Waist Slimmers Wind-up
Waist Slimmers End of Year Awards Ceremony
by Karina Hunter
President, Donna Jaunzarins, begins the awards presentations.
Friday, March 26th the Manitouwadge Waist Slimmers (MWS) Team held their end-of-year awards supper at the Rendez-Vous Restaurant. MWS President Donna Jaunzarins began the formalities by inviting staff and owners of the Rendez-Vous to come out of the kitchen for a round of applause. Jaunzarins then began her discourse about the Biggest Loser; each of the awardees were introduced through a description from which the group was to piece together clues in an attempt to guess the recipient before their names were announced, great fun that had everyone roaring with laughter. Referred to as a ‘streetwalker’ and ‘garbage picker’ everyone soon guessed the Biggest Loser was Pauline Dean.
2010 Weight Watchers' Queen Gail Kitchen
The Queen was crowned next, a long time member who has volunteered as President and Treasurer for the MWS Gail Kitchen, in addition to her crown and cape, received a cash award and flowers. There were no princesses recognized this year though plenty of other members qualified for special recognition or cash awards including; 1st Runner-up to Queen, Barbara Olson, volunteer with the Golden Age Club described by her Waist Slimmers piers as the ‘Life of any party’; 2nd Runner up to Queen was presented to Judy Kett another volunteer active in the church and community; two women shared the Best Attendance award having attended 46 of the year’s 49 weigh-ins were Freda Sampson and Pauline Dean; five ‘Waist Trimmers’ people who maintained or reached their goal weights during the season, were recognized with flowers and cash awards: Freda Sampson, Pauline Robert, Irma Passi, Pauline Dean and Gail Kitchen each of these women have also held various roles within the executive of the MWS and/or volunteering with other community groups. The evening ended with entertainment provided by the very talented members of the group including reading of a poem by local author Pauline Dean titled ‘My Grandmother’s Shoes”.
Donna Jaunzarins (left) and Freda Sampson (centre) present Pauline Dean, the Biggest Loser, with flowers and a cash award.
Why is volunteerism among Waist Slimmers participants relevant or noteworthy? Loosing and maintaining a healthy weight can be a challenge, it requires self-discipline and life style changes which can be hard to work in to today’s busy schedules but the man and women of MWS prove year after year that it can be done while still living an active, busy lifestyle and they hope this will inspire others to join them. The group offers it’s members not just a sense of accountability in regards to the goals each member sets but also a tremendous amount of support and encouragement; it was easy to see from the good natured rousing and sincere laughter they exchange that through their common challenge this energetic group has bonded and made long-lasting friendships. Congratulations to all of the Manitouwadge Waist Slimmers for another year of commitment and accomplishments!
Donna presents Gail with her cash award, part of the prize for being Queen.
Manitouwadge 2010 Waist Slimmers Team
Author Pauline Dean wraps up the evening with a poem titled 'My Grandmother's Shoes'
Submitted to The Echo, 04.02.10
