Party like an Optimist!
Beach Optimists celebrate the holidays and a successful year

Mary Claus/Special to Gulf Breeze News Pensacola Beach Optimist Club members Dan McGrath, Pat Spenser, Jane McGrath, Bev Dufrechou, Teet Brannon and guest Pauline Huddleston enjoy dinner from the array of covered dishes provided by each of the members. Along with the great fare, each member and guest brought a wrapped gift to participate in the famous “Dirty Santa” gift exchange. There was nothing dirty about the good times and laughs the members shared.

Members of the Pensacola Beach Optimist Club along with guests congregated together at the club's annual Christmas party on Dec. 15. Santa even made an appearance at the covered dish event featuring fun, fellowship and the popular "Dirty Santa" gift exchange. Gifts arranging from delicious liqueur chocolates to wonderfully scented candles where among the stash and everyone who participated walked away delighted and filled with even more Christmas cheer.

The group already has a myriad of events lined up for 2007 including recycling awareness activities for Pensacola Beach Elementary School students headed up by Optimist member Lila Cox as well as the Annual Oratorical Contest for beach school students headed up by member B.J. Davis.

Mary Claus/Special to Gulf Breeze News Pensacola Beach Optimist Club member Helen Randle (right) shows the beautiful gift she received at the annual Christmas party to Maria Schaffer. Mary Claus/Special to Gulf Breeze News Santa takes a peek at Optimist Club member Frankie Reynolds’ gift after the “Dirty Santa” gift exchange. Members also had the opportunity to get their photo taken with Santa to remember the occasion.