Joan's Allstate
Mar. 8th, 2008 09:45 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
msmemory_archiveThe secret is officially announced: I am the Deputy Grand Marshal to the Associate Grand Matron* for 2008-2009.
Last night, the Allstate dinner for the Stars of Hope year took place at the Boxborough Holiday Inn. Things began early -- 6:30 had been announced but when I got there at 6:15 the room was about 1/3 full. All the Palestine Chapter members had been assigned to Table 1; this put me directly in front of the podium, facing the dance floor. (Sub-tle, eh?) I mingled about, queued up at the bar for a bit, talked to folks.
The prime rib dinner was pretty good, except for the soggy crust on the apple pie, so no complaints there. They started doing the introductions of distinguished guests during dinner, very sensibly filling the time. In order of precedence, they read off the names by group: "Will all the Past Grand Matrons please rise. I'd like to welcome Sisters Foo, Bar, Whatsit, and Mumble. [applause] Thank you."
Entertainment was The Showstoppers, a group of 10 middle aged men and women, who presented a 20 or 30 minute program The History of the 20th Century in Music, with medleys in chronological order from just before Ragtime up through Big Band, Disco, and finishing off with Celine. Their first number was a little rocky -- or the mics were funky - but the rest was quite good, especially their tenor's solos.
Then came all the little speeches, again carefully organized by precedence. Joan and Arthur spoke last, since the dinner was in their honor. The last two announcements were the "secrets." Joan had Susan Brown, her current marshal, do a search-and-destroy, which Susan played up, going all around the ballroom before finishing at my chair and escorting me to the dais. Joan said some lovely things, and so did Art, and they presented me with honorary membership in the Stars of Hope (good thing - I'd been considering myself a member for a while) and a gift card to DSW Shoes (ooooh, shoes!).
The last item of business of the evening was the presentation of the Stars of Hope March, composed by George [Herbolsheimer?] for the occasion. The march will be played for Joan and Art as their theme music, probably for the rest of their lives. Joan turned to the keyboard player and asked him to play. They went back and forth with "I don't have the music, I thought you had the music," then they sent for Da Boyz to shake down someone for the music. Enter Steve and Joey (Joe DiSisto) in dark shades and leather skally caps, who proceeded to ask several folks to "assume the position". Eventually they called in Da Boss (Art, in shades and a black-and-white fedora) who had a briefcase handcuffed to him. After some monkey business about the key which turned out to be in the hands of "she who must be obeyed," Blanche [probably the eldest person in the room, certainly the eldest active PGM], they got the case open, produced the music sheets, and the march was played. I don't find the music very march-y, but it does have a good regular beat, and I am sure I can walk to it.
That was the last thing, so then it was just a matter of collecting congratulations from a lot of people, and heading home in the pouring rain. Next time we're at that hotel, I park over by the banquet entrance instead of the lobby.
*if elected, yadda yadda yadda.
Last night, the Allstate dinner for the Stars of Hope year took place at the Boxborough Holiday Inn. Things began early -- 6:30 had been announced but when I got there at 6:15 the room was about 1/3 full. All the Palestine Chapter members had been assigned to Table 1; this put me directly in front of the podium, facing the dance floor. (Sub-tle, eh?) I mingled about, queued up at the bar for a bit, talked to folks.
The prime rib dinner was pretty good, except for the soggy crust on the apple pie, so no complaints there. They started doing the introductions of distinguished guests during dinner, very sensibly filling the time. In order of precedence, they read off the names by group: "Will all the Past Grand Matrons please rise. I'd like to welcome Sisters Foo, Bar, Whatsit, and Mumble. [applause] Thank you."
Entertainment was The Showstoppers, a group of 10 middle aged men and women, who presented a 20 or 30 minute program The History of the 20th Century in Music, with medleys in chronological order from just before Ragtime up through Big Band, Disco, and finishing off with Celine. Their first number was a little rocky -- or the mics were funky - but the rest was quite good, especially their tenor's solos.
Then came all the little speeches, again carefully organized by precedence. Joan and Arthur spoke last, since the dinner was in their honor. The last two announcements were the "secrets." Joan had Susan Brown, her current marshal, do a search-and-destroy, which Susan played up, going all around the ballroom before finishing at my chair and escorting me to the dais. Joan said some lovely things, and so did Art, and they presented me with honorary membership in the Stars of Hope (good thing - I'd been considering myself a member for a while) and a gift card to DSW Shoes (ooooh, shoes!).
The last item of business of the evening was the presentation of the Stars of Hope March, composed by George [Herbolsheimer?] for the occasion. The march will be played for Joan and Art as their theme music, probably for the rest of their lives. Joan turned to the keyboard player and asked him to play. They went back and forth with "I don't have the music, I thought you had the music," then they sent for Da Boyz to shake down someone for the music. Enter Steve and Joey (Joe DiSisto) in dark shades and leather skally caps, who proceeded to ask several folks to "assume the position". Eventually they called in Da Boss (Art, in shades and a black-and-white fedora) who had a briefcase handcuffed to him. After some monkey business about the key which turned out to be in the hands of "she who must be obeyed," Blanche [probably the eldest person in the room, certainly the eldest active PGM], they got the case open, produced the music sheets, and the march was played. I don't find the music very march-y, but it does have a good regular beat, and I am sure I can walk to it.
That was the last thing, so then it was just a matter of collecting congratulations from a lot of people, and heading home in the pouring rain. Next time we're at that hotel, I park over by the banquet entrance instead of the lobby.
*if elected, yadda yadda yadda.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-03-08 03:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-08 04:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-08 04:33 pm (UTC)Was this similar to other meetings or dinners in the organization?
no subject
Date: 2008-03-08 06:53 pm (UTC)This wasn't a meeting in that no business was conducted, and membership was not checked.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-08 11:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-09 12:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-09 03:23 am (UTC)so, so proud of you!!! love, -N
Date: 2008-03-16 11:52 pm (UTC)