South Florida Winnie Gators

The South Florida Winnie Gators January 2023 outing was held at Resort at Canopy Oaks in Lake Wales, Florida. Sixteen coaches checked in for our first campout of the 2023 season.

The weather was beautiful with warm days and cool evenings, making it just perfect for sitting around a bonfire in the evening.

 

Some members arrived on Wednesday while most everyone else checked in on Thursday. All gathered in the clubhouse for Happy Hour and snacks on Thursday afternoon and enjoyed time visiting and catching up. The time together was so enjoyable that many extended Happy Hour by ordering pizza and staying for dinner.

 

Early on Friday morning our energizer activity leader held a shuffleboard tournament where eight teams faced off for very competitive games. The winning team each got a bottle of wine. A few members stayed around for a Bocce Ball game afterwards.

Happy Hour on Friday included our Club sponsored Bar and Gift Raffle. Prancing Pete and Debonair Denny entertained the crowd rounding up lots in ticket sales.

Fifteen gifts were available for those holding winning raffle tickets and the lucky ones went home with great prizes. Dinner was a Club sponsored hamburger cookout with all the fixin’s, and dessert supplied by members. After dinner many enjoyed a bonfire built by our own Club “fire marshal” who hauled in a trunk load of wood for the occasion.

Saturday began with our usual Club sponsored breakfast prepared by our Club chefs. We enjoyed a delicious ham, egg, and cheese scramble with croissants, condiments, and coffee.

After breakfast, the Board of Directors met, followed by the General Meeting where the new 2023 Board Members were sworn in.

Several members enjoyed a game of Mahjongg after the meeting. Members enjoyed a leisurely afternoon until time for the afternoon Happy Hour and 50/50 raffle. The Raffle Babes, Bouncing Becky and Dancing Debbie, circulated the room charming members into buying lots of tickets. Besides the lucky money winners, there was a bonus prize of a free campout.

Our evening meal was pulled pork on a bun with cole slaw plus many sides and desserts brought by members. All agreed the campout was a great beginning of our 2023 rally season!