It was the perfect day for our Pancake Day Kickoff!! Amy Hand and Bev Troester were dressed for the Pirate Theme that was set for the kickoff.  Bev greeted us with a warm handshake and Amy with a cool hook!! Pirate-President Kristin opened our meeting by welcoming us all and Terry Wakefield led us in song as we attempted “If I Knew You Were Coming I’d A Baked A Cake”.  Bob Stratton delivered a wonderful invocation. 

We had a few guests this week; I wonder if the new guests thought that we dressed in pirate costumes every week?  Sally Ryan, dressed in a FANTASTIC pirate costume, introduced her sister, Jan Ryan and brother, John Ryan as her guests.  Terry Wakefield returned with Paula Allard and John Hildebrand introduced his mom as his guest. 

Pirate Bill Byers was the sole member of our birthday club this week as he will celebrate his special day on May 5^th.  Happy Birthday, Bill. 

We had a ton of happy J bucks this week.  Deanna Colaizzi was happy about her daughter’s placement in a swimming competition; Jeff Freeland was happy that Deanna’s daughter takes after her mom and not her dad, Tony; Dennis Durmas was happy about all of the scurvy mates that dressed up for this meeting; John Hildebrand was happy but I couldn’t hear why he was so happy; Roxie Denning was happy about the “Egg Smashing” at American National Bank to raise money for March of Dimes; Jeannie Thomas was happy about a new CD that was coming out and it’s promotion and to be associated with such a “nutty” group; Jan Ryan (Sally’s sister) was happy about a kiss from Captain Jack Sparrow; and Rick Nisley was happy about the “whip” that Pirate Kristin was playing with at the meeting.   

Fines were skinny this week.  Mike Moran and Chris Gumone were the only victims of fines.   

Mailyn D’Aponti and Deanna Colaizzi stepped up to the helm and kicked off our Pancake Day Celebration!! The theme, as I have already mentioned, was the Pirate Theme.  Joe Breman and his team were the first called up to center stage.  Mike Moran, Kristi Adams, Brad Krebill, Rick Nisley, Amy Dyer and Daryl Pridy delivered some jokes that were to explain the “Code of Conduct”. Dennis Durmas and Vikki Bell were up next to walk the plank, blind-folded and pin the magnet on the pirate pancake board. They are on Chris Gumone’s team along with Jim Moore, Bob Hanson, Omar Campos, and Wes D’Aponti. The team also attempted to sing a song.   Stacey Mascarenas and her team members Alan Watkins, Kathy Staten, Blaine Scott, Rick Adelman, Toni Heiden-Moran and Paul Miller told all of us how to identify if you were a pirate.  This fell along the same lines as “You know you are a redneck (Pirate)” if…..  Shaunalee Wall and a few of her team members Bob Colony, Pete Jouflas and Roxie Denning were up next.  Pete delivered some great (and not so great) pirate jokes.  Sally Ryan and her team did another rendition of You might be a pirate if….Hats off to Gary Brown, Rita Crumpton, LeAnne Zetmeir, Mike Kelly (by the way the pancake sales thermometer is back), Michelle Kelly, John Hildebrand, Bev Troester, Bob Stratton, Terry Wakefield and Fred Nichols.  Next up was Omar Campos and Bill Byers walking the plank; I don’t think either of them fell off with a slight nudge.  The last team up and running was Guy Stephens, Lloyd Unfred, Lynn Sorlye, Kristi Pollard, Katie Ames, Steve Thompson, Vern Gray, Wes D’Aponti (two teams?) Bob Burger and David Kearsley.  They did a great job with their presentation.   

This was a great Pancake Day Kickoff and our greatest of thanks to Mailyn D’Aponti and Deanna Colaizzi for putting it all together. Great Job, Ladies (or should I say wenches? J). 

Each team captain will collect money each week from their members from the sale of tickets. Each person is responsible to selling a minimum of $100.00 during this campaign.  Remember, the more tickets we sell the more we have to allocate to those in need in our community. Our goal this year is $25,000.00 There were tickets in the room on Thursday and will be each Thursday during our meeting.  Mailyn and Wes will keep the tickets in their office during the week if you need more.   

The best dressed and best costume went  to Sally Ryan and the teams that were recognized for participation were Vern Gray and Team #1 and Stacey Mascarenas and Team 3.  Great job, Everyone.   

Bob Colony and Katie Ames announced that our goal for Corporate Sales had been met with a total of $40,250.00!!  This is a great result for our goal of $40,000.00. Remember that the Luau will be Thursday, May 22^nd at Omar’s on First Street.   Thank you all for your hard work in collecting those corporate sponsors.  Amy Dyer announced that auction items and cake walk donations are still needed for Pancake Day.  Dennis Durmas announced that sheets will be on the tables next week for Pancake Day Volunteers.      

Now to tie up some loose ends.  Blaine Scott delivered our Defining Statement and received the $5.00;  John Ryan (Sally’s brother) won the raffle this week and is $47.00 richer.  Gary Brown gave the Joke of the Day and made a lot of us laugh out loud.  On his vacation to China, Japan and Canada Steve Thompson returned with a shot glass from Japan for President Kristin.  And last but not least, Brad Krebill delivered our Thought for the Day in Heather Smith’s absence. 

This was a fantastic Kickoff and I thank you all for your participation in this great meeting. 

Until next week…..Roxie Denning, Bulletin Editor