The Holiday Party Tradition

With the formation of the Alumni Association came the planning of two major events for Leadership Oklahoma City. The annual Holiday Party in December and Spring Fling in May, where alumni were able to network and meet the new class. Ron and Judy Yordi opened their home for the first holiday party and continued to host until 2000. A collection to benefit a community service group was a traditional part of the party. For the 20th anniversary, Carleen and Jerry Burger were the hosts. A video camera was set up there and guests were encouraged to share stories that made their leadership year special. The Burgers hosted again in 2001. In 2002, Meg and Chris Salyer hosted the party. During the evening, guests were treated to tours of the historic residence. In 2003, Mary and Conrad Hornbuckle hosted the event. Over $1200 was raised for the Christmas Connection. The party moved from the southside to the northside in 2004 when Kathy and Johnny Walker opened up their beautiful home.  The next year, Tom and Judy Love welcomed alums displaying their incredible Santa collection!  Gary and Michelle Chilton hosted our final in-home Holiday Party in their marvelous house. As the years went by, the alumni association continued to need more space for the event. In 2007, the party moved to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum. By this time, the LOYAL program was in full swing, and the number of attendees continued to top the charts. After six years at that location, the museum was at maximum capacity, so a new location was sought. Today, the event is held at Robinson Park, formerly Leadership Square, with all their beautiful holiday decorations on full display. The traditions carry on with the current classes wearing monikers for identification and comments about the event being “the best holiday party ever.”

One of Beth Shortt’s favorite memories is that of a man from out of town who had come to the holiday party as a guest of a class member, a work colleague. He told her that he had never attended an event where, as he said it, the vibe was so inclusive. He was astonished at the range of people who seemed to be friends, young adults to older, people super dressed up and people in blue jeans, people of so many obviously different backgrounds and cultures. She felt very proud that Leadership Oklahoma City represented itself in that manner to the stranger.