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On the Town: League’s past presidents create an elegant soirée

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It was a celebration steeped in tradition when the Oakmont League of Glendale met for its Past Presidents’ Tea last week.

The Oakmont League is a philanthropic organization that raises funds for Hillside School Learning Center, Glendale Healthy Kids, Glendale Community College’s disabled students’ programs and services as well as scholarships to students attending the five high schools and Glendale Community College. The major fundraiser is a fashion show luncheon held every other year.

President Lydia Trout welcomed members to her Glendale home for the annual tea, and the committee decorated using the colors of peach, white and mossy green.

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The table was laden with a silver tea service and accompanying serving trays, chafing dishes and candy bowls collected over the years since the league began in 1939. Member Cathy Steel had polished each piece — a monumental job.

Past President Julie Budimir was bestowed with the honor of pouring for the close to 30 attending. All were greeted by a beautiful array of tea sandwiches, scones, quiches, fruit, tarts and cookies.

Adding whimsy to the soirée, several members donned their finest hats. Trout looked very regal with a red feathered number, while Geraldine Saunders chose a chapeau topped with peacock feathers.

Mary Broerman surprised everyone with a hat she made herself. It is a take-off on the British fascinator, she said, with navy and purple tulle netting surrounding a purple silk flower.

Serving on the tea committee, headed by Nina Ratliff, were Trout and Steel as well as Barbara McCullough, Donna Sauer, Fernanda Genthon and Judy Mendicina.

The past presidents attending were Ratliff, Sauer, McCullough, Mendicina, Budimir, Ann Chadney, Jeri Benton-Clark, Marcia Lytle and Esther Bowen.

The highlight of the day was when the past presidents were lining up for photographs and Steel, the family’s German shepherd, came right up and sat down next to President Trout.

Panhellenic group receives national honor

Glendale Area Alumnae Panhellenic is one of 50 alumnae panhellenic associations that have received Citations of Merit from the National Panhellenic Conference.

An alumnae panhellenic is a community-based organization composed of members from the national group’s 26 member sororities. The purpose of the National Panhellenic Conference is to inform sorority women of current trends, promote the sorority experience, improve the lifelong panhellenic image and stimulate a continuing interest in sorority life.

The Glendale Area Alumnae Panhellenic was recognized for implementing new ways of programming to meet its members’ needs, both those members who are new and those who are returning, said Carol Coordt, national panhellenic area coordinator.

In addition, the local group offers interesting speakers on varying topics, meets in different venues and hosts events at a variety of times and on different days to accommodate all members’ schedules.

A strong, cooperative group effort led to this national recognition, said Kim Westhoff, president of the Glendale organization.

“Our group represents 13 different sororities in the areas of Glendale, Burbank, La Cañada, La Crescenta, Montrose, Tujunga and Sunland,” she said. “Sorority membership information is shared with all who attend our spring information night. Through our annual Spring Scholarship Benefit Luncheon, we raise monies that are then distributed to young women graduating from public and private high schools in our area as well as active college sorority women from our area.”

This year’s benefit will be on April 8 at Oakmont Country Club. For more information, visit glendalepanhellenic.org.

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JOYCE RUDOLPH can be reached at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.

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