Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Which sponsorship level is right for you?

Presenting - Diamond - Yellow - Red

Pink - White - Table - Gold - Silver


You're invited to participate as a sponsor of the Greater Keller Women's Club's
Garden of Roses 21st annual fundraising event!

The 2016 Roses & Pearls Champagne
Brunch & Auction
Saturday April 2, 2016
Texas Motor Speedway

This is an exciting opportunity for individuals or businesses of any size 
to participate in the community, assisting area Northeast Tarrant charities 
and Keller ISD students through the proceeds of this annual event. 

Contact us at GardenOfRosesChair@gkwc.org
for information about each sponsorship level.
 

Monday, September 28, 2015

Introducing Committee Member Pat Fleming

We are pleased to introduce the members of the GKWC Garden of Roses 2016 Roses & Pearls Champagne Brunch & Auction Event Planning Committee. Through a series of  questions and answers, you’ll meet Club members who may have served on the committee in the past, as well as new members who are assuming roles for the first time.

Say hello to Pat Fleming, the 2016 Garden of Roses Marketing Coordinator Committee Chair.

  • How long have you been a member of GKWC? Since 2007
  • How did you hear about GKWC and what prompted you to join?  I heard about the club from a friend and neighbor, Linda Boylan, who invited me to an Evening Group meeting. Everyone was so welcoming and the more I learned about the philanthropic and community service mission of the Club, I knew I wanted to be a part of it.
  • Is this the first time you've volunteered for the Garden of Roses fundraising committee?  No
  • If not, list other volunteer roles have you held with prior Garden of Roses fashion shows/fundraisers?  I’ve been involved in some capacity practically every year since I joined GKWC, volunteering on various committees, and I was Event Co-Chair in 2011.
  • What are you most looking forward to with the 2016 fundraiser and your role?   I’m really looking forward to increasing public awareness for the Event through a more concentrated social media marketing effort, including our new Garden of Roses Blog, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram pages, as well as posting our videos on YouTube. By increasing public awareness, we hopefully will reach additional sponsors, donors and guests who would like to be involved with the Event and support the charities in the community. Also, working with a group of dedicated women with a common goal is always rewarding.
The next time you see Pat, please join us in thanking her for her years of service and continuing to volunteer her time and talents to benefit GKWC and the community. 

Introducing Committee Member Jean Keener

We are pleased to introduce the members of the GKWC Garden of Roses 2016 Roses & Pearls Champagne Brunch & Auction Event Planning Committee. Through a series of  questions and answers, you’ll meet Club members who may have served on the committee in the past, as well as new members who are assuming roles for the first time.

Say hello to Jean Keener, the 2016 Garden of Roses Silent Auction Monitors Committee Chair.


  • How long have you been a member of GKWC? 7 years
  • How did you hear about GKWC and what prompted you to join?  I heard about GKWC from Patty Recca when I was attending a Keller Chamber of Commerce event.  I joined because everyone was so friendly when I went to my first meeting, and I wanted to make more friends and do volunteer work in the community.
  • Is this the first time you've volunteered for the Garden of Roses fundraising committee?  No
  • If not, list other volunteer roles have you held with prior Garden of Roses fashion shows/fundraisers?  I’ve been the silent auction co-chair,  sponsor gifts, food/beverage coordinator, raffle ticket sales, and on the sponsorship committee.
  • What are you most looking forward to with the 2016 fundraiser and your role?  I’m looking forward to reconnecting with other club members and raising some money for local charities.
The next time you see Jean, please join us in thanking her for her many years of service and continuing to volunteer her time and talents to GKWC and the community. 

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Introducing Committee Member Jean Manuszak

We are pleased to introduce the members of the GKWC Garden of Roses 2016 Roses & Pearls Champagne Brunch & Auction Event Planning Committee. Through a series of  questions and answers, you’ll meet Club members who may have served on the committee in the past, as well as new members who are assuming roles for the first time.

Say hello to Jean Manuszak, the 2016 Garden of Roses "Restaurant Tree" Committee Chair.

  • How long have you been a member of GKWC?  Since 2004
  • How did you hear about GKWC and what prompted you to join? Heard from a friend.  Love giving back to the community and supporting scholarships, and charities in a hands on role.
  • Is this the first time you've volunteered for the Garden of Roses fundraising committee?  No
  • If not, list other volunteer roles have you held with prior Garden of Roses fashion shows/fundraisers?  Chaired twice, Live Auction four times.
  • What are you most looking forward to with the 2016 fundraiser and your role?  Love that we are trying a brand new never before endeavor and looking forward to supporting the chairs.  Saw a cool display in a store in Italy and thinking about how to incorporate it into the restaurant tree theme this year.   
The next time you see Jean, please join us in thanking her for her many years of service and continuing to volunteer her time and talents to GKWC and the community.

Introducing Committee Member Heather Smith

We are pleased to introduce the members of the GKWC Garden of Roses 2016 Roses & Pearls Champagne Brunch & Auction Event Planning Committee. Through a series of  questions and answers, you’ll meet Club members who may have served on the committee in the past, as well as new members who are assuming roles for the first time.

Please meet Heather Smith, the 2016 Garden of Roses Raffle Committee Chair.

  • How long have you been a member of GKWC? 7 years
  • How did you hear about GKWC and what prompted you to join?  Sheree Stevens & Janice Tims invited me to join.
  • Is this the first time you've volunteered for the Garden of Roses fundraising committee? No
  • If not, list other volunteer roles have you held with prior Garden of Roses fashion shows/fundraisers?  I've helped with set design, raffle, live auction and when I had a business I donated a lot of framing and art to the event.
  • What are you most looking forward to with the 2016 fundraiser and your role? I look forward to putting together a great team to bring in great items & to dramatically increase ticket sales from last year.  
The next time you see Heather, please join us in thanking her for her years of service and continuing to volunteer her time and talents to benefit GKWC and the community.

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Introducing Committee Member Betsy Thurston

We are pleased to introduce the members of the GKWC Garden of Roses 2016 Roses & Pearls Champagne Brunch & Auction Event Planning Committee. Through a series of  questions and answers, you’ll meet Club members who may have served on the committee in the past, as well as new members who are assuming roles for the first time.

Say hello to Betsy Thurston, the 2016 Garden of Roses Committee Chair for Silent Auction Tables Layout & Design.

  • How long have you been a member of GKWC?  I joined in 2007.
  • How did you hear about GKWC and what prompted you to join? I read about GKWC in the Keller newspaper; it was an article stating that there was a new member social at Jennifer Armstrong's home. We had just moved to Texas; the ladies were so friendly that I joined on the spot!
  • Is this the first time you’ve volunteered for the Garden of Roses fundraising committee?  No, I've worked every year for Garden of Roses since 2007.
  • If not, list other volunteer roles have you held with prior Garden of Roses fashion shows/fundraisers? I've mostly served in Silent Auction related positions although I have chaired Greeters. 
  • What are you most looking forward to with the 2016 fundraiser and your role?  I'm looking forward to this being a "girls" event with the opportunity to invite family and friends. The brunch sounds like a great idea. As always, I'm looking forward to working with the Table Layout Team, the camaraderie, and the fun of discovering what our donations will be.
The next time you see Betsy, please join us in thanking her for her many years of service and continuing to volunteer her time and talents to GKWC and the community.

Introducing Committee Member Patty Recca



We are pleased to introduce the members of the GKWC Garden of Roses 2016 Roses & Pearls Champagne Brunch & Auction Event Planning Committee. Through a series of  questions and answers, you’ll meet Club members who may have served on the committee in the past, as well as new members who are assuming roles for the first time.

Help us to once again welcome and thank Patty Recca, the 2016 Garden of Roses Committee Event Photographer.

  • How long have you been a member of GKWC? Since 2005 - 10 years
  • How did you hear about GKWC and what prompted you to join? A friend introduced me to GKWC and I wanted to get involved when I realized how much they did for the community, helping others and raising money for charitable organizations.
  • Is this the first time you’ve volunteered for the Garden of Roses fundraising committee?  No, I have served since 2005 in some capacity.
  • If not, list other volunteer roles have you held with prior Garden of Roses fashion shows/fundraisers? I have been the Photographer since 2005, Raffle Chair for 2 years, Registration chair for 2 years.
  • What are you most looking forward to with the 2016 fundraiser and your role?  To capture the excitement and passion of all the GKWC volunteers, members and guests who will be attending to make our community a better place.
The next time you see Patty, please join us in thanking her for her many years of service,being our 'official' club photographer, and continuing to volunteer her time and talents to GKWC and the community.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Introducing Committee Member Kay Klinger

We are pleased to introduce the members of the GKWC Garden of Roses 2016 Roses & Pearls Champagne Brunch & Auction Event Planning Committee. Through a series of  questions and answers, you’ll meet Club members who may have served on the committee in the past, as well as new members who are assuming roles for the first time.

Say hello to Kay Klinger, the 2016 Garden of Roses "Parting Gifts" Committee Chair.
  • How long have you been a member of GKWC? 6 years
  • How did you hear about GKWC and what prompted you to join? I met Libby Dixon and Billie Roush at a Christian Women's luncheon. They told me about GKWC and I went to a meeting and decided to join after I heard all the wonderful things they do for the community.
  • Is this the first time you've volunteered for the Garden of Roses fundraising committee? Yes, but I’ve helped a few years on table set ups.
  • What are you most looking forward to with the 2016 fundraiser and your role? Sharing ideas, energy, enthusiasm and fun as we work to make this a successful year!
The next time you see Kay, please join us in thanking her for stepping up to assume a committee chair position this year, and for once again volunteering her time to GKWC and making a difference in the community.

Introducing Committee Member Lisa Ackerson

We are pleased to introduce the members of the GKWC Garden of Roses 2016 Roses & Pearls Champagne Brunch & Auction Event Planning Committee. Through a series of  questions and answers, you’ll meet Club members who may have served on the committee in the past, as well as new members who are assuming roles for the first time.

Say hello to Lisa Ackerson, the 2016 Garden of Roses "Invitation" Committee Chair.

  • How long have you been a member of GKWC? I joined in 2014.
  • How did you hear about GKWC and what prompted you to join?  My mother, Barbara Brod, had been a long time member and when she passed away, I became very connected to a lot of her friends, most of which were members. I loved the idea of being able to give back to the community and I loved that the objectives of the Club to give to the women, children and elderly in my own community was 100% aligned with my own values and objectives.
  • Is this the first time you've volunteered for the Garden of Roses fundraising committee?  No, I held the same position last year.
  • What are you most looking forward to with the 2016 fundraiser and your role?  I look forward to being a part of the 2016 fundraiser because of the wonderful causes that GKWC supports.
If you know Lisa and happen to see her at meetings or around town, please join us in thanking her for once again volunteering her time and talents to benefit GKWC and the community.

Past Beneficiaries of Over $1 Million Dollars

Over the past 19 years, the Greater Keller Women’s Club Foundation has donated over One Million Dollars to area N.E. Tarrant County 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations and graduating Keller ISD seniors through proceeds from its annual Garden of Roses Fundraiser. Following are some of the past beneficiaries of these funds, and we look forward to continuing to support non-profit organizations whose mission is to support women, children, the elderly and needy people of the community. (pictured below are some of the 2015 beneficiaries)

Advent Urban Youth Development
ARTSNET
Battered Women's Foundation
CASA of Tarrant County
Christ’s Haven for Children
Community Enrichment Center
Community Storehouse
Gill Children’s Services
GKWC Scholarship - Keller
GKWC Scholarship - Fossil Ridge
GKWC Scholarship - Central
GKWC Scholarship - Timber Creek
Holly Bowden Scholarship
Junior Achievement of Chisholm Trail
Friends of the Keller Public Library
Love Never Fails International
Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County
Metroport Meals on Wheels
Mid Cities Care Corp
Neuro Assistance Foundation
Rocky Top Therapy Center
Safe Haven of Tarrant County
Summer Santa
Tarrant County Food Bank
The Parenting Center
The Warm Place
Victory Therapy Center

If you are interested in joining us in support of these worthy and much needed organizations in our community, please contact us at GardenOfRosesChair@gkwc.org for sponsorship information. All donations are tax-deductible.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Introducing Committee Member Brenda Shook

We're very pleased to introduce the members of the GKWC Garden of Roses 2016 Roses & Pearls Champagne Brunch & Auction Event Planning Committee. Through a series of  questions and answers, you’ll meet Club members who may have served on the committee in the past, as well as new members who are assuming roles for the first time.

Say hello to Brenda Shook, the 2016 Garden of Roses "Greeters" Committee Chair.

  • How long have you been a member of GKWC? I joined GKWC last September (2014)
  • How did you hear about GKWC and what prompted you to join?  I have lived in the area 15 years. Spent most of that time raising my daughter and taking care of elderly Moms.  Now with an empty nest, I am ready to get out there and enjoy this club!  I know several ladies in the club, but Caroline Sherman was the biggest reason I joined!
  •  Is this the first time you've volunteered for the Garden of Roses fundraising committee? Yes, this is my first experience with the fundraising committee.
  •  What are you most looking forward to with the 2016 fundraiser and your role?  I'm most looking forward to working with a great group of ladies and doing good for the community!
If you know Brenda and happen to see her at meetings or around town, please join us in welcoming her to the Fundraising Committee and volunteering as a committee chair for the first time. We're so grateful for her service to GKWC and our community.

Don't Miss "Spirit Day" at Fish City Grill Southlake

Join us for the First Tuesday at Fish City Grill Southlake
and support the Greater Keller Women's Club Garden of Roses Fundraiser!

15% of all sales benefit the GKWC Garden of Roses
2016 Roses & Pearls Champagne Brunch and Auction

November 3, 2015 from 11am - 10pm
Fish City Grill
2750 E Southlake Blvd #130, Southlake, TX





Join Us For Spirit Day At Pickles BBQ

Join Us For Spirit Day at Pickles BBQ, October 13, 2015 from 11am-10pm



Introducing Committee Member Hazel Murphy

We are pleased to introduce the members of the GKWC Garden of Roses 2016 Roses & Pearls Champagne Brunch & Auction Event Planning Committee. Through a series of  questions and answers, you’ll meet Club members who may have served on the committee in the past, as well as new members who are assuming roles for the first time.

Please welcome Hazel Murphy, the 2016 Garden of Roses Committee Secretary.
  • How long have you been a member of GKWC? Since 1993
  • How did you hear about GKWC and what prompted you to join? We moved to Texas in 1993 and my first job was of course to deal with the kids, their school, doctors etc. and so after that I decided I needed company and joined three groups, one being GKWC after meeting Joan Pascuitti.  Joan was a member of one of the other groups and so we naturally got together being English and I have never looked back since!!!
  • Is this the first time you've volunteered for the Garden of Roses fundraising committee? This is the third time I have volunteered to be Secretary.
  • If not, list other volunteer roles have you held with prior Garden of Roses fashion shows/fundraisers? Before this I had been a model in our Fashion Shows since we began doing the Fashion Shows, all except one when I had my veins stripped and was in a wheelchair. I can remember how thrilled we were raising $6,000 so we have come a long way since then.  I also have sold raffle tickets, table decoration committee when we were less sophisticated and made our own (I also think we should do that again as that was fun), solicitation of items for our auction, Philanthropic Committee Chair twice and member of the committee four or five times for distribution of funds from the Fashion Show.
  • What are you most looking forward to with the 2016 fundraiser and your role? I look forward to being in the company of so many talented ladies who feel the same way I do raising funds for the needy.
If you know Hazel and happen to see her at meetings or around town, please join us in thanking her for her many years of service, modeling in the fashion shows with her bubbling sense of humor, and volunteering her time once again to GKWC and the community.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Introducing Committee Member Dottie Johnson

We're so pleased to introduce the members of the GKWC Garden of Roses 2016 Roses & Pearls Champagne Brunch & Auction Event Planning Committee. Through a series of  questions and answers, you’ll meet Club members who may have served on the committee in the past, as well as new members who are assuming roles for the first time. 

Say hello to Dottie Johnson, the 2016 Garden of Roses Graphics Design Committee Chair.
  • How long have you been a member of GKWC? Since 2003
  • How did you hear about GKWC and what prompted you to join? A customer came in my store and invited me to a luncheon.
  • Is this the first time you've volunteered for the Garden of Roses fundraising committee? No, I’ve volunteered for over 10 years.
  • If not, list other volunteer roles have you held with prior Garden of Roses fashion shows/fundraisers? I’ve always done graphics (designing the invitation, posters, newspaper and magazine ads).
  • What are you most looking forward to with the 2016 fundraiser and your role? Working with friends to make money to give away at the end of our year. It’s very rewarding to be able to use your talents for such a worthy endeavor.
If you know Dottie and happen to see her at meetings or around town, please join us in thanking her for her many years of service and volunteering her time and talents once again to GKWC and the community.



Friday, September 18, 2015

Connecting With Us On Social Media Has Never Been Easier

Staying connected with the Greater Keller Women's Club Garden of Roses Annual Fundraiser has never been easier. Through our various social media platforms, our members, charities, donors, sponsors and community supporters will be kept up-to-date with the latest news and key information for the upcoming Garden of Roses 2016 Roses & Pearls Champagne Brunch & Auction. 

We'll keep you posted on volunteer needs, sponsorship and donation opportunities, and many other ways you can help. We'll talk with our foundation, planning committee members, sponsors, donors and past beneficiaries about the Garden of Roses annual fundraiser and the impact it has had on them. The annual event and subsequent proceeds donated to deserving charities in the N.E. Tarrant County area, would not be possible without the generous support of our members, sponsors and donors of auction items. Our sponsors and donors of major auction items will not only receive recognition in our media publications and programs, but will also receive additional recognition through our various social media postings.

As sponsorships and donations are received, you can expect to see posts on those items especially on Facebook and Instagram.  In addition, the GKWC Garden of Roses LinkedIn page boasts a showcase page specifically designated for our sponsors recognition and links to their business, as well as a showcase page for the major auction items and the donor information. If you prefer the brevity of Twitter, be sure to follow us there. Or if you'd rather watch instead of read, we'll  periodically be uploading short videos to our YouTube channel.

To make it easy for our members and supporters to access all of our social media channels, click here for a brief presentation demonstrating how to connect with us, or visit the Garden of Roses Fundraiser page & social media links on the www.GKWC.org website.




Thursday, September 3, 2015

The Fundraising Committee: A Key Component of the Garden of Roses Fundraiser

Each year, ensuring the success of the annual Garden of Roses Fundraiser, relies not only on the co-chairs of the event, but with the committed members of the Greater Keller Women's Club who volunteer their time and resources. Leaders always emerge from the membership willing to assume committee responsibilities throughout the nine-month planning process.

This year's 2016 Roses & Pearls Champagne Brunch and Auction co-chairs are Beth Murray and Kimberley Vines. Beth has served as Past-President of GKWC, served in multiple board positions for the Club and will be co-chairing the Garden of Roses Fundraiser for the third time. New member Kimberley Vines has generously agreed to serve with Beth as co-chair for the Event. And so it goes with leading and serving the organization - one seasoned member coaching and sharing knowledge of past events and processes, along with a  new member bringing a fresh perspective and her own set of skills to share. Can you see how the club motto of "Joining Together, Having Fun, and Helping Others" applies here?

However, the co-chairs can't plan and run the event alone. Historically the Event Fundraising Committee has consisted of 20-25 committee chairs with specific areas of responsibilities. Whether a member has filled a committee chair position in the past, or is new to the Club, job descriptions are available to guide them. A member's willingness to learn and serve are the only requirements to fill a committee chair position. As additional resources, there are numerous club members who have served in various capacities in the past, who are always willing to share their past knowledge and experience to anyone interested in serving. And just because a member might agree to chair a committee, they certainly don't have to do it alone -- recruiting  other club members to volunteer is key to each committee's success.

The kick-off meeting for the 2016 Garden of Roses Fundraiser is scheduled for Monday evening, September 14, 2015 at 6:30pm in Room 205 at Keller Town Hall.  There are many committee chair positions still open and needing someone to step up willing to take the lead. All club members who have an interest in learning more about committee chair positions still available are encouraged to attend. Or if you cannot attend and would like more information about any of the positions still open, you can email GardenOfRosesChair@gkwc.org or contact Beth Murray or Kimberley Vines directly.