It was so wonderful to see everyone at our annual Holiday Party – what a great turnout! Well over 100 MAPS members came out to have fun and celebrate the spirit of the season together. The Arbor Room was transformed into an elegant wintry venue by the many hard-working volunteers who arrived early to help out.
During the President’s business meeting, we re-elected many current Board members and voted in our new Vice President, Tim O’Brien. We got to see the final graduating class of the Nature Photography Certificate Program, which included MAPS members Bill Schauert, Lydia Rindt, Connie Wolf, Bill Miotek, John Harris and Linda Haynes…Congratulations!
Everyone brought in wonderful dishes to share. It was a pleasure to fill our plates by the fire in the Founders Room. Our MAPS elves sold a record breaking number of raffle tickets. We were treated to another wonderful slideshow of members’ images titled “The Beauties and the Beasts”. The “Green Candy Cane Scavenger Hunt” had twenty happy gift bag winners. The “Distinctive Holiday Wear Contest” was a hit, and Mary Smith walked away with a Morton Arboretum gift certificate card for her wonderful Christmas tree costume. Fifteen lucky attendees won a table centerpiece. The evening ended with four members winning the special raffle gifts, including a free class awarded by Megan Dunning from The Morton Arboretum.
Many thanks to all the volunteers who arrived early and got everything set up. Thanks to those who helped out during the evening with games, raffles, contests, food, drinks, lighting, sound and video. Thanks also to those who stayed late and cleaned everything up. Without all your help, this wouldn’t have been the fantastic evening that it was! Happy Holidays!
Click on an image below for some candid shots of the evening:
