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SECRET SANTA HOLIDAY LUNCHEON POTLUCK
December 20th, 2023
SPANRC - Lake Elmo Luncheon
December 13th, 2023
Christmas Party - Jennifer & Dan Hazaert’s Beautiful Home
December 8th, 2023
Turnover Brunch for the New Board Members of 2024
December 6th, 2023
November Coffee - Peggy Layer’s Home
Co-Hosts - Cindy Muma, Wendy, Carrie Buechler & Janet Hamernick
Woodbury Welcome Event
November 9th, 2023
November Auction & Luncheon - The Wick
November 8th, 2023
October Coffee - JoAnne Kramer’s Home
Co Hostess’ - Sandy Junker & Jennifer Hazaert
October Event - Mystery Bus Tour
October 17th, 2023
October Luncheon - Olive Garden
October 11th, 2023
September Coffee - Katie Shaw’s Home
Co-Hostess’ - Elaine-Pat-Karin-Claudia
September Event - Kowalski’s Fashion Show in Shoreview
September 20th, 2023
SPANRC - September Luncheon at Andiamo
September 13th, 2023
Eagle Valley Golf Event & Luncheon
August 28th, 2023
SPANRC - Bingo Activity
August 9th, 2023
July Event - 7 Vines Winery Tasting
July 12th, 2023
Spanrc - June Luncheon -Brickhouse Food & Drink
June 14th, 2023
Wine & Cheese Activity -June 8th, 2023
Hostess-Carrie Buechler - Co Hostess
Spanrc - May Coffee
Jennifer Hazaert Hostess - Co Hostess’ Peg-Colleen-Carolyn-Douglass-Myrna
SPANRC May Activity - “Hudson Food Walk”
May 17th, 2023
Knotty Ladies Activity - Steve Be’s Craft Shop
May 17th, 2023
May Luncheon - The Crooked Pint
May 10th, 2023
Spanrc May Activity - Carmine’s Dining Out
May 1st, 2023
April Activity - Art in Bloom - Minneapolis Institute of Art
April 27th, 2023
April SPANRC Coffee
Hostess Jaimie Schmeling-Cohostess Marjorie Gross, Nancy Dietze, and Cathy Ostrowski
April Luncheon - The Post / Hudson WI.
April 12th, 2023
March Spanrc Coffee
Hostess - Pat -CoHostess -Kate-Joanne-Katie-Elsie
Chihuly Exhibit & Oliver’s Restaurant
March 17th, 2023 Activity
March Luncheon - Downtowner St. Paul
March 8th, 2023
February Activity - Murder Mystery Dinner
February 18th, 2023
February Luncheon - Angelina’s in Woodbury
February 8th, 2023
January Spanrc Coffee
Cindy Hostess - Margie Olson, Pat Dolan, Janet Campbell & Beth Johnson Co-Hostesses
January Activity - Movies at Woodbury 10 & Happy Hour at Tamarack Tap Room
January 17th 2023
January Luncheon - Tavern Grill in Woodbury
January 11th, 2023
MADAM X - 2023
Madame X is an honor bestowed monthly on a club member who has given a great deal of time and talent to promote club activities. The recipient of this honor receives a free lunch.
January - Lori Etalamaki
This month’s Madam X is Lori Etelamaki, our fabulous and very successful Auction Leader as well as SPANRC Membership/ Directory lead. Lori’s attention to detail and flawless execution of the November 2022 Auction led to an all-time revenue high of about $4,700 for SPANRC. Lori put in countless hours organizing the many events from 50/50 ticket sales, Brown Bags, Heads or Tails Beads and the Silent Auction. She arranged for the myriad of volunteers before and especially during the event to sell tickets and set up displays the day of the event. Additionally, she set up a unique bidder number system that eliminated having to write names on EVERY brown bag ticket. Ingenious!! Lori sent out updates leading up to the auction that alerted SPANRC members of the many amazing silent auction items that had been donated and put together a complete list of volunteers for the day of the event that allowed the event to run smoothly. She personally arranged for guests to receive a special goodie bag that was both thoughtful and handmade items. Lori is TRULY AMAZING!!! It is with great pride that I recognize her as this month’s Madam X. Congratulations Lori!!
February - Judy Onufer
This month’s Madam X is the incredible Judy Onufer. Judy has done a tremendous job as our Treasurer. She keeps our books in order, collects money for luncheons, dues and activities. This is always done with so much efficiency, it amazes me. She has made many improvements to the treasurer processes including this year’s auction. She developed spreadsheets that were shared with Lori Etelamaki and me to keep track of the silent auction items, identify the winning bidder number and dollar amount. This made the checkout process at the auction more efficient and smoother. Judy also has laid the groundwork for this year’s SPANRC Budget which makes the board review much more effective and easier. Judy’s professionalism and dedication to SPANRC is limitless and I am so honored to have her on the board and to have her friendship. Thank you, Judy. Congratulations on being this month’s Madam X.
March - Jennifer Hazaert
This month’s Madam X is Jennifer Hazaert. I am especially thankful that Jennifer kindly agreed to join the SPANRC Board this year as our Circulation person. We are lucky to have her time and talent on the board. Jennifer is thoughtful and her experiences as grandma and teacher are an inspiration to all of us. She exemplifies our club values of kindness, hope, patience and friendship. It is with great pride that we recognize her as this month’s Madam X. Congratulations Jennifer!!
April - Margie Olson
This month’s Madam X is Margie Olson. Margie is a new member. She joined the club last year after meeting me in the Xperience Gym. Margie was looking to connect with women in the area and SPANRC has been the perfect fit for her. She and her husband are long time members of a flying club and she has many community connections. She has been active in the club participating in coffees, luncheons, activities, Ponytail Canasta and is a true joy to know. I am pleased that she has found SPANRC to be a great fit. We are thrilled to have her as a member. Congratulations Margie!!
May - Katie Shaw
This month’s Madam X is Katie Shaw. Katie joined the board late last year in the position of Table Decorations working with Colleen Lange and took over this year with Karin Erickson to lead our wonderful luncheon centerpieces. This is a really fun position on our board and involves looking as well as shopping for innovative and neat ideas for centerpieces for each month’s luncheons, all while staying in budget. Thank you, Katie, for all you do for SPANRC. I am truly blessed to have your expertise on the SPANRC board. I love each month’s centerpieces and want to congratulate you on being this month’s Madam X.
June - Douglass Forbes
Madam X was created to bestow honor on a club member who has given a great deal of time and talent to promote club activities. There is no person who does this more than this Month’s Madam X, our fantastic coffee organizer Douglass Forbes. After many years in Minnesota, Doug is still the epitome of a Southern belle. She is beautiful, graceful, charming, virtuous, loyal to family, yet resourceful and brave. She has embraced her role as the organizer of coffees, always with book in hand, graciously requesting members to sign up as hosts, or co hostesses. She has fully booked this year with amazing coffees and the annual wine and cheese. She personally delivers the coffee pot, cups and name tags to the hosts house and is always available to assist. Doug, you are truly a treasure, and I am so thankful for your support of coffees and to the SPANRC Board. Thank you and Congratulations on being this month’s Madam X
July- Colleen Lange
It is my distinct honor to recognize Colleen Lange as this month’s Madam X. Colleen has served on the SPANRC Board for the past six years in a variety of positions. She served as the VP for Luncheons, led the fantastic Table Decorations/Luncheon Centerpieces and is now serving as the Reservations/Name Tag coordinator. She is truly AMAZING and has contributed so much to the Board and the club. Colleen does her work without complaint. She is witty, warm, kind, gracious, resourceful, and just a downright nice woman. I feel lucky to count her as my friend and am very appreciative of the years she has served SPANRC. Thank you and Congratulations on being this month’s Madam X.
August - Sandy Junker
It is my distinct honor to recognize Sandy Junker as this month’s Madam X. Sandy is our longest, continuous serving SPANRC Board member, having served since 2016 in a variety of positions, including Party Line editor on 2 different occasions, Directory, and Webmaster. She is truly awe-inspiring in her dedication to the Board and the Club. Sandy has contributed greatly to the Club, doing work remotely during the winter months, and attending virtual board meetings during that timeframe as well. I value her attention to detail and her steadfast work in support of the board and of my work as your President. She has helped me greatly to stay on track with the By-Laws to ensure the Club’s work is done correctly. I admire her editor’s eye and have counted on her for accuracy in the newsletter and our board minutes. Above all, Sandy is warm, kind, gracious, resourceful, tactful and a beautiful, gentle, caring friend. We are all lucky to have her expertise on the Board and in the Club. I am so appreciative of the years she has served SPANRC. Thank you and Congratulations on being this month’s Madam X!
September - Peggy Layer
It is my distinct honor to recognize Peggy Layer as this month’s Madam X. Peggy has served as SPANRC Sunshine since 2020. With her inspiring watercolor cards, she has provided cheer, warm wishes and comfort to many, many club members over the past four years. Her talent is evident in each card that she prepares, and her joyful, hopeful attitude has been a powerful presence on the SPANRC Board. I am lucky call her my friend and my neighbor and am truly thankful for the years that she has served the club and the Board. I will miss her warm, sensitive, loving personality on next year’s Board. Thank you for serving four years. It is greatly appreciated. Congratulations on being this month’s Madam X.
October - Claudia Flaska and Janet Hamernick
This month I am recognizing the incomparable Vice President’s for luncheon, Claudia Flaska and Janet Hamernick. Claudia and Janet do a phenomenal job finding us amazing restaurants for our monthly luncheons. This is no small feat. As part of the process, they visit restaurants to determine if they have the capacity to host our group, select menu items and negotiate contracts with the facility. They make it all appear seamless to our members, but I know how hard they work in order to find great restaurants and the details that they work out for each monthly luncheon. They both have tremendous interpersonal skills including teamwork, leadership, negotiation and persuasion, motivating others, understanding and empathy. This has allowed them to be successful as our VPs for luncheons. Claudia will be moving to a new board position next year as head of Coffees and Janet will be stepping down from the board. I thank both of you for all you have done for the club and the board. I am truly thankful for all you both have done. It is greatly appreciated. Thank you and Congratulations on being this month’s Madam X.
November - Marjorie Gross and Joyce Roddy
This month I am recognizing the co-chairs of our August Golf Event, Marjorie Gross and Joyce Roddy. Marjorie and Joyce took the lead this year to run this popular August Activity. Through their extraordinary efforts, the event was a resounding success with five teams of avid golfers who won fabulous prizes after a great lunch at the Eagle Valley Golf Course. I truly appreciate them stepping up to manage this fun event. It is greatly appreciated. Thank you and Congratulations on being this month’s Madam X.
December - Karen Eno and Karin Erickson
I am thrilled this month to recognize the organizers of the Mystery Bus Tour, Karen Eno and Karin Erickson as this month’s Madam X’s. What a fabulous event!!! Karen and Karin excelled at the coordination, planning and logistics of this year’s Mystery Bus Tour. It takes great organization skills, time management and great cleverness to find fun and interesting events for the Tour. This year the tour started out at Woodbury Theater and went directly to Woodbury Duck Donuts. The group was treated to warm donuts while we travelled to the second stop at the American Swedish Institute where we learned about Swedish immigration and toured the landmark 1908 Turnblad Mansion. Next it was on to lunch at the iconic Hell’s Kitchen, where we had a wonderful buffet lunch. We even had our photo taken on the iconic stage. From there we were off to Burnsville to the Ames Center where we saw The Church Basement Ladies in A Mighty Fortress Is Our Basement. If you have never been there before, check out their events. Our last stop before heading home, was Abdallah Candies in Apple Valley. Everyone left with chocolate or other treats and were ecstatic over the fantastic day they had experienced. Although Karen Eno was not able to attend due to last minute COVID, we sent her photos along the way, so she was part of the event she and Karin Erickson had painstakingly planned. I truly appreciate the amount of time and details they planned for this truly wonderful event!! Thank you and Congratulations on being this month’s Madam X’s.