Pre-Holiday Party -- Need Your Input
Hi, All!
When we posted asking for opinions about where we should hold our party, most of you voted to have it at Healthtrax in Newington (where our own Tammy L. works). It's off the Berlin Turnpike (Rt. 15), so it's in Central CT and is easy to get to from I-91 or Rt. 9. Since last year's party was in Orange and our summer picnic was in Waterford, it seems fair to have this function in that part of the state.
It will be Sat. night, Nov. 19th (the Sat. before Thanksgiving). The club closes at 6 p.m. on Saturdays, but Tammy said that those of us who'll be setting up will be able to get there earlier to do so, so we can start the party at 6. We can stay as late as we want (or as Tammy wants). We'll have the run of the place, including the pool, hot tub and sauna. There's a large refridgerator/freezer that Tammy said is mostly unused, so we won't need coolers. They do want a rental fee of $100 (which Tammy and I both think is reasonable). Rather than waiting till everyone RSVP's and then dividing the $100 by the number attending, and then, if some don't show up, having to collect a little more from each person there, Tammy suggested that we set an amount per person up front and donate any extra money collected to charity. Maybe the Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund? How does $5 per person sound?
Peter Ligas told me that he has catered various parties in the past (for other groups), so we have a couple of choices. Peter has all sorts of equipment and supplies that we can borrow (if we promise that everything he brings will go home with him at the end of the night) to make a potluck dinner go more smoothly. Or we can hire Peter to cater the party.
Obviously any members of this message board are invited, along with spouses/significant others. Feel free to bring along friends and/or relatives who are pre- or post-ops or are maybe just considering WLS.
Besides fitness-related entertainment, we'll have a gift exchange for those who wish to participate. I don't remember what it's called, but we had one at the party last year and it was fun. This is how it works: Each person brings a wrapped gift worth up to $10 and in exchange receives a piece of paper with a number on it. When it's time to choose the gifts, the person with #1 chooses any gift he/she wants and unwraps it. Then #2 chooses a gift, unwraps it and decides whether to keep it or force #1 to exchange with him/her. Next #3 chooses a gift, unwraps it and decides whether to keep it or force #1 or #2 to exchange with him/her. That keeps going on until the last person unwraps the last gift. Finally #1 gets to force anyone else to exchange with him/her if he/she doesn't want to keep the gift that he/she ended up with.
Since Nov. 19th is 3 wks. from Sat., we need to decide ASAP whether we want to have a potluck dinner or have Peter cater the party. Without having a set menu, obviously we don't know what Peter would charge us (and he won't be back from vacation until tomorrow), but I'm sure it would be reasonable. Please post your vote here and, once again, we'll go with what the majority wants.
Thank you,
Debby
P.S. Don't forget that there is NO alcohol allowed at Healthtrax.
Debby,
I also vote to have Peter cater it. We could also decide on giving him alittle tip at the end of the evening too along with the $5 donation.
I would love to help in anyway I can. I will be there with my husband Tom. I may be bringing various friends too.
Let me know what you need from me if anything.
Hugs
KimC