Folks:  Eight of us SRT (Speakers Roundtable-ites) enjoyed a festive holiday celebration together on Monday evening, Dec 15. We appreciated the nice decorations at the Cathedral Towers and added a few of our own as well.

A real bounty of delicious treats arrived, from artichoke dip, Brie and crackers to holiday cookies to warm chicken bites & corn dogs (Rui says: “WHAT’s a corndog??”) to a Christmas fruitcake to a yummy cherry pie to Strudel (which sounds even classier when it’s pronounced by Iris in her wonderful accent!).

Music played on the piano, incredible Holiday-Word brain twists from Donna, and some Carols-Picture-Puzzles done in teams. Between the moaning together at some of the bad puns, to the chuckles of victory when teams successfully figured out a clever twist….a good time was had by all, including a terrific guest Gary who is highly interested in joining our organization in 09. (We tried to explain that we don’t have a bounteous table of treats like that for EVERY meeting…)

We closed by sharing stories and plans of our upcoming holiday travels (guess who’s going to see the POPE?! No kidding this time….wow, just imagine the speeches that will come out of this adventure….). To those present at our gathering and our friends and colleagues who were absent and not able to join us, *Happy Holidays and Wishes for a Safe, Refreshing, Renewing Brand New Year*

Forward we go—enriched greatly by our fine associations with one another, our visions, creativity, thirst for learning and our mutual commitment. All the very best to each of you. Sip some nog, light a candle, watch those Winter-Night stars….and make your best, hopeful plans for 2009.

~~Claudia B