Newsletter 2-1-9 This is a prototype and it will get better.

Activities and Dates to Remember:

2009 is going to be a landmark year for TCLV.

In addition to the monthly club activities being planned by our co-social chairs, we're continuing preps for hosting the annual TCI Convention in June. We'll be at the Tuscany Suites, just like our past two weekends. With the recently lowered room rates, it will be more affordable to stay on-site. Convention information is here.

TAll Convention Forums are here

2008 in Review Wow! How time flies! By Barb

It's already the year 2009, and we're full steam ahead with plans for a great year. However, before we archive 2008, let's take a last peek at LVTC's 2008 journey. The economy certainly impacted our club members and as a result our club. Some of our members experienced layoffs or cutbacks in work hours while others luckily and thankfully maintained yet bore the stress and concern of possible like action. But with the support of the LVTC family, we all managed to forge ahead. Aside from the regular health concerns most of us face, our LVTC family also had its share of blows. First, our club as well as all tall clubs nationally and internationally suffered the loss of Sandy Allen, once recognized in the Guiness Book of Records as the tallest woman in the world. Sandy had visited us several times and was at one of our weekends several years ago. Here at home, John Allen was diagnosed with cancer and went through a series of chemo treatments. Pat Blanchard, a lifetime member whose cancer had been in remission, found herself facing cancer again and eventually underwent surgery. John Lawlor underwent heart surgery as did Monica Moore, honorary member. Susan Powers hobbled around for a while and showed off her Mercedes style wheelchair after having had foot surgery, a result of breaking her foot earlier in the year. Beverly Espinoza struggled with knee problems. In December, Jim Woodard gave us a scare landing in the hospital with a heart attack which required him to have surgery too. We are not surprised that those who suffered these serious health issues did not allow this to set them back for a moment. In regard to our vanity, many of us continued or began to battle with our weight, our hair loss and those gray roots! On the brighter side, some of our members gave up smoking, others lost a pound here and there, improved their exercise regiment, and found the "Fountain of Youth!" Cindy and Brian found enough energy to tackle remodeling their home inside and out! (webmasters note-- it looks really good.)

Our co-social chairpersons did a great job scheduling events throughout the year. In addition to attending some of our fellow Tall Clubs around the nation weekend events, our club was involved in many local functions. Let's see…there was the Super Bowl party and chili cook-off, geocaching weekend excursions, hiking, sledding, movie and dinner nights, local fair trips, pool parties, ethnic dancing, Tony Orlando's show, the overnight stay at a Primm casino, camping, putting green golf, cycling, bowling, skating, laser quest, holiday and club anniversary celebrations, fund raising for the Tall Awareness Scholarship and of course our Tall Club Weekend. Whew! That's enough to exhaust anyone! We continued our community service projects awarding the seventh Tall Awareness Scholarship, volunteering at Opportunity Village's Santa Run and Christmas Magical Forest projects, and adopting homeless teens for Christmas. Our Executive Board members lead fearlessly contributing to the success of our LVTC weekend, maintaining needed communication among club membership, and planning events for the year. So there you have it. It's done! Now let's begin our 2009 journey with great hope and enthusiasm.

Brian and Cindy Host Annual Christmas Party --- by Barb

This year, instead of a restaurant, our annual Christmas Party was hosted by Brian Comeno and Cindy Spence not only volunteering their home but preparing the salad and main course. Appetizers and deserts were brought by the guests. This occasion brought back lots of memories for some of the long time members, for this was the way the club used to celebrate its annual events. Our host and hostess did an outstanding job. Those who attended had the whole experience. As the guests came up the driveway they were greeted with the sounds of Christmas music and a beautiful manger scene displayed on their front lawn which definitely put everyone in the holiday spirit. The aroma of our dinner cooking quickly lured us inside where first we mingled and enjoyed appetizers and before dinner drinks. Lori G. assisted Brian and Cindy seat the guest and serve the delicious spaghetti and sausage dinner. The deserts had to wait till after the gift exchange much later as we were too full to eat anymore. This year, a special gift was presented to Pat Blanchard. The club has committed to give her a monetary gift every month for a year to help her with her expenses as she continues her fight against cancer. Needless to say, Pat was overwhelmed that the club would do something such as this for her. The LV Tall Club greatly appreciates Brian and Cindy's generosity and sincerely thanks them for such a wonderful Christmas Party.