6th Annual After-the-Holidays party
Buena Park Rotary held its 6th Annual After-the-Holidays party. This year’s theme was International food. Attendees were treated to food from 12 countries. Members participated in a cultural exchange by providing foods from their family homelands. The result was a colorful and very tasty selection of entrées from around the world.
The party was held at Woo & Mina Lim’s Cal-City Construction Offices in Cerritos. Woo, Mina, and their friend Michelle were outstanding Host & Hostesses. We were treated like Royalty. A hugh Thank You goes to Woo & Mina Lim.
During self-introductions, members introduced their guests and attendees shared with the group their own Rotary stories. The highlight speaker was Donna Bagley (aka) the unofficial granddame of Buena Park. Donna will celebrate her 98th Birthday in March. She talked about her 60 years of community service in our community. She has volunteered in many worthwhile endeavors. A few of them are: Woman’s Club President for many years, trustee on the Buena Park School District, Buena Park Library & Boys & Girls Club. Donna was on the committee that first chartered the City Of Buena Park. We salute Donna Bagley for her many years of service to our community.
Our Club President Maha Rayan introduced her husband Mohammed and her two beautiful daughters. Maha is the Branch Manager of Union Bank in Buena Park. She is active in the community and most recently chaired the Buena Park City-Wide Needy Children’s Christmas Shopping Spree, where 160 local students received nearly $200 worth of gifts before Christmas.
Our President-Elect Christiane Salts attended with husband Dennis and daughters Carrie & Tracy. The whole family is involved in Rotary and all of them are Paul Harris Fellows. Dennis is past club president and currently the Vocation Service Directors for Rotary District 5320.
The youngest attendee’s were Armie Bailey’s two children, Annika and Benjamin. It was great having the little ones with us, as Rotary is for families.
Dr. George West and his wife Ann were a hit with their authentic Vietnamese costumes. George gave a brief history of our club. Each of our members has a Rotary story to tell.
Special guests for the evening were PDG Bill Peloquin and Wilma, PDG Lane Calvert and Connie. Both Bill Peloquin and Lane Calvert were outstanding District Governors during their Rotary year. In addition, newly elected Assemblyman Chris Norby and his wife Martha came and enjoyed the evening with their Rotary family. As you know, Chris Norby is currently an Orange County Supervisor.
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Beth Swift led the white elephant gift exchange which was, as usual, a lot of fun for all. It is rumored that past club president Shailesh Shah, in fact, receive the official white elephant this year.