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All the sparkle of the North Star shown down upon the Central Ohio IFMA Chapter November 12 as some 80 members and guests gathered at Lindey's Polaris for the organization's annual President's Dinner.
It was an evening of food, fun, and fellowship--but not necessarily in that order-- as the chapter paid tribute to its sponsors for 2004, raised a considerable amount of money for its Adopt-a-Family program, and sent a number of persons home with terrific gifts won through a spirited auction and raffle.
It was also a night to recognize last year's president Stephanie Patton for the outstanding leadership she provided, and to congratulate former president Craig Thomas and his wife, Joanne, on their 21st wedding anniversary.
As Patton commented on her "great year" as president and the "great organization" to which she belongs, she said, "I am really proud to be part of the board, and I am looking forward to the years ahead, especially now that we are really beginning to focus (through such programs as the FM Roundtables) on facility managers."
The evening got underway with hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and an opportunity to meet and greet old and new friends. Next on the agenda was a served dinner introduced with an iceberg wedge salad and featuring Lindey's crab cakes and petite fillet of beef with garlic whipped potatoes and broccoli. An assorted dessert tray was available for anyone's sweet tooth, and some were observed making several trips to that table.
Between the entrée and dessert, the chapter recognized its sponsors with certificates and plates for previously awarded plaques that signify continued support, and engaged in a spirited three-item auction that raised $1,375 for the Adopt-a-Family program.
Stephanie Segall, Associate Relations Committee co-chair, announced that this year's sponsorship drive was well underway with a number of inquiries from companies about the organization. With the drive continuing through the rest of the year, Segall said the chapter now has 12 sponsors who have committed a total of $8,000. She also announced that the sponsor designations of Initiator and Facilitator, are being updated to Platinum and Gold and that the Manager and Associate classifications are being combined into Silver.
Before the auction and raffle began, Dave Bongiveango, Community Relations co-chair, reminded the crowd that every cent realized through these fundraisers is used to assist less fortunate families in the Columbus area at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
"Without your support three to five families or some 15 to 20 people would have nothing for Thanksgiving and Christmas. A lot of people in the chapter participate in this program by delivering Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings and by shopping and delivering gifts and food at Christmas. It is a wonderful experience to go out and touch the lives of these people," he said.
He thanked the trustees of the Citizen-Journal Adopt-A-Family fund, now administered by the Columbus Foundation, for its annual gift of $1,000. C-J trustees learned of the IFMA program several years ago and committed funds to it because of its similar people-to-people service.
Bongiveango said this year's number of gifts for the raffle was the largest ever, and commended his committee for its outstanding work, and for the work that remains in shopping and delivering food and gifts. They include Sandy Stayrook, Janeen Carson, Chris Robertson, Angie Castner, Steve Niswonger, Mark Haberman, Kent Swepston, and J. D, Flaherty Jr. Flaherty purchased a raffle ticket for each member of the chapter, and Bongiveango bought tickets for all employees of King Business Interiors.
While all three items up for auction created considerable excitement, it was a total rejuvenation package valued at $1,875 and donated by Tim Mauer and Dr. Carol Clinton of Muhka Custom Cosmetics and Skin Salon that touched off a "major bidding war" between Chris Robertson and Kim Swepston. When the smoke cleared, Swepston was on her way to Muhka with a bid of $750. Scott Hauptman held off all comers as he bid $375 for a round of golf and dinner for three at Wedgewood Country Club that was donated by The Davis Group, and Jill Niswonger won a weekend use of member Cindy Tate's condo on Lake Erie with her bid of $250.
Raffle items, donors, and winners (in bold) included: