Every year Leona Valley Sertoma members get together to celebrate the holiday season with a Christmas party that includes food, gifts, and plenty of smiles and laughter. This year was no different with Tammy and Dennis Kneer hosting the party in their beautiful Leona Valley home. Dinner was potluck, so the variety of foods available meant there was something to satisfy everyone’s gastric desires. The fellowship started the minute you entered the front door with a social hour prior dinner and extra tables were set up to accommodate an overflow crowd.
Jan Clark, Chairwoman, had the evening’s program all planned out from the opening social hour to the ugly Christmas sweater contest. After dinner and before desert, Jan began the program with the Sertoman of the Year Award and the Service To Mankind Award (see below). These awards recognize the extraordinary contributions of a Leona Valley Sertoma member and a member of the community at-large, respectively, over the past year. Choosing these recipients is always a challenge as the Lakes and Valleys communities are truly blessed with so many amazing people. With the awards presentation complete, it was time for the annual Christmas gift exchange. The gifts were placed in front of the fireplace and, with numbers drawn, the fun began. The first person selects a gift and opens it for everyone to see with each subsequent individual having the choice of selecting an unopened gift or stealing an already opened gift. It ends with the first person to select a gift having the chance to make the final steal of the night, or keep the gift he/she is holding. With the gift exchange complete it was time for dessert and more fellowship before wrapping the evening up with the ugly Christmas sweater contest. (Note to self– “never compete with a cute kid in an elf sweater!”)
Sertoman of the Year – Shirley Kraft
On December 10, 2017 our Recording Secretary, Shirley Kraft, was awarded the highest honor of receiving the “Sertoman of the Year” award. Sertoma is very grateful for her outstanding club participation and dedication.
Service To Mankind Award – Warren and Wendy St. John
On December 10, 2017 Warren and Wendy St. John received the Sertoma “Service to Mankind” award for their outstanding community service. We can never thank them enough for their dedication to so many people.