President Rebecca called today’s meeting to order at LCC’s Commons Area as the room bustled with holiday cheer and smiling faces for the 101st Annual Children's Holiday Party! The reflection was provided by Heather Bills, Assistant Principal from Gardner International Magnet School. The DeWitt Chamber Choir kicked off the program all dressed in their holiday best. They performed under the direction of Meghan Eldred-Woolsey and were accompanied by the amazing John Dale Smith. Their beautiful voices echoed throughout the Commons and set the holiday mood for all.  As the children from Gardner finished up lunch of the always popular mac and cheese, it was rumored that Santa was nearby! Rotarians Mark Hooper, Heidi McNaughton and Hari Kern led a sing-along to see if Santa would hear us calling. Looking out the large front windows, we all saw Santa peeking in at us and making his way inside. Looks like the reindeer stayed outside though! Santa arrived with jingling bells and a ho-ho-ho for everyone! He promised Chris Holman socks for Christmas and took a sweet photo with Dan Alyward’s daughter. To the Tree he arrived sharing joy with all. The Gardner teachers and the Rotary elves helped deliver Santa’s gift for each of the  forty children who joined us. There were smiles and hugs and happiness all around! Heather Bills from Gardner thanked Rotarians and announced the additional funds provided to the school from our Rotary Foundation will be used for classroom and playground enhancements for those with special needs. A big thank you to Cathy Andrews for all the extra planning and gift coordination that went into planning this very special meeting! And, it’s not too late to make your donation to the Rotary Club of Lansing Foundation in support of today’s Children’s Holiday Party. Donations may be made by check, credit card or online. Make your donation today and help make the children’s holiday a happy one! https://lansingrotary.org/page/make-a-donation Big thank you to Julie for stepping in as Editarian on very short notice, email for Julie: jpingston@lansing.org Here are the "Rotary Elves" who passed out the gifts to the students: Katie Krick, Dave Trumpie, of course Santa, John Shaski, Michelle Reynaert, Kim Garland, Julie Pingston, Umakanth and Kurt Guter. |