Our Christmas Tradition

December 25, 2010 - Rick

Jeff is here from Michigan, enjoying his school break and getting out of the snow. We’ll play golf three times while he’s here, but today is all about giving.

Most don’t think about Hilton Head Island as a place with those in need, but we do have many families in the service industry just getting by. In addition, there are many elderly without family in the area and they would be alone this Christmas Day if not for our two leaders.

Two lovely ladies, Barb and Lois, started a community Christmas dinner for anyone alone or in need of a meal on Christmas Day. Jeff and I have been volunteering since I moved down here. We are the “Stuffing Crew”, making cornbread stuffing for about 1200 each Christmas Day. Katy has always worked in the Emergency Room on Christmas so a Mom with small kids could have the day off to be with family. This year, she’ll be making stuffing and cutting turkey with us.

I started this tradition in our family 17 years ago when I sobered up. In Traverse City, I made stuffing on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter with the Community Meals program run by Sandra Svec for thousands every year. My kids are always there when in town. It is tradition now.

Many years ago when we had a place in Bonita Springs, Florida, we went with the Chamber of Commerce on Christmas Day to Immokalee, Florida where many of the migrant workers have jobs in the produce fields. My kids tell me still today that that day serving drinks and making salad for the migrant workers helped shape their desire for service work. You never know when you’ll hit the right chord with your kids. It was a very important day in my life and theirs.

My Christmas wish for you this year is as always, peace and good health to you and your family. And as an added bonus, I wish for you, the opportunity to give to others. It is a much more satisfying feeling than a new toy or gizmo you may receive. It it may start a tradition in your family as well. And that way, the whole world wins on this special day.

God Bless you all.

Rick and Katy

PS: I pulled the ad for the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Card because the offer was less than the offer on spg.com. The offer I was given was for 10,000 points after the initial spend but did not include the 15K bonus with $15,000 in spend. To get the full 25,000 point offer, go to SPG.com on the lower right hand corner.

René

Hi Ingy,

I jumped & missed out on bonus miles last year on checking accounts at Chase before the end of FEB to get the deal before it ended. Then, March 1, Mileathon started and they extended the checking sign-up to May 31st. IMO we wait. There is no way they will not have new or extend ones to coincide with the new Milethon!

BTW, I funded my 5 Suntrust's on Dec 6th and did a charge on each right away to get active. About how long is the time before we should see the Delta miles?

Thanks!
David K

Hi Rick…

Not sure about the expiration, but wouldn't it be possible to sign up for the card now but not make your first purchase with it until mileathon begins? According to the terms of the offer, the first use simply needs to be within two months of account opening to get the bonus miles.
Anonymous

You had given a phone no. to call with the person(s) who make the final decision about giving you a Chase CC, if it did not get approved. I did not save it and can't find it in your blog. Any chance you can give it again? Thanks Rick.
Ryan

If we get the CO card now and then wait to make the first purchase on February 1st (bonus miles post after the first purchase within the first two months), do you think it will count for the Mileathon? I sadly applied for the card a week before finding out about it…
AS

It's really surprising the branch went along with this. A simple customer / branch profitability report will show that this branch has generated a lot of customers – but expensive and not profitable because of customer acquisition cost and minimal follow-through spend etc. That would normally raise flags about whether the branch is worth keeping or should be shut down, or if the branch manager is capable.

Our Christmas Tradition

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