Women Can/Women Do Emmet County volunteers held a planning meeting for the fundraising luncheon at Bay Harbor Yacht Club-Lange Center slated for September 9. The event is a major fundraiser for the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan and one of three luncheons held in three counties, annually. Pictured are (front from left) Sue Blankenhagen, table captain; Melissa Young, Classic Cabinets and Interiors; Michelle Egas, Peebles; Traci Oosterhouse, Peebles; Cathy Meyer, Meyer Ace Home and Hardware; Arlene Atchison, table captain; Kathy Biggs, table captain; Brittany Brubaker, North Perk Coffee; Jane Ramer, table captain; (back from left) Jan Martin, table captain; Dibby Smith, table captain; Ashley Whitley, Scott Shuptrine Interiors at Art Van; Lindsey Young table captain and Renee Guthrie Design; CJ Zondervan, True North Interior Design and Antiques; Suzanne Sipe, table captain and Odawa Casino Resort; Kathy McCreight, Classic Cabinets and Interiors; Gail Danielson, Michigan Vacation Destinations; Marjaree Forbes, Michigan Vacation Destinations; Britta Dennis, Walloon Lake Winery; Mari Margaret Walstrom, table captain; Trish Murray, table captain; Julie Norcross, table captain; Sharon Schappacher, table captain and Dianne Litzenburger, table captain.

Plans are underway for the Women Can/Women Do Emmet County fundraising luncheon taking place at Bay Harbor Yacht Club-Lange Center on Wednesday, September 9. The event helps support Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan (WRCNM) programs and services provided in Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet and Otsego counties.

WRCNM Executive Director, Gail Kloss, attributes the success of the annual Women Can/Women Do luncheons to more than a hundred volunteers who serve as committee members, table captains and table designers. “Without the dedication of so many volunteers, we would not be able to bring about an event of this magnitude,” said Kloss.

Table captains are responsible for filling 500 seats at 58 tables. Each themed table is creatively and purposefully decorated by talented designers who also provide a table favor for each guest. It is not unusual for luncheon goers to see table designs featuring trees, fountains, moving displays, edible centerpieces and lots of gorgeous flowers.

“Just when we think we’ve seen it all, these talented table designers come up with new ways to amaze all of our guests no matter if it’s an elaborate display or one of quiet elegance,” said Kloss.

The 15th annual Women Can/Women Do Emmet County luncheon will feature table designs created by local businesses, including A Penny Saved Consignment Boutique, A Touch of Spring and Other Things, A.R. Pontius Flower Shop, American Spoon Foods, Bay Harbor Yacht Club, BearCub Outfitters, B.Jeweled, Between the Covers, Bloom, Brown Motors Ford Lincoln Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, Classic Cabinets and Interiors, Cottage Interiors, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Cutler’s, Designs by Dawn, Drost Landscape Design and Construction, Edgewater Design Group, LLC, Evening Star Joinery, Flowers From Sky’s the Limit, Frivolous Sal’s, Gattle’s Linens Lingerie, Gold Mine Resale Shops, Harbor Springs Farmers’ Market, Julie Anne Events, Kilwin’s Chocolates of Petoskey, Mackinac Outfitter and Mackinac Island Medical Center, McLean & Eakin Booksellers, Meyer Ace Home & Hardware, Michigan Vacation Destinations, Monarch Garden and Floral Design, North Central Michigan College, North Perk Coffee, Northern Michigan Artists Market, Northgoods, Odawa Casino Resort, Peebles, Petoskey-Bay View Country Club, Quiet Moose, Rabbit Hill Designs, Renee Guthrie Design, Rocking Horse Toy Company, Scott Shuptrine Interiors at Art Van, Snow Fairy Cottage, Sturgeon River Pottery, Talulu Beauty Lounge, Taylor Rental Center, The Spa at The Inn at Bay Harbor/The Spa at Boyne Highlands/Solace Spa at Boyne Mountain, Three Pines Studio, Trillium Wellness Salon and Day Spa, True North Interior Design and Antiques, Vogue Salon and Spa, Walloon Lake Winery and Wineguys Restaurant Group.

The Emmet County Women Can/Women Do fundraiser also features a silent auction made possible through the help of volunteers who secure a variety of biddable goods and services donated by local businesses and individuals such as original art, restaurant gift certificates, jewelry and new this year are purses that each contain a valuable mystery item.

“Women Can/Women Do Emmet County is the culmination of many hours of work and a highpoint of the summer,” said Sarah Matye, WRCNM Fund Development Grant Writer, who works directly with event volunteers. “Although volunteer table captains do a wonderful job of assuring seats are filled at the luncheon, we often have a few seats available on a first-come/first serve basis.”

The luncheon will be held at the Bay Harbor Yacht Club, Lange Center from 11:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., Wednesday, September 9. For more information or to reserve a seat, call the WRCNM main office at (231) 347-0067. Title sponsors for Women Can/Women Do luncheons are Fifth Third Bank and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan-Blue Care Network of Michigan.