Stuff about GMS and IBRBS
Georgia Metro Santas Start Spring on a Jolly Note
The Georgia Metro Santas chapter of IBRBS met on April 6, 2019 for their Spring meeting at the HotNCold Buffett in Snellville Georgia. A lively group of 27 members and 4 visitors (and now new members!) enjoyed a hearty luncheon and group chat before the business began.
Our President Bill Stafford started the meeting with the Santa Oath penned by Phillip L. Wenz. This helps to put us in the spirit and frame of mind no matter what the weather or season! We are Santas and Mrs. Claus all year. After the Oath everyone got a chance to speak to introduce themselves and to tell any short story or share an experience they have encountered. This keeps us all connected to each other.
Mrs. Santa Clareon Shirling brought the Mrs. Clauses up to date on the “Not So Secret Mrs Santa’s Sisterhood” group and explained that a meeting would be forthcoming. This is a group of ladies in the Atlanta area who meet to provide service to others.
Santa Bob Naumann, our Vice President and Webmaster explained that the membership portal will be updated in May along with some visual enhancements as requested by some of the members. We appreciate Bob working on the website for us and we know it is not an easy task. We voted that the basic data we provide (name, email) will be allowed on the member’s portal.
Santa Joe (Jeaux) Pridgen told us all about the Santa reunion and parade in Gatlinburg, TN. He explained that the reunion is held there every two years and that the Santas are the only group allowed to have a parade in Gatlinburg! He said the classes were great, the vendors were many and the parade was magnificent (of course he was a hit riding on top of his decorated truck in a sleigh!). This is an event we should all plan to attend in 2021.
Santa Rick Rosenthal then told us about the 2020 gathering in Atlanta! This is an event we all want to get involved with since it will be in our own back (or front) yard. It will be April 23 – 25th at the Grand Hyatt in Buckhead. To reserve a room at the discounted rate of $129 a night, call the hotel and use the code g-sanb.
We didn’t have numbers to draw for the free lunch (for members who have paid their activity fee) so we used birthdays. Santa Bill Brown’s Birthday was March 28th so he won the free lunch! Remember the $10 activity fee gets you access to the website member’s portal, a Lego keychain and an entry for the drawing for a free lunch! See Treasurer Santa Mike Allen for details (mallen123abc@windstream.net).
Our next meeting will once again be at the HotnCold Buffett in Snellville, GA at 11:00 AM on Saturday July 13, 2019. All Santas and Mrs and Elves are invited!
Respectively submitted,
Louise Stafford, Secretary