Dec. 14, 2018 — In this week’s President’s Message: 🎄Holiday Luncheon: A Glorious Event 🎅 | YOTO Extends Heartfelt Thank-You | Kino Lecture Coming January 14 | Members Corner: Celebrating 400 Members; “Holiday Special” Member Spotlight | VA Support | Upcoming Events

Youth On Their Own was featured at our December Holiday Luncheon. What a glorious event as attendees were surrounded by an abundance of wrapped gifts for middle and high school aged students in the YOTO program. Honored guests at our luncheon included CEO and spokesperson for the organization, Nicola Hartman. Nicola was overwhelmed by our dedication for helping to make the holidays special for the students in the program. (Details in the YOTO article below.)

The membership approved the slate of officers by a majority show of hands vote during the business portion of the meeting. The 2019 Board for TWOQC consists of Carol Mutter (Past President Community Relations), Diane Quinn (President Elect), JoAnn Haberer (1^st VP Publicity), Angie Werner (2^nd VP Membership), Kathe Alves (Programs Chair), Sue Ann Obremski (Secretary), Nancy Jacobs (Treasurer), and Pat Neel (President). Please know the Board is available to you anytime for questions, concerns, ideas and good news. Welcome aboard everyone.

Following a delicious lunch of turkey and the trimmings the membership was treated to a sing-along by TWOQC singers, a.k.a. the Flashy Flash Mob, led by Kathe Alves. It was quite the show and much fun. As in past years, the beautiful centerpieces were auctioned. Click HERE for LUNCHEON/YOTO PHOTOS & VIDEOS

NEXT PROGRAM: January 28^th, 10:00 a.m. “Empowering Women” The Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona.

Thank you, thank you, and thank you again!

The show of support demonstrated by our members and the Quail Creek community for Youth On Their Own is truly outstanding. In the words of Nicola Hartmann, YOTO’s CEO expressed after the delivery of a truckload of gifts, “I can’t begin to thank you and all the ladies of Quail Creek for today. The lunch was beautiful, and I was completely overwhelmed by the sheer number of gifts, and the generosity and kindness of everyone. Thank you for taking on this project for YOTO and making Christmas for so many youth experiencing homelessness“. The outpouring of love and support was obvious to everyone during Monday’s luncheon.

The YOTO committee and many others helped to pull together a heartwarming celebration of the holiday spirit. With apologies to anyone who may be overlooked, a big thank you goes out to the following busy helpers during Monday’s event: Becky Ashin, Patti Balowe, Diane Boisen, Jane Bottlinger, Christy Caldwell, Joyce Clark, Diana Diou, Jane Gold, Cindy Hogg, Melora Mott, Sue Ann Obremski, Cher Rowland, Joyce Smerick, and Jeanne Stevens. A special thanks to Sue Ann Obremski for the creation of “Frosty” the snowman who decorated the stage.

Well over 250 gifts were delivered to YOTO offices Monday afternoon. Staff and volunteers will begin delivering those gifts to students this week. A happier holiday for many young people is possible because of your support.

YOTO went “Live” on Facebook with a video of the Quail Creek truck arriving at their facility. Marianne Cobarrubias captured the video and you can view it HERE. Thank you to Daniel Pacheo (QC staff) for driving the truck and helping unload YOTO gifts.

The second of the 2018/2019 Kino Lecture Series will be “Ranger of the Lost Art: Rediscovered National Park Posters”. The lecture is open to all residents and everyone is welcome.

• Former dentist and National Park Ranger Doug Leen will share his 1971 discovery of a WPA (Works Progress Administration) poster and his 47-year search for the original 14 posters created by the WPA from 1938-1941
• Monday, January 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the Madera Clubhouse Ballroom
• Tickets are $5, and can be purchased at Monday’s TWOQC holiday luncheon, at the Concierge Desk (check only) and at the door (cash or check)
• All proceeds benefit TWOQC Scholarship Fund

The Holiday Celebration was filled with glittery good cheer! Thank you to our gorgeous gleeful elves for helping with all thing’s membership: Marte Abel, Deborah Bryant, Rena Craine, Stephanie Esposto, Pat Hildebrand, Yasmin John-Thorpe, Janice Pereira, Debbie Rowe, Barb Sobiech, Mary Smith, Deb Speer, Becky Waatti, and Joyce Walton.

Thank you to all the elves who have helped us all throughout 2018. You are appreciated. Your warm smiles and helpful presence are the first thing our members see at each event. What a lovely gift you are to TWOQC.

We reached 399 members when two new members, Jean Kienitz, and Carol Rosensteel, joined at Monday’s Holiday Luncheon. Then Kathy Kelley re-joined on December 12th making her TWOQC’s 400th member! (Kathy was a member for one year in 2013.)

A warm welcome Jean, Carol, and Kathy! Congratulations to the Membership Team (Angie Werner & Barb Hunsinger) — 400 members is a reason to celebrate.

Member Spotlight: PAULA ABLES

Paula grew up on a small cattle ranch in central Texas. She met her husband of 59 years, Harold Ables, in high school. They both attended the University of Texas, in Austin, and graduated with PhD’s; Paula in chemistry and Harold in astronomy.

After graduate school the couple moved to Flagstaff, where Harold worked at the U.S. Naval Observatory while Paula did teaching stints at Northern Arizona University, Creighton University in Omaha and Yavapai Community College in Prescott.

Paula and Harold have friends in Quail Creek they visited for a few years during the winter before they bought a home here in 2010. For seven years they used the house as a winter retreat. In 2017 they sold their Flagstaff home and moved to Quail Creek full-time.

The couple enjoy gardening (the tall bearded irises in their front yard were stunning in 2018), reading, travel, photography, cooking and craft work. Craft work entails making beautiful Christmas ornaments which are gifted to long-time friends as well as adorning their own Christmas tree. Paula uses many souvenirs from their travels around the world as something she can make into Christmas ornaments. A MUST SEE: PAULA’S IRISES & BEAUTIFULLY HANDMADE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

The couple enjoy a wonderful group of neighbors and friends in Quail Creek especially Unit 15 Bridge group.

Thanks for Your Support for Homeless & Hospitalized Veterans

Once again you showed your appreciation for those who have served in our Nation’s military to defend and preserve the American way of life. Thanks to those who brought in 2 pair of men’s shoes, 40 items of  ladies clothing, 22.4 lbs. of calendars and note cards, 23.8 lbs. of toiletries, 250 napkins, 254 paper plates, a few cups and plastic utensils. Everything has been delivered to the VA with some of the paper products being put out for immediate use. The box of chocolates went to the staff of the clothing locker, all former homeless veterans who are being trained to enter the working world.

(♦) public event

• Jan. 14 – 7 p.m.→Lecture: Ranger of the Lost Art: Rediscovered WPA National Park Posters (♦)
• Jan. 28 – 10 a.m.→Empowering Women & Girls: Collaborating for Success
• Feb. 25→American Cancer Society Fashion Show (♦)
• Mar. 4 – 7 p.m.→Lecture: Fabulous Fliers: The Birds of Madera Canyon and the Santa Rita’s (♦)
• March→TWOQC 15th Anniversary Party Celebration
• Mar. →Honor Flight #27 (with #25 – rescheduled from Sept 2018) (♦)

WHAT IS THE FRIDAY MORNING MESSAGE? The Friday Morning Message is a weekly message from the President compiled from shared updates of club events and committee activity. LEARN MORE

“Thank you” to this week’s contributors: Marianne Cobarrubias, Yasmin John-Thorpe, Peggy McGee, Diane Quinn, Eileen Sykora, Angie Werner, Julie Woodard.