MRM Coronation Ball

           This was my chance to see first hand how a fundraiser should really go! So my mom and I took some mental notes and enjoyed a fun evening.

            The evening started with a silent auction and some tasty treats provided by the Hilton Garden Inn. Then there was a live auction with so many great items I couldn’t keep track of them all. My mom decided she wanted to get in on it all, so she bid on a “Six Pack and a Symphony.” When she bid on it, she thought it was just a six pack and tickets to see the symphony for two. But I couldn’t believe what we had won when my mom went to claim her prize. It turns out that this was tickets to six nights of top country performers at the State Fair in Great Falls and the symphony. And we actually won it for just $30! I was pretty happy to find that out!

During the event I got to meet so many new people and also visit with some old friends. And everyone I talked to was VERY impressed with what a great job Audrey and her family did putting the whole thing together. I know they worked very hard, and it definitely paid off! Now I know a little bit more about what it takes to put on a GREAT fundraiser celebration!

Until next time, I wish you all the best!

 

God Bless,

 

Jennifer Marshall

MTRM 2008

Great Rockies Sport Show ~ Kalispell

           This trip was one of the most interesting and painful I’ve been on as MTRM 2008. What made it painful was an event that happened the night before I left for Kalispell with Audrey.

My mom and I were going to listen to a band at our local Eagles Club when I smashed my thumb really hard in my car door. After that I almost wanted to just sit in the car and nurse my throbbing thumb, but we came all the way in to town to see this band so I headed on inside. As soon as I sat down I ordered a glass of ice water, but not to drink. Instead when the waitress set it down on the table, I slid it over and stuck my thumb in it. I did get a couple of funny looks for doing this but at that point I didn’t really mind.

The next morning when Audrey and I finally got on the road, my thumb looked pretty bad. It had swollen up past the knuckle. But I still had a ton of fun learning more about the different furs and even brushing up on trapping regulations. Even more fun was getting to help the kids make messy ink prints of different animal track molds. It was also great to sit and talk with Fran and Jim.

After a full day of stamping and signing autographs, my thumb was looking even worse. And after I showed Audrey and Fran, they insisted that we visit the hospital to get it looked at. Little did we know that we would have to make four trips back and forth from the Hospital in Whitefish to a clinic in Colombia Falls. So after a good couple of hours and about 100 extra miles on Audrey brand new Avalanche I found out that I had fractured my thumb and had to get the pressure released.

All in all, the trip was fun as always and I got the chance to meet some friends of Audrey’s who were gracious enough to let us stay with them. Thank you so much to the Wirtala Family for the great conversation and tasty food! And the next morning more than made up for a smashed finger.

Audrey invited me to spend the day skiing with her on the Whitefish Ski Mountain. We had a blast and even wore our buckles for a quick picture before we hit the hill. Afterwards, my legs felt like noodles! But it was all worth it.

Until next time, I wish you all the best!

 

God Bless,

 

Jennifer Marshall

MTRM 2008