Chef’s Corner

November 28, 2011

Greetings ,Fellow Voyageurs.

 I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and that you shared that special day with family and friends.

I have enjoyed the past several months as your Grand Chef DeGare. I attended several functions and plan to pick up the pace in the near months. Sally and I along with our aide de camp Cindy Dietz, attended Voiture 786(Lawrence)  August promenade at Baldwin City. We enjoyed a great steak dinner and camaraderie with the entire group and their wives.

 September’s Promenade for Voiture 1510( Johnson County) was held at our home.  It was a nice evening spent out on the deck and the fellowship was good for all of us. The taco feed was great and the change of pace was a good idea and everyone enjoyed it.

Cindy Sally and I went to Iola for Voiture 335 bingo night and I helped on the floor. It was a fun evening and I applaud Voiture 335 for their hard work in raising the funds to award approximately 20 nursing scholarships each year.

October found us in Lawrence for a Flag disposal Ceremony, Paola for the Promenade, and at Abilene for the Eisenhower pilgrimage, where I laid the wreath for La Societe. We were very pleased to have Ted Lang, Chef de Chemin de Fer Passé as our National guest and enjoyed spending time with him Friday and Saturday. The Pilgrimage is always a nice time to visit old friends. We have been attending for several years, and the Chicken Dinner that followed was superb, as usual at the Brookfield Hotel restaurant.

November has been great.  I was asked to join five other Veterans to give a flag etiquette program to theK-6^th grade classes at the Garnett Elementary Schools.  This was an all-day event, and the program was presented 7 or 8 times. The veterans represented the American Legion, VFW and the 40 ET 8.  The kids had some good questions and were very attentive.  Of the six vets presenting the program four were members of LaSociete.

Veterans Day was spent in Leavenworth, Kansas, where Sally and I rode in the parade. Jack Leroy then took us to the post for a nice lunch and we again visited with lots of fellow Voyageurs and Legionnaires. I want to thank Jack for his hospitality and his tenacity in promoting the 40 ET 8 in the community. 

Thanksgiving Day was spent with my family in Pittsburg, its great when we can all get together even if it’s only for the day.  We went back to Pittsburg on the 27^th to celebrated Mom’s 88^th birthday.

Today, is November 28^th, my 68th birthday, and my 48^th wedding anniversary! I apologized to my wife, but I have to cook for a Promenade tonight at Olathe. She understands!!

I apologize for taking so long to get this newsletter put together. Another will follow soon.

I want to wish each of you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year and I hope to see you at Grande Mid-winter in Baldwin City.  Call to convention will be out shortly.

Thanks for all you do for the 40 ET 8. Keep working the programs and membership!

Tom Emerson Sr.

Grand Chef De Gare