December Club Meeting Special Tribute to Helen Wilkes

The December meeting of the Republican Club of the Palm Beaches was held at Bear Lakes Country Club on 12/9 and featured (as it has for several years now) the music of the King’s Academy Choir, directed by Mark Aliapoulios and Sonia Santiago.

Vice President Sid Lanier opened the meeting on the absence of President Joy Stone whose flight was delayed from New York. Florida House candidate (and club member) Tami Donnally then gave the invocation and led the pledge of allegiance, followed by the tribute to Helen Wilkes by Fran Hancock, State Committewoman for Palm Beach County. Helen was Mayor of West Palm Beach and a major player in local Republican politics for many years.

Lunch was accompanied by the Choir, who performed a beautiful collection of traditional and contemporary Christmas songs. The choir is made up of about 30 students from King’s Academy, all leaders in school sports, community and church activities, and academic achievements. Dressed in tuxedos for the boys and matching holiday dresses with corsages for the girls and arrayed around a huge Christmas tree in the meeting room, the scene was reminiscent of Norman Rockwell style Americana.

The new officers for 2010 were then installed and took the pledge administered by Fran Hancock. These included President Melissa Andrews, 1st Vice President John Jamason, 2nd VP Anita Mitchell, Secretary/Treasurer Bette Anne Starkey, and Assistant SecTreas. Dorothy Harper. The meeting ended with remarks from some of the candidates present including Francisco Rodrigez (running for FL 83), Tami Donnally (FL 85) and Edward Lynch (US House FL 19).

Pictures compliments of Shirley Schaff.

: King’s Academy Choir

: Francisco Rodrigez (for FL 83)

: Tami Donnally (for FL 85)

: John, Anita and Melissa take the pledge