2013 Convention - Las Vegas, NV It was our pleasure to welcome everyone to the 79 th Annual ITA Convention in Las Vegas held at the fabulous Orleans Hotel and Casino. Thursday night 109 of us went to Big Al’s Comedy Club @ the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino. Most of the jokes were about twins and kept us laughing. Friday morning, the Double Trouble Golf Tournament participants departed early for golf and a box lunch at the beautiful Angel Park Golf Course. Fifty-two others took part in a bowling tournament held at The Orleans Bowling Lanes with 70 lanes. Our group used 13 lanes, and judging from the laughter, all had a great time. Friday evening’s Welcome Dinner/Dance started with a proclamation by Mayor Pro-tem Starvos Anthony, declaring it International Twins Association Day in Las Vegas. We had a fantastic dinner with music and enter- taining games by DJ Bonny Rivera. Thanks to Pam Simmons and Randy Bienick for their table and room decorations with the Casino Night theme. Saturday morning we toured the Hoover Dam, including a one hour guided tour of the power plant and passageways within the dam. At the visitors center we viewed a 10 minute film describing the contributions of Hoover Dam to the developing west, and the massive construction effort behind the engineering marvel. On our way back to The Orleans we enjoyed picnic box lunches at local parks. Satur- day evening we went to The Hotel D on Fremont Street for a Mystery Dinner Show, “Marriage Can Be Murder”. This show was customized for us, with Royce and Boyce Peeples and Charles Clark recruited as actors. It was hilarious. Afterwards many of us went to the Fremont Street Light Show Experience where they flashed a welcome message for our group. Sunday morning our Gospel Hour was led by Mildred Statzer, and our Surviving Twins Service led by Sandy Meyer. Thank you both for your participation and leadership. At our general meeting, for the 2014 convention , Cheryl and Meryl Hollar were elected as Co-Presidents, and Cindy Hockensmith and Lindy Miller as Co- Vice-Presidents. Cary, Chris, and Charles Clark will serve as Co-Secretary/Treasurers for the next 3 years. Jerry Hymer will be our of- ficial photographer. The 2015 convention will be held in Orlando, Florida. Sunday evening was our Mardi Gras Dinner/Dance. The 2013 & 2014 officers were introduced. We had a fantastic meal and danced to music by DJ Bonny Rivera. Many homemade Mardi Gras themed masks and costumes were present, including the three “Elvi and Pricilli”. The winners of the mask contest were Jeanette Meadows and Geneva Petitt. We also had our 50-50 drawing and silent auction. Thank you to the talent show participants: Ed and Ralph Flori, Jim and Jeff Thiel, and Russell Scott. We watched a brief memoriam to Ralph Scott, showing Ralph and Russell clogging, as they had done at most conventions. It was a very moving and well done tribute to Ralph. Thank you to Pam and Randy for their wonderful table and room decora- tions following our Mardi Gras theme. You ladies are so talented and artistic! Monday morning was our farewell breakfast at The Orleans buffet. The Monday Night Dinner Club started by Carol Bond and Connie Morey was attended by 53 at The Orleans Corner Café. We do want to thank all The Clarks, including their wives, for all their assistance . It certainly made every- thing go smoothly. And a special thanks to Jerry Hymer for taking such wonderful pictures. We also want to thank our husbands, Jerry Markus and Ernie Abbit, for all of their assistance and support. We could go on and on, but you all know that “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”! We certainly hope you all enjoyed yourselves as much as we enjoyed planning this convention, and we look forward to seeing you in Chicago in 2014. Nadine Abbit and Marlene Markus 2013 Co-Presidents Newsletter - January 2014 Most Alike Ladies 61-67 Karen Buskirk & Sharon Smith(OH) Kay Moranville & Karen Pope (IA) Most Alike Ladies 68-71 Carolyn Bridges & Marilyn Elder Ohio Most Alike Ladies 77-82 Kathleen Jessie & Catherine Ottinger Tennessee Most Alike Ladies 72-76 Evelyn & Virginia Hatt California Most Alike Ladies 83 & over *TIE* Dale Mattson & Gale Carter Oregon Geraldine Dunn (Alabama) & Wardine Wilcox (Texas) www.intltwins.org Like us on Facebook! 405-225-8829 email: [email protected] Most Alike Triplets Cary, Chris & Charles Clark Oklahoma Most Alike Ladies 56-60 Kathy Gilchrist & Karen Smith Canada Most Alike Ladies 52-55 Donna Hyson & Debbie Zawacki Arizona & Illinois Most Alike Ladies 11 - 20 Leora Keener & Lillie Keener Montana Most Alike Ladies 31 - 51 Linda DeWitt & Brenda Pritchett Tennessee Our media sponsor: www.twinsmagazine.com Introducing a new drawing for all currently active ITA Members! Bring a new member to ITA at Chicago’s Friday Evening Event so all can be recognized. Your name will be placed in a drawing for $50.00! Word of mouth is the best advertisement. So help us grow ITA by inviting a new multiple to join our family! Will you be the first annual winner? Our photographer Jerry Hymer P.O. Box 12652 Oklahoma City, OK 73157 (405) 410-6910 www.jhymerphoto.photoreflect.com