| 20th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, LAKE HIGHLANDER March 18-21, 2010 |
It started with pancakes and sausage and ended with strawberry shortcake, in the middle was 4 days of entertainment, games, dinners,
tournaments and memories. The occasion was the 20th anniversary of Lake Highlander becoming a Resident Owned community. This special
weekend event, the likes of which Lake Highlanders had never seen before, was a smashing success.
Thursday morning saw nearly 200 residents enjoying the pancake breakfast to kick off the weekend.
Friday night’s “Las Vegas Review” was one of the best shows ever presented to our residents. The house was overflowing with happy folks
enjoying the sold out evening.
The good Lord furnished us with a Fabulous Florida afternoon on Saturday. The “Hole in One Tournament” attracted many of the park golfers. The
Golf Hole was located on the island and proved challenging. Bill Shedd was kept busy in his kayak and fish net retrieving errant golf balls.
The Corn Hole Tournament proved to be another huge success. Teams played for most of the afternoon while a large crowd of spectators
cheered on their favorites and soaked up some sun.
Original Board members and shareholders were honored at a very special dinner on Saturday night. Past R.O. President Arthur Duncan presided
over a wonderful evening of remembering our past. Volunteers had the hall looking terrific, served an excellent dinner and even had a table full
of photographs and memorabilia so we could have a look back at our history. Park Pioneers were given seats of honor at the front of the hall and
many shared memories mixed with a few tears with the overflow crowd.
After church on Sunday, A pool tournament was held in the pool room and once again many Lake Highlanders found themselves behind the 8 ball.
Old home movies of past park activities were show on Sunday afternoon.
Things wrapped up on Sunday evening with the International Chorus of Dunedin providing an evening of musical entertainment. Once again the
hall was packed for the closing act of the weekend extravaganza. Strawberry shortcake was the grand finale sending us home full of memories as
well as shortcake.
As usual, many, many volunteers assisted in this production and trying to name each one would be impossible. You know who you are and also
know that you earned the full gratitude of all your neighbors for providing us with a spectacular weekend. Thank you each and every one!
The celebrations were captured by various photographers in the pictures below...First, the fabulous Vegas Show!
tournaments and memories. The occasion was the 20th anniversary of Lake Highlander becoming a Resident Owned community. This special
weekend event, the likes of which Lake Highlanders had never seen before, was a smashing success.
Thursday morning saw nearly 200 residents enjoying the pancake breakfast to kick off the weekend.
Friday night’s “Las Vegas Review” was one of the best shows ever presented to our residents. The house was overflowing with happy folks
enjoying the sold out evening.
The good Lord furnished us with a Fabulous Florida afternoon on Saturday. The “Hole in One Tournament” attracted many of the park golfers. The
Golf Hole was located on the island and proved challenging. Bill Shedd was kept busy in his kayak and fish net retrieving errant golf balls.
The Corn Hole Tournament proved to be another huge success. Teams played for most of the afternoon while a large crowd of spectators
cheered on their favorites and soaked up some sun.
Original Board members and shareholders were honored at a very special dinner on Saturday night. Past R.O. President Arthur Duncan presided
over a wonderful evening of remembering our past. Volunteers had the hall looking terrific, served an excellent dinner and even had a table full
of photographs and memorabilia so we could have a look back at our history. Park Pioneers were given seats of honor at the front of the hall and
many shared memories mixed with a few tears with the overflow crowd.
After church on Sunday, A pool tournament was held in the pool room and once again many Lake Highlanders found themselves behind the 8 ball.
Old home movies of past park activities were show on Sunday afternoon.
Things wrapped up on Sunday evening with the International Chorus of Dunedin providing an evening of musical entertainment. Once again the
hall was packed for the closing act of the weekend extravaganza. Strawberry shortcake was the grand finale sending us home full of memories as
well as shortcake.
As usual, many, many volunteers assisted in this production and trying to name each one would be impossible. You know who you are and also
know that you earned the full gratitude of all your neighbors for providing us with a spectacular weekend. Thank you each and every one!
The celebrations were captured by various photographers in the pictures below...First, the fabulous Vegas Show!
Current R.O. President Jack Arseneault presented a plague
to 98 year old John Ross, only original member of the first
Board of Directors attending the celebration. The plague
recognizes and honors the incredible contribution of the
first Lake Highlander shareholders...OUR PIONEERS.
The presentation speech is below.
to 98 year old John Ross, only original member of the first
Board of Directors attending the celebration. The plague
recognizes and honors the incredible contribution of the
first Lake Highlander shareholders...OUR PIONEERS.
The presentation speech is below.
Before presenting the plague, I would like to take this opportunity to add my personal thanks to all the hardworking Lake Highlanders who
took an idea about honoring our Park’s Pioneer’s and turned it into a magnificent and fabulous weekend. An amazing achievement such as
yours is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness. Thank you one and all.
Now to our wonderful Pioneers...
What is a Pioneer? A Pioneer is a person who is among those who first enter or settle a area, thus opening it for occupation and
development by others. Pioneers take part in the beginnings of something; they initiate: Pioneers are the earliest, original, first of a
particular kind, and other names for Pioneers include leaders, trailblazers, forerunners, and pathfinders.
Tonight we have gathered to pay tribute to our Pioneers, the Lake Highlanders amongst us who had the vision and courage to purchase our
Park from the developer and make it our home.
Coming together was a beginning. Keeping together was progress. Working together was success and succeed you did. The way you did it
shows that kindness is the golden chain by which our Lake Highlander society is bound together.
There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow. In 1990, you
had that expectation and acted upon it. There is no doubt that you created a better tomorrow for hundreds of Lake Highlanders for years to
come.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for getting us safely into 2010. It is time for the younger ones to take over the mantle of responsibility
for the next twenty years. Your leadership has set the bar very high, but we will do our best to follow your trailblazing spirit and kindness. As
you relax and enjoy the fruits of your labour:
"May your troubles be less, Your blessings be more, And nothing but happiness come through your door!"
Shareholders, on your behalf, I would like to present to the only original Board member present tonight, John Ross, the plaque honoring our
Pioneers. It will be hung in our clubhouse as a reminder for present and future Lake Highlanders to remember when it all began.
took an idea about honoring our Park’s Pioneer’s and turned it into a magnificent and fabulous weekend. An amazing achievement such as
yours is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness. Thank you one and all.
Now to our wonderful Pioneers...
What is a Pioneer? A Pioneer is a person who is among those who first enter or settle a area, thus opening it for occupation and
development by others. Pioneers take part in the beginnings of something; they initiate: Pioneers are the earliest, original, first of a
particular kind, and other names for Pioneers include leaders, trailblazers, forerunners, and pathfinders.
Tonight we have gathered to pay tribute to our Pioneers, the Lake Highlanders amongst us who had the vision and courage to purchase our
Park from the developer and make it our home.
Coming together was a beginning. Keeping together was progress. Working together was success and succeed you did. The way you did it
shows that kindness is the golden chain by which our Lake Highlander society is bound together.
There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow. In 1990, you
had that expectation and acted upon it. There is no doubt that you created a better tomorrow for hundreds of Lake Highlanders for years to
come.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for getting us safely into 2010. It is time for the younger ones to take over the mantle of responsibility
for the next twenty years. Your leadership has set the bar very high, but we will do our best to follow your trailblazing spirit and kindness. As
you relax and enjoy the fruits of your labour:
"May your troubles be less, Your blessings be more, And nothing but happiness come through your door!"
Shareholders, on your behalf, I would like to present to the only original Board member present tonight, John Ross, the plaque honoring our
Pioneers. It will be hung in our clubhouse as a reminder for present and future Lake Highlanders to remember when it all began.
The Golf Hole in One Challenge and the Corn Toss
The Pioneer's Dinner
The capacity crowd that honored the "Pioneers"
The Dunedin International Chorale
Pioneers Still Residing in the Park
|
A Pioneer who was a member of the Board of Directors at the time of incorporation and his wife were unable to attend but sent the following
message:
Greetings to all Lake Highlander residents from Jim & Lillian Conner
We lived at #76 for 19 winters and thoroughly enjoyed the social life -- the many Pot Luck dinners,
dances, and untold number of Sat. coffee hours. We helped organize the early White Elephant
sales, the Xmas Dinners at Island Estates and Pappa's at Tarpon Springs. We enjoyed teaching
Tai Chi .
Jim was on the original Board of Directors and he and John Ross are the last two surviving signers
of the Purchase Agreement.
The highlight of every sunny day was socializing at the pool. For 4 years we produced "Canada
Night in the Club house. How many residents remember those shows? We hope all the residents enjoy L.H. as much as we did.
Wish we could be there to help you celebrate, but our travelling days are over.
Lillian & Jim Conner
P.S. The enclosed picture is J & L celebrating when Canada won the Olympic Gold Medal for hockey.
message:
Greetings to all Lake Highlander residents from Jim & Lillian Conner
We lived at #76 for 19 winters and thoroughly enjoyed the social life -- the many Pot Luck dinners,
dances, and untold number of Sat. coffee hours. We helped organize the early White Elephant
sales, the Xmas Dinners at Island Estates and Pappa's at Tarpon Springs. We enjoyed teaching
Tai Chi .
Jim was on the original Board of Directors and he and John Ross are the last two surviving signers
of the Purchase Agreement.
The highlight of every sunny day was socializing at the pool. For 4 years we produced "Canada
Night in the Club house. How many residents remember those shows? We hope all the residents enjoy L.H. as much as we did.
Wish we could be there to help you celebrate, but our travelling days are over.
Lillian & Jim Conner
P.S. The enclosed picture is J & L celebrating when Canada won the Olympic Gold Medal for hockey.
