Sue Renaud (left), outgoing president of Soroptimist International-Wyandotte, Southgate, Taylor, presents the Soroptimist of the Year plaque to Lynn Watkins at the organization’s installation banquet. At right is Pam Bradford, newly installed Soroptimist president. Some 30 members of the organization and guests gathered for the occasion June 10 at Michelangelo’s Italian Bistro in Wyandotte.
Lynn Watkins, scholarship chairman of Soroptimist International-Wyandotte, Southgate, Taylor, was named Soroptimist of the Year at the organization’s installation banquet June 10 at Michelangelo’s Italian Bistro in Wyandotte.
Watkins was recognized for her part in awarding SI cash grants to women for further education or for their community service. The program has provided $30,000 in grants since its inception in 1972.
The honoree was presented with a plaque and a bouquet of yellow roses by outgoing President Sue Renaud. The yellow rose is the club’s official flower.
Pam Bradford, who was installed as president, received a bouquet of flowers composed of blossoms collected individually from the 27 members present.
Other officers are Judy Wilder, treasurer; Jenny McFarlane, recording secretary; and Jill Gentner, cor-responding secretary. Board members are Cathy Wilder, Vonda Cinci, Carolyn Mullins, Watkins and Renaud.
Guests at the banquet included representatives of organizations the club is supporting this year — the Maplegrove Camp for Children, Vista Maria and the Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital Yes Ma’am program, which provides breast screenings and mammograms for women without insurance.
The club received a plaque for raising $6,000 in last year’s Relay for Life.
DCA benefit raises $6,000
The Downriver Council for the Arts’ Pasta & Puc-cini II fund-raiser on June 17 attracted approximately 160 aficionados of Italian cuisine and opera to the or-ganization’s new headquarters at the Wyandotte Arts Center.
The sold-out event raised approximately $6,000 for DCA programs.
Baritones Dino Valle of Dearborn and Doug Henry of Grosse Ile and soprano Lara Semetko, also of Grosse Ile, took the stage on the center’s theater level, singing works by composers including Puccini, Verdi, Bizet, Strauss and Dalla.
The vocalists were accompanied by pianists Benjamin Goldstein, Justin Rito, Judith Johnson and Dino Valle II. The performers received a standing ovation and gave an encore.
Mike Tehovnik, proprietor of Carrabba’s Italian Grill of Southgate, and Joe Bosnyak III, manager, served a sumptuous meal that included Caesar salad, chicken Marsala, mezzaluna, cavatappi amatriciana and tiramisu after a wine and antipasti reception in the main-floor art gallery.
Carrabba’s and Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital hosted the reception.
Dinner tables were decorated in red, white and green — the colors of the Italian flag — and centered with pots of red geraniums.
Nancy Pitel, DCA executive director, and Cathy Turgeon, board president, addressed the guests and introduced the committee members for the event: Laura Wyatt, Phillipa Matakas, Faye Tabor, Norma Wurmlinger, Kathleen Dailey, Karen Ranka and Evelyn Cairns.
Coming up . . .
July 14 — Slide presentation and lecture, “Michelangelo: Art & Conflict,” by Michael Farrell, professor of art history at the University of Windsor and former teacher at Central Michigan University; 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Wyandotte Arts Center, 81 Chest-nut; $15 per person ($10, Downriver Council for the Arts members; $5, students); for reservations (re-quired), call (734) 720-0671 or e-mail [email protected]
July 16 — Ice-cream social/ reception for Downriver Council for the Arts Members’ Show 2010; sponsored by State Rep. Deb Kennedy; 6 to 8 p.m. at the Wyan-dotte Arts Center, 81 Chestnut.
July 16 – Sept. 3 — Downriver Council for the Arts Members’ Show 2010; members and potential members are eligible to exhibit a single piece of art-work in any media at the Wyandotte Arts Center, 81 Chestnut; registration and fee payment: members, $10; non-members, $30; for more information, call (734) 720-0671 or e-mail [email protected]
July 18 — CATCH Golf Prelude Party; 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the MGM Grand’s Grand Ballroom; honorees will be Ronald, Richard and Robert Marino and Nolan Finley; Kirsten Haglund, Miss America of 2008, will be emcee; tickets are $100; reservations required by July 9; for more information, call (313) 876-9399.