Parties Extra!—Cunninghams honored at baby shower
Tea sandwiches and cookies were served at the party. (Photos by Helen Ford Wallace).
A baby shower honored Jane and Tripp Cunningham whose baby girl is due soon. Hostesses were Lisa Allen, Judy Jordan and Ruth Lampton at Full Circle Book Store.
Tea sandwiches, strawberries, mini- chicken salads, and monogrammed cookies (L for the baby’s name Lilly Jane) were served to the guests. A crystal vase filled with pink roses was the centerpiece.
Gifts included dresses, a bathtub and chair from the partygoers and a stuffed pink dog from grandmother, Marilyn Law.
Guests included Anne Collins, Linda James, Susan Hoffman, Pam Smith, Kaye Cook, Michele Huston, Janell Flanery, Tricia Law, Sherrie Cooper, Melissa Fletcher and Sugar Dozier.
Michele Huston, Jane Cunningham and Marilyn Law enjoy the party for Jane and Tripp.
Hostess Ruth Lampton, Pam Smith and Sugar Dozier enjoy the baby shower.
20-40-60 Etiquette-How about free samples?
YOU ASK! WE ANSWER! YOU DECIDE!
Email etiquette questions to HWallace@Opubco.com
QUESTION: Is it ethical to take free samples companies offer and use them for a craft project or another personal use that has nothing to do with the product? A recent post I saw on the social media site Pinterest suggested a cute, “free and easy” way to make bookmarks out of store paint-chip samples. These samples are distributed to customers who need to match colors in their homes before they buy paint.
When a reader questioned whether it was OK to take a handful or more of those samples for crafts, other readers accused her of being “negative.” I thought the initial reader’s question was valid: Is it OK to take free samples of a company’s product to use for any reason? What about taking several samples of something you have no intention of buying?
CALLIE’S ANSWER: Ethical, no. Good idea, yes. Would I do it? No. What is it with people standing in line for a free pen? If they give it to you, yes by all means take it. Taking more than is offered is rude. There is always going to be someone that takes advantage of something free.
LILLIE-BETH’S ANSWER: The first thing to do in this situation is ask the store manager whether that’s a possibility, explaining exactly what you’re trying to do with the samples. Often the store doesn’t have a problem with people doing this if they ask.
But when someone posts something on a social media site such as Pinterest, good ideas tend to spread quickly, and a single post can result in many people requesting a lot of samples for a craft project. After a company finds its supply of free samples consistently depleted because of reasons that don’t lead to purchases, its managers might decide to start charging for the samples or stop offering them.
“Free” samples aren’t free for the people offering them — companies pay for them, whether small or large businesses — and I don’t think it’s right just to help yourself because you think you’re entitled to take them. The Pinterest post was reposted several thousand times. What also bothered me were the angry comments directed at people who questioned the idea of taking free samples, accusing them of being “negative.” This question was worth raising from an ethical standpoint. Good etiquette dictates that when we take an action, we consider how it might affect other people and not just ourselves.
HELEN’S ANSWER: It would never have occurred to me to get enough samples of anything for a group effort in repurposing, and I love free samples as well as anyone. It seems to me that one paint sample per person is what the business intended. Now, if the person asked if he/she could “buy” enough for a class project and the store staff said “just take them,” that is another story.
I saw the comments related to this posting and realize that there are a lot of opinions out there. But how would you feel if all of your samples that you had in place for buying paint were gone every time you looked in the basket, and you saw people walking out of the store with 40 paint-chip samples at a time? Not a good situation.
GUEST’S ANSWER: Yvette Walker, The Oklahoman’s director of presentation and custom publishing, and media ethics chair at the University of Central Oklahoma:
Most business owners know that anything put on display for the taking is just that, for the taking. There’s no way to control what the taker does with the takee’s items. However, I think the store owners hope that at least a good percentage of the takers plan to use the sample to determine whether to buy a product.
(Putting on my ethics professor hat:) Whether it is ethical depends on your values, principles and loyalties. Aristotle would apply his philosophy of the Golden Mean, and determine your ethics by the virtues you show. John Stuart Mill would say taking the paint chips could be ethical if it is a means to a just end. But universally speaking (taking off my ethics professor hat) … it’s just tacky to swipe free stuff when you have no plans to do business with the provider.
Come on, now. Is it too much to buy a $3 can of sample paint?
City Rescue Mission “Hearts of Hope” Tea
Hearts of Hope tea was held at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. (Photos by Helen Ford Wallace).
The City Rescue Mission sponsored the Hearts of Hope luncheon recently at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. 600 people attended the event and heard about the City Rescue Mission and a testimony from one of their clients. Cardboard testimonies were also given by other women while Brenden Weaver sang “You Raise Me Up.”
Barbara Green, co-chairman of the tea, gave the welcome and Pam Tims, chairman, made introductions. Entertainment was by the Surrey Singers.
Colorful teapots were on the tables surrounded by teacups filled with dessert cupcakes. Table hostesses took home the teapots and guests were given cups and saucers as party favors.
Rev. Tom Jones, President and CEO of City Rescue Mission, told of the current projects of women helping women and children. He talked about the outdoor space projects and various gardens being set up. The goal for the tea was to raise money for the outdoor area for the women and families.
Also on the program were Rebecca and Jeff Ambrosini.
For more information, check the web site www.cityrescue.org .
Judi Freyer and Stacey Maxon were at the luncheon. Freyer was a table hostess.
Joy Tucker and Lynn White attended the event at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
Jennifer Thurman and Connie Baker enjoyed the tea.
Entertainment was by the Surrey Singers.
ARTS! ARTS! ARTS! …. Parties Extra!
Linda Tiller, Linda Haneborg and Sandy Meyers talk about Arts! Arts! Arts! on Parties Extra!
Dick Morris speaks at the Americans for Prosperity Foundation luncheon
Dick Morris spoke at the luncheon. (Photos by Helen Ford Wallace).
Dick Morris, author and Fox News commentator, was the recent keynote speaker for a business leader’s luncheon recently. He was at the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and was hosted by the Oklahoma division of the Americans for Prosperity Foundation.
Morris talked about the U.S. political scene, about energy and taxes. He also spoke the same night at a dinner meeting.
Among those at lunch were David Carter, Chip Carter, Jose Freede, Carlos Johnson, Joan Gilmore, Clay Healey, Gene Melton, Randy McDaniel and Mike Sanders.
Jose Freede and Joan Gilmore enjoy lunch.
Chip Carter and David Carter were at the event.
Mike Sanders and Randy McDaniel have lunch.
Coming up: Wine, Women & Shoes
Carol Blackwood, Allison Coleman, Susan Chambers, Jennifer Manning, Julie Richardson and Katherine Craig were at the planning meeting. (Photo provided).
Committee members met in the home of chairman, Dr. Susan Chambers, to plan the Wine, Women & Shoes event scheduled for May 17th.
The event, hosted by World Neighbors, will benefit its Work of Women (WOW) program. WW&S event features a fashion show, wine tasting, and shopping from national and local retailers. It will be May 17th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the OKC Farmers Public Market.”
Oletha’s retirement party
Linda Dowling, Oletha Futrel, Marcella Branscum were at the party. (Photos by David Faytinger).
Carolyn Harl, Oliver Boudin, Bette Perrault enjoy the event.
Oletha Futrel’s retirement party was at the Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club where she worked for 45 years.
She received a Waterford crystal cross as a gift from the club members and staff.
On the menu was Caesar salad, buffalo wings, smoked brisket with corn muffins, hot links with peppers and onions, fresh yeast rolls, honey butter and Italian cream cake, all Oletha’s favorite foods at the OCG&CC.
20-40-60 Etiquette-Should I tell them again and again?
Got an etiquette question? Email helen.wallace@cox.net!
YOU ASK! WE ANSWER! YOU DECIDE
By Callie Gordon, Lillie-Beth Brinkman and Helen Ford Wallace
QUESTION: Is there a special way to teach such manners as no elbows on the table, napkin in your lap, chew with your mouth closed? I have tried to tell my children the basic rules, and I find myself repeating them over and over, and they continue to break these particular ones. What should I do?
CALLIE’S ANSWER: I have no clue. No TV for the night? No friends over for a week? This isn’t my department. Sorry.
LILLIE-BETH’S ANSWER: For starters, you can find someone else, like a friend or a teacher, to reinforce the same manners, so your children know that these rules don’t just come from you.
Also, at our house, I made up a fun game to do this, since I was tired of having similar issues over and over. We’ve been less than consistent in playing this, but it works well as a manners refresher. Here is the gist of it: We have made a written list of a handful of manners that we’re working on (napkin goes in lap, no talking with your mouth full, and no elbows on the table). We’ve designated a cup for each of us, including me, and all four are stored in the kitchen.
For every manners “violation” a person commits during dinner, that person has to put a quarter in his or her cup. At the end of the week we count the quarters, and the person with the fewest gets to keep the money from all four cups. The contest then starts over. My daughter won Round 1. Now I have to figure out a way to stop the arguing over how many quarters one owes and the “gotcha” attitude displayed when one of us is caught in the act, but it has been a fun way for us to pay attention to manners, including mine.
HELEN’S ANSWER: Strict table manners are essential in today’s world. Potential employers are very aware when they are hiring new employees. They want people who make a good impression at the table.
Other people do not want to be around those who display bad manners, and children need to be aware of this fact.
During a recent dinner sponsored by Junior Cotillion advisers Carey Sue and Ricardo Vega, Carey Sue gave instructions at the table including how to pass the salt and pepper, which fork to use and also how to appreciate the flower arrangement and to notice how nice the table looked. She stressed the importance of patience in waiting for a meal to be served and gave pointers on how to make table conversation, particularly with people the students did not know very well.
I think it is very important that parents and/or others create an environment for children to learn how to act at the dinner table and then to adhere to these manners themselves. Coach your children beginning at a young age that manners are important. And yes, sometimes, you must repeat them over and over. There will be a time when they understand and will be able to apply what you have taught them. Keep up the good work!
GUEST’S ANSWER: Bebe MacKellar, local community leader and volunteer: The most important thing in teaching manners is consistency. Although you might get sick of correcting your children, it is important that they learn the proper etiquette for dining.
I also think it is important that children are taught by example. Once children know the rules, they are quick to point out adults who break them. I would make sure that you and any other people who eat regularly with your children exhibit the proper etiquette.
You probably will have to stay on your kids for years. I know my mom still corrects us when we need it. Stick with it, and I know they will thank you someday, as there is nothing more appalling than an adult with bad table manners.
Kelly Dyer Fry, Mandi Briggs and Sunny Cearley talk about the upcoming Byliner Awards Dinner
Kelly Dyer Fry, Mandi Briggs and Sunny Cearley talk about the Byliner Awards Dinner on Parties Extra!
Kappa Alpha Theta members celebrate Founder’s Day
Louise Green, Jane Godlove, Virginia Henry, Becky Buchanan, Susan Stanton, Barbara Walker, Sandy Trudgeon, Connie Ziese were at Founder’s Day. (Photo by David Faytinger).
Members of Kappa Alpha Theta Alumnae had the Founder’s Day event at the Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club. Special honorees were 50- year-members.
Linda Bowles, Becky Buchanan, Mary Anne Malone, Sandy Trudgeon, Connie Ziese were honored as 50-year Thetas and Ann Byrd was recognized for her 75-year membership. Unable to attend but still listed as 50-year members were Ginny Foster Hill, Necia Miller and Kay Giasson.
Mary Anne Malone gave a special slide presentation. Bette Jo Hill was luncheon chairman and Malone and Shannon Rundell were co-chairmen.
Each honoree was given a centerpiece of white hydrangeas, lilies and roses.
Ann Caylor was introduced as 2012 Theta of the Year.
Guests included Susie Kemp, Sue Ryan, Kim Joseph, Leslie Morgan, Penny McCaleb, Kay Oliver, Beth Portman, Susan Laster, Betsy White, Carol Joullian, Donna Blakley, Lee Ann Nordin, Jeannette Sias, Janie Kimball, Janie Axton, Adelaide Liedtke, Donna Vogel, Lisa Franklin, Elizabeth Franklin, Elizabeth Prosser, Patty Jones, Julie Branch, Suzanne Bockus.
