Bould Times

The Celmer's have once again graciously offered their home for our annual Holiday Dinner. The party will be on December 8 and the time will depend on one of two options that we have to decide ASAP.

Option 1) The dinner will begin at 4 pm followed by car pools taking people to the Village for their Holiday Nights event.

Option 2) The dinner will begin at 6 pm and there will be no going to the Holiday Nights event. The party will just stay at the Celmers.

If enough people select Option 1 - Tickets for the Holiday Nights are $12 for adults, $8 for kids 5-12. Those prices are the group rates of 15 people or more. So we need to have at least 15 people for that. If there aren't 15 people interested, the membership price that Jim can get is $12.75 adult and $8.50 for kids. This event sells out pretty quick, so Jim needs to know by Friday November 16 which option we would like. He will purchase the tickets IF enough people want to go to the village. So you can contact Jim either through his e-mail at firstcorplsg@yahoo.com or give him a call at 313-850-6521.

MLACWS provides the meats, but the rest of the dinner is potluck as well as BYOB. Please bring a dish to pass per your last name as follows:

As soon as Jim gets confirmations from everyone he will send out a message with times and ticket prices if needed.

Talked to Maureen yesterday after her doctor appointment. She is little bummed that her cast needs to stay on for 4 more weeks. Her foot is healing and she is feeling fine. She is starting to get a little cabin fever though. I'll be going in for my surgery in a couple of hours, but I won't be laid up anywhere near as long as Mo. I guess you can call us Gimpy 1 and Gimpy 2 instead of Thing 1 and Thing 2.

The floor has been opened for upcoming MLACWS and here are the nominations so far:

Nominations will remain open until the January meeting when elections will take place, so if there is someone you would like to nominate please consider doing so.

We (the CFI) will also have elections for our board at the January meeting so please consider who you would like to run the CFI for the upcoming year.

I can see you all wondering just what in the world I'm babbling about now? I've had some time to think about the elections coming up. We actually HAVE an election this time - more than one person running for the same office! (How often does this happen?) Our two Daves (Difatta and Prince) were both nominated for President.

Now, if you were there, you know I nominated Prince. It's rather unusual to do any kind of "politicking" for our board offices, but I'd like to share with you why I feel Dave P would make a great new president.

Now here is the analogy I would like to make; the salmon always goes back to the same place to spawn - upstream, no less. It works, it always has worked, so they keep doing it. Safe, predictable. No changes, but hey! it works, so they will keep doing it. The porpoise, on the other hand, cavorts in the ocean, going new places and trying new flips. Having FUN while doing his best to be a great porpoise. Personally, I think it's time to take a chance and be a porpoise, how about you, ready to try something new and different?

What do we call our newbie's? FRESH FISH. Because they are FRESH - they have new ideas, new enthusiasm, new energy. Dave D is a great guy, and he gives 100% to everything he does. Dave has proven himself once before as an outstanding member of the board as President, and I'm not saying he wouldn't be a good president again- don't put words in my mouth, please, because we know better. But Prince has the enthusiasm and ideas of a fresh fish. I probably know him better than most of you (it happens when you plan two events together!) and, yes, I agree, he has a bit of a short fuse. (No surprise to him - I've told him.) But he also has a fire in him that wants to make this unit the best there is, and the ideas to do it. NEW ideas.

Where is this unit going? Are we still in the same stream, or are we going out in the ocean? Numbers are down. We do the same events every year. Isn't it time we tried something new? Many of us (ok, most of us...) have our own ideas about what we want this unit to be. Most of us are willing to work for that. But what we have to decide is (and be honest here) - do I want what is best for ME, or for the GROUP? Where will my choices and decisions put the unit next year, or five or ten years from now? Same place, same faces, same stream?

Or do we want to go out in the ocean and have fun, while doing our best to take this hobby and unit forward in the best Texan tradition?

Think a little before you decide. This could be a banner year for the porpoises!!

Welcome to the Bold Times newsletter. The monthly newsletter written for the "Citizen's for Independence".

I would like to extend a personal thanks to the members of the CFI without your dedication to our group Wolcott wouldn't have succeeded. You are to be congratulated for all efforts. I will support you in all your endeavors.

WOLCOTT MILL

Well from what everyone is saying, the event was a grand success!! Both the spectators and reenactors were glad the event was back. Even the weather cooperated on the main event days. There were a couple of glitches here and there, but all in all it was well worth the efforts of everyone involved. And speaking of those involved, major Kudos to the committee for a job well done. Dave Prince, Dave Difatta, and Jane Radulski did an amazing job. I'm sure we'll get a thorough report at the meeting on Friday. The Farmer's Market and pie auction raised almost $1000.00. Thank you to everyone who generously donated their time, market items, and pies. There was also memorabilia auctioned off that helped contribute to the funds. The candle light tour saw over 100 people walk through the various camps. First stop was at Doc Michael's where visitors got to see a field hospital at work. There were several CFI and 4th Texas members helping out with this scenario and all I can say is poor Jethro (Steve Domke in an academy award winning performance). He had to die 6 times, and every time Maureen and Jennifer Rose wailed over him, he had his brogans (and at times other clothing) stripped from his cold body, he was dumped over to the side to await "burial", had other "bodies" dumped on top of him, and he even got a farewell kiss . . . from Jim Celmer! Everyone working at Doc Michael's did an outstanding job. In addition to Doc Michael's one of the other stops on the tour was a mini concert by Marie and her friend who accompanied her on the violin ( I don't remember her name, sorry Marie). Spectators and participants alike were awed by the talent shown by Marie. The one scenario that was sorely missed was the Wild Rose. As most of you know Jane and Rick had to skip the event at the last minute due to some health issues that Rick was having. We've been assured that all is well now and hopefully we will see them at the meeting on Friday. Tom the cook did an awesome job of keeping everyone fed as usual. On Sunday he even cooked a duck in his Dutch oven. From all reports it turned out excellent. He told me he has some new recipes he's going to be working on over the winter to get ready for next year. Again thanks to Dave Prince, Dave Difatta, and Jane Radulski for putting together this event, and to Jackie for organizing the candle light tour. Would also like to throw in thanks to Chris Suppelsa, Dave P's right hand man.

NOVEMBER MEETING

Don't forget that this is our nomination meeting, so if you would like to nominate yourself or someone else for a position on the MLACWS board this is your chance to do that. The meeting will be held this Friday November 2, 7:30 pm at the usual place in Warren.

MAUREEN CELMER

Maureen will not be able to attend Friday's meeting as she will be having surgery done on her foot. The surgery was kind of expected but not quite so soon. So please keep her in your thoughts and prayers (Jim too since he'll have to put up with her - kidding Maureen).

DECEMBER MEETING

We will not be having the December meeting at the usual time and place. We would normally have a holiday get together at Jim and Maureen's but due to Maureen's surgery other plans may need to be made. I will keep you updated on that.

PASSED ON BY CHARLOTTE BAUER - LANSING SILVER BELLS IN THE CITY

It's that time of year again, time for Lansing's Silver Bells in the City event Friday, Nov. 16! The Michigan Historical Museum will stay open that evening, complete with many displays, decorations, entertainment and activities for visitors to enjoy.

What can you do to help? Simple. Volunteer for just an hour to help serve cookies and cider to the many visitors who'll make their way to the museum that evening. Volunteers are needed "on the hour" from 4 through 9 p.m. (As a volunteer, it's perfectly understandable that you'd want to "sample the goods" before sharing them with the public; this is heartily encouraged!) Volunteers are needed from:

4 to 5 p.m. - SETUP
5 to 6 p.m. - Serve cookies and cider
6 to 7 p.m. - Serve cookies and cider
7 to 8 p.m. - Serve cookies and cider
8 to 8:45 p.m. - Serve cookies and cider

The museum will "deck the halls" with holiday trimmings and special winter and seasonal displays throughout the galleries, all as a prelude to the museum's first annual Winter Fest, beginning Dec. 1. In addition to the cookies and cider, holiday "make and take" crafts will be available for children, and everyone can enjoy the music of Patch Cords, Wanda Degen, Kelly & Ingells, and Namenlos Early Music Consort.

Will you help? This is a great opportunity to help friends and co-workers and put yourself in the holiday spirit. Volunteers are so critical to the success of our programs and services; I hope many of you are able to give just a little of your time to help ensure an enjoyable evening for visitors to our wonderful Michigan Library and Historical Center!

Hope to see you on Friday!!