122010 Seniors take part in much loved Christmas tradition
By Sharon Haught
December 11, 2010
290
Seniors from around the area made their way to Wooster High School on December 6 for what has become a treasured holiday tradition – the Rotary Club of Woosters Annual Holiday Dinner.
Five hundred area seniors gathered in the high school Performing Arts Center and Commons to share an afternoon of entertainment and a festive holiday meal during the 45th installment of this Christmastime favorite.
Undertaken in cooperation with the Wooster Parks and Recreation Department and organized by Rotarians Anita Jorney-Gifford and Keri Hamsher, the annual Holiday Dinner has grown into one of the communitys favorite Christmas traditions. Tickets to the event are so sought after that they are often gone within just hours of when they are made available to the public.
As the Holiday Program got underway in the Performing Arts Center, Rotary President Tim Swift welcomed the guests and reflected on the long history of the event.
Our Rotary Club was chartered in 1921 and is quickly approaching its 90th anniversary, said Swift.
We have been holding this event since 1965 so for almost half of our clubs history we have been holding this event, said Swift adding Im sure you hope as I do that it will continue for another 45 years.
Swift spoke of how events such as the Holiday Dinner help the club fulfill its mission.
Today our club continues to strive to promote, foster and build good will throughout the year and this is one of the many ways we as Rotarians practice what we preach, said Swift.
As we move through the holiday season let each and every one of us here today remember how fortunate we really are, said Swift inviting the guests to take time to reflect on all the things that we as individuals have to be thankful for.
But more importantly, Swift continued, let us take advantage of the many opportunities that we have to help our fellow man throughout this season of giving.
On behalf of our club - all 210 members - we thank you for allowing us to host you for this special event of music, food and fellowship, said Swift.
Before sitting down to dinner, the seniors were treated to an hour and a half of holiday music presented by area high school students.
First to take the stage was the Jazz Band from Central Christian High School in Kidron. The 14 piece ensemble, which performs under the direction of Bonnie Weaver, presented jazz music from different eras from Glenn Miller favorites from the 1940s to more modern classics made popular by Chuck Mangione.
Following the Central Christian Jazz Band was a performance by the 33 member Wooster High School Concert Choir under the direction of Amy Gilbert. The choir performed a broad repertoire of music from familiar Christmas favorites to the Alleluia Chorus from Handels Messiah.
The final performance of the concert was presented by the 51 piece Wooster High School Orchestra under the direction of Dan Adams. The orchestra performed a wide variety of music ranging from the hauntingly beautiful Coventry Carol to America, The Beautiful. To close the concert Adams invited the audience to sing along as the orchestra played a medley of modern Christmas favorites.
As each of the three groups prepared for its performance Ted Crawford and pianist Amy Gilbert led a Christmas carol sing along with the audience.
After the performance the seniors were invited to take their seats in the Wooster High School Commons for dinner prepared and served by members of the Rotary Club of Wooster.
For more information on the Rotary Club of Wooster visit the organizations web site at www.woosterrotary.org.
