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Bring us a figgy pudding… 
and some better singing

by Kate Keating Edsey, Development Manager
Elks National Foundation

2015 marks my eighth Elks National Foundation holiday season--and my eighth stint as an ENF caroler. I’m not a singer, as anyone who has heard me will attest, but I enjoy Jim O’Kelley’s annual tradition of the ENF staff coming together on the morning of our staff holiday party to delight the Elks headquarters staff with our tunes.

Five years ago some of our staff put together a caroling video to share with friends of the Foundation--some practice, some chaos, and borrowed construction lights from the Elks Veterans Memorial resulted in this masterpiece.

This year, the ENF carolers are again featured on a video, and also the December Midday podcast. For those of you who aren’t Middies, Midday is now recorded and produced with the help of our new friends at Tribeca Flashpoint College in Chicago’s Loop. We packed up most of our carolers and headed downtown with excitement to meet the professionals and students who would assist us in making this vision a reality.

Some new staff, some new songs, still some chaos. Our caroling expedition was definitely an exercise in herding cats--where to stand, who’s in front, who will count us off, and especially the best way to turn a page of lyrics (I’m looking at you, Colleen Muszynski). The final result?

Maybe not our best caroling in eight years, but heartfelt and fun. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you’ll accept my apology in advance for standing too close and dominating the microphone.

We have less than 365 days to practice for next year, so we should probably get started.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

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