~GFWC Woman's Club of Ocoee Celebrates 87th Birthday~

The GFWC Woman’s Club of Ocoee’s Annual Birthday Luncheon and Fashion Show is a celebration of the 12 months of holidays, as well as the anniversary of one of the oldest service clubs in West Orange County. Typically twelve tables are decorated each year according to the 12 months.  However, this year the demand for ticket sales allowed us to increase our tables to 14!  We had 12 months plus 2.  There was St. Patrick’s Day items at one table, Christmas at another and a June celebration of Graduation at still another.  In addition, themes also included the Fourth of July, a May Pole, Thanksgiving and a glittering celebration of a Winter Wonderland.  It’s a whole year of celebrations rolled into one.

               Special guests at the 87^th Birthday Luncheon held March 5 were Pat Silverstein, District 7 Director; Anita Gentz, Senior Director Westside Tech; Reverend Margaret Marquis, Ocoee Christian Church; Rosemary Wilsen, Commissioner City of Ocoee; and  Lisa Krueger-Parsons Store Manager JCPenney’s West Oaks Mall

               Woman’s Club President Teresa Lemons welcomed the roomful of members and guests.  Carol Matheny read the Collect and Reverend Margaret Marquis gave the invocation.

               Modeling the fashions from JCPenney were Mary Jane Antonov, Sherrall Applegate, Gail Daniels, Joanie Grover and Trisha Minor-Shkoler.

               The following members decorated the tables: Mary Barber and Dottie Godek (January); Vicki Raduenz (February); Ann Hopper and Beverly Thornton (March); Pauline Mathius (April); Joann Vann and Barbara Milazzo (May); Sherrall Applegate, Trisha Minor-Shkoler and Sharon Zink (June); Mary Jane Antonov and Judie Lewis (July); Myra Kinnie and Gail Waxman (August); Sherry Dahlstedt and Lynne Seigler (September); Carol and Tonya Matheny (October); Mary Black and Gail Daniels (November); Myra Kinnie and Sonia Brown(December); Teresa Lemons (Table A) and Cathy Sills (Table B).  Decorating the head table was President, Teresa Lemons.

               Long time member, Marilyn Ruhle, was selected as an Honorary Member for the 2011 Club Year.  Marilyn was invited to the Woman’s Club of Ocoee by past member, Winnifred Griffin, over 15 years ago.  Marilyn served as 2^nd Vice President and the Executive Board for several years.  She was very dedicated to the clubs events, including the Corn Beef and Cabbage event with her late husband, Frank.  She would help with the vegetables and could clean potatoes and carrots like you’ve never seen.  Marilyn not only served her community through her membership with the Woman’s Club but she also served as a Girl Scout Leader, Cub Scouts Den Mother, worked at the Boys Club in Pine Hills and has served the Faith Lutheran Church since 1964.  Marilyn was honored with a certificate, bouquet of flowers and a Fifteen Year Member pin.  She joins a prestigious list of other Honorary Members: Elizabeth Maguire, Ruth Grafton, Betty Hager, Nell Minor and Winnifred Griffin.

               President, Teresa Lemons presented a check to Anita Gentz, Senior Director Westside Tech in the amount of $2,500 for their Scholarship Fund.  President Lemons also presented a check to Ocoee Commissioner Rosemary Wilsen for $85 for the Ocoee Spring Fling.  The monies are to be used towards the purchase of a bicycle.  Monetary donations were scheduled to be presented to Chesta Hembrooke, STARS and Joanie Charles, School Nurse Program.

               The Woman’s Club thanks the sponsors of this annual event:  the City of Ocoee, Westside Tech, Health Central, Jessie Taylor’s Catering, Moonlite Express, Sweet Ashley Rae’s, Merle Normam Cosmetics, Fist Baptist Church of Ocoee, Embroidery Bi-Lyn, Kare-Way Hair Salon, Florida Looks Salon, Ready Set, Dance, Kimberly Amos “My Salon”, A Mobile Notary, Ruth Minor of Referral Network, House Blend Café, Perkins, Downtown Herb Shoppe and Day Spa, Franco’s Pizzeria Ristorante, Shaggy Sheik Salon, HeartFelt Angels Staffing LLC, Betty J’s Florist, Ocoee Café, Ocoee High School Junior Civitan Group, Texas Road House, Beckett’s Emporium, Beef O’Brady’s, Garden Theatre, Grace’s Gifts, Harry & Larry’s BBQ, Urban Flats, Westside Tech Facial and Massage Therapy, Winter Garden Pizza, Zumba by Debbie, Patrick Reilly’s Lawn Service, BR Dental (Brian Ramski, DMD) Betty J’s Florist, Basket Case by Pauline Mathius, Pat Sharr Realty, Rusty Johnson of Gosselin Realty, Ocoee Lion’s Club, This & That Pawn, Inc., Donna Kelly’s Music, Notary Services by Bev Thornton, Baker Bail Bonds, Coins of the Realm, Detox Via D’Feet, Basil and Joann Vann, Party Plus, Jim Riffle Sign Farm and JCPenney’s West Oaks Mall.

               The club also thanks Cathy Sills, Birthday Luncheon Committee Chair, member Donna Kelly who played the piano for the event, model Coordinator Jackie Titus, door prize Coordinator Pauline Mathius, server Coordinator Bev Thornton and all the members who have spent many untiring hours organizing and promoting this event, the Ocoee High School Civitan Club for their service at the luncheon, as well as all those who donated door prizes.

Click on each photo to enlarge.