By Corky Guenther

The CVBMC annual Christmas Meeting and Banquet was at the “Crowne Plaza” hotel in Hickory as it has been for the last several years.  The meeting is dispensed with and a Silent Auction held as our primary fund raising effort of the year with the proceeds going to a charitable organization.  This year, the Safe Harbor Rescue Mission of Hickory was the recipient.  The Silent Auction features items gathered and made by members.  The offerings, too numerous to name but they include food items, craft items and of course, automobilia, provided something to pique the interest all of the membership. I managed to not carry back home an electric motor and a 7 piece body tool set amongst other things. We did carry home another bowl though. Jerry Sicard’s carving raffled separately is always a coveted feature item and this year’s figure of “Uncle Sam” was won by Rick and Miriam Harris. 

We had a surprise visit from Santa & Missus Claus who handed out gifts to all in attendance.  There were also party favors – sleighs made from candy canes, Kit-Kat bars and Hersey Miniatures made by Dean & Bev’s Grandchildren - at each place setting.  The table decorations and auction setup (a non-trivial task) were orchestrated by a committee chaired by Bev Sprague assisted by Kathy Ahrendt, Margie Blodgett, Sandy Cox, Ann Diener, Miriam Harris and other elves.

This year’s total from the auction & raffle was $815.00 and a check for that amount was presented to Jackie McKool the Development Director of Safe Harbor Rescue Mission at the January meeting.