THE XMAS PARTY/MEETING WILL BE SATURDAY JANUARY 23RD....

MAKE SURE YOUR CALENDARS ARE CLEARED, YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO PLAN FOR IT, SO NO EXCUSES!!!!


I see a few votes for afternoon, a few for evening. SO, we will be meeting at 4pm. WHERE? I have no idea yet. But I will figure it out soon. I know we're kinda spread out....but it doesn't effect you when it comes to a trail ride, does it? SO I expect to see you there, as this is replacing the 'official' trail ride for January. Maybe we can get a few of you out on another weekend if there's enough interest in a ride.

We will resume rides in February. And seeing as the party is in January, we can pull together a ride in December, as I hadn't previously planned one.

ANyway. The Xmas Party/Meeting......we were thinking of everyone bringing a $20 or less gift...can be a gag gift, something nice, something homemade, etc. (please, no gifts of alcohol) We'll have everyone take a number and then when that number's called, they get a gift off the table, then the next person goes and so on. It is up to you guys if you want to make it the kind where gifts can be 'stolen' up to 2 times. (the next guy wants the one you got, so he 'steals' it and then you go back up and get another) It's fun, but I won't make it an official rule until I hear the majority vote on that.

Also, I ask that if bringing children, bring a child's gift also, so we can have a separate table for the kids. I know that it is hard to guess what the children's ages will be, so I was thinking stuffed animals are always good and most span a wide range of ages.

I will work out the details of where. If you feel passionately about it being at a certain place/area, please let me know. I am leaning toward trying to get church space....but we'll see.

HUG!

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Also, please please please bring your ideas, ANY ideas;

1. on how to have more club member involvement in these events. We have already voiced our desire that members take the opportunity to serve 3 times in a year. But if anyone has another way to get people to come out and help, please bring it to us.

2. ideas for outreach events. While some fundraising will be for the club itself just to recoup money put out, we also would like some suggestions of where YOU'd like to see the time/money go**. Even if you're own church needs something....like Kenn's music ministry for instance...if they needed money for sheet music or something. Or like Mike who knows of a family who is going through a horrible time and needs support, money, etc etc. Please add these things.

3. on trail run schedule. Trail leaders. Trail itinerary. Breaking off into 2 groups as far as difficulty, etc.

Thanks guys!!!! We're looking forward to seeing you!




**here's a list of organizations, etc that we'd like to serve with donations of items or money:
American Diabetes Association
Make A Wish
Toys for Tots
Veterans of Foreign Wars

**here's a list of organizations, etc that we'd like to serve with donations of our time:
bringing city/underpriveledged kids on trail runs
trail clean up at Rausch Creek (do one day of that, one of wheeling)
hanging out at our PA JEEPS show tent
helping with our OFFROADING 101 event
second saturday serve (4 hours on the second saturday of the month, any month to help in the community)
Tabitha's house, a few hours sorting clothes or food for their ministry
our Annual Father's Day Car Show
help put on a spaghetti dinner for military veterans, $5 per dish charge (non-vet) to go to VFW

Yeah! Really looking forward to this-we will be there.

Looking at my schedule for the month of January, it would appear as though I will have 2, maybe 3 days off that month. So I am sorry, that I wont be there. Sorries.

That's too bad, Jeff. We'd love to meet you and your wife. (call *cough* in *cough* sick)


Also, I'd like to add to the list of discussion topics, the idea of club dues. Several people have voiced that they'd pay club dues instead of "doing that other stuff".

The thing is, when talking to the outside "advisors", they advise against the "do time OR send money". They said "...it has to be EQUAL, and non-demanding of time" (they said that it IS hard to put a demand of service on a group of people and have a positive outcome). Which leaves the possibility of everyone that joins paying a yearly club due...making it EQUAL, as they say it should be.


Anyway. It's ALL open for discussion. We have a couple more people we are taking these issues to for advice. This is all very important. We're not just 'playing house' like when we were little. This is a club...a good club...with good people and we always have a good time when we're together on the trails. THIS CLUB MATTERS. There have even been instances when this club has mattered to people who aren't even members. That is something special.

Thanks guys! I can't wait to see you again!!!

i can ask my church to use the pavallion which has a kitchen and lots of room. then if we want to we could hit trail road for a after thing.

That'd be cool......you're pretty centrally located. The only drawback of it not being in a restaurant (I ws trying to find one with a separate back room or something) is that we're all going to have to bring food or something. (you've all done fell of yer rockers if you think I'm cooking for all of you!)

But maybe we can figure something out....like make it more veggie tray and meat/cheese tray kind of stuff. I did that for the party after our baptism last year.

ANyway. Yeah, THANK YOU Steven. I will continue to get ideas and we can figure it out soon.