Thank You Letters for March 15

On behalf of the 866 diners who enjoyed the holiday buffet, and hospitality presented by the Holiday Inn Oceanfront at our seventh annual Community Christmas Day Dinner, we acknowledge those whose generosity made this special birthday party a big success.

Mark Scheffsky, food director; Chris Doboszynski, dining manager; Joseph and Judith Nagy, Doboszynski's assistants; our "kitchen-master" volunteers, Paul McGovern and Rick Ingersoll; Wally Willig, chef of The Smokehouse; turkey cookers loaned by Jerry Leonard; linens supplied by Jerome Orr's Housekeeping Services of Hilton Head; and Mike Warnock, who donated Royal Cup Coffee. Much credit goes to Brandon Arrieta's management of Hugo's Hospitality Food Bank, which supplied the food from local residents' donations. Thank you all.

The Grouper Restaurant and the banquet room spaciously accommodated two buffet tables and dessert displays, including the "Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus" cakes.

Special thanks to Lois Willig, our wonderful Webmaster, who expertly positioned 300 volunteers on three shifts with job descriptions, name tags and dinner reservations, along with 586 other diners.

Showing thanks for the care and enthusiasm of our volunteers, the diners donated $3,844, split between Meals on Wheels and Second Helpings. "Pay it forward" was personified.

Our communities continue to shine in the light of the true meaning of Christmas. Let the warmth of its message be reflected in our million acts of kindness throughout 2010.

Barb O'Connor

Event founder, organizer

Bluffton

For luncheon support

I would like to thank the Country Club of Hilton Head for hosting the 19th annual Women's Interclub Tennis luncheon Jan. 21.

I would like to give a special thank you to Linda Werner, Gayle Tyrrell, Judie Aronson, Chris Iulo and Emeline Hunting, the Country Club of Hilton Head 2009 committee coordinators of the Women's Interclub luncheon.

Robert Seriano and Jennifer Milares, the club's food and beverage managers, presented a scrumptious luncheon.

Women's Interclub is a "social league" consisting of 17 teams of one 4.0 division, two 3.5 divisions, two 3.0 divisions and one team in the 2.5/3.0 division. These teams participate in a weekly scheduled tennis match, September through November each year. The social aspect of the league allows people to practice tennis with no pressure to win. Women's Interclub Tennis League adopted Special Olympics of Hilton Head as their 2009 charity. Money was raised at the luncheon on behalf of the Special Olympics.

On behalf of Women's Interclub Tennis, I would like to thank Debbie Wood of I.T.S. Classics, our sponsor, for awarding Indigo Run with beautiful embroidered hats for a first-place finish. In a close second place was Colleton River, which had a 90 percent win record. Congratulations to all participants of Women's Interclub Tennis.

Jennifer Friend-Kerr, director

Women's Interclub Tennis

Hilton Head Island