The Holiday Season is fast approaching and so is the 2013 Tewa Holiday Project. This is the eighth year of the Tewa Holiday Project and I am confident it will be the best yet! In 2012 with the help from each and every one of you, we raised $15,696 in cash plus many, many SUV’s full of clothing and 100 new coats for First Mesa Elementary. Over 50 of us braved the snow and elements to First Mesa for our first ever wintery trip to First Mesa, not soon to be forgotten.
Our goal for 2013 is to raise $16,000.00. The plan is to provide “Holiday Baskets” to the 85 or so Tewa Elders. We have once again teamed up with Verde Valley School students and they are spearheading the Second Annual Coats4Kids winter coat drive for First Mesa Elementary. They have over 120 students and we expect that most if not all will sign up to receive a brand new winter coat.
I have been in touch with the Village of Tewa Executive Director and she has told me that they are really looking forward to our visit this year. For those of you that made the delivery in year’s past you know how rewarding the experience is. We will be making our delivery to the Tewa Community Center where we will meet many of the Tewa Elders, then go for a traditional lunch with a Tewa host family.
Mark your calendars for these dates. November 14, 2013, and December 12th, December 13th and December 14th 2013. On November 14th we will be having our Tewa Holiday Project Kickoff, at a new location, the home of Mark and Christy Weprin, located at 15 Windmill Drive in West Sedona. On December 12th we will be making the baskets, on December 13th we will be loading the vehicles and on December 14th caravanning to First Mesa on the Hopi Reservation to deliver our baskets, visit with the Tewa, then topping off the day with a rendezvous at La Posada in Winslow.
The Tewa Holiday Project Kickoff Party on November 14th at the Weprin’s will be an Open House from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The Weprin’s home’s is located at 15 Windmill Drive in West Sedona. Take Rodeo up past Safeway, cross over Sanborn and turn right on Windmill, you cannot miss it. This will be a potluck affair so bring an appetizer or your favorite drink. I am hopeful to have at least one representative from the Village of Tewa present and an artist or two. Please call Christy on her cell phone at 847-644-97599 or email her at weprima@gmail.com to RSVP for this event.
On December 14th we will be off to First Mesa making our delivery to the Tewa Community Center. Delivering the baskets to First Mesa is a fabulous experience and I encourage as many of you as can to make the trip. In spite of the snow last year we got to meet many of the Tewa Elders who came to the Center to pick up their baskets. I can almost guarantee that if you make this trip it will be the highlight of your Holiday Season, just ask those who went last year.
PLEASE TAKE NOTE! We will plan on leaving Hopi about 4:00 to 5:00 PM and heading back to Winslow and La Posada. If you have not stayed at La Posada you are in for a treat. LaPosada is a one of a kind hotel experience and the Turquoise Room is one the best restaurants in Arizona. John Sharpe, the Turquoise Room chef, has been twice nominated for a James Beard award. Once again this year we will not be having a buffet, dinner will be on your own. So you will need to make your own dinner reservations. We will be having a short meeting at 7:00 PM in the Ball Room at La Posada to close the day that will not last more than 10 to 15 minutes, so make your reservations around this time either earlier or later , it is up to you.
I have talked to La Posada and they have told me as of this date they have plenty of rooms available, IT IS NOT TOO EARLY TO CALL AND MAKE YOUR RESERVATION, LAST YEAR THEY WERE FULL. Call La Posada at 928-289-4366 to reserve your room. Call the Tourquoise Room at 928-289-2888 to make your dinner reservations.
I am totally looking forward to this year’s Tewa Holiday Project I am sure that it will be the best ever!
Randy Crewse
Executive Director
Tewa Holiday Project