dakota – edited

Dakota and Nebraska Party!

Mark your calendars now for the Dakota and Nebraska reunion on Saturday, March 14, 2020, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on the SunBird patio! Bring your friends!

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

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

SunBird residents who have lived in the Dakotas or Nebraska, along with their guests and Dakota/Nebraska friends, are invited. The event ticket is $5 and will be available beginning Feb. 15 at the rummage sale.

For information or to purchase tickets, please call Sonia at 701-261-5935, RaeAnn at 701-269-4972, Faye at 701-240-1234, Colleen at 402-651-7691, Deb at 308-325-2965, or Karen at 206-300-3432.

Additional volunteers from the Dakotas or Nebraska are needed for this event.

The Iowa State Fair Is Moo-ving West

The 2020 Iowa Party will be held Thursday, March 19, on the SunBird clubhouse patio. Registration will begin at 4 p.m. (bring your raffle item, a dish to pass, table setting for all those in your party, and a beverage of your choice—alcoholic drinks are allowed on the patio). We will enjoy an hour to meet new Iowa friends and purchase our winning raffle tickets before dinner at 5 p.m. An entrée of fried/baked chicken will be provided from the annual Iowa Party Fund that you make possible with your very important raffle donation.

In addition to the raffle, there will be a 50/50 drawing (50% to replenish the annual Iowa Party Fund and two drawings of 25% each for two lucky Iowans). If you have questions, text Paullene Caraher at 602-292-7858. The Iowa State Fair West is always a good time!

State Party: Iowa

Mary Bixby

All those Iowans, and those who would like to be, look forward with 2020 vision to the new year. My provider network is exploding with requests from you for information regarding the Iowa State Fair-West Party. So here’s the scoop straight from the Butter Cow’s mouth:

The 17th Annual Iowa Party will be held on the SunBird patio from 4 to 8 p.m. on March 19, 2020. If you wish, now is a good time to shop for something you would like to contribute to the annual raffle which helps support the gathering of friends from the heartland. Put this event on your calendar and plan to attend. The roasted chicken and delicious Iowa potluck dishes will reward you. See you at the Iowa State Fair-West.

Michigan/Illinois State Party

The sixth annual Michigan and Illinois State Party will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2020, from 4 to 8 p.m. on the clubhouse patio. Other arrangements have been made in case of inclement weather. All Illinois and Michigan residents, former residents, and anyone with ties to these two great states are invited to attend.

Thanks to everyone’s generous donations at last year’s party, shredded chicken and pulled pork sliders will be provided by the party committee this year. To supplement the sliders, attendees with last names starting with A through O are asked to bring an appetizer to pass. Those with last names beginning with P through Z are asked to bring fruit, veggies, or dessert. Coffees, plates, utensils, cups, and napkins will be provided. Everyone should bring their drink of choice. Donations to help offset the cost of food for next year’s party scheduled for Saturday, March 27, 2021, will be graciously accepted.

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 Carol Fredricks at 815-751-1845 or Mary Jane Modgans at 815-861-1755.

Minnesota/Wisconsin Party!

The Minnesota/Wisconsin Party will be held Feb. 27, 2020, from 4 to 8 p.m. Just a reminder to put the date on your calendar! We will be having dinner, live music, and giveaways! Tickets will be sold ahead of time. Watch for dates. Hope to see you all there!

State Party: Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana

Hey all those who hail from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana or who have ties to those states, get ready to party! The party will be on Saturday, March 7, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the clubhouse patio. Burgers will be grilled for $3 per person. When you RSVP, you will need to let the chairperson know how many burgers you need, plus whether you will provide a dessert, salad, or side dish to share.

Those from Ohio should call Pam Tiffany at 567-674-0554. If you are from Pennsylvania, please call Peggy Albright at 724-388-5286. If you are from Indiana, please call Arlene Cooper at 480-861-6854. Reservations are due by Saturday, Feb. 29.

The committee is busy planning the party, and we’ve put in a request for nicer weather than last year. We hope many of you can attend. We hope to have time to play a trivia game, so please bring a trivia question about your state or city you’re from. Write this on your calendar as you’re reading this article, or if you’re like me, you’ll forget. Also don’t forget to RSVP by Feb. 29.