December 1 started the holiday season and my personal quest to get to as many FNGLA Chapter Holiday parties as possible this year! Why celebrate at just one local party when you can go to 8 different parties around the state? Not all FNGLA chapters meet in December and some chapters share the same meeting date, so 8 (half of FNGLA’s 16 chapters) is a good number for this adventure, especially since they all happen within 2 weeks.I’m not alone in my craziness to party with FNGLA members around the state. From the very beginning, Billy Butterfield, FCLC, with Ameriscapes Landscape Management Co. in Orlando agreed to be my sidekick. Billy is the immediate past president of the FNGLA Action Chapter and has an interest in seeing how other chapters do things – like Christmas parties. Billy is also on 3 state FNGLA committees and we will be tying in other FNGLA-related visits between party visits – like visiting the new FNGLA Landscape Certification test site in Broward. (Did I mention Billy is on the FNGLA Certification Committee?)
FNGLA President Elect Carolan Mahr and her husband Dennis of the Ted Mahr Co. also have the FNGLA party bug and have joined us at a few of the parties. We have had other FNGLA staff party-hopping to a few of these meetings. It has been great to share in the FNGLA Fellowship across the state as we go from chapter to chapter.
Lake Region Chapter was the first to get the holiday spirits flowing. Their Chapter Christmas party took place Tuesday, December 1 at the Sea Flame Restaurant in Winter Haven. As we entered the private room in the restaurant we were greeted by the beautiful voices of the Tenoroc High School Girls A Cappella Chorus singing Christmas carols. Their performance alone was worth the trip.
With about 30 festive FNGLA members and family seated around the tables, Chapter President Rick Brown with Farm Credit of Central Florida opened the meeting with a prayer and then drinks and dinner started flowing into the room. Howie Peterson, FCHP, with Peterson Garden Center, made everyone feel special when he gave out his handmade Christmas Cards which have become an annual tradition.Everyone arrived at the party with 2 gifts in hand. The unwrapped gifts went in the stack for a local children’s home. The wrapped gifts were piled in the corner and casually scrutinized as we ate. I had my eye on a beautifully wrapped box with Estee Lauder ribbons. With dinner finally finished (Did I mention Jesse Oliver, FNGLA Trade Show Services Coordinator, had 3 different kinds of pie for dessert?) and our selection numbers in hand, the fun began with the gift exchange. It was the kind that you can select a wrapped gift or take a gift someone else had already opened. The shot glass chess set with the 2 bottles of rum went through 3 different hands, which I can understand. But I still don’t see why the stuffed parrot was so popular!
.jpg)
It’s easy to see the Lake Region Chapter members are not only amiable business colleagues, but also good friends who have fun together. The evening ended with everyone leaving with smiles on their faces, a gift in hand and a happy start to the holiday season! And, guess who has a new Estee Lauder make up travel kit???? Moi, as Miss Piggy would say.
No comments:
Post a Comment