First of all, SYZ, let me encourage you to NOT give up. You may have received negative responses from the team that discourage you. Your discouragement alone could keep you from planning your best holiday party ever. I have noticed that even “the Grinch in the group” secretly wants something to happen during the holiday time. You may never get them to say so, Grinches being what they are, but they need you to do your best.