On September 12, for the first time in its storied 29-year history,
the Up-the-Hill Race took place behind closed doors. Damp, chilly
weather forced the cancellation of the bike and foot races just
hours before the race was to start (though the atmosphere got
the last laugh, as sunshine arrived by late afternoon).
Happily, this year’s relay theme—“Slow Poker”—lent
itself to an indoor setting, with the help of some fast work from party planners
in the Employee Activities Committee. The EAC set up four relay stations throughout
ML, and eight enthusiastic teams of over 100 participants went from station to
station singing and chanting through the halls. They plodded, plotted, and negotiated
the best poker hands amongst themselves, starting their march at the front lobby,
winding around and through the library, and ending at the Main Seminar Room,
drawing cards at each station from a total of three extra-large 52-card decks.
Left: Four
aces and a king
was enough to notch
a post-party third place for F&A's "Hill
Rollers," including Delaine
Orendorff (HR). Right: Among the wackier
groups of card
sharks circling
the Mesa Lab for
the Slow Poker relay was ASP's Super Bueno.
The winning teams and their hands were
First place: “Aces of RAL,” royal
straight flush (hearts)
Second
place: “CGDealers,” five of a kind (5’s)
Third
place: “Hill Rollers” (F&A),
four aces and a king *
* At the party, “3 of an M” (MMM)
was declared the third-place
winner, with a full house,
but a post-event audit revealed
that the Hill Rollers actually
had a higher poker hand. The
third-place prize was awarded
to the Hill Rollers after the
party.
Via secret ballot cast by EAC members and volunteers, “Texas Hold ’Em” (NCAR
Directorate) won the coveted Most Fun-Spirited Award. NCAR director
Eric Barron did the honors of presenting the awards to the winning teams.
The poker-savvy "Aces of RAL," which
included Brant Foote, Deirdre Garvey, and Elena Schuler, took
first place.
Event Services served up a delicious Caribbean-themed buffet as
well as premium beers and wines. As some people observed, the weather
was not the only challenge to the UTH party this year. Because
of the special display currently placed in the lobby, Food Services
moved the buffet line from the lobby area to the northeast side
of the cafeteria, a creative solution that kept the food close
to the partygoers. Thanks to Mari Bradley and her staff for the
wonderful meal!
Left: The
Most Fun-Spirited Award
went to the NCAR Directorate's "Texas Hold 'Em" team,
which included Veda Emmett,
Rachel Hauser, and Eric
Barron (left to right).
At far right is Katie
Pohl from the F&A "Hill
Rollers." Right: Caron Chambers.
Overall, the party was a rousing success, living up to the EAC
motto of “If it is not fun, EAC is not doing it.” EAC
could not successfully hold its three annual all-staff parties
without the help of many volunteers, Event Services, Safety and
Site Services, and other excellent support staff. If you’re
interested in learning more about EAC, please visit one of the
committee’s regular monthly luncheon meetings, held on the
third Thursday of each month. Check the EAC website, http://www.ucar.edu/eac,
and feel free to contact co-chairs Bob Tan (btan@ucar.edu,
ext. 1105), Pat Steinkamp (pats@ucar.edu,
ext. 2662) or Aneka Finley (afinley@ucar.edu,
ext. 1655). • Bob Tan
Chin-Hoh Moeng (left) and Jimy Dudhia,
of ESSL/MMM's "3 of an M," ponder their next play.
