News

This month we plan a special social event. You may have heard about "The White Elephant Stall" - if not, you'll find out. In any case you should definitely come to the Main Meeting of our Club. It is going to be a new experience and lots of fun!

The White Elephant stall has long been a traditional event in the English speaking areas of the globe, be it part of a Church fete or a school fund-raising event. It offers for sale unusual or miscellaneous items which have been donated by their owners.

So hesitate before you throw out unwanted household 'treasures(!)' and assorted bric-a-brac as they may well be suitable items for our White Elephant Stall.

The proceeds of the sale will be donated to a charity! The following items are suitable:

Glassware, vases, ornaments, cutlery, prints and pictures. Also toys, games, board games, puzzles, CDs, DVDs and books.

Please don't bring any clothes.

Members are cordially invited to donate items to the stall.

Even if you have nothing to donate, come and enjoy the opportunity to have a chat, meet new members and have a drink from our well-stocked bar.

Where does it come from? - Wikipedia tells us:

A white elephant (also albino elephant) is a rare kind of elephant, but not a distinct species. Although often depicted as snow white, their skin is normally a soft reddish-brown, turning a light pink when wet. They have fair eyelashes and toenails.

The term "white elephant" came, in English, to mean a thing which is more trouble than it is worth, or has outlived its usefulness to the person who has it. While the item may be useful to others, its current owner would usually be glad to be rid of it. By reason of this, commercially, a "white elephant" might be available to purchase at a very favorable price. An example of such an item might be a mansion whose maintenance costs exceed the capacity of its owners.

In the UK, Australia and New Zealand a "white elephant stall" at a fair or market has unusual or miscellaneous items for sale which have been donated, as they were "white elephants" to their owners.