St Louis Section
Annual Picnic

Fifth Annual Section Picnic, June 6, 2009

Grill ninja Keith Stine looks on from a safe distance as the charcoal lighter fluid works its chemical magic

Part of the larger group of picnickers eating and chatting under the Skow shelter

The 5th annual St Louis ACS Section picnic was held in Tilles Park on June 6, 2009—a new location after the Tower Grove Park venue of the previous four picnics. The Skow Shelter was a fine spot, with plenty of shade, picnic benches, and nearby restrooms. The weather was good this year (for a change), and the turnout was a respectable 26 adults and several children, from infant to ... no longer children. There were members of the Younger Chemists Committee, old-time Board members, spouses and guests, and some for whom this was the first section event they had ever attended.

The section served up a barbeque of bratwursts, hot dogs, burgers, and chicken—plenty for everyone—and lots of beverages, chips, and cookies to go along with it. Past-Chair Keith Stine was the grill ninja. Sheryl Loux brought a game of Kubb (a Swedish game, rhymes with rube). Kubb teams were so captivated with the competition that they almost forgot to eat. Sheryl also helped avert disaster by running out for charcoal lighter fluid we desperately needed to get off the ground. You would think a bunch of chemists could come up with better ways to light charcoal, but no one had any magnesium with them. Later in the afternoon, Frisbees appeared to help people work off their indulgence before we cleaned up and headed home.

Picnickers briefly turn their attention to the camera	Tempting to caption this, “Sheryl Loux after the winning toss in Kubb finals,” but it’s obvious the king remains standing, just to the left of Arindam Roy’s right hip	Eric Bruton’s baton toss during the grueling Kubb finals
Future chemist works on his Frisbee skills	Conversation moved out into the dappled sunlight after the eating phase was over