The First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association, District Anna Hurban of Chicago, hosted its seventeenth annual combined Senior Branch Christmas Party at the Orland Chateau in Orland Park, Illinois on Saturday, December 7, 2019, with a total of 318 senior branch members and guests in attendance along with National Directors Joann Skvarek Banvich and Jeanette Palanca, members of the recently merged Polish Women\u2019s Alliance, members of the Joliet-Indiana District, and representatives from the Chicago organizations that had received donations from the 2019 Quadrennial Convention: Fr. Dan Brandt of the Chicago Police Chaplains Ministry, Fr.\u00a0John Hornicak of Holy Ghost Parish in Wood Dale, Illinois, Sr. Loretta Matas, DSF, President of the Governing Board of St. Joseph Nursing Home in Lacon, Illinois and Antoinette Trela, Acting President\/Secretary of the Anawim Shelter for Men and Women.<\/p>\n
District members and their guests enjoyed many great conversations while catching up on the year’s events before and during the luncheon. The Branch members and their guests\u00a0feasted on a flavorful family style meal, which included the traditional Slovak roasted pork, smoked Polish sausage with sauerkraut, oven baked chicken with dressing, green beans, beef barley soup, and pastries. Everything was deliciously prepared and scrumptious!<\/p>\n
District President, Lorraine Gibas, opened the luncheon with a few opening remarks acknowledging the honored guests, the branch officers and committees who assisted in putting together the luncheon and recapped many of the District\u2019s past and upcoming events.\u00a0\u00a0Most 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 Combined Senior Branches Christmas party would not continue to be a success.<\/p>\n
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 as well as Split the Pot. 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 \u201cKapusta, Kol\u00e1\u010diky, Bingo\u201d or another favorite Slovak word upon hearing their winning number. For the second year in a row, the District solicited from its members and guests in attendance gift cards in any amount to purchase children\u2019s 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 .\u00a0\u00a0Through the generous donations of our members and guests, SSFS received over two car loads of non-perishable food items for their shelter to help with holiday meals for their families. In addition, cash donations totaling over $1000 were also raised for SSFS from a District Matching Funds Split the Pot raffle which was held at the party.\u00a0\u00a0This wonderful annual event, started by Marge Krugley (S180), has been a favorite now for the entire District and the surrounding Chicago area.<\/p>\n
District President, Lorraine Gibas remarked that, \u201cEvery year our members and their guests have a wonderful time renewing old friendships and making new ones.\u00a0\u00a0It is a great opportunity for the District to showcase our wonderful FCSLA products and upcoming District events!\u00a0\u00a0Truly the room was electrified with folks meeting and greeting one another, renewing old friendships and acquaintances and forging new ones.\u201d<\/p>\n
A special thank you goes out to the Senior Branch Christmas Party Committee: Lorraine Gibas \u2013 Event Chair, Jorie Killen and Sherry Ebeneau — Raffle Prize Coordinators, Jarmila Hlubocky \u2013 RSVP, Raffle Prize Distribution, and Centerpiece Coordinator, Dr. Fay Hlubocky \u2013 Centerpiece Coordinator, Gary Ledvora — Santa and Raffle Ticket Sales Coordinator, Barbara Schultz \u2013 Invitation, Menu\/Venue Coordinator,\u00a0\u00a0Rich and Irene Zittman — Seating Plan and Door Greeter Coordinators, Jeanette Palanca \u2013\u00a0\u00a0Convention\u00a0\u00a0Donation Recognition Coordinator and Event Photographer, Jessilyn Gibas \u2013 Matching Funds Raffle Coordinator and Event Photographer,\u00a0\u00a0Jan and Cal Mager — Oplatky Sales Coordinator, and Mary Therese Tylus — Event Photographer.\u00a0\u00a0And 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.<\/p>\n
So mark your calendar for next year\u2019s party on Saturday, December 5, 2020 \u2013 same time, same place!<\/p>\n
To view\u00a0photos\u00a0from this event, visit the\u00a0Photo Gallery<\/a> on the Chicago District Web site.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association, District Anna Hurban of Chicago, hosted its seventeenth annual combined Senior Branch Christmas Party at the Orland Chateau in Orland Park, Illinois on Saturday, December 7, 2019, with a total of 318 senior branch … Continue reading