Scribblers    Sunday, July 20, 2008     The Birmingham News

www.al.com/birminghamnews/stories/index.ssf?/base/living/1216541750130390.xml&coll=2

POINSETTIA MEN'S CLUB

The event:   An afternoon party on June 22 at Aldridge Gardens honoring the Poinsettia Debutantes, who will be presented Dec. 29 in the ballroom of the Vestavia Country Club.

The scene: The Men's Club party is always the first party of the season. President Marshall Ross announced each debutante, told where she attends college and introduced her parents. Each was given a scrapbook.

The annual Poinsettia Debutante ball, sponsored by the Ballet Women's Committee, was founded in 1968 to benefit the Alabama Ballet. Last year the Ballet Women's Committee, with a donation from the Poinsettia Men's Club, raised $80,000.

The tables were covered with ballet-pink cloths and sheer overlays stitched with flowers. Centerpieces were arrangements of hydrangeas and day lilies.

On the table were hummus and cheeses with crackers, jambalaya, marinated beef skewers with peppers, shrimp, mini muffuletta sandwiches, and small roast beef sandwiches with horseradish. The sideboard contained delectable homemade turtles and other sweets. A cascade of fruit was offered on an adjoining table.

Champagne with raspberries was served to toast the 2008 Poinsettia Debutantes.

Spotted: Ballet Women's Committee president Melinda Helveston, Poinsettia Ball Board chairwoman Joy Deupree, and Poinsettia Debutante Ball chairwoman Tammy Towns.

Parents were Bobbi Amick, Alan Anthony, Roxanne and Rick Batson, Sherry and George Bohorfoush, Konie Bryant, Kay and David Clark, Charles DeBardeleben, Sandra and Bill Dowell, Anola and Mitchell Ennis, Belinda and Reg Harris, Marty and Phillip Inman, Betsy and Bill Koepsel, Kim and John Mangham, Venita and Ted Mann, Gail and Ted Mills, Joey Moore, Teresa Moore, Susan and Larry Moreland, Lisa and Paul Morgan, Beverly and Mike Parks, Janet and Tom Robertshaw, Dawn and Paul Ross, Katrina and James Sanderson, Michelle and Brian Schmidtke, Carol and Tom Sims, Anne and Brett Strozier, Kit and Joe Terry, Lois and Jim Turnipseed, Jackie and Jay Waites, Chery and Glen Williams.

The debutantes at the first party were Grace Anthony, Sadie Batson, Lauren Bohorfoush, Kacey Clark, Logan Dowell, Nancy Ennis, Amy Harris, Bethany Inman, Callie Koepsel, Michelle Mangham, Lacey Mann, Abbey Mills, Rebecca Moore, Melissa Moreland, Heather Morgan, Lauren Parks, Emma Robertshaw, Ashley Ross, Sara Sanderson, Sloan Schmidtke, Laura Sims, Katie Strozier, Courtney Terry, Edith Turnipseed, Mallory Waites, and Kimber Williams. Also to be presented at the December ball are Lindsey Amick, Ansley Zarra, Walker DeBardeleben, Jenna Bryant, and Margie Crossman.