St David’s Day Luncheon 2009
Janet Walquist was the recipient of the prestigious Dewi Sant award at this year’s St David’s Day celebration held on Saturday February 28th, 2009. Janet has been a faithful member and hard working Board member of the organization for many years. She has principal responsibility for organizing the decorating of the 50 foot Welsh Christmas tree at the Museum of Science and Industry every year. This is no mean feat! Boxes and boxes of ornaments have been assembled over the years and meticulously stored and repaired under Janet’s guidance. The first Welsh tree was decorated in 1991 after years of the Board’s petitioning of the Museum for inclusion; an effort spear headed by Karen Mueller. When Karen left to live in Wales Janet took on the leadership role and has continued to add to and care for the colorful array of ornaments which includes musical notes, harps, sheep, stuffed red dragons, Mari Lwyd horse heads and, new this year, daffodils. It is one of the favorite trees in the Museum’s ‘Christmas Around the World’ exhibit of more than 50 themed trees and has been featured in Museum advertising for the event.
In addition to her work on the Christmas tree Janet has coordinated the staffing at the Cambrian booth at Chicago’s two day Celtic Fest in Grant Park for many years. She is an accomplished folk dancer and has introduced a local dance troupe to Welsh folk dancing. The Fermi Lab dancers, who were featured in the recent NAFOW event in Oak Brook, have learned a number of Welsh jigs at Janet’s urging. Their delight in performing these lively traditional reels was very much in evidence at a choreographed perforemance at the Museum of Science and Industry in November 2008.
Over 70 people registered for this year’s St David’s Day luncheon at the grand old Carleton Hotel in Oak Park. A sumptuous four-course lunch was followed by a harp and song performance by Carl and Mona Johnson. Guests ranged in age from two month old Colin Huber, son of Board member Jay Huber, to a long tiome supporter of Chicago Welsh events, 97 year old Mrs. Mair Ropes, who came elegantly dressed and all smiles. The mix of young and old, familiar and new faces, added to the overall ‘joie de vivre’ at the event. An assortment of raffle prizes raised over $300 for future Cambrian sponsored events. The spirit of ‘hiraeth’ generated by the assembled group sent us all home with full hearts and broad Welsh smiles.
Dilys Rana
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