The FCSLA Chicago area Junior Branches and the Chicago District kicked off their holiday season by co-sponsoring their sixth annual Junior Member Christmas Party on Sunday, November 6, 2016. This year the celebration was held at the Christian-based Camp Manitoqua and Retreat Center in Frankfort, Illinois with a total of 116 in attendance.
The Junior members had a magical time and participated in decorating their own Santa hat, writing a letter to St. Nicholas, playing Hooligan (a dice game) for prizes, a game room, photo booth, kids’ raffle and Super Raffle. After lunch, Svät Mikulá (St. Nicholas), Bishop in 4th Century Myra, Turkey arrived and spoke to the children and adults about his origins and life and posed for a group picture as well as individual photos with those children wishing to do so. After St. Nick left, the attendees participated in the kids raffle with 65 prizes geared to all ages of Junior Members and two super raffle prizes: a Microsoft Surface Pro Tablet and HD LED 32 screen television. Winners of the super raflle were Karen Straohe winner of the Pro Tablet and Angeline Laba winner of the HD LED television.
This year the District began a new tradition by asking the attendees to bring donations for two community organizations Access Psychologial Services and Chavez Elementary Multicultural Center in Chicago. Donations of coats and non-perishable foods that attendees brought were donated to ACCESS Psychological Services an agency that treats adults with severe mental illness. Attendees were also encouraged to bring a variety of gifts to donate to disadvantaged chilren in grades 5 through 8 at the Chavez Elementary Multicultural Center in Chicago. The donations were overwhelming and our junior members truly have the spirit of generosity and goodwill in sharing with those who are less fortunate and in need.
A special thank you to Dr. Joyce-Nugent-Hirschbeck, this year’s Jr. Christmas Party Committee Chair and her team of elves: Rosemary Mlinarich (J174/S258), Vi Nugent (S258), Jeanette Palanca (J174/S258), Doreen Poetzinger, Betty Poetzinger, Peg Plank (S258), Jessilyn Gibas (S421), Lorraine Gibas (Chicago District President – J322/S421), Tom Gibas (S421), Mary Therese Tylus (J382/S485), Mary Fish (S287), Fay and Jarmila Hlubocky (both S295), Barbara Schultz (S258), Lynda Schoberth (S258), Ricky Schultz (J174), Cameron Palanca (J174), Jacob and Elizabeth Hirschbeck (both J174), for all their hard work and preparation in making this event another great success. A huge thank you to the following branches and individuals who donated cash or prizes for the two raffles: J106, J174, J339, J322, J382, S180, S258, S287, S421, S485, Lorraine Gibas, Joyce Nugent-Hirschbeck, Jeanette Palanca, Rosemary Mlinarich, Vi Nugent, Doreen Poetzinger, Judy Tybor-Kinzner and Mary Therese Tylus. The children, their parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents had a wonderful time and all are looking forward to next year’s party and another visit from Svät Mikulá (St. Nicholas)!
To view photos from this event, visit the Photo Gallery on the Chicago District Web site.
