By ANNE RODGERS
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Economic downturn or no, the time-honored tradition of a girls' night out will not be denied. Two large-scale girlie happenings are already on the spring calendar.
The sixth annual Gathering of Goddesses (such an intriguing name) takes place June 20 in Stuart and the first What Women Want Business Expo happens even sooner, June 11, at the new Hilton Garden Inn near Downtown at the Gardens.
Both events tap into women's natural affinity for networking and bonding, and both are benefits for local nonprofits, a win-win pairing given the poor economy. Pay $10 (for the business expo) or $100 (for the more luxury-laden goddess gathering); either way your money helps local kids who need a hand, thus rendering your girls' night out a guilt-free one!
Organizers for both events said staying viable in a tough economy is an integral part of their game plan.
Brenda Ammon of North Palm Beach, who's organizing the June 11 expo through her company Referral Networking Solutions, explained her strategy: "In this bad economy, I've been to expos that charge $300-$600 a booth, but at the end of the day, people were unhappy because traffic was low. So if I keep fees low and pack the house, then next year the venue can grow and get more sponsors. More people will want to be involved."
Brenda's asking vendors to emphasize education at her expo, so there will be ongoing seminars about alternative health-care; financial and legal issues; managing stress; and how to create a dynamic presence and earn money on the Internet via your Web site. And 100 percent of the admission proceeds will be donated to the Heart Gallery of Palm Beach County, which benefits foster children available for adoption, and Hearts and Hope Inc., a nonprofit organization that exists to help children who have experienced the death of a loved one.
Brenda, a 41-year-old single mom who's a massage therapist by profession and a born networker, built up a database of connections over 16 years and began doing event management two years ago.
"I saw how other events were run and felt I could do it better," she said, noting that women seem to understand how crucial connections are. "You've got to have a heart for it. I try to take a more organized, more personal approach."
Gathering of Goddesses
The organizers of Gathering of Goddesses started on an even smaller scale, but attendance has doubled since their first event, when just a few thousand dollars were raised for The Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County. Last year, the spa-oriented event raised $20,000, and about 150 women attended.
"We are taking steps to make the event more affordable," said co-chair Stacy Ranieri. "We dropped the ticket price from $150 to $100 per person, and also dropped the fee from $250 to $100 for vendors in the boutique area."
Dinner, drinks, a deejay, dancing, shopping and a wide array of pampering and salon services fill up the five-hour event at Willoughby Golf Club in Stuart.
"We have a buffet that caters to what women like - lots of salads, pasta dishes, chicken, really good desserts," said Stacy. "We've had a chocolate fountain in the past, but I'm not sure if we'll have it again this year. We're trying to give women the best party possible, but be frugal enough to make sure that the Boys & Girls Clubs raise as much money as possible for their programs. This event exists for the benefit of the children who go to the clubs."
Stacy noted that several years of fund-raising efforts went to the renovations done at the old Palm City firehouse on Martin Downs Boulevard, turning it into the Palm City branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County. A ribbon cutting was held April 2.
Sue McVeigh, 49, brought the idea of a spa-night fund-raiser to Martin County after seeing a similar event in Lynchburg, Va.
"I see so many women just exhausted from carpooling, taking care of kids, their families and husbands, volunteering, everything," she said.
"I wanted to see them just celebrate being women. At this event they don't have to put on makeup, they can wear their yoga pants, dance, be silly and just enjoy themselves."
A silent auction is part of the event as well, plus a live auction of men - well, sort of. Women can bid on a lesson from a surfing instructor or a couple of hours of a handyman's time or an afternoon on a kayaking tour. And the men will attend the auction, so bidders can see whose services they're buying.
Anything that gives the women a chance to let their hair down, have some fun and donate a bit of money to help their community is fair game.
Last year, when co-chair Stacy attended the Gathering of Goddesses, it was all enjoyable.
"But the most fun I personally had was dancing with the other ladies and not worrying about having guys around," she said "It was the end of the night and we were dancing our hearts out, just enjoying our women-only fun."
Now that's a good cause.
What Women Want Business Expo
When: 4-8 p.m., June 11; doors open at 3:45 p.m.
Where: Hilton Garden Inn, 3503 Kyoto Gardens Drive, Palm Beach Gardens
How much: $10
What: 40 vendors; complimentary hors d' ouevres; cash bar; seminars on the half hour dealing with stress, health, professional development and more.
Door prizes: Spa day at Aspen Falls Aveda Spa in Jupiter, $300 in gas and groceries, jewelry and more.
Benefit charities: The Heart Gallery of Palm Beach County and Hearts and Hope Inc.
Info: (561) 307-4978; www.WhatWomenWant.Biz
Expo.com; or e-mail Brenda@ReferralNetworkingSolutions.com
Gathering of Goddesses
When: 6-11 p.m., June 20
Where: Willoughby Golf Club, 3001 S.E. Doubleton Drive, Stuart
How much: $100
What: Dinner, deejay, dancing, shopping, manicures, pedicures, hair stylists and psychic readings. Also live and silent auction.
Benefit charity: The Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County
Info: (772) 287-5272 to register.
Call: (772) 545-2262 or e-mail jciaravino@bgcmcfl.org to be a sponsor.
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