<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello Friends,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am sending this email as per President Kevin Whitley’s request. As you may know, the second Saturday of the month is when we have our All-State meeting. In the past few months, we have been gathering live at the Alaska Center for the Blind. As most also know, this has been a more unusual week because of the huge snow dump in Anchorage and other places. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>However, we will not let the weather stop everything. If by Saturday, it is worth leaving the warmth of home, those who would like to come to the Center may do so. That decision will be made on Friday so Anchor Rides can be scheduled or cancelled. In past years, we have had a delightful Holiday party with a white elephant gift exchange. There are some pretty funny stories that have been passed along over the past ten years. However, due to the uncertainty due to weather, and not knowing just what Saturday will be like, we will dispense with the white elephant gift exchange but will for sure have a Zoom gathering. So, enjoy the following narrative sent by Nate Kile regarding the white elephant gift exchange, its origin and how it works. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Note: Initially I expected to include two Zoom links at the bottom of this note, one for the All-State Saturday meeting at 1:00 and the other for the NFB Board Meeting, Sunday at 2:00. All are invited to attend both meetings. The links will be sent by Friday as Zoom has updated and our links are no more!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>“ White Elephant gift exchange is a party game where amusing and impractical gifts are exchanged during festivities. The goal of a white elephant gift exchange is to entertain party-goers rather than to gain a genuinely valuable or highly sought-after item.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>The term white elephant refers to an extravagant, impractical gift that cannot be easily disposed of. The phrase is said to come from the historic practice of the King of Siam (now Thailand) giving rare albino elephants to courtiers who had displeased him, so that they might be ruined by the animals' upkeep costs. While the first use of this term remains a matter of contention among historians,[4] one theory suggests that Ezra Cornell brought the term into the popular lexicon through his frequent social gatherings as early as 1828.[1 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Rules<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Each participant supplies one wrapped gift, usually of similar value. The gifts are placed in a central location, and participants determine in which order (often by numbers randomly drawn prior to the start of the game on who will take turns selecting a gift. The first person opens a wrapped gift, and the turn ends. On subsequent turns, each person has the choice to either unwrap a new present or to steal another's. When a person's gift is stolen, that person can either choose another wrapped gift to open or can steal from another player.[3] Each gift can only be stolen twice per game. The game is over when everyone has a present. At the end, the first player may, if desired, steal any gift – according to some rules, even a gift that is out of play. But the decision as to which rules are being used are best made before the game starts. Whoever goes first can be chosen by any means, but going with whoever is hosting works well.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Stay tuned for links!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Bonnie<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Bonnie<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Now…Thanks to Nate Kile, here is an article with the origin and information for doing a white elephant gift exchange. Zoom links to follow.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>