and gavel – to incoming President Ron Mitro.

The club also honored our Most Valuable Member of 2015: Guy Lewis.  He has been a staunch supporter of the club for many years, has opened his house for national and local club events, found and encouraged new sponsors of the club, and can always be counted on to share his collection of fine cars for shows.

We also had a first: the circular gift exchange. Everyone was told to bring a wrapped gift.  We all sat in a circle, got a gift, and then as Ron Mitro read the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (“’T’was the night before Christmas…”).  Every time the word “and” appeared in the poem, the gifts were all passed to the right.  Everyone got something!

Thank you to Manny Garcia and Millie Valiente for putting together such a great party.  If you couldn’t make it, enjoy the pictures.

Philip Williams
Photos by Bob Squier

Richard and Jean listening to Philip

Table decoration and door prize

Our new president, Ron Mitro, with the gavel and steering wheel of his office

Ron and Gary

Richard and Philp still going

Guy with Maurice and Philip

Julia, Phiiip Earl Cindy, Greg and James

Guy recieves the Most Valuable Member Award from Mel Mann

Guy and Mel pose for me

The Board (L-R) Gary Shanock, Ira Shapiro, Luis Quevedo, Mike Penn, Guy Lewis, Cindy Endres, Manny Garcia, Millie Valiente,Thomas Hernandez, Ron Mitro, Philip Williams, Jean Hawa, Mel Mann and Bob Squier

Getting acquainted

Yovanna, Tomas, Manny and Luis

Table decoration and door prize

Manny and Mel

Bob, Philip Ken and Ira

Greg, Cindy and James

Luis, Maria, Danny, Yovanna, Tomas Luis, Tommy and Melba

John listens to Guy and Mel

Harry Goebel, caretaker Anna Sotomayor (winner of grand prize drawing of three day-two night stay at the Ocean Reef Club) and Manny Garcia

Ron with gift giving instructions

Getting the insturctions

The gifts for the exchange

Our holidy cake