Kick the New Year Off Right Party 2005

January 2, 2005 at Richard Cox's Home

This party was held to welcome the New Year at the home and shop of Chapter 124 member Richard Cox. The photo above shows some of the many party guests checking out the equipment in Richard's shop. The following is Richard's summary of the event: “Wow”, that’s all that can be said for the “Kick the New Year off right party”. If you need rain, plan a party. Lucky for me, the week between Christmas and New Years was beautiful weather; we had time to get the house, shop and yard cleaned up before Sunday’s afternoon party. I awoke early Sunday morning to a lazy, slow rain. This was the 3rd open house I’ve had and it’s rained each time. In the past we’ve had a crowd averaging approx 50 people so that was what we planned for. Jenifer Lange, who helps in the clock shop, loves to entertain. She volunteered to hostess, plan the menu and prepare goodies for the party. The problem with Jenifer is the closer to party time the more goodies she wanted to serve. I think she baked 15 to 20 dozen cookies, made more candy then I could have imagined and at the last minute made individual serving cheese cakes (the last count I had was 70 before she sent me to the store for more supplies). I tried everything but could have used help from Dr. Secor sampling the goodies. My sister, Sandra Newton, volunteered to help with the punch. She made ice rings full of fruit, then added several secret ingredients that produced a wonderful punch. At the end of the day there was none left! It was delicious! Gladys Cox, my x-wife, that’s right x, volunteered to make coffee. Gladys and Jenifer both grew up outside Rowena, Texas. They hadn’t met until the party but shared plenty of laughs on the phone. Gladys brought a coffee grinder, ground beans and made the best coffee you have ever had. Eric Goodwin helps in the clock shop also; he loves to play with the computer and computer driven machines (CNC mills). He’s helped me build the 2 we have and is planning a 3rd one to be finished by the summer. Eric kept the machines running during the open house giving demonstrations on gear cutting, brass engraving, and brass gear crossing out and made 2 different anchors (verges) on the mill. He answered plenty of questions as everyone crowded around the machines and computer watching him work. When the crowd became larger than expected my kids, Angela and Travis came to the rescue. I guess they're not kids (25 and 27) but they're still kids to me. Chuck Edwards, 124’s president, helped and brought a group of volunteers that helped with the visitors. We started with 150 name tags and ran out; the estimate was 175 to 200 people throughout the house and shop. I don’t know what I would have done with out such a great group of volunteers. It just goes to show: it’s not what you know but who you know. Thanks to everyone that helped and attended. Richard

1 This party was held to welcome the New Year at the home and shop of Chapter 124 member Richard Cox. The photo above shows some of the many party guests checking out the equipment in Richard's shop. The following is Richard's summary of the event:

“Wow”, that’s all that can be said for the “Kick the New Year off right party”. If you need rain, plan a party. Lucky for me, the week between Christmas and New Years was beautiful weather; we had time to get the house, shop and yard cleaned up before Sunday’s afternoon party. I awoke early Sunday morning to a lazy, slow rain. This was the 3rd open house I’ve had and it’s rained each time. In the past we’ve had a crowd averaging approx 50 people so that was what we planned for.

Jenifer Lange, who helps in the clock shop, loves to entertain. She volunteered to hostess, plan the menu and prepare goodies for the party. The problem with Jenifer is the closer to party time the more goodies she wanted to serve. I think she baked 15 to 20 dozen cookies, made more candy then I could have imagined and at the last minute made individual serving cheese cakes (the last count I had was 70 before she sent me to the store for more supplies). I tried everything but could have used help from Dr. Secor sampling the goodies.

My sister, Sandra Newton, volunteered to help with the punch. She made ice rings full of fruit, then added several secret ingredients that produced a wonderful punch. At the end of the day there was none left! It was delicious!

Gladys Cox, my x-wife, that’s right x, volunteered to make coffee. Gladys and Jenifer both grew up outside Rowena, Texas. They hadn’t met until the party but shared plenty of laughs on the phone. Gladys brought a coffee grinder, ground beans and made the best coffee you have ever had.

Eric Goodwin helps in the clock shop also; he loves to play with the computer and computer driven machines (CNC mills). He’s helped me build the 2 we have and is planning a 3rd one to be finished by the summer. Eric kept the machines running during the open house giving demonstrations on gear cutting, brass engraving, and brass gear crossing out and made 2 different anchors (verges) on the mill. He answered plenty of questions as everyone crowded around the machines and computer watching him work.

When the crowd became larger than expected my kids, Angela and Travis came to the rescue. I guess they're not kids (25 and 27) but they're still kids to me. Chuck Edwards, 124’s president, helped and brought a group of volunteers that helped with the visitors. We started with 150 name tags and ran out; the estimate was 175 to 200 people throughout the house and shop. I don’t know what I would have done with out such a great group of volunteers. It just goes to show: it’s not what you know but who you know.

Thanks to everyone that helped and attended.

Richard

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