Oklahoma City Alumnae Panhellenic Association Women of the Year selected
Seventeen women will be honored at the Greater Oklahoma City Alumnae Panhellenic Association luncheon on April 4th at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club. They are the 2012 Women of the Year recipients and were chosen for individual scholarship, leadership and service qualities which Panhellenic women have promoted for years.
They are Krystal Leighanna Kohler, Alpha Chi Omega; Marcia Booker Walker, Alpha Delta Pi; Mary Chronister Pearson, Alpha Gamma Delta; Judith Lehmbeck, Alpha Phi; Lauren Anne Roberts, Alpha Xi Delta; Elaine Shelor Jackson, Chi Omega; Rhonda Williston, Delta Delta Delta; Jo Carol Cameron, Delta Gamma; Juanita Renner Brown, Delta Zeta; Kimberli Harding Brownlee, Gamma Phi Beta; Ann Holmes Caylor, Kappa Alpha Theta; Debbie Owen Gipson, Kappa Delt; Kay Musser, Kappa Kappa Gamma; A. J. Gay Griffin, Phi Mu; Bette MacKellar, Pi Beta Phi; Stephanie Anne Nicholson, Sigma Kappa, and Cheryl Melton, Zeta Tau Alpha.
The Oklahoma City Alumnae Panhellenic Association was established in 1935 and began the scholarship program in the 1960’s to promote higher education among young Oklahoma women. Last year, with proceeds from the luncheon, and help from businesses and individuals, the Panhellenic Foundation gave seventeen scholarships of $1500. each to metro area senior girls.
For reservations, mail $40. To the Greater Oklahoma City Alumnae Panhellenic Foundation, P.O. Box 720723, OKC, Ok. 73172. For information, contact Lisa Blackburn at LisaAPhi@gmail.com or call 405-590-1790. Proceeds will go for scholarships for women planning to attend an Oklahoma University and to further the Greek system in Oklahoma.
20-40-60 Etiquette- How do you hold a wine glass? Cup?
Any other etiquette questions out there? Email me at helen.wallace@cox.net
By Callie Gordon, Lillie-Beth Brinkman, Helen Ford Wallace
QUESTION: Is there a proper way to hold your wine glass? How about your coffee cup? I have seen people hold both of these drinking vessels in various ways, but I thought a wine glass should be held by the stem and a coffee cup by the handle?
CALLIE’S ANSWER: Champagne and white wine are usually served chilled; holding it by the stem will make sure that your body heat does not change the temperature. A red wine is just the same: Hold it by the stem. This can give you a chance to see the color and clarity. Coffee, yes, hold it by the handle. But really, it is coffee. Who cares? Drink up!
LILLIE-BETH’S ANSWER: I’ve seen people hold glasses in so many different ways that I had to look up the information in order to answer the question. After doing so, I now need to pour myself a glass of wine. Websites including fine wine sites as well as The Wall Street Journal and Real Simple Magazine note that wine glasses should be held by the stem, whether the wine is red or white, to keep your hand from warming it up, for white, or to keep the glass from getting cloudy with fingerprints. If there’s no stem, which to many wine drinkers is a faux pas, then drinkers should hold the glass in the middle, so hands don’t cover the liquid.
To me, holding a wine glass incorrectly doesn’t rank high on a list of etiquette breaches. I’d rather enjoy wine and company with friends however any of us hold our glasses and save our indignation for behavior that’s actually rude, selfish or hurtful to others.
As for coffee, I love the idea of drinking it but don’t like the taste, so I’ll leave mug handle-holding etiquette to other experts on this page. Cheers!
HELEN’S ANSWER: Wine glasses should be held by the stem and coffee cups are held with the index finger and thumb on the handle. Never is the index finger supposed to curl through the handle. Marilyn Torbett from Oklahoma City reminded me that we had etiquette classes at the sorority house and that we learned to hold a cup by holding with the thumb and index finger. She said, “Do NOT stick your finger through the handle. Among other Tri Delta manner tips during that time period (1960s and 1970s) were: ‘Do not be seen on campus with hair rolled up and do not walk with a cigarette in your hand.’”
GUEST’S ANSWER: Kathy Walker, local volunteer and community leader: This question has required some research. I have always known that one should always hold a white wine or champagne glass by the stem as to not warm the cool white or sparkling wine. However, apparently it is also only correct to hold a red wine as well by the stem so not to obscure the color and texture from one’s sight. In addition, thumbprints on the glass cause the wine to look cloudy and obscure a clear view of the wine.
The glass should be held much like a pencil at the base of the stem while one looks at the color of the wine. Swirling the wine for smelling the fragrance comes next and it is done with the same simulated grip of the pencil. After the swirling, taste the wine leaving it on the palate for a few seconds, swallow the wine, and then wait to analyze the wine. If one is holding a wine glass constructed without a stem, it should only be held with the thumb and index finger.
Coffee cups are a different matter. The saucer and cup are placed to the right of the place setting. The handle is held like a pencil with the index finger at the handle and the thumb resting on top with the third finger securing below the two when the cup is brought to the mouth and then returned to the saucer. If seated in a chair away from the table, the saucer remains in the lap resting on the four fingers of one hand and secured by the thumb while the cup is raised to the mouth with the other hand as mentioned above. If you are not drinking from the cup, lower it to the saucer.
However, what could be better than a warm coffee mug held with both hands on a cold winter morning?
Cristi Reiger talks about Junior League plans for 2012
Cristi Reiger talks about the Oklahoma City Junior League on Parties Extra!
Costumed guests attend annual pirate’s party
Samonia and Dennis Byford, Mary Ellen Meredith were hosts for the Pirate’s Party. (Photo by David Faytinger).
Mary Ellen Meredith, America Meredith, Samonia and Dennis Wayne Byford and Daniel and Michael Byford were hosts for their annual Pirate’s Party in the Meredith home. The hosts were in pirate’s costumes and many of the guests were in costumes for the event.
Menu items included sushi, pork sliders, shrimp cocktail, pirate cookies. The Rum Fellows played during the party.
Guests included Bob Blackburn, Kathy and Dan Provo, Gene Timberman, Barbara and Ben Harjo, Franci Hart, Anita and Carl Milam, Sherry Sullivan and Blue Clark, Jonna Kirschner and Bruce Scambler, Rev. Susan Joplin, Ann and John Marshall, Diana and Rick Hudak, Allen Brown, Rep. Joe Dorman, Patrick Gaines, Anita and Tom May.
Karla Wallace hosts a Junior League Holiday Multi Board Mingle Jingle Party
Kristen Brown, Karla Wallace, Betsy Mantor were at the party. (Photo by David Faytinger).
Karla Wallace was hostess for a party for Oklahoma City Junior League board members for the past ten years. The hostess is an Area V Director and past JLOC President and thought that the party would be a good way to network with friends and past Presidents and update people about the Association of Junior Leagues.
Presidents of those years were Claire Thompson, Ann-Clore Duncan, Katie Blaik James, Betsy Mantor, Karla Wallace, Laura Ogle, Ann Cameron, Jill Greene, Whitney Tero and Cristi Reiger.
Holiday cheer, dessert and hors d’oeuvres were served by caterer Miss Violets and each guest brought a gift for a gift exchange.
The Christmas tree featured Talavera- inspired ornaments that matched the pottery in Wallace’s kitchen. The family collection of Department 56 North Pole houses were set in the living room The theater room had a silver 1960′s tree decorated with movie- themed decorations.
20-40-60 Etiquette- Go Team!
By Callie Gordon, Lillie-Beth Brinkman, Helen Ford Wallace
QUESTION: We cheer loudly and proudly for a certain state team and have taught our toddler to love the team as much as we do — the team colors, the coach, etc.
Family members who root for our rivals thought it would be funny to teach him the words to say to root for the other team. Because of his young age, he mimics what people tell him, and he now says the words to cheer for our rivals just as often.
I think it’s rude and disrespectful and wouldn’t do that to anyone else’s children. Do you have any ideas about how to handle this with the family members who did this as well as with my son?
CALLIE’S ANSWER: That is hilarious! Your child doesn’t know that this is wrong, and your family members are giving you a hard time. Loosen up, and laugh at the situation. With time I am sure your child will stop.
LILLIE-BETH’S ANSWER: When you are passionate about a topic, it’s hard to hear inflammatory words of the opposite view coming from someone who is supposed to be on your team, like your toddler. I’m sure your family has figured out that this is a way to rile you up in a friendly rivalry.
However, I also understand why it doesn’t seem so friendly to you and why it feels rude, like someone trying to undermine your parenting technique or your value system. Thankfully this issue only involves sports teams and not a more serious issue, when stakes are much higher.
Eventually your son will grow up enough to understand the difference between his and your team and theirs. I think the best way to handle this is to calm down and keep reinforcing your team spirit to him positively over and over, and you’ll eventually win him over for good.
Depending on the personalities involved, you might even calmly tell your family members that their actions bother you.
In the meantime, maybe you’ll figure out a way to rile them up about their team, too — in a friendly way, of course — so that everyone will back off and let each side cheer for its own team.
HELEN’S ANSWER: Since our Oklahoma teams are very competitive, I don’t blame you for not wanting to hear about the rival team from your son’s young mouth. But you know it was all in fun for your family to teach him a “new cheer.”
This is one I think you can ignore and laugh about with your family. We cannot predict where he will go to school in the future. He probably needs to know ALL songs and cheers. However, all that being said, “Boomer Sooner”!
GUEST’S ANSWER: Bebe MacKellar, local community leader and volunteer: I think that you might be taking this a bit too seriously; most people think it is all in good fun when it comes to state rivalries.
Your toddler may be doing this to get a rise out of you because he or she knows it irritates you and gives him or her attention.
As with most things involving children of this age it is a passing phase and will probably end as soon as you quit acknowledging that it bothers you. Unfortunately, this will definitely not be the last time your child will be influenced by others.
2011—–The Best Year Ever!—————2012-Happy New Year! Parties Extra!
Happy New Year!
2011 has been a great year! Let’s wrap it up with some social happenings, with party pics. The photos appeared this year in The Oklahoman and on NewsOk’s photo gallery or Parties Extra! blog.
We look forward to many more pictures and parties in 2012. HFW
P.S. Thanks for being such fabulous readers!
IN 2011……
…Jose had a birthday! (All photos, except Taiwan lanterns, by Helen Ford Wallace).
…Ford got a kiss!
...The Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club celebrated 100 years of Christmases!
…Sunshine had a birthday!
…Nancy had a birthday!
...Clay thundered up!
…Christina and Matt got married!
…The grandchildren came to visit!
…Lillie-Beth went to Taiwan! (Photo by Lillie-Beth Brinkman).
…Jeary talked about the Junior League exhibit at the Oklahoma History Center!
…Junior League execs entertained at the History Center.
…The new Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center opened!
…Jimmy ran his model trains!
…Linda, Jeary and Pam watched THE wedding in Colorado!
…OU got a new basketball coach!
…We saw a deer that was people watching in Montana!
…Elizabeth and Chris got married!
…Cal Henry climbed a rock wall.
…Lynda had a party!
...Ann’s velvet cushions at the party she and Jim hosted gave us resolutions for the New Year !
“Never explain, Don’t worry, It never happens, Never complain.”
Jennifer McCharen talks about holiday hair styles on Parties Extra!
Jennifer McCharen from Rutz Salon talks how to fix your hair for holiday parties on Parties Extra!
20-40-60 Etiquette—Me first?
QUESTION: Is there a “me first” attitude going on? Usually, I let people in front of me on the street, and they usually thank me with a wave. For some reason during this holiday season entitlement is rampant.
People just jump out in front of me and go on their merry way. No wave, no thanks. Somehow it seems like there is a lack of holiday grace among people in their cars.
Should I continue with random acts of kindness or mind my own business and go on down the road?
CALLIE’S ANSWER: If you are that mad about it, then you can join in on the “bah humbug” way. Keep doing your random acts of kindness. Who knows? You might rub off on people.
LILLIE-BETH’S ANSWER: Yes, there is a “me first” attitude going on, but we can’t fix it. All we can do is try to make sure we’re not contributing to a general climate of “everyone for himself.” Do you let people cut in front of you on the street in order to get a wave, or are you doing it because it’s the courteous thing to do? Do you treat people with respect because you expect something from them in return?
I’m guessing the answer is “no” to both questions, that you understand that nice behavior makes the world a better place. From your question, it sounds as if you’re looking for someone to say you can quit trying to be gracious because no one else is trying.
But the holidays are stressful, and we all need grace this time of year. You never know what hardships other people are facing, so even if you’re the one doing all the waving, keep it up, and thanks!
HELEN’S ANSWER: There IS lots of traffic at this time of year, and how thankful we all are when someone lets us in the line of cars. Sorry if we forget to wave our thanks, but sometimes we are so busy driving and not getting hit by another car, that your kindness does not get the proper respect.
I think you should continue to give holiday grace yourself and overlook the rudeness of others. Let them in and wave a cheery greeting as you do it.
GUEST’S ANSWER: Matthew Price, The Oklahoman features editor: Ah, “the wave,” the universal gesture of goodwill on the road. I try to make sure to wave in these circumstances, but not everyone does. Traffic gets really hectic in December, and it does sometimes seem as if common courtesy is becoming less common.
However, I don’t think most people intend to be rude or disrespectful — I think many people get caught up in their own situation and difficulties and may not think of the other person on the road, or in line at the store, or on hold waiting for customer service. It’s up to each one of us to do our best to bring that respect and kindness to our own lives the best that we can, and try to remember to think of others.
There’s a quotation that’s helpful to remember in these circumstances. “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” The quote is often attributed to Plato, but it’s actually an adaptation of something written by Scottish author Ian MacLaren, the pseudonym of The Rev. John Watson. We don’t know what’s going on in the life of the person who cuts you off in traffic — whether it’s a sick child or a bad day at work or just a rush to check off all the items on the Christmas list. But try to remember others, and continue to be kind and grateful even when the other party fails to be.
To ask an etiquette question, email helen.wallace@cox.net. For more 20-40-60 etiquette, go to blog.newsok.com/partiesextra.
Lakehurst neighbors have Christmas party
Angela Payne Reynolds welcomes Barry and Anne Gray to her home. (Photo by David Faytinger).
Angela Payne Reynolds was hostess for the Lakehurst neighborhood Christmas party. It followed the Christmas tour of the homes of Leah and Sean Strickland, Megan and Court Roueche, Sara and Jeb Cook and Janie and Bill Comstock.
Among those seen at the party were Patty Casteel, Mary Sue and John Shelley, Gayla and Mark Kelly, Rachel Wheland, Lisa Heinen, Jan and Chris Condren, Patty Harper, Linda Garrett, Joan Ottis, Nancy and Bill Majors, Vickie Norick, Anne and Barry Gray and Lorraine Colton.
