Christmas party

Dec 07 2018

Tis the Season – 2018

Tis the Season! That’s right, it’s that time of year again! Time to get together in celebration of the season and in recognition of people who deserve to be recognized. For Leona Valley Sertoma members, December has two long standing traditions, the Senior Christmas Dinner, held on December 2, 2018, and their annual Christmas party for the members. The Christmas party is an opportunity to enjoy fellowship with their fellow Sertomans and to hand out the Awards and was held on December 1, 2018 at the home of member Shirley Kraft.

2018 Senior Christmas Dinner

Leona Valley Sertoma once again hosted its annual Senior Christmas Dinner on Sunday, December 2, 2018 with plenty of good cheer and delicious food to go around. This event is not a fundraiser, but rather a thank you to our senior citizens. After all, Leona Valley would not be what is is without them.

Tis the Season to Celebrate

The photo on the right says it all — “Service with a Smile” along with a good helping of “Service to Mankind”. These volunteers were so happy to serve the seniors who attended the annual Senior Christmas Dinner. From the left are members Catherine Lord – Bridget Razo and Teresa Braley. Also lending a helping hand are 4-H Club Members Evelyn and Madeline Copeland.

Two very special ladies took on the duty of serving up some sweet desserts at our 2018 Sertoma Seniors Christmas Dinner. Left, Beverly Brownfield – Right, Betty Wade.

2018 Sertoman of the Year

On December 1st, Mary Thomas (right) received the “Sertoman of the Year” award representing her many years of loyal service to our organization. Mary has made quite an impressive contribution to the longevity and success of our small but mighty group – ALWAYS keeping us together with a smile and a loving hug.

2018 Service To Mankind Award

On December 1st Steve and Tamara Reaves were surprised with the Sertoma “Service to Mankind” award for their excellence in community service. Their entire family has not only provided a special comfort zone for Leona Valley, but have worked very hard organizing events that would appeal to the entire family.

Dec 19 2017

Sertoma Christmas Dinner 2017 and Service To Mankind/Sertoman of the Year Awards Presentations

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. The Sertoma Christmas dinner 2017 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.

2017 Sertoma Christmas Dinner Program

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

Christmas Dinner 2017 Service To Mankind Award recepients, Warren & Wendy St. John . — 2017 Service to Mankind Award – The St. John’s

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.

Jan 04 2016

Leona Valley Sertoma 2015 “Service to Mankind” Award Recipient – Larry Tyler

Larry moved to Leona Valley 10 years ago. He joined Leona Valley Community Church and Sertoma. He joined CERT and Volunteer on Patrol over the last few years. He enjoys getting the patrol car for the flashing lights, and setting up safe ways for people to cross Lake Elizabeth Lake Road. Larry has done traffic control for numerous Sertoma events and also for LVIA activities such as the Cherry Parade. I think he enjoys going on patrol with Dick Floyd on Wednesdays the best. They drive to different areas each week and usually try a new restaurant before returning home.

Larry takes vacation information from our neighbors so they can leave home knowing the VOP’s will check their property while they’re gone.To increase the neighborhood safety, Larry started Neighborhood Watch in Leona Valley. He keeps us aware of illegal activities in the area. He organizes meetings and speakers for our meetings which are interesting and informative. Mostly Neighborhood Watch trains us to watch for unusual behavior and report any illegal activity.

Larry has been through CERT training and often volunteers to be a “victim” during drills. He has been a victim in an “earthquake” drill a couple of times. He has also been a “victim” for sheriff training at the jail.

Larry proudly displays his 2015 Service To Mankind Award. With Larry are Bev Brownfield (center) and Cathy Toso (right). Bev heads up the Service To Mankind Award committee and Cathy is the President of Leona Valley Sertoma. The Service To Mankind Award is an opportunity to recognize a non-Sertoman member of the community whose volunteer activities enhance the community.

The Leona Valley Sertoma members are a hard working, dedicated group that works together to improve the lives of the people in the communities served by Leona Valley Sertoma. This is done through a variety of events, activities, and fundraisers they sponsor and hold each year. These have become much anticipated and looked forward to by hose who live in the Lakes and Valleys communities and surrounding area.

Leona Valley Sertoma invites you to join them at a Saturday meeting to learn more and consider becoming a member.

One of the benefits of being a member of Leona Valley Sertoma, or any Sertoma group for that matter, is the opportunity to work with like-minded people and development friendships with people you grow to truly care about. So fellowship opportunities are a natural part of the Sertoma experience. One such event is the annual members Christmas party, where they can get together to eat, swap gifts, and enjoy each others company. The 2015 Christmas party was hosted by Steve and Stefanie Fredericks and the smiles on the faces of those in attendance says it all.