If there was ever a meeting that perfectly captured the fun side of Kiwanis fellowship, this was it.
Our December 23rd meeting leaned fully into the holiday spirit with a lively round of Dirty Santa—a gift exchange game that proves, once again, that strategy, luck, and a little bit of mischief all belong in the same room.
50/50 Drawing
The 50/50 drawing went to Jerry Harvey, who pulled the Jack of Clubs, leaving thirteen cards still in play. The suspense continues…
Happy Dollars & Heartfelt Moments
The Happy Dollar portion of the meeting was full of gratitude, reflection, and a little emotional honesty:
- Nancy shared one happy dollar for the joy of having her grandchildren visiting, and one sad dollar as one of her grandchildren is currently ill. The club sends warm thoughts and well wishes to her family.
- Fred Proper delivered multiple happy dollars—recognizing:
- Mark Young for running the meeting in Stacy’s absence
- The consistently strong and engaging meetings the club has been having
- The excitement and promise of the coming year
Fred also gave us a gentle reminder to rest up, because once January hits, the lead-up to Kapers is going to be full speed ahead.
- Dean Bauer gave a generous $20 happy dollar, thanking members for stepping up, supporting one another, and helping keep Kiwanis both functional and relevant. A powerful reminder of what makes this club work.
Dirty Santa Shenanigans
Members drew numbers from a hat, and as each number was called, participants could either choose a gift from the table or steal one from a fellow Kiwanian. While many gifts changed hands, Dean Bauer quickly became the most generous participant… whether he liked it or not. His gift was stolen more times than anyone else, making him the unofficial MVP of resilience.
When the dust settled, one gift remained unclaimed—and true to Kiwanis fashion, it was auctioned off. The winning bid? $10, placed by yours truly, Mark Young. A bargain and a good cause? That’s a holiday win.
We ended the festivities by singing O Holy Night.
Thought & Prayer
The meeting wrapped up with a meaningful Thought of the Day from Mark Young:
“No one has ever gone broke from giving.” — Anne Frank
A fitting quote for both the season and the mission of Kiwanis.
Dean Bauer then closed us out with the prayer, bringing the meeting to a thoughtful and grateful conclusion.