Holiday decor

Holiday traditions don’t just happen — they take planning and hard work. Members of the Altrusa Club of Portales say the club has been working for months to make sure a nine-year holiday tradition turns out festive and fun for everyone.

The organization is sponsoring the 9th annual Holiday Happening from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at Eastern New Mexico University Ballroom.

The hallmark of the event is the decorated tables that adorn the ballroom for the luncheon. The club sells sponsors for each of the tables and the sponsor can decorate the table and do the place settings themselves or have someone decorate it for them. The sponsorship also includes a certain number of tickets but sponsors often donate back the tickets they won’t be using which allows the club to sell individual tickets to the public as well.

“Viewing the tables is the attraction since they are very elaborately decorated,” said Bernice D’Agostino chairperson of Holiday Happening.

The event benefits local charities sponsored by Altrusa, according to D’Agostino. She said this will be the last year of the club’s three-year commitment to buy handicap accessible playground equipment for Portales city parks. Other charities that will benefit are a program that provides eye glasses for senior citizens, high school students and pre-school children. Two scholarships to ENMU are also provided by the club through the benefit.

In addition to the luncheon, there will be a silent auction, door prizes, and a fashion show.

“We have wonderful door prizes as well as a silent auction. All of the items for both were donated by local individuals and merchants,” said D’Agostino.

D’Agostino said it takes all of the 50-plus Altrusa members working hard in order to make the event happen. She said it also takes a good bit of participation from the community.

“We appreciate Steven Gamble for allowing us to use the ballroom at the University because without it we could not have an event of this size,” said D’Agostino.

Individual tickets are $25 each and will be sold up until two days before the event.

To purchase a ticket, call Dianne Parker, ticket chair at 356-8234.