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	2011 Menekaunee Old Timers Picnic
	This was authored by Sharon Powilaites, OTP coordinator !
	The annual Menekaunee Old Timers Picnic (MOTP) was held on Saturday, July 30, 2011 at Red Arrow Park for anyone 50+ years of age with ties to Menekaunee. There were 100+ attendees on a beautiful summer day. As people arrived they received a name tag from the registration ladies Georgiana (Brix) Halverson, Marilyn Knopp, and Judy (Brix) Williams. All paid attendees were eligible to win a door prize, and all attendees were eligible to participate in the raffle drawings.n.
	The picnic opened at 12:15 noon with the Menekaunee Cheer by Menekaunee Cheerleaders Sandy (Olson) Saunier, Jean (Fischer) Rizzo, Judy (Fischer) Uecke, Carolyn (Mikie Olson) Jensen, Judy (Brix) Williams, and Sharon (Brix) Powilaites. Saunier welcomed all attendees. Powilaites gave the prayer for old timer family and friends who passed away during the previous year, followed by the dinner invocation..
	Sandy Saunier and Sharon Powilaites again co-chaired the MOTP this year. Sandy handled the many door prizes donated by area merchants and businesses, and the fund raiser raffles for future Menekaunee projects. Sharon handled the catering through Angeli's, to allow Saunier time to socialize. Sandy has catered the picnics since 1994. This year's menu consisted of fried chicken, ham, potato salad, cole slaw, buttered corn, Sandy's famous brown beans, buns, pickles & olives, with chocolate chip cookies and brownies for dessert. Coffee and bottled water were available. Kitchen help was provided by Judy Williams and Jean Rizzo.
	After dinner, the oldest woman, Marjorie Dupuis 89, and the oldest man, Elmer Knutson 85, were recognized with a special edition black w/gold print City of Marinette coffee mug. Mugs were also presented to Rich and Deb Miller for traveling the farthest, from Lincoln, California. Menekaunee promotional materials (t-shirts, caps, buttons) from Joe Shepro of Bayside Embroidery in Menominee were sold to keep the cost of the picnic down for next year. Two dollars of the $11cost to attend remains in the account to pay for the pavilion rental next year, and for postcard reminders to out-of-towners who do not have email. Alice (Minor) Baumgarten created the postcards again this year. Sharon and John Powilaites brought leftover food to the Salvation Army. Helpers with tables/chairs setup/take down and cleanup were John Powilaites, Judy Williams, Steve Enstrom, and Jim Wagner..
	Business was conducted between the door prize and raffle drawings. This past spring, a survey was taken to rename the park across from Applejack's, currently known as Whiskey Park. The majority of responders requested to have "Menekaunee" in the park's name. Therefore, the names had been narrowed down to two: Menekaunee Memorial Park, or Menekaunee Heritage Park, as suggested by Marilee Grenier Newell. With a show of hands, the new name was voted to be Menekaunee Heritage Park.
	Every year the MOTP is different and special. The same people don't attend, especially the out-of-towners. But, it is always a fine reunion of family and friends, a time to reminisce and to reconnect with the past. The first annual Menekaunee Old Timers Picnic was a potluck on July 15, 1979 at City Park. Since then, Menekauneeans have continued to carry on the tradition of gathering together once a year. Mark your calendar for next year's picnic 7/28/2012.

Thanks again from the committee,