On Thursday, January 20th, I will be honored to be installed as the 2011 President of the Women’s Council of REALTORS, East Bay Chapter. We’ve put together all the elements of a great party: we have a gorgeous venue, The Bellevue Club overlooking Lake Merritt. We have top-notch musicians, a trio who started together in the Berkeley High Jazz band, and were so good that they were invited to play at the Monterey Jazz Festival. Now they’re in college, including one studying music at Oberlin. We’ll have delicious appetizers, and a complimentary glass of champagne for everyone. We’ve even arranged free parking!
Mural Room, Bellevue Club
Normally food, drink and music is enough for a good party, but we’ve provided a bit of shopping opportunity as well! We are one of the oldest WCR Chapters in California, with a 67-year history of providing education and leadership support to REALTORS from Alameda, Berkeley, Oakland and adjacent communities. While our history is rich, our coffers were empty during the past few years. This inaugural event is the first major fund raiser we have planned in recent history, and we have been working hard to obtain sponsors, and to solicit silent auction items from within the community. We have some fantastic items for folks to bid on: a stay at Brewery Gulch Inn, voted the #1 Inn on the Mendocino Coast on Trip Advisor. We’ve got gift certificates for massages, spa visits, color and design consultation, business coaching and architectural consulting. We’ve got tickets for theatre and sports. We’ve also got books, bowls, restaurants coupons and wine tasting. And we have a truly unique item: a just-finished portrait of Jean Quan, Mayor of Oakland! Now I realize that may not be to everyone’s taste, but the artist is first rate, Lance Jackson, who just installed portraits in our McGuire Real Estate offices. Very cool!
Right now I face two problems: I may want to buy many of the auction items myself! I just secured a very generous one: cooking lesson and wine pairing instruction, and then dinner for four in the new kitchen of a former caterer. She just happens to be a great insurance broker now, Ruth Stroup, and I can testify that her chocolate truffles are about the best I’ve ever tasted. There’s also a four-hour fashion consultation and closet make-over. Both of these items are in some ways priceless, but valued at $500.
My main problem is that we have planned this wonderful event in a gorgeous setting, and now my stomach is in knots wondering if the day of the event we’ll actually have critical mass. Advance sales have been slow. REALTORS are notorious for signing up for everything at the last minute. We’ve extended the “early” ticket price through the long weekend, so now is the time to buy those tickets! Â The party is from 5 -7 pm. You can register by clicking here.
Not able to attend, or not part of the REALTOR community, but would still like to support us in some small way? We’ve also put together three half-cases of premium wines that will be the prizes for raffle drawings. Tickets are $10 for 3 tickets ($5 for one) and each ticket will have three chances of winning! We are a charitable organization, and every dollar counts to us, and is appreciated! Call me and I’ll get those raffle tickets to you, and a big smile!
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