Thank you to all the volunteers who make the SayWhatClub the best place on the internet for HOH and deaf folks to meet! Here is Marty's annual holiday story as her gift to all who read this newsletter. May your December be joyous and bright, and may your 2004 be a wonderful new year!
The Newsletter staff

Christmas was approaching in SayWhat Village. Outside the snow was covering everything. One could see a building that appeared to be a castle in the middle of the nearby village.

A touring bus carrying a new group of people stopped at the walkway near the entrance to the village. The Village with its various cottages housing the committees had grown over the year. The first cottage they came to wore a sign that said, " Welcome Station."

The group headed to the door and rang the bell. They saw the light flashers go off as the doorbell is pressed. Soon, Head Elf Ann of the Hospitality Committee greeted the visitors and ushered them inside. Ann was oozing southern hospitality with her huge smile and a Texas"Howdy!"

Ann offered the visitors warm drinks such as cocoa, tea, coffee or warm cider, whatever their preference. Ann explained that a sponsor would be assigned to each new person and that their sponsor would in turn explain how the Village worked. If the warmth and shelter found was of comfort, and if they decided to join, this sponsor would help each one settle into the village.

Ann came back with three sponsors, Jaana who is the Co-Head Elf, accompanied by Bill and Pearl. After Ann introduced each one to their visitor, they parted to explain what SayWhat is all about. All 3 visitors, having found a refuge from the cold, decided to join. So the 3 sponsors took the 'newbies' on a tour.

First stop was the "Hospitality Cottage." Peering in one room, the visitors could see an elf having a class on computer techniques. His name is Mark. The committee depends on his knowledge. As they walked around they saw other names perched on other desks: Peggy (who was also on the board), Robyn, Bill (who had one of the newbies). The sponsors saw Mark's desk and fondly remembered passing his class! There were also other names, Debbie, Jo, Wia, Martha, Donna, Mary, Dawn as well as the other two sponsors Jaana and Pearl. The Hospitality Cottage was a bustling happening place./P>

Their next stop was the cottage called "List Rep's". Each group has a representative member that helps keep the group (lists) functioning. Here they saw a big Oval Table with a FM system in the middle of the table and some loops that the members could use so they could make sure they could hear each other. Again each chair had names for the elves here, too. They were Head Elf Marti, Dorothy, Ian, Sherry, Cathy, Carolina, Julie, Eve, Dale, Gladys Co-Head elf, Sue, Linda, Sarah, and Kim.

They went to the next cottage. It was "Outreach". This group works outside of the village most of the time so no one was found inside. They do a lot of important work behind the scenes, requiring them to be out and about often. However, their chairs, with the respective names stood waiting: Marti who was on the List Reps, Susan who also is a Board member, Neal, and Suzanne who is the Head Elf of this group.

The next cottage had " Listening Devices." This got the newbies curious so they went in to see what was here. The vast array of new devices left them awestruck. Elf Curtis greeted them and offered to explain anything they had questions with. Among the many devices to view they found a phone flasher, doorbell flasher, phones and various TTY's. Once they finished there they went into other buildings that had hearing aids and others with cochlear implants.

Time passed as they trotted along a bit amazed at all they found when finally they arrived at the big building that looked like a castle. Ducking inside against the cold, the newbies noticed, the entire place was decorated with assorted Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanzaa decorations. The newbies were introduced to Alan and Jazzy from the Board. Alan and Jazzy both welcomed the newbies. Then they went back to setting up the tree. The newbies moved on with their sponsors.

Passing along a hallway they noticed the pictures along the walls. With curiosity, the newbies asked who they were. Jaana says it is the Memorial Wall for the members that have passed away. Looking at the pictures they could see Joanie, Jane, Sy and Roger among the pictures.

From the distance, they could see a cheerful fellow approaching them. "O Vey " he says. "Who do we have here?" Bobeee Claus queried.

The sponsors introduce the newbies to Bobeee Claus, head of the SayWhat Village. Bobeee enjoyed talking to the newbies. He had a FM system so he can have people talk into a microphone. Bobeee personally took the newbies to where the Board Members were. They had already met Alan and Jazzy. But Bobeee Claus introduced them to Cathy, Susan, Arthur and Peggy. Assured the newbies were comfortable and cared for the Board Members went back to their decorating job for the day.

As the newbies continued their tour they looked into a room. They saw all kinds of papers scattered around a few computers. The sign on the door said "Newsletter Room". All the elves were working so hard to put together the December Newsletter. Their names were: Barbara, Eve, Leslie, Gene, Carolyn, Eddy, Diana, Mark, Sheila, Mike, and Elaine, Ann who is the Co-Head elf here, Neil, Curtis, Debbie, Julie, Karen, Theresa, and headed this year by Bobeee himself.

There were other rooms also such as the Bulletin Board where David and Sarah could be found. There were chat rooms where Bionicmarty could usually be found.

It was time for the newbies to be taken to their new "homes". Jaana took her newbie to Forum and introduced her to a round of welcome replies. Everyone was eager to meet the newbie. In the same way Pearl and Bill took their newbies to their new homes. Pearl took hers to World and Bill took his to Connect. Each newbie once introduced, is welcomed with open arms and many cyber hugs! Each home was a big room. There were Interpreters, CART and assistive devices for all. Some of the members were also members of other lists like for Cochlear Implants and some for parents helping deaf kids. So people were coming and going all the time.

All of a sudden the red captioned announcement light flashed a message for all to read, "Gather in the general auditorium." Everyone hurried over-- there was Bobeee Claus, that jolly ol' guy, waiting for everyone. Bobeee greeted everyone and thanked everyone for coming. Bobeee said:

" Every year is special here in SayWhat Village. We add new members every year. We strive to give the utmost support for the hard of hearing and deaf here. This year as we go out on Christmas Eve to give our presents, headed up by Elf Curtis, with the listening devices and equipment needed for the hard of hearing and deaf, and the understanding and compassion headed by each home group, it seems we have a challenge. The reindeers have caught a virus and are not going to be able to lead the sleigh, MOAN GROAN HOO HISS".

Mumbles filled the room, "Now what are we to do?" One of the Vistas members said, " Hey, how about Glady's llamas?" All of Gladys' llamas came forward.

"Well well", said Bobeee Claus. He then sprinkled the llamas with a special powder and before long they were all flying! Then all the other animals in SWC wanted to be a part, too.

"HO HO HO!!! " says Bobeee Claus, "there is enough work for all in getting ready." A sideways glance at the nearby dogs and cats spured Bobeee to a stern warning, "No chewing up the devices, hearing aids or CI processors!" So everyone went to work to get ready for the Big Night.

Later on, the sleigh was hitched and WeeYaa was in the lead. Holly and Noel were in the sleigh as well. They are 2 cocker spaniels. Bobeee said with names like that they should accompany him on his trip. As they got ready to leave and Ling Claus gave Bobeee Claus a hug and as Bobeee and the llamas rode out of sight, in the distance you could hear and see Bobee say:

"Merry Christmas to all and to all better hearing!"