Going Home Greyhounds Inc.

Going Home Greyhounds Reunion is right around the corner. Be there…rain or shine! Pack up the family and the dogs (no small dogs please – for their own safety) and head out to the North Park Lodge for a wonderful, fun-filled day! This year will be GHG’s 13th annual reunion and a celebration of our 14th year as a rescue group! Please stop by the registration table located in front of the Lodge. You can sign in, get a goodie bag, name tag, and pick up a program that lists all the day’s events. We would like to know how many people and dogs joined us, so please be sure to sign in when you arrive.

REUNION COORDINATOR ANGIE MENCER has accepted the challenge to help things run more smoothly this year! Angie will be making sure events start on time, will have a list of where volunteers are supposed to be and when, and will be able to answer any questions you have that day. Last minute voluneers will be cheerfully accepted, and she will be able to tell you just where help is needed. Angie, the GHG board members, and all the volunteers in charge of various activities will be wearing lime green shirts that say “Event Staff” on them, as well as a name tag. Please feel free to approach any of them with questions or concerns throughout the day.

FOSTER DOGS will be at the picnic for everyone to meet, but no adoptions will actually take place that day. If you are a previous GHG adopter and are interested in adopting a particular dog, you may put your contact information on a list that day. Once you submit an on-line application, Sandy (our Application Coordinator) will contact you with specifics.

AND THERE’S SO MUCH MORE...

RAFFLE: This year GHG will have a special raffle for 2 round trip, Southwest Airline tickets to anywhere Southwest flies! Worth a total value of $800, good till 10/1/2010, and with no restrictions or blackout dates! Tickets will be sold for $5 each or 3 for $10. Only 240 tickets are available, so each $10 you spend gives you a 1 in 80 chance to win! Last year’s winner bought 3 tickets and for $10 went to Arizona to visit relatives!

AUCTIONS: The Silent and Chinese auctions have some really exciting items! We have 2 autographed photos of Pittsburgh Sport Legends: former Steeler linebacker Robin Cole and golfing great Arnold Palmer! UBS Financial Services has donated a $500 Financial Goal Analysis Plan (prepare for that dream vacation, the kid’s college, or retirement). Enjoy a night out at the City Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, or the Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theater. Another special item is a porcelain collector’s plate from the House of Erte ‘Symphony in Black’. This stunning plate was designated a Franklin Mint Heirloom. Win a one-year family membership to the Carnegie Museums - the Carnegie History and Art Museums, Science Center, Sports Works, and the Warhol--or an overnight stay at the Airport Courtyard Marriott.

Raffle hints: Make it easier to ensure you get your winnings at the auction by bringing all those extra address labels and put them on the back of your raffle tickets. If you don’t have any, then put the first 3 letters of your last name on the ticket. Please put your last name and phone number on your tickets if you think you might not be there to collect your prizes. And just a reminder: we will again accept Master Card and Visa for the Silent Auction. This is the largest GHG fundraiser of the year and we need you to make it a success.

The auctions need volunteers to help out on picnic day, so if you are interested, please let Sandy know. Spend just a little time or a lot. Help is needed for these shifts: 1 to 2 and 3 to 4 (ticket selling) and most especially from 10:30 to 12:30 (set up), 4 to 5 (number writing and basket retrieval) and at 5 (pack up and clean up). If you have an auction donation, please be sure to contact Sandy Strychor at strychors@upmc.edu  so that we can plan for your item(s) and make sure you are on the donor list of the picnic brochure. Any and all donations are welcome!

VENDORS: Confirmed to date are Cassie’s Casual Wear, Cozy Coats and More, Elaine’s Pet Pillows, Greyt Bedazzlies, Healthy Pet Products, J&S Crocheted Hounds, Prince Creations, Sherri’s Coats, and Wags and Wiggles Barkery. We will continue to update the list of vendors as they are confirmed.  If you are interested in vending please contact Angie at angiemencer@yahoo.com. 

BURTON’S TOTAL PET “WHEEL OF DOGGIE FORTUNE”: Spin the wheel to get lots of fun prizes or store coupons for you and your dog!

HEALTHY PET PRODUCTS:  Toni will be there handing out free dog food samples and promoting her new North Hills store location!

COUNTRY CRITTERS: Nail trimming with 100% of donations that day coming back to GHG! Thank you so much Country Critters for your generosity!

REUNION PHOTOS BY THE SCHOFIELDS: 100% of your $5.00 donation to goes GHG. Have your family’s and friends’ (canine and human) picture taken to hold a memory for years to come. Photos are digital 4x6 and ready in minutes, so stop by the "Reunion Photo" area and say "Cheese" or “Perogi” if you are a native Pittsburger.

GHG’s SALES TABLES: Treasures for greys and their guardians.

MUSIC: Jim Farrier will play the tunes and announce events all afternoon.

FOOD: DJ Elegance will be providing the food for this year’s reunion. Come hungry since they will be bringing plenty of pulled pork, ribs, chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs and other delicious picnic foods!

BAKE SALE: Treats to delight any sweet tooth! We are “calling all cooks” out there to share their favorite desserts with the rest of us. If you can bring (bake or buy) a dessert that day, or volunteer to work at the table, please contact Laurie Conroy at laurie.conroy@bipc.com.

COSTUME PARADE: Prizes will be awarded for the three most creative costumes.

GREYHOUND GAMES: Join in with your grey for lots of surprising fun and games! There will be prizes for the following:  Longest Tail, Oldest Grey in Attendance, Hot Dog Toss (best out of 5), Musical Sit and King and Queen Wigglebutt. 

1:30 Foster Parade

2:00 Blessing of the Animals

2:15 Costume Parade

2:45 Greyhound Games

3:15 Break-a-thon Demo by Zang Taekwondo

3:30 Kid Game – Pin the Tail on the Greyhound

4:00 Announcement of auction and 50/50 winners

 

WORKERS NEEDED! A successful reunion picnic requires an enormous amount of volunteer help. Volunteer for an hour, or for the day:

GHG SALES TABLE: Contact Trish Bufano at xracers@comcast.net.

CHINESE/SILENT AUCTIONS: Set-up tables, display items, sell tickets, announce winners. Contact Sandy Strychor at strychors@upmc.edu

REGISTRATION TABLE: Friendly smiles and warm hearts to greet all our GHG adopters as they come for a fun day. Contact Elaine Pensenstadler at 724.266.5996 or elaine.ghg@verizon.net.

SET UP AND CLEAN UP: Arrive at 9:00 a.m. to set up and/or stay a few hours after the picnic to clean up. Contact Colleen Smith at greyluvr@comcast.net.

SEND YOUR SNAPS If you get any greyt digital pictures from the day that you’d like to share with us for the website, please send them to Paul Schofield at paul.schofield65@comcast.net. Please include names of any people and/or dogs in each photo.

SEND US YOUR SUGGESTIONS If you have any ideas for the reunion, we would love to hear them. We are always looking for new and fun things to do as well as people to organize and run events! Please contact Elaine with suggestions at elaine.ghg@verizon.net.