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36 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | DECEMBER 2022 December is the month of many celebrations including Hannukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve. To celebrate Christmas, the AACC will be hosting our ever-popular Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 16. The theme is Royal Christmas Ball and will include dinner, dancing, entertainment, prizes, raffles, and a few royal surprises. Semi-formal and/or formal attire is suggested for this elegant affair. Tickets are $75 per person and may be purchased at The Lodge on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 4 pm, or by calling Shirley Caldwell at (951) 236-8280 or Connie Bowen at (951) 490-9842. The AACC began 2022 by thanking our previous Board for their leadership and installing new Board officers: Wanda Valentine, President; Shairon Nevills, Vice President; Grace Hollis, Treasurer; Greta Shelton, Secretary; Martha Benoff, Care and Concern; and Bettyann James, Assistant Treasurer. Board President Wanda shared her vision for the year ahead and asked for input from our members. The combination of her vision and our input resulted in the following 2022 events and activities: *In February, the AACC hosted a Black film festival showing a combination of classic and newly released Black films. Some of the showings were followed by discussion about the film's relevance, why we enjoyed the film, and what life lessons the film presented. *We celebrated Freedom Day, also known as Juneteenth, by hosting our annual Juneteenth Celebration June 17, 2022. The program included a dramatic poetry reading of I'm Not Giving My Black Back, a delicious catered traditional Juneteenth meal, a celebratory skit, and a celebration of Freedom. *The AACC commemorated our 10th anniversary by Steppin' Out in White on Aug. 13, 2022. We restated why the African American Cultural Club exists, its importance, and its relevance to our Four Seasons community. *The AACC hosted Jazz Under the Stars in October with guest musical artist Rodney Taylor and Friends. This was another crowd- pleasing performance, offering jazz, R&B, and soul music at the Four Seasons Amphitheater. *Lastly, AACC continued to give to those in need in the Beaumont and Banning communities. In September, we assembled and donated over 120 hygiene bags to local nonprofits; and, in October, some members participated in the Four Seasons Blood Drive. We look forward to seeing you at the Royal Christmas Ball and our future meetings, as we await the arrival of 2023. The African American Cultural Club meets on the first Monday of the month at 6 pm in The Lodge Game Room. All are invited to attend and learn more about African-American culture. Our next meeting is Monday, Dec. 5. If you have any questions, please contact the AACC President, Wanda Valentine, at (951) 544-1606. ~ Jane Gentry African American Cultural Club The freaks were certainly out for Scaryoke this month. We had a great time and many participated in the Halloween dress-up competition. A special thanks to Craig and Chris Korotko for providing the candy and talking pumpkins. As a reminder, karaoke is the first Tuesday of each month starting at 5:30 pm and the third Saturday of each month starting at 5 pm. Come out and see your friends and neighbors perform some of the greatest hits! ~ Dave Rohrbacker, (909) 712-2292, dave. rohrbacker@icloud.com Karaoke 3rd place winners Steve and AJ Reilly 1st place winner Craig Korotko 2nd place winners Tom and Catherine Powers At left: Rodney Taylor solo AACC members Wanda Valentine, Myrtis Suggs,and Shairon Nevills were blood donors Rodney Taylor and friends