This is a very precious Thanksgiving message from the Girl Scouts….we add our own message of  thank yous to those who make differences in our lives. HFW

This is the season of giving thanks to those who make a difference in our lives.

All of the staff at Girl Scouts-Western Oklahoma wants you to know how important you are to the organization and, most importantly, to the girls we all serve.

Without your dedication and support to the mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place, we would not be able to provide the leadership experience to thousands of girls in western Oklahoma.

Have a very happy Thanksgiving,
From the staff of Girl Scouts-Western Oklahoma

100 paintings at the “Small Works” show at JRB Art at the Elms. (Photos by David Faytinger).

JRB Art at the Elms “Small Works” show was one hundred paintings by one hundred artists.

Gallery owner Joy Reed Belt gave each artist an 8×8 canvas and asked them to to paint or create whatever they wanted to create. The variety was amazing. Some of the artists painted miniatures similar to the paintings they create on a regular basis. A few of them added volume to the canvas.

Two of the photographer sewed photographs on the canvas in a very creative manner. Some of the artists created paintings that are very different from what they usually create. Several of the artists made elaborate collages.

The paintings were hung in a large grid and all were priced at $180.

At the reception and show Iguana and Seasons catered the event.

Gallery artists who participated in the  show and exhibit  included D.J. Lafon, Michi Susan, George Oswalt, Denise Duong, Brent Learned, Skip Hill, Kim Camp, J.P. Morrison, Thomas Batista and Beth Hammack. Guest artists included Regina Murphy, Clint Stone, John Seward, Suzanne Owens, Sharon Montgomery, Romy Owens, Suzanne Cunningham and Jan Hurley.

In addition to the “Small Works” show there was also  a show of Jim Keffer’s paintings and a wonderful 6’ hand crafted highboy he made of exotic woods. There were paintings as well as wooden and steel sculptures by John Wolfe.

Guests included Betsy and Mark Rowland, Mary and Andy Tevington, Pat Gallager, Carolyn Barnes, Stan Cunningham, Jim Turley, and Kitty and Dick Champlin.

The show will be hanging until Nov. 28 and the exhibit, set up like this years, will be the Gallery’s signature holiday show every November.

Party-goers study the art.

ETIQUETTE  QUESTION #3  on Parties Extra! – This question came to us from….Twitter

YOU ASK—WE ANSWER—YOU DECIDE!

(Callie, a college sophomore,  is a debutante this year and has been in many new social situations recently and Lillie-Beth is a former  debutante and assistant features editor for The Oklahoman and Helen has written a social column for The Oklahoman for many years and has been on various local Ball committees.

This group does not always agree (via age differences), but they ALL see the need for proper behavior.)

Ask a specific etiquette question and you will get three answers…Then you decide for yourself how you would handle the situation. The answers give good information for every age range….Callie is 20-something; Lillie-Beth is 40-something, and Helen is 60-something.

Please email us with your questions and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and daily blogs. We will try to answer your etiquette questions every Wednesday on the Parties Extra! blog. Sometimes we will ask other people for their opinions.     Look for us!

Helen’s answer: Ask to move away from the offender on the airplane. If that is not possible, try not to breathe.

Know your crowd, particularly at parties, during the flu season!  If everyone is coughing, go home. We all love our hugs, especially in Oklahoma, but we probably should refrain from too much hugging and just give your friends the biggest smile ever! Handshakes? Hard to give up!

Lillie-Beth’s answer: Both parts of this raise hard questions. Whatever you do comes with a cost. Do you risk being impolite and offending someone, or do you protect your health no matter what? I’ve heard more than one person note that they did not enjoy a movie as much as they would have because someone was coughing loudly and deeply behind them; aside from being annoying, who knows what germs the hackers were spreading?

First of all, though, it seems to me that people are more understanding of standoffishness this flu season because swine flu is new and unknown. I’ve noticed people are almost grateful if you apologetically refuse to shake hands or give hugs because you’ve been sick; if they’re sick, it would be nice if they did the same.

On the plane, in an ideal world, there would be open seats where you could request a move or a place that she could sit away from the crowd. In my opinion, that seems like a reasonable solution to ask of a flight attendant. But if not, you’re stuck there, unfortunately, and apart from not breathing the entire time, all you can do is offer regards and politely ask her to make sure she covers her mouth if she’s not doing so already or offer her something to use for that purpose. And then, quickly get off the plane looking for the nearest GermX and bathroom to wash your hands immediately.

In this day and age, we should all give each other some grace while we try to balance avoiding getting sick with offering respect and sympathy for those who are.

Callie’s answer: Why wouldn’t you move away? That lady is not coughing up flowers! I am more bothered when individuals do not cover their mouth when coughing, sneezing, or yawning. It doesn’t matter if she does not have the “H1n1″ virus; she obviously has something that you don’t want!

There is no serious need to stop hugging or shaking hands.

To the germ-a-phobs: nothing is wrong with going for the “Howie Mandel pound.” Nowadays, more people pound then high- five. Try pounding and not shaking hands. Although, I always keep hand sanitizer with me!

Don’t kiss people you don’t know. So college girls and boys, if you do not know them, don’t take the chance of getting sick! Significant others are not included, as long as they aren’t sick.

helen.wallace@cox.net

lilliebeth@rocketmail.com

calliezok3@aol.com

David W. Parke II, Julie Parke, Will Parke, Marion, Steve and Linda Garrett were at the engagement party. (Photo by David Faytinger).

Marion Garrett and David W. Parke III were honored at an engagement party given by her parents, Linda and Steve Garrett.  The event was at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club. The wedding is planned for next year in Ireland.

There were flower arrangements of Bells of Ireland, white anthurium, white orchids and white hydrangeas. Thanksgiving food was served in the Cypress Room and salmon and sushi was in Harry’s Bar. Individual chocolate tortes were served for dessert.

Special guests at the party were Julie and David Parke II, Betty Thorne  and Judge James Paul Garrett.

Connell Branan, Bebe MacKellar and Jim Vallion talk about the 2009 Beaux Arts Ball.

Jose Freede, Debby Dudman, Jane Thompson. (Photos by Helen Ford Wallace).

Debbie Hampton, Kay Goebel, Barbara Butner, Lana Lopez.

Committe member Karen Mayfield with Bob and Dede Benham of Balliet’s.

The jewelry.

Gene Barth, Corey Hyde Blake.

Little heart chocolate candy served with dessert.

Kimberly Wright, current National Young Mother of the Year, and Connell Branan, former National Young Mother of the Year,  were at a tea this summer in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Helen Ford Wallace).

To nominate Oklahoma Mother of the Year and Young Mother of the Year, contact Irene Costilow with the Oklahoma Association of American Mothers. Deadline is Nov. 15th. Her email address is irene47@cox.net.

To qualify for Mother of the Year, the nominees’ children must be over 18 years old and the Young Mother’s children under be under the age of 18. Other qualifications are listed at www.americanmothers.org.

The national organization, American Mothers Inc., is a non-profit group that recognizes the invaluable contribution mothers make to the future success and happiness of their children and society and the headquarters is in Washington, D.C. Members of the group annually select the National Mother of the Year and Young Mother from candidates throughout the United States.

There was a reception for Casady School 25 alumni in the home of Alyson and Ben Woodard in Dallas.

Head of School Chris Bright, Associate Head of School David Gorham, Director of Institutional Advancement Aaron James and Director of Alumni Relations Betty Jane Garrett were special guests.

Guests received party favors with the Casady logo including  a large Casady cup, mouse pad and Casady Alumni car decal.  Food was from Zoe’s Kitchen in Snider Plaza in Dallas and centerpieces were from New Leaf Floral in OKC.

Guests included: Amy Cooke, Tiffany and Brad Davis, Betty Jane Garrett, Jennifer and Robert Goodno, David Gorham, Drew Hoffman, Sylvia and Michael Hood, Aaron James, Cristy and David McAtee, Therese and Amit Mehta, Patrick Rooney, Josh Sepkowitz, Chris Stakem, Doyle Tunnell, Alyson and Ben Woodard and Erin and Coler Yoakam.

Jessica Jung, Josh Sepkowitz,  Amit Mehta and Therese Mehta were at the Casady Alumni party in Dallas. (Photo and decal and invitation images provided).

Pioneer Woman’s mother and one of  her daughters. (Photos by Helen Ford Wallace).

Lela Sullivan invited friends and some former Oklahoma State University members of Pi Beta Phi sorority classmates to have coffee with Gerre Schwert, Port Aransas, Tx.

Schwert was in town for her daughter, Ree Drummond’s (The Pioneer Woman) cookbook signing In Oklahoma City at Full Circle Bookstore. Drummond’s cookbook “The Pioneer Woman Cooks” has recently been released. The group was still talking about how many fans attended the signing, how gracious PW was to sign all the books and pose for pictures.

Birthday cupcakes were served, as it was Gerre Schwert’s birthday.

The Pioneer Woman was still signing more books at Full Circle and then was off to Tulsa for another signing, so did not get to the coffee.

Gerre Schwert catches up with college friends at the coffee which was hosted by Lela Sullivan.

Images and photos from www.ou.edu/women web site.

Jill Q. Hughes emailed me and asked us to remind everyone about the Women’s Philanthropy Network luncheon and symposium on November 19th at the University of Oklahoma  Memorial Union in Norman.

Called an “educational and inspirational day celebrating OU Women and honoring those who serve as advocates, leaders and philanthropists,” the event will provide opportunities for participants to connect with  women who share common interests, goals and a passion for OU.

It will be from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and features OU President David Boren, OU women’s basketball coach Sherri Coale and Women’s Philanthropy Institute representative Angela White as guest speakers.

OU President David L. Boren

The event is free, but reservations are required. RSVP by phone, 405-325-3701, or  on the web site.

On the planning committee are Sharon Alexander, Catherine Bishop, Corey Hyde Blake, Jackie Eckstein, Jane Harlow, Suzanne Harris, Becky Heeney, Jill Hughes, Sue Ann Hyde, Jill Irvine, Sandy Kinney, Karen Mayfield, Suzanne McAuley, Kendra Moore, Melissa Nuzum, Caroline Patton, Tatianna Proctor, Tamara Pullin, Chris Purcell, Gail Richards, Les Risser, Lindy Ritz, Linda Rodgers, Mary Sherman, Sarah Sims and Suzie Symcox.

Symposium co-chairmen are Jill Q. Hughes and Les Risser.

Jill Q. Hughes               Les Risser