HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our club!!  We are 2 years old today!  Hard to imagine that just over 2 years ago, in a local bar named Captain Arghs located here on Lake Conroe, a few of us decided to make a go of it and start this new club!  So when we celebrate on Saturday it’ll be for two reasons……one for Christmas…..and the other will be our birthday!  WOOHOO!

There is a lot going on in the Parrot Head world right now.  Jimmy’s new album comes out tomorrow…. I can’t wait to hear it!  As we close out 2009, we’ve got a lot of clubs preparing for their upcoming 2010 events.  So keep your calendars handy and get ready to party with our South Region friends!  This spring will be busy!  More on that later.

Shirt Orders

Well, we are finally ready to start ordering our shirts.   I’ll be setting a webpage to order from but will also have good ol’ fashioned paper order forms on Saturday.  So if you want to order and write me a check…..bring your checkbook or you can mail it in to me.  I’ll take shirt orders through Dec. 20 th.     I’ll send out a separate email with the order info on it later this week.

Christmas Party

It’s time to phlock together and celebrate Christmas together!  If you didn’t receive an evite, let me know.  Here’s the details:

THIS Saturday, Dec. 12

3pm till ??

Jennifer & Suzanne’s house – 13843 S. Puffin Ln., Willis, TX

Live music by Jerry Diaz

BYOB and a side dish with recipe to share

Brisket and soft drinks provided

Remember to bring items for Santa’s Workshop at Ft. Hood.   See below for more details.  On Sunday, we’ll load up all the goodies in hopefully, a UHaul truck, (could we be so lucky to have that much stuff?)  Jennifer has been collecting at school too, so combined…..I think we’re going to kick up some serious tail feathers this year! 

Santa's Workshop is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that serves the families of our brave soldiers at Fort Hood . Their mission is to make new toys accessible for needy children of the Fort Hood military community during the holiday season.  By  contributing to the children of Fort Hood it gives us an opportunity to give back to those that have given us so much.

 This is the perfect way to help our troops serving in the military and know exactly where your donation is going!! The concept of Santa's Workshop is very simple - donated toys, books and games line the shelves at Santa's Workshop.  Parents browse the shelves to make the most appropriate selections for their children.  The program primarily serves children ages 6 months to 14 years old.   Each family can select two toys and one book per child as well as one game per family to promote the importance of family time.   Each child is allowed one stuffed animal regardless of age. The workers told us that the children sleep with these stuffed animals in the absence of their parents. The typical take home monetary value of the gifts distributed for each child is approximately $30, but the non-monetary value is immeasurable.

So, this year as you prepare for Christmas,  please pick up an extra toy, stuffed animal,  game and /or  book  to bring to our annual Christmas party. If you cannot make it to the party, please let me know and I’ll make arrangements to meet you somewhere and pick up your gifts.  No need to wrap them.   If you'd like more info on Santa's Workshop or just want to look around their website, go to http://www.swsfh.com    So head on down to Wal-Mart or Toys-R-Us and pick up some books and toys.  Bring ‘em up to the house and help us stuff a U-Haul and head to Ft. Hood!  This is just another reason that Parrot Heads are truly “Angels in Tropical Shirts”. 

General Membership Meeting

We’ll be holding a General Membership Meeting after the first of the year.  What is that, you ask?  Well, it’s an opportunity for the members to voice their thoughts and ideas on where our club needs to be going.  So put your thinking caps on and get out a notepad and start writing down your thoughts.  Things we need to consider:  Happy Hour locations, Community Service opportunities, and what you as members would like to do for our first big fundraiser.  I’ve been making some notes and have some ideas of things we can do but we want to hear from you. 

UPCOMING SOUTH REGION EVENTS

January 14 – 17      Pardi Gras in New Orleans:  “Rolling on the River” hosted by Jerry & Mary Diaz           http://www.pardi-gras.com/homepage.html

February 12 – 14    Luv N Luck hosted by Coastal Bend PHC in Corpus Christi   http://www.cbphc.com/luvluck.html

April 12 – 14          Pirate’s Ball hosted by Central Texas PHC in Austin – they have booked the Boat Drunks this year!  http://www.ctxphc.com/Event_PB2010.asp

May 1                    Mud Bug Ball hosted by Houston PHC   http://www.mudbugball.com

May 21 – 23           SHARKSTOCK 2010    http://www.sharkstock.org

So that’s it for now.  Hope everyone survived the snow and cold weather without too much damage!  We’ll see everyone on Saturday! 

Fins UP!!

Suzanne