Thunderbird Model Railroad Club Annual Dinner

October 6, 2013

The Club held the Annual Dinner at Macayo's Mexican Kitchen on Central in Phoenix, Arizona to thank our spouses for letting us play with trains and to celebrate the end of the fiscal year. Many were able to attend this year and a good time was had as we lived up to our mission of fostering social interaction. A highlight of the dinner, besides the food, conversation, and a look at the year in review, is the changing of the guard as the club presidency was passed from Jon Wolfe to Don Stewart (well his side kick the new VP, Charles Hammond stood in as Don attended the wedding of his son Charles who is also a club member). Enjoy the pictures as we spy on those in attendance and have some fun as awards are presented during our Year in Review to club members for their accomplishments and mishaps. Who knows, next year you might be center stage.

Select the image to see full size slideshow

Mumbi and Ted Jonason pose for the camera as the crowd gathers.
Stan and Mary Sachau review the evenings schedule of events.
Alan offers some wit and words of wisdom to the guests.
Roger von Seeburg talks with Amanda and Matthew McInerny while Stan and Larry share a joke.
Patty and Larry Platt are cuaght by surprise as Matthew and Eric look on.
Bob Houser enjoys an appetizer while chatting with Debbie and Tom Draper.
Jon Wolfe share converstaion with Gerry Surrat
A restless crowd turns to the MC as he announces that dinner will be served in 15 minutes.
Roger, standing, brings a smile to the face of Amanda McInerny recalling some of the clubs past escapades.
The tension mounts as dinner approaches.
Deirdre Hammond, Janet Spooner and Kate von Seeburg and Marianne Baird enjoy conversation and Lee Spooner looks on.
From left, Diane Reise, Matthew McInerny, Larry Platt, Phil Hanna, Janet Hanna and Stan Sachau are caught enjoying their dinner.
Photograpers are like waiters catching Bob Houser, Lee Baird, Charles Hammond, Kate von Seeburg, and Debbie Draper while in mid bite of their dinner.

Socializing

The evening started with chips, salsa, and good conversation prior to dinner. This years guests selected a choice between Steak Picado, Salmon del Mar, Sonoran Enchiladas, Steak Fajitas, and Pollo con Espinaca. Yes we got chicken back on this year's menu!

Janet and Phil Hanna
Debbie and Tom Draper
Mumbi and Ted Jonason
Alan Vincent
Patty and Larry Platt
Eric Jonason
Kate and Roger von Seeburg
Amanda and Matthew McInerny
Marianne and Lee Baird
Joan Holmes (daughter) and Gerry Surratt
Diane and Larry Riese
Rosann Hinshaw (sister) and Mike Sanders
Mary and Stan Sachua
Jon Wolfe
Janet and Lowell Spooner
Deirdre and Charles Hammond

Guests

In addition to our active and prospective club members we were honored to have Gerry Surratt (Club Member #27 who joined in 1959) and Bob Houser (Club member #11 who joined in 1950) attend the Annual Banquet. Take a look at these handsome couples and some of our available bachelors.

Great Car Race 2013 - Eric Jonason 1st Place Stock
Great Car Race 2013 - Matthew McInerny 2nd Place Stock
Great Car Race 2013 - Eric Jonason 3rd Place Stock
Great Car Race 2013 - Don Stewart 1st Place Modified (hey isn't that Chuck Hammond standing in there for the missing Don?)
Great Car Race 2013 - Matthew McInerny 2nd Place Modified
Great Car Race 2013 - Ted Jonason 1st Place Unlimited
Great Car Race 2013 - Eric Jonason 3rd Place Unlimited (OK Eric, this is like deja vu)
Mike Sanders plays it up for being awarded the Lemon Award for the car that traveled the shortest distance - 0 inches.
Chuck Hammond is awarded the Laser Pointing Gotcha Award for his mishaps at the last Annual Banquet where the laser pointer didn't work due to "technical" difficulty with his aim.
The Palmoliva Gotcha Award went to Matthew McInerny he was caught soaking his hand in dish soap after getting burned with a soldiering iron!

Awards and Fun

Having fun with trains is why members get into the hobby of model railroading and having fun with each other is why people join a club. During the year a contest called the Great Car Race is held to see who has a car that can travel the farthest down the layout unpowered. This year the event was dominated by Eric Jonason who won 3 awards offered. In addition we offer Gotcha Awards for some of our silly mishaps. Charles Hammond, Matthew McInerny, and Mike Sanders were caught this year! Have a look at the some of these achievements and well some of our not so memorable achievements from the past year.

During the evening special door prizes are presented to the wives in appreciation for their patience with us. Here Master of Ceremonies,Alan Vincent, presents Patty Platt the first door prize.
Debbie Draper receives the second door prize from Alan Vincent.
Past president Jon Wolfe (right) begins to announce the new Club Board of Directors as Alan Vincent stands by.
Past President Jon Wolfe (left) passes the gavel to mark the Changing of the Guard to new President Don Stewart. Wait that's not Don, new VP Charles Hammond stands in as Don was out of town attending his son's wedding.
This is better, Don Stewart makes an appearence as the Changng of the Guard continues
Diane Riese accepts her door prize from Charles Hammond. Wait, isn't that the same outfit that we just saw Don wearing?
In the spirit of impersonating people, Ted Jonason accepts the door prize for wife Mumbi Jonason as Charles Hammond enjoys the moment.
Kate von Seeburg was caught moments after accepting a door prize as husband Roger looks on.
At the conclusion of the evening the table centerpieces are awarded as door prizes. 6 lucky homes don't have to worry about table decorations for the upcoming holidays!

Presentations

The Annual Dinner marks the changing of the guard, a presentation of the Year in Review and Door Prizes for our wives. We had some fun welcoming new president Don Stewart as the 2013/2014 President since he was out of town for his sons wedding, but as you will see we were able to get him to make an appearance.

As always we send a special Thank You to the wives of the Thunderbird Model Railroad Club
that tolerate our shenanigans throughout the year.