Submitted by Marge DeBold
(December 28, 2022) —As we look forward to the start of the new year we also want to look back at the warm and celebratory gathering of Haddam Club 60 members in the holiday period beginning in early December. On the 5th of December members of Haddam Club 60 celebrated their annual Christmas Party at St. Peter Church Hall. Most of the club’s sixty-seven members attended, as well as several guests, including Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause!
We arrived starting at 11:30 and found the room beautifully decorated with colorful tablecloths, attractive centerpieces, and small ornaments trimming each place setting. We joined our friends, the room filling quickly with happy conversation. About noon we were welcomed by Mary Pierce, HC60’s president. Bob McGarry, our First Selectman, spoke briefly, adding to our holiday spirits. The afternoon was off to a good start.
Father Martin Jones gave the blessing, and then we began lining up to be served a delicious turkey dinner, with all the trimmings, which had been catered by our local Higganum Market. The servers were volunteers, outside our membership, who stepped in to make it easier for club members to enjoy the festivities and being with friends in celebration.
Good things kept happening. After our meal two choral groups from HK High School entertained us; their beautiful voices regaled us as they sang several holiday carols. Their sharing of uplifting music added greatly to our afternoon.
And then Santa and Mrs. Claus made their appearance. As part of the program a fifty-fifty raffle took place with all proceeds going to the Haddam Fuel Bank. Additionally, there were many door prizes to give out: centerpieces, gift cards and gifts. Santa and Mrs. Claus made sure that the many gifts, provided by local merchants, went to enthusiastic recipients. (Attendees had received a listing of the nineteen contributors letting us all know which establishments had participated this year.)
It was fun for us all, right up to the end of the celebration! Of course, it took a lot of work, contributions and cooperation by many people to have everything work out so well:
- The many volunteers who helped planning, managing, and cleaning up along with some donations of their own,
- The 19 local merchants who donated the door prizes,
- The H-K High School chorus and choir groups that entertained us,
- St. Peter Church for letting us use the Hall,
- Use of some of the funds for the event, received from the Town as part of the Club’s annual budget, and, most of all,
- The tremendous amount of hard work and organizing done by Club members Michael Farina and Ron Pellerin. They made sure every detail was taken care of, and that it was all done well and in the spirit of the season.
It all came together beautifully, and a good time was had by all! Many thanks to all who helped!
Even more was planned for the month. A day trip for interested members occurred on December 14. We crossed the East Haddam Bridge to the historic Goodspeed Opera House to see the new musical “Christmas in Connecticut.”
Many of the nineteen members who attended enjoyed a price-fixed luncheon at the Gelston House prior to enjoying the show. A good time was had by all.
Later in the month, on the 19th, HC60 had a short business meeting, first thanking all who helped with the Holiday Celebration held early in the month and then planning for the first meetings of the Club in January.
The first meeting in 2023 will be held on Monday, January 9 (a change of date due to the holidays). Beginning at 1:00 p.m., the business meeting will be held in the Community Room adjacent to the Veterans Museum at the foot of Candlewood Hill Road in Higganum Center. After the business meeting refreshments will be shared, along with holiday stories and hopes for a good year to come. Visitors and new members are welcome to join us. (Members whose last names begin with D – H are asked to bring a contribution for the refreshment table.)
The second meeting of the month will occur on Monday, January 23, 2023 at the Community Room at 1:00 pm. We will be entertained by The Glastonbury Ukulele Club. Again, visitors and potential new members are invited to join the group for an afternoon of camaraderie, entertainment, and refreshments. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Mary Pierce at 860-345-2553.
Please note a winter reminder: If the local schools are closed because of inclement weather, then a meeting scheduled for that day would also be cancelled. Let’s hope for decent weather.
We look forward to seeing you soon. Happy New Year!
Photos by John Nork
