DOYLESTOWN, Pa., April 4, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- The first Doylestown Town Dinner occurred on Thursday night and attracted 65 participants from the not-for-profit, business, arts, religious and political communities as well as a host of Doylestown residents. The dinner is designed to be an easy way to connect, converse with and befriend other interested residents of the Central Bucks community.
Renowned Bucks County artist Alan Fetterman displayed a number of his works at the event's reception. Tom Thomas provided a keynote address describing why he lives, works and volunteers in the Doylestown area. Led by Lee Milhous, director of the Doylestown School of Music and the Arts, a dozen teenage students provided piano, string and wind instrument performances.
As part of the six-course meal where participants move freely from table to table in order to socialize, more than a dozen speakers took a turn at the dinner's Sixty-Second Soap Boxes to address the entire audience. Those taking a turn at the podium included: Rev. Steve McComas of Rolling Hills United Methodist Church; Brian O'Connell represented the Writer's Room; Peggy Dator told the story of The Free Clinic of Doylestown; Jonathan McSurdy described the Charitable Endeavors of the Masons; Tom Goga spoke of the Central Bucks Family YMCA's outreach to those in need; Chanin Walsh described living in Doylestown and her work with the Blu Ball; Paul O'Hara spoke of the groundbreaking work of the AJ Foundation; Mar-jo May and Maggie Strucker described the works and benefits of the Honey Hollow Environmental Education Center; Alan Fetterman read two of his poems reflecting on Bucks County; Mike Zoglio recounted the attributes of the area that attracted him thirty years ago; Jeff Gilmore recounted his experiences with the Boy Scouts; Jack McCaughan reflected on volunteerism in America using the Free Clinic of Doylestown as an example; and Cass Forkin passionately described the Twilight Wish Foundation.
In perhaps one of the more novel aspects of this unique dinner, the gross profits of the dinner were offered to a charity. The twist was participants had to nominate charities and then vote on who to award the dinner's proceeds. After a spirited pitch by many worthy charities, The Free Clinic of Doylestown and the Twilight Wish Foundation each received checks for $125.00.
The next Doylestown Dinner will be held on Thursday, May 26 at Doylestown CC. All are invited to attend. The Doylestown Dinners are arranged by afinitas town meetings. For more information on the dinner please visit www.afinitas.net, e-mail afinitas@comcast.net or write to afinitas, PO Box 107, Doylestown, PA 18901. Jonathan Mcsurdy and Sue Saunders are partners in afinitas.