‘Flocking in’ for the big registration

As the New Year rolls in, snowbirds are returning to the Emerald Coast and plans are under way to register the influx of birds, snowbirds that is, to Destin. The Destin Community Center will be the hub for many snowbirds as they register and sign up for the multitude of activities that are available to them as members of the club.

The big registration will be from 1-3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5. The executive and committee chairs have planned this event in order to enable snowbirds to register easily and to sign up for various events in an expedient manner. All winter visitors are welcome and are urged to follow the directions of the volunteers who are working diligently to make the process as easy as possible. Linda Zukonik, head of registration activities, will be directing the registration events.

Volunteers will be positioned at the front doors, along the hallways and into the gymnasium. Snowbirds wishing to register will not be admitted to the gym until 1 p.m. At the entrance to the gym, registration cards will be distributed, one to each couple or surname. Members will file into the gym where tables (Station 1) will be available to write the required information on both sides of the cards.  Questions will be answered by volunteers.  Once cards are filled out, people will move to the holding area of chairs (Station 2) until called by number to proceed to the payment table.

Ken Yee will direct the flow of “people traffic” and will call the number on the registration cards to proceed to the next table (Station 3) where payment is made.  Cost of membership is $8 per person and members are reminded to use U.S. funds only in cash (exact change is helpful) or U.S. check (made out to Destin Snowbirds, Inc.). Once payment is made, members will move on to Station 4 where the member’s yellow badge cards will be given to them.  Station 5’s staff of volunteers will complete the cards by filling them out for each member and putting them in plastic sleeves.

This process must be completed before members can proceed to the activity tables where tickets are sold for the various activities and badges must be displayed in order to purchase tickets or to sign up for events. Twelve golf courses will be present to provide information to members about their courses, prices and services. Tickets may be purchased for the Harbor Boat Party Cruise on Jan. 26  only (tickets for the February Cruise will be sold at the Feb. 3 registration), the Mixer Party on Jan. 31, the Soundsations Concert Feb. 15 at NWFSC, the Ladies Golf Tournament on Feb. 19, the Destin/Walton Challenge Tournament on Feb. 22, the Fashion Show on Feb. 23 at Embassy Suites in Miramar Beach, the Jack Kline & Lisa Walsh Charity Golf Tournament on Feb. 26 and the Casino trips.

Join the fun on the Mardi Gras bus trip to New Orleans and sign up to stay two nights at the Holiday Inn Superdome, Feb. 11 and 12. Watch two parades Wednesday night, and four parades Thursday night. Sign up now, since the deadline for room reservations is Jan. 11. The bus will fill up at the Jan. 5 registration. Call Don Cooksey at 850-837-3637 now for your reservation at the hotel and on the bus.

Other tables with representatives providing information and sign-ups will be Bowling, Bridge, Chorus, Computer Club, Euchre, Fishing and Skeet Shooting, Friendship Club (meeting for lunch at the Back Porch on Jan. 6 after the 11 a.m. meeting), Ma Jong, Pinochle, Poker, quilting, tennis, and Writer’s Group.

Members already registered for this season are urged to come Monday at 1 p.m. in order to sign up for the activities. Badges must be worn and each person must show a badge in order to buy tickets.  One ticket per badge will be sold (maximum of two tickets per person) and a member must have both badges in hand (for spouse/partner) in order to purchase two tickets. Tickets will be sold on a first come-first serve basis and will sell quickly so those with limited seating capacity may sell out.

Restaurant sponsors The Crab Trap, 790 on the Gulf, Jim & Nick’s and Bubba Gump have all been invited to bring tasty samples of treats from their restaurants. Food will be available in the Food Room (near the lobby) and members must have badges in order to enter as this event is for members only.

Storage lockers will be open Jan. 3 from 8-9 a.m. and Jan. 5 from 2-3 p.m.  The next locker opening will be Jan. 10 and 17 from 8-9 a.m.

Snowbirds should note that Compass Bank, the Bank of Destin Snowbirds, provides banking services to snowbirds who open a new account (no fee is charged) with a monetary benefit to the Snowbird Club for each account opened by a new member.

President Nancy Hewitt will preside over the first meetings of the New Year at 8:30 and 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 6.  David Hall will provide the entertainment.  Vendors will also be present at the back of the gym between meetings. Visit our website at www.destinsnowbirds.org, catch the latest in The Destin Log on Saturdays and the NWF Daily News on Sunday and the Beachcomber published fortnightly to stay informed about all the events and activities.

Welcome back.

Sigrid J. Aeschleman, publicity director, is from Illinois and can be reached at:  saeschleman@gmail.com.