The First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association, District Anna Hurban of Chicago, hosted its sixteenth annual combined Senior Branch Christmas Party at the Orland Chateau in Orland Park, Illinois on Saturday, December 1, 2018. A total of 334 senior branch members and guests were in attendance along with Rosemary Macko Wisnosky, Chicago Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic, National Directors Joann Skvarek Banvich and Jeanette Palanca, Margaret Abildua, Indiana-Joliet District President, members of the recently merged Polish Women’s Alliance and members of the Joliet-Indiana District. District members and their guests enjoyed many great conversations while catching up on the years’ events before and during the luncheon. The Branch members and their guests feasted on a flavorful family style meal, which included the traditional Slovak roasted pork, smoked Polish sausage with sauerkraut, oven baked chicken with dressing, buttered parsley potatoes, vegetable medley, beef barley soup, and pastries. Everything was deliciously prepared and scrumptious!
District President, Lorraine Gibas opened the luncheon with a few opening remarks acknowledging the honored guest, the branch officers and committees who assisted in putting together the luncheon and recapped many of the District’s past and upcoming events. Most importantly, she thanked the members who were in attendance for their continued support of their branch and District events as well as for attending the event, for without them, the annual Chicago District Senior Branches Christmas would not continue to be a success.
The District then sponsored its annual raffle of over 100 prizes of all kinds and gift cards to various entities in denominations of $15, $20 and $25 donated by individuals, the District and Chicago Branches. With a surprise visit from Santa, the District Junior Members who were in attendance acted as prize runners to help distribute the gifts to the raffle winners who shouted “Kapusta, Koláčiky, Bingo” or another favorite Slovak word upon hearing their winning number. This year the District solicited from its members and guests in attendance gift cards in any amount to purchase children’s gifts, immediate needs of hygiene products for women, children and infants and nonperishable and holiday meal fixings for the South Suburban Family Shelter (SSFS) that offers services for victims of domestic violence with the District adopting this organization’s Adopt A Family program for the 2018 holiday season. Through the generous donations of our members and guests, SSFS was able to provide holiday meals to 40 families totaling 110 individuals. The wonderful event, started by Marge Krugley (S180) has been a favorite now for the entire District and the surrounding Chicago area.
District President, Lorraine Gibas remarked that, “Once again, everyone had an awesome time renewing old friendships, making new ones and reminding everyone of the wonderful FCSLA products and upcoming District events! Truly the room was electrified with folks meeting and greeting one another, renewing old friendships and acquaintances and forging new ones.”
A special thank you goes out to the Senior Branch Christmas Party Committee: Lorraine Gibas – Event Chair, Janice Mager — Raffle Prize Coordinator, Rosemary Mlinarich — Raffle Gift Card Coordinator, Jarmila Hlubocky – RSVP, Raffle Prize Distribution, and Centerpiece Coordinator, Dr. Fay Hlubocky – Centerpiece Coordinator, Gary Ledvora — Santa and Raffle Ticket Sales Coordinator, Barbara Schultz – Invitation, Menu/Venue Coordinator, Charitable Donation Coordinator, Rich and Irene Zittman — Seating Plan and Door Greeter Coordinators, Jeanette Palanca – Charitable Donation Coordinator and Event Photographer, Emily Minelli — Oplatky Sales Coordinator, and Mary Therese Tylus — Event Photographer. And last, but not least, a huge thank you to the entire District Board and Branch Officers and all their elves for working so hard in making it such another memorable event for our members and their guests.
So mark your calendar for next year’s party on Saturday, December 7, 2019 – same time, same place!
To view photos from this event, visit the Photo Gallery on the Chicago District Web site.
