MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear CAL Friends,

I have forgotten to wind the schoolhouse clock in my office, which will allow me to conveniently pretend that this note is not going to be late to Karen Hanna, our masterful webmaster. I’ve already been out crunching across the back of the property to feed a lame, undernourished, and shunned orphan. Last week my next door neighbor and I noticed a turkey hanging out between our properties who could fly but who hopped because she had seriously injured her right foot. There is a flock of 4 or 5 wild turkeys that pass through and we speculated that she had been hounded out of the group because she couldn’t keep up. Theoretically, I’m in favor of letting nature take its course, but that only applies to animals that I can’t see. So we decided to buy some chicken feed to try to keep her alive until that foot heals. Hence I have a new dependent named Trudie.

Wednesday was the December board meeting. Despite my best attempts to remain solemn and decorous those ladies are a hilarious group. Sometimes I just have to wait to read Linda Gibbs’ minutes to figure out what really happened. One thing that I do want to inform you of is that Shawna Parry has been appointed by me and approved by the board as the interim Treasurer. Lynn Shearer has had so many unanticipated personal things happen in her life in the last six months that she just didn’t need to have this big job further complicating her life. She was more than willing to fulfill her term, but Shawna was willing to step back in to give her some respite. We give a 200+ person hug to Shawna for stepping back in without a single grumble (yet), and to Lynn for what she has done for us for the last few months.

Wednesday afternoon several of us on the board met with Charlie Miller of the Idaho Community Foundation and handed over the check that will open our endowment. I have a picture of the event and I hope to get it into the Daily Bee. Let’s just hope they cooperate. I really want to get the information out that this fund exists to people who may want to contribute to the future of Sandpoint through CAL and its grant and scholarship programs and get a tax deduction for their generosity.

CAL had quite a presence at the Kinderhaven luncheon on Friday. It was a wonderful event and the trees were incredible. Tina Reynolds and her team put together a gorgeous tree, which was unrivaled by any of the others. Everything was silver and white and shining. What a job! Linda tells me that Tina can take a little plain tray and with her glue gun and creativity turn it into a festive work of holiday art. The tree was just lovely. 

CAL had quite a presence at the Kinderhaven luncheon on Friday. It was a wonderful event and the trees were incredible. Tina Reynolds and her team put together a gorgeous tree, which was unrivaled by any of the others. Everything was silver and white and shining. What a job! Linda tells me that Tina can take a little plain tray and with her glue gun and creativity turn it into a festive work of holiday art. The tree was just lovely. 

I will be seeing many of you at the luncheon on December 16. Hopefully you have signed up for the bus too. Last year the ride up was part of the warm up to a great event. Meanwhile, stay upright on these icy surfaces. 

Merry Christmas and keep your fingers crossed for Trudie.

Sherry