Bon Voyage party with the DG

Today, the Team: Randall, Amy, Dana & Tarrah met first at my house to "rehearse" our square dance. Special thanks to the Kudrna family, Dad Dan, the girls: Kirsten and Aubrey, and youth exchange student Akshan for practicing with us prior to our Bon Voyage party with the District Governor.

We were a bit delayed as Tarrah and Dana took a tour of Johnstown, seeing such places as Geistown, Moxham, Kernville and both Rt 56 & 403, before they finally arrived on the mountain top. We walked from my house to DG Mary and Ivar Berge's home.

At the District Governor's home we enjoyed a lovely buffet of prosciutto wrapped shrimp, little roast beef and cheese roll-ups, specialty fresh tomato slice pizza, fruit salad, roasted warm new potatoes, and other treats. Lots of wine, beer and soft drinks. The rain held off, so we were able to go outside to the patio.

Johnstown Rotary President Greg Petrilla, Past President Ryan Sedlak, and former GSE Team Member, Reece Rahmon were there to represent the Johnstown Rotary Club. Youth Exchange Student Jonathan Olesen from Denmark arrived with his weekend host family, Nick & Tracey Dorsch and their daughters Olivia and Marianna.

District Governor met briefly with the team to discuss how important our trip would be and to present us with a portfolio featuring this year's theme. She also gave the team members postcards, NO RINO pins, two different theme pins "Make Dreams Real," and copies of her business card, with which we can possibly blanket the entire region. And then we did our little dance demonstration....

I might tell you there was some skepticism before we began, but Randall quickly explained the dance steps, the ladies of the team donned their bonnets and quickly recruited: Greg, Ryan, Nick and Reece....Ivar took pictures, the rest of the attendees observed. The music began, Randall started to call the moves and we all danced! It worked. We laughed, had a good time, and EVERYONE thought it would be a hit. We sure hope so.

After the dancing, DG Mary presented each team member with a special beneficiary of the Rotary Foundation pin.

Perhaps I shall be able to post a few of Ivar's snaps....by the bye---look for Tuesday's Tribune Democrat...there'll be a story there about GSE.

Special thanks to Patricia Greene, of Painesville, Ohio who made our bonnets, bandannas and skirts....we're gonna be so fetching when we travel in France and dance, dance, dance.....

Af