News and photos

Issue No 36:
15 April 2006

Welcome to our thirty-sixth PartyChitChat. Just to let you know our news first:

• We have created a new school meet and mingle version of Mystery In The Library 17 to 30 guests. There are 4 different versions with different people who did it in each version. A teacher's aid is also supplied. There is also an existing large standard version for 30 students (this can be used for slightly less by ignoring the associate roles and having the suspect read out their clues).
• We are working on a meet and mingle version for 17 to 30 for Fame, Money and Murder. It should be finished within the next month.

In this issue, we have articles about:

• Our photo competition winners
• Decoration competition winner
• Feedback about The Luck Of The Irish.

Happy Easter!

Our photo competition winners

We had some really good entries this month. We would like to thank everyone who entered. The 3 winners are:

• Mike and Jennifer Thoreson (USA) for a group photo from their The Luck Of The Irish party
• Elizabeth Cooney (Canada) for a group photo from her work party using Celebrity Celebrations party
• Nel Hecht (USA) for a group photo from her Mystery In The Library party.

We are commencing a new competition with a closing date of 1 June 2006 (see photos.htm for details).

Our decoration competition winner

The winner is Beverly Michaels (USA) for photos of her Who Killed Santa? work party.

We are commencing a new competition with a closing date of 1 June 2006 (see decor.htm for details).

Beverly sent in this feedback:

"I purchased your "Who Killed Santa" kit for our annual holiday function at work. Every year it is very challenging to try to come up with a group/team-building activity so that all may attend and enjoy themselves at the same time. This was perfect! Our environment is not typical in that we're composed of mostly scientists (which tend to be introverts) so it was great to see many folks come out of their shells and really get into their character. This was such a success that I'm not sure how I am going to top the next holiday function!

I've attached pictures of folks dressed in their characters. There were way too many to attach but I wanted to pass along our sincere thanks. We hope you come up with more ideas for future events!

Thanks again,

Beverly R. Michaels"

Mike and Jennifer sent in this feedback about their "The Luck Of The Irish" party:

"We had a great time, and we will definitely do this again!!"

Elizabeth sent in this feedback:

"Good afternoon.

On January 25th for our social at our annual retreat, 54 of us participated in Celebrity Celebrations and we all agreed it was a blast! Everyone really got into their character including the singing characters some who used a karaoke machine. I’ve attached some pictures that showed just how much fun we had!

Marilyn sang “Happy Birthday Mr. Associate Vice-President” to our AVP who was dressed as Peter Sellers. Marilyn chose to pose with JFK and, in character, totally ignored his “wife” Jackie the entire evening. I was Mae West and... the hat I designed and created out of bristle board and an ice-cream pail (looks heavy but it wasn’t) [see on the far left].

I’ve already had inquires about when the next murder mystery will be. Thanks!

Elizabeth “the Diva” Cooney"

Here is Nel Hecht's group photo from her "Mystery In The Library" party:

Feedback about The Luck Of The Irish

Delores Page sent in this feedback:

"We had our The Luck Of The Irish party last Monday with 25 present..all Sr. citizens, and I was amazed at the energy and enthusiasm it generated. (with a little prodding by the ladies).........(guys!...)..........thanks for your good advice and prompt attention to my previous plight........I made a model of Gilroy Castle out of a long box on end, surrounded it with rough Christmas bough greenery and some weathered barren "trees" and roots.. made two ramp like bridges across a tinsel stream covered with blue cellophane..it covered my round coffee tabletop..and we did add a "Clancy's Pub" out of a tablecloth draped ironing board. for atmosphere..............the gold "coins" were old poker chips sprayed with gilt paint and kept in a green net bag...and lots of prizes..including some SHAMrocks, taken from our roadside and sprayed green.....I considered dyeing an "Erin go Bra" flopper-stopper, but ran out of Time. ...........and an "Emerald Ripple" houseplant.......Queen Mona's robe was a gold chenille bedspread, and she wore every rhinestone bit of jewelry she could find......Empty walmart bags filled the bulging chest, stomach and hips of Una the frog...they were tucked into a baggy pair of bloomers, and felt frog feet covered the top of my shoes..........There was even a map with graphics on a wall with the clues tacked on the board for review.......Thanks for a memorable day!"