Pictures From Work

SAIF Holiday Party 2009

Our Office Holiday Party was postponed by snow that kept people at home.
(The smart people continued to do office work).

We were finally able to hold it in January at the Ram Brewhouse.
The organizing committee (Lori) did an excellent job as always.

This is our fearless waiter. He did a good job and appears to have had at least one admirer (other than himself)

The group this year consisted of people who worked in and around the underwriting department.

On the left we have John Coronel, Gena Isaacs, Chuck Paxton, Deserie Staats, Rowena Hill at the end, you can't see Cindy Stephenson but she's there, followed by Kathy Kirk, Rex Anderson, Susan Hallock (also hidden), Carolyn Aandeweil, Dorothy Haynes, John Ferguson, Smokey Ringstad, Michael Hartman, Korrinn Loewen.

Here you can see Cindy, Kathy, Susan, Rex, Carolyn, Dorothy, John, Smokey, Michael, Sharon Love, Janice LaCombe at the end, Lori Huebsch, Derik Scroggin, John, Gena, Chuck, Jeanice, Deserie, and Rowena.

Food

My food.

The main attraction for most attendees is the white elephant gift exchange. There is a $15.00 limit and gifts are chosen based upon a lottery system (where we get to argue about which number is a 6 and which is a 9). Gifts may be chosen from the unopened pile or taken from someone who recently opened a gift that you want. The person who had their gift stolen can then take a gift from the pile or steal one from someone else. Any gift is available for theft until it is locked by having been stolen back by one person three times. It gets exciting because not all the gifts are worth stealing, and there are some people who work out little deals behind the scenes to trade desirable gifts (liquor) back and forth.

Nick arrived a few minutes late because he works 4/10s and this was held on a Friday. Lori got even with him later. She's very vindictive and shouldn't be crossed.

Rex was kind enough to sit across from the photographer and posed for several action shots. This was one of my favorites.

Smokey Ringstad attempted to liven the party by having everyone wear a stylish hat. No one participated, not even Steve.

Susan Montgomery and Bruce Hoffman

Michael Hartman, Korrinn Loewen, and Sharon Love

Janice LaCombe, Rebecca Clemons

John Coronel

Carolyn and her really big hands

Rex and another action shot, this one with really big ketchup

Rowena and Cindy

Jeanice and Deserie

As was required by Carl Wilson in prior holiday celebrations and year-end meetings, John Ferguson got up and made a brief description of the year-end results, thanked us all for the incredible work that we provided throughout the year, and then turned the meeting over to Lori to run the gift exchange. There were a few tears as we each recalled the contributions that we made and that were recognized by John in his stirring speach. We were all better, more motivated SAIF employees after John's presentation.

Lori allowing Rex and Susan to choose their numbers. I believe Susan chose a 6, or was it a 9?

Rowena, Cindy, and Kathy ready to choose their numbers.

John was one of the first out of the gate. He got potato chips and beer that traded around quite often.

Smokey tried to have everyone picking a gift wear his hat. Here he's pleased that someone did and dismayed that it looked more stylish on Chuck than it did on him. Wearing the hat only worked for a few people (John and Chuck) after which the hat was hidden in one of the gifts. Fortunately that gift wasn't opened until close to the end of the exchange.