Past Event, 2025 Event to be Planned
TOGA Appreciation Party Set for March 16, 2024
Freeshade Community Center, 1544 Regent Road, Syringa, VA 23169-2314
1PM – 4PM
All TOGA Members and Supporters Invited to Appreciation Party March 16, 2024
~Terry Lewis, MOG, Past President
The eleventh annual TOGA Appreciation Party will be held Saturday, March 16, at the Freeshade Community Center, 1544 Regent Road, Syringa, Virginia (near Topping). The party will start at 1:00 and end about 4:00. This year, ALL TOGA members and supporters are invited to attend what previously had been listed as our volunteer appreciation party. Since all TOGA members and supporters help place more oysters in the Bay waters, and help spread the word of the many benefits of oysters to the Bay ecology, the party is now open to all members, supporters, and their guests.
This event will the day before St. Patrick’s Day, so be wearing some green and be ready to answer some quiz questions for fabulous prizes! Whoever wears the most green will also win a great prize.
This will also be the first year that winners of the TOGA Middle School Writing contest will read their winning essays at the party. The winners of the past contests submitted fabulous essays, and their readings were always a highlight of the Annual Membership Meeting. This year their readings will instead be featured at the Appreciation Party.
As in the past 10 years, TOGA will supply plenty of local and delicious unshucked and shucked oysters for your enjoyment. We ask you to bring the fixings for your favorite oyster dish, and you can prepare them for others to share at the party. There are stoves and ovens at the facility. If you don't have a favorite oyster dish, please bring a side dish or desert to share with your TOGA friends. TOGA will also provide soft drinks. If you would like an adult beverage, please bring your own.
We're fortunate to again have Stacey on-site to prepare some of the best fried oysters on the east coast. She'll also make some delicious gluten-free fried oysters, if requested.
We'll have lots to discuss with fellow oyster gardeners in a relaxed atmosphere. Plus, there are some exciting developments in the oyster industry that you might want to share with fellow members.
Mark your calendar now to attend this all you can eat oyster extravaganza. Please RSVP here no later than March 8, so appropriate supplies can be acquired. You may contact Terry Lewis at lewistmn@msn.com or 804-693-2687.
This is TOGA's way of expressing our appreciation to our many great members and supporters who make this such a successful organization. We look forward to seeing you there for a great time and to help celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
All TOGA Members and Supporters Invited to Appreciation Party March 16, 2024
~Terry Lewis, MOG, Past President
Photos from past volunteer parties. Will be Appreciation Parties starting 2024.
Recap: Volunteer Party: December 10th
Another Successful Early Holiday Party
~Terry Lewis, (MOG) Past President
The 9th annual TOGA Volunteer Appreciation Party was held Saturday, December 10 at the Freeshade Community Center near Topping, VA. TOGA members volunteered this past year in many ways to help. They built oyster floats and cages in the many float building workshops. They were on hand to answer questions posed by visitors at several market day exhibit booths and community festivals throughout the Northern Neck and Tidewater area. And they volunteered in many different ways to support TOGA in its efforts to spread the word about oyster gardening. It was fitting, therefore, that TOGA treated our valuable (and very valued) volunteers to some delicious food and great camaraderie at our annual Volunteer Party.
TOGA supplied a plentiful supply of delicious local un-shucked and shucked oysters for their enjoyment. Party goers brought the fixings for their favorite oyster dishes and brought side dishes and desserts to share, while TOGA provided soft drinks. Fortunately, Stacey was on hand to prepare some of the best fried oysters on the East coast, and she also made some delicious gluten-free fried oysters.
There was lively discussion among fellow oyster gardeners in the relaxed atmosphere of this new venue – the Freeshade Community Center in Topping.
The annual volunteer party is TOGA's way to show our appreciation to the many great volunteers who make this such a successful organization. Again, thank you all.
