Well, everyone. This is my last letter to you as your 2022 President. It has been a ride to say the least. I can retire from this as of December 31 and know that I have done my absolute best. I have devoted this entire year to the OD Shag Club to try to make it the best it can be. Do I feel like that has happened? No, I really do not. There have been a lot of things beyond my control, but I tried very hard to involve our members and show them what this wonderful dance community is like. I felt like we gave them every opportunity to feel important and useful and to showcase their many valuable talents. I have laid awake at nights to try to come up with things that will make our members feel welcome and I do believe that for the most part that was accomplished. Could we do that with everyone? No. When you have 670+ members it is hard to know every face much less names. Please know if you were or are new, you are welcome and you need to help us by making yourself known. I will still see you at FH at least 2 times a week. Please do make yourself known. I am also going to stay involved with the entertainment, the parades, the Blues Cruise, and the beach parties so please help me by introducing yourself and volunteering to help. If you have been around for a while, please continue to say hello. I am also going to help out with another local club so you may also see us there.

December not only “changes the guard” as they say but it also brought a very busy month to your board. As most of you know, your board voted to not be in the Christmas parade due to the cost of their new rules. We also had to withdraw from our clean sweep job as the State of SC also changed some road requirements that did not work with our membership. So, even though we did not participate in either of those things, we still had a busy month. Our Thanksgiving party in November was attended by 256 people. Our December party was attended by 250+ (uncertain of exact number). Those 2 events were so well attended and for both of them our food was absolutely delicious. OUR SPOTLIGHTS: Thank you, Terry, Kathy, Paulette and all who volunteered to serve. Thank you for those that make themselves available to clean up. You are awesome and the rest of us could not do it without you. Thank you to Connie and Charlie Pangburn for the

November has closed out another month. One more and it will be another year. November brought us Thanksgiving and what a Thanksgiving Party we had. This year has flown by for us and when talking to others it seems as though most feel that way. You know what they say, time flies when you are having fun.

Fat Harold’s looked so good. Lulu has told me multiple times that it is the most beautiful it has ever been. So good to hear. It took 8 of us around 5 hours to make it sparkle. Terry and Kathy at the helm again for all of us to enjoy.

Our Thanksgiving party was so well attended. We had 256 people and got them all fed thanks to Terry, Kathy, Paulette and all our serving volunteers. A big thanks to all. I would appreciate it if you will say Thank You to all our food volunteers and clean up crews. It is so nice to have people like them in our mist.

We are making the three of our food leaders Terry and Kathy McCoy and Paulette Miller our Spotlights for November. What most of us do not think about is that there is so much that goes on behind the scenes. Not only do they cook and serve but they have to not only buy the stuff, they have to pick up all things necessary and then cut up all the necessary ingredients beforehand. Then they have to clean it all up. It takes a team. Then it takes the leader of the team. I think it is time for us to all think about what it takes to have something as great as we had at Thanksgiving. Just so everyone also knows Paulette Miller made all of the delicious dressing. I don’t think we can ever thank them enough for what they do for us.

Before you know it Christmas will be upon us. Be sure to get your shopping done early to avoid the crowds. No matter how much online shopping people do, there seems to still be a crowd. Whatever you do, please be safe.

 This season of the year brings us all to a very busy time of the year. There are so many in need and the OD Shag Club will be asking you to help us feed and give to families that struggle all the time for the things that we take for granted. Remember when you come to the Christmas party on December 10^th to bring what you can of non-perishable goods or donations or if you feel like it both with you to the party. Hopefully, those of us who are so lucky in life will share with those less fortunate.

Thanks to all who are helping the OD Shag Club with its charities.

Remember, be kind, love one another and treat each other with respect, have fun and above all dance like no one is watching. It is with you feet that you move but your heart that you dance.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

Loving Shag Life

Donna Williams