Sometime after 7 p.m., one Saturday a year, the Elks Lodge on Bradley Road is filled with giddy, excited screams as 57 raffle winners of gift-laden, decorated trees are announced. The winners scream. Their friends scream. People who don’t even know them scream. What a hoot!
The event this year was the 19th annual Holiday Extravaganza program of Altrusa International of Santa Maria, held on Nov. 21.
The group sold 672 $45 tickets that included dinner (chicken, baked potatoes, green beans, salad, and cheesecake). When the doors opened at 4:30 p.m., teams of raffle ticket sellers were immediately swamped.
The drill is this: You buy raffle tickets (10 for $5) and drop a ticket in the bucket in front of the tree that tugs at your heart strings.
Artificial trees, from 4 to 7 feet tall, are decorated with a variety of themes and enhanced with all sorts of gifts and goodies. The trees are donated and sponsored by a variety of sources: Altrusa
members, other nonprofits, and businesses.
This year’s extravaganza was a roaring success.
“It was fabulous,” reported treasurer Diane Alleman-Stevens. “We didn’t expect to do as well this year, because of the economy, but we exceeded 2008.”
Altrusa of Santa Maria is accustomed to raising more than $30,000 a year at this jam-packed party.
Tickets go on sale March 1 for the November dinner.
“On March 1,” Alleman-Stevens said, “I opened 478 envelopes requesting tickets. We were sold out by the end of the month and had a wait list of 89.”
An indefatigable Tami Gaussoin chaired the affair, with help from Anna Sorenson, co-chair. I spied Altrusa S.M. members Donna Cota, Sandi Miller, Lou Glenn, and Betty Baxter staffing several raffle ticket tables.
I chatted with Millie James and Sally Czarnecki, president of the Altrusa International Foundation (which distributes the funds raised by Altrusa S.M.), who reminded me that this group gave a whopping $72,000 to the gorgeous new public library.
I want to give a special column hug to Pauline Skiba, current Altrusa S.M. prez. Even though she had been on her feet at the Elks Lodge since 7 a.m. (as had many of the club members), and even though it was 10 p.m., this energetic lady helped me dismantle the 7-foot tree that I won.
Yes, I won a tree, plus lots of foodstuffs and beauty aids and two gift cards! Thank you, Trader Joe’s!
Mark’s Marine Service and Judith Wahl created the exceedingly popular and coveted “A Very Merry French Makeover.” This artistic entry included a ton of jewelry and evening bags and even a chest of drawers!
[image-3] Chamber of Commerce at Monarch Dunes
The monthly Santa Maria Chamber of Commerce Mixer for November was held on Nov. 19 at the Monarch Dunes Club in Nipomo. This upscale housing development hosted the lovely party in its super-handsome clubhouse-cum-restaurant. About 50 Santa Marians made the trek for wine, mini-hamburgers, sausage slices, gourmet chocolate candy, and a tour of the grounds. Many of us got lost on the way up, but we persevered and eventually arrived.
Bruce Best, general manager of Rizzoli’s Automotive, told me that his firm was pleased to have hosted a learning session for about 20 Boy and Girl Scouts, who spent one hour at Rizzoli’s on Friday the 13th earning their automotive badge.
If you want to hobnob with Helen, you may contact her at helenthom232@yahoo.com.
This article appears in Dec 3-10, 2009.