NMCA Awards Banquet
Mark your calendars now for the traditional NMCA Awards Banquet, Saturday
December 9th. The year our gala celebration will be held at the La Placita
in Old Town. For those newer members, and for our seasoned members who have
a hard time remembering last week, allow a little description of this event.
Each year NMCA holds an end-of-year celebration. This normally replaces the
December general meeting. While most of the year we operate in a fairly casual
mode, this Awards Banquet gives us the opportunity to get a bit more dressy.
The evening begins with a cash bar, followed by a great dinner. This year several
selections are available. Besides the per-person cost (this year is $27.25/member, revised 11/9/06),
members are to bring canned, non-perishable foods for donation. Members are also
asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy, again for donation. Joy Junction or a similar
organization is normally selected to receive these donations. The important factor
is that the gifts get directly to the people in need. Often the toys collected tend
to be for the under 10 age group. While this is fine, know that there are many
teenagers who may also be involved as recipients. Many members have been bringing
gifts to the general meetings over the past few months. These gifts will certainly
be involved in the donation made. Following the excellent dinner we normally have a
few words from the past year's Officers, we hear a few words from the incoming President,
and the NMCA "Person Of The Year" trophy is awarded. This person is selected by member
vote during the November general meeting (November 17th this year). The October Tach
Times fully describes the qualifications and other details surrounding this "person Of
The Year" award, which is a tradition dating back to 1972.
This fun evening also involves an optional gift exchange. If you'd like to participate,
here's how the system works. A man will bring a wrapped gift, with a tag of "boy".
Ladies will bring a wrapped gift marked "girl". If you bring a gift, you'll get a gift.
If you elect not to bring a gift, please don't accept one that evening. In theory, everyone
who brings a gift will get a gift. Gifts should be in the $10 range, with no gag gifts please.
Time is upon us to get headcounts and our reservation made. The link below will allow
you to open the formal announcement. Funds and/or your reservation needs to be in by
December 1st. You'll also be asked to supply your meal preference.
If you reserve a place
and for some reason are unable to attend, you are still obligated for the funds, as NMCA
will be billed for a set number of guests. Reserving after December 1st may not be possible,
so please make every effort to contact the members on the announcement ASAP to secure your seat.
Don't delay. Get your place reserved today for the awesome 2006 NMCA Awards Banquet.
Click here to open the 2006 Awards Banquet announcement.