Feliz Ano Nuevo DOOKIE’S,

          It’s a New Year and we all know what that means… DOOKIE Time!!!  I think I speak for everyone when I say that last year was the best year yet.  We tweaked the formula a bit last year and by doing so, improved the overall experience.  We have the same goal in mind for this coming year.

          We’re going to keep the RSVP fee the same amount as last year, $125.  We ended up using all but $20 last year.  We won’t have trophy’s to buy this year, but it will be much easier to just keep it the same amount.  If we have a substantial amount of money left over we’ll discuss our options, but until that happens we’ll just keep it the same.

          The schedule of events on Friday will change a little bit.  We will start the festivities at 6:30pm (SHARP!) at Plaza Lanes.   First, we’ll bowl, using only house balls.  This, as well as oil soaked lanes, will ensure a more even competition.  Then we will throw darts in the lounge.  Just as last year, these two activities will be paid for, excluding alcohol and food.  Chances are, we will not have enough time to start euchre so we will have to spread the card games throughout Saturday.

          Saturday will be very similar to last year.  We will start around 9:30am (the earlier, the better).  Half will play croquet, while the rest of us throw horseshoes.  We have to make an effort to get more euchre games in earlier this year, because we took too long to finish the games last year.  All food, all beer, and all fun will be provided for you (it’s up to you to do something with it).  Any Family is welcome to come to our DOOKIE FAMILY DAY.  If they know, and are known by other DOOKIE’S it’s fine, but make sure they understand that you’ll be preoccupied all day.

          Hopefully, this set up will allow us an easy day on Sunday.  Most likely, Oak Lake will greet us at 9am.  But, this year we won’t have to rush because golf will be the last event (except for the last couple rounds of euchre).  Once golf is finished, we can retreat back to my house to put a dent in the leftovers, finish up cards, and lastly, present the TROPHIES.

          Last year for the first time, we had a three-time winner of the DOOKIE championship.  Congratulations to Dan “Stumpy” Beiter on his second consecutive and third overall championship.    We also had some DOOKIE’S get their T-shirt’s last year.  Congratulations to Mike Ewing, Joe Ruggieri, Slade Kane, and Ray Fortuna, all of whom were in their third tournament.

          We also had two guys that repeated as champions in an event, Dan Beiter in golf and Sean Hare in Croquet. We all look forward to putting an end to those two streaks so that they won’t tie Marshall Mckallip, who is the only three-peat DOOKIE champion of one event.  He won the first three euchre competitions.

THE DOOKIE TOURNAMENT

                    This year the tournament will be held on:

JULY  9, 10, and 11^th.

The RSVP date is May 15^th.  Last year, several people were late in turning in their money.  Their spots are in jeopardy because we have several people that have been in the tournament in the past and want back in this year.  So, get your money in.  Those who were in last year have priority, but only until the RSVP date.  Starting May 16^th, the first to send in their money will be the first to secure a spot.

And again, if you want to cook a signature dish or want to bring something that we’ll need, I will reimburse you the difference.  It would help out a lot if you would bring something, but I have to know by June otherwise I’ll get it myself.

This thing of ours just keeps getting better every year.  Let’s continue the tradition.  Every outside person that I’ve explained the DOOKIE Tournament to was impressed and jealous because they don’t have anything like it.  We should be appreciative of what we have and enjoy the friendly competition, good friends, and good times.  (Plus, it would be nice to see our name on a trophy when we win.)  See you in July.

D to D,

Sean Hare