State Parties

Colorado State Party

Bill Hook

The Colorado Patio Party will be held on Saturday, March 24, 2018, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the SunBird pool/patio area. The social hour will be from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., followed by a cook-out. The cook-out will include hamburgers or brats, potato salad, beans, buns, plates, condiments and beer, wine or soda. Tickets are $8 per person and must be purchased by March 20.

For more information, call Bill and Bette Hook at 895-6920.

All present and former Colorado residents and house guests are welcome.

Dakota and Nebraska

Mary Jane Melcher

Mark your calendars now for the Dakota and Nebraska Club reunion on Saturday, March 3, 2018, from 4:00-6:30 p.m. on the SunBird patio! Bring your friends!

The potluck-on-the patio fun will begin with social hour at 4:00 p.m. (BYOB). Potluck is at 4:30 p.m. Live music with Bob Bergman (of Fargo) and The Boys will again entertain us.

Delicious Dakota and Nebraska home cooking is your admission, with water and dinnerware provided. Last name A through H, please bring a salad for eight; last name I through P, please bring a hot dish for eight; and last name Q through Z, please bring a dessert for eight.

Yes, Nebraska friends are joining us this year! They and SunBird residents who have lived in the Dakotas and their guests and Dakota friends are invited. Membership and event ticket is $5 at the SunBird office in February and $6 at the picnic.

For questions or to share ideas, call Jackie Cox at 701-730-6723, Sonja or Al Sjurseth at 701-261-5935 or Mary Jane Melcher at 605-310-8434.

Iowa State Party

Mary Bixby

The Iowa groundhog saw his shadow and that means, for all SunBird Iowans, just six weeks until the Iowa Party on Tuesday, March 13. It is “Iowa State Fair – West” time on the Patio from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. The Iowa Party has a reputation for fantastic homecooked food, so search through your Iowa Church Basement Ladies cookbook and find your favorite salad, vegetable or dessert recipe. Last year’s money from the “Raffle” will be used to purchase an entrée. Please bring your Iowa items to the party for this year’s raffle, or contact Don and Betty Nobling at 712-267-6603 or Bix and Mary Bixby at 563-543-7974, and we will pick it up.

If you have any questions, text Paullene Caraher at 602-292-7858 (please include your name) or email her at [email protected]. It may be -6 in Iowa; however, in SunBird -6 means only six weeks, and counting, until our 15th annual Iowa Party. Look for updates in the March issue of our SunBird News. We look forward to seeing you there.

Michigan/Illinois State Party

The fourth annual Michigan and Illinois state party will be held on Saturday, March 10, 2018, from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on the Clubhouse Patio. All Illinois and Michigan residents, former residents and anyone with ties to these two great states are invited to attend.

Attendees with last names starting with A through O are asked to bring an appetizer. Those whose last names begin with P through Z are asked to bring fruit, veggies or dessert to pass. Coffee, plates, utensils, cups and napkins will be provided. Everyone should bring their drink of choice. After the January 18, 2018, Planning Committee meeting, more information will be in the March SunBird News.

To help the committee finalize their plans for the party, there will be a sign-up sheet on the board in the puzzle room. For further information or to register for the party, you may call Marge Smith at 480-883-1622 or Janice Fleming at 480-883-6915. Illinois residents may contact Joan Freund at 480-225-3184. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend.

Minnesota

The 2018 Minnesota Party is scheduled for Friday, March 9 on the clubhouse patio, beginning at 4:30 p.m. All hot dishes should be ready by 4:30 to preserve the heated dishes. All beverages are BYOB. A sign-up sheet will be posted next to the library. Please list the number of people attending and a checkmark in the list of items to be prepared.

Questions? Call Ned at 651-245-2856 or Floy at 612-220-5606.

Nebraska

Neil Donohoe

The annual Nebraska Dinner/Dance will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2018, at the Cottonwood Country Club San Tan Ballroom.

The event starts with a no-host cash bar beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner of prime rib or shrimp scampi at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $35.00 per person. Raffle and auction items will also be available.

Music for your listening and dancing pleasure will be provided by popular local entertainer and 2010 Mrs. Senior Arizona winner Maddy Paschal.

The deadline to purchase tickets is Monday, February 12. To make reservations or for additional information, contact Sue Weinert Hull at 402-690-1582.