"Spectacular" was the word du jour!
Tables du Jour 2014 is another one for the books! The tenth annual fundraiser at Mayville State University was held Saturday morning, April 26 in the MSU Campus Center Luckasen Room. Weeks and months of planning by many talented and hard-working table designer/hosts and hostesses culminated in an over-the-top event for the nearly 275 guests who attended, and left many people wondering how, even after holding the event for ten years straight, the bar could keep getting higher and higher.
The decorating frenzy began Thursday morning, April 24, and by Friday evening, April 25, all was ready/ A preview, revealing a room filled with 33 lavishly decorated tables, was held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Nearly 70 people were able to enjoy a taste of what was to come in the main “Tables du Jour” event that would be held the next day. Refreshments were served and musical entertainment was provided by Dee von Ruden of Mayville. Shirley Berg, Mayville, won the door prize, a $75 gift certificate donated by Jackie Kuhle of Countryside Creations in Mayville. Coordinated by Sheryl Vinje and Jackee Lerol of Portland, N.D., and Faye Helm of Mayville, the preview event was a great success, and the $10-per-person admission charge contributed greatly to the event purpose of providing funding for the music department at Mayville State University.
For the tenth year, Kim Lauf and Shireen Grinager of Mayville organized “Tables du Jour” which is held annually to raise funds for the music department at Mayville State University. As the organizers promised, attendees were treated to a morning of fun, great food, and creative table themes.
Each of the 33 tables featured in the spectacular occasion was decorated with its own special theme. Some tables were entertaining, others were elegant, some were sentimental or awakened memories, and still others just plain made a person smile or even giggle. Hosts and hostesses were charged with coming up with a theme and decorating a table, providing everything from the table linens, dishes, and silverware to the many “extras” that made each table special, including party favors. The table designers were also responsible for selling the $25 admission tickets to a total of eight people, including themselves, who would attend the event and enjoy having brunch at their tables.
Table themes and designers included the following: “Renaissance Gold” by Shireen Grinager of Mayville; “Sincerely Yours” by Kim Lauf, Mayville, and Janice Thoreson, Buxton, N.D.; “As Time Goes By” by Donna Olson, Mayville, and Barb Kram, Langdon, N.D.; “Copper‘tone’ Holiday” by Donna Olson, Mayville; “Petal to the Metal” by Barb Kram, Langdon; “Pearls, Petals, and Lace” by Joan Osland, Char Lee, Sue Strand, and Ruth vanWechel of Mayville and Pam Carlson, Portland, N.D.; “’Mumms’ the Word” by Judy Semmens and Pat Osland, Mayville, and Becky Melhus and Diane Johnson, Portland; “Here Comes the Bride” by Marilyn Holman, Mayville, and Bertha Sand, Galesburg, N.D.; “Day at the Derby” by Debbie Hagen, Sharyl Hanson, and Renee Sobolik of Mayville and Peggy Schultz, Fargo, N.D.; “Restore My Potted Soil” by Gaylene Johnson, Cummings, N.D., and Sherri Hettervig, Mayville; “Oh, Darling, Let’s Be Adventurers” by Sandy Braaten, Mayville; “Old Times” by Kelly Morrison and Bob Kozojed, Mayville; “Something to Crow About” by Molly Lenaburg, Portland; “Blue on Blue” by Jackie Kuhle, Mayville; “The Real McCoy” by Sarah Batesel, Portland, Margit Eastman, Marge Fugleberg, Shannon Hofer, Betty Karaim, and Kelly Kornkven, Mayville, and Aubrey Madler, Buxton, N.D.; “Peacock Garden” by Mary Iverson, Mayville; “The Friendly Village of 1883” by Jayme Trenbeath, Thompson, N.D., and Laura Brudvik, West Fargo, N.D.; “Groovin’ Back to the 70’s” by Becky Gunderson, Portland; “Popcorn Junkies” by Rhonda Nelson, Mandi Domier, and Jessica Amb, Portland; “Clue” by Kathy Hase, Big Lake, Minn., and Kaliann Behrens, Shakopee, Minn.; “Emerald Islae” by Jacque Moore, Mayville, Jill Carter, Reiles Acres, N.D., and Stephanie Winterquist, Argusville, N.D.; “Proceed to Party” designed by Michelle Braaten, Portland, and Loree Stenehjem, Mayville, and sponsored by the First & Farmers Bank of Mayville and Portland; “Out of the Blue” by Elaine Aune, Mayville, and Becky Willison, West Fargo; “Southwest Memories” by Winona Stroble and Jenell Braseth, Mayville; “Feelin’ a Li’l Owly” by Brenda Chandler, Portland, and Bonnie Enger and Tammy Volla, Mayville; “Ice Cold Watermelon” by Cheryl Angen, Mayville, and Audrey Myklebust, Devils Lake, N.D.; “Happy Birthday to Us!” by Greta Paschke and Audrey Paschke, Mayville; “Babushka’s Ukrainian Easter” by Heidi Krivarchka and Linda Olson, Mayville; “Cool for School” by Paige Strom and Joan Huus,
Grand Forks, N.D.; “I’ve Got a golden Ticket” by Susan Cordahl, Mayville; “A Sparkling Affair” by Debbie Hagen and Kim Lauf, Mayville; “Paste ‘Egg’stacy” by Dorothy Nelson, Mayville, and Laurel Erickson, Galesburg; and Chocolat, by Kim Lauf, Mayville.
Gary Hagen, Rob Lauf, and Merwin Lyng of Mayville, and Paul Batesel of Portland, outfitted in their finest, served as greeters and hosts throughout the morning. Members of the Mayville State jazz band provided musical entertainment.
Activities included about an hour of viewing the amazing tables and a silent auction. Betsy Ewen and Bonnie O’Keefe of Mayville and Gaylene Johnson, Cummings, coordinated the silent auction event. They gathered about 100 fabulous items on which to bid. Many of the items had been donated by table designers, as well as others.
Mayville State music students were able to experience the event and see first-hand the source of much of the funding for music department scholarships. The students helped to serve the brunch which was catered by Christine Holweger. Fabulous desserts and beverages were provided by table designers.
All guests were invited to register for a door prize, a $75 gift certificate to be used at Countryside Creations. Stephanie Olsen of Hillsboro, N.D. was the winner. The door prize was donated by Jackie Kuhle of Countryside Creations.
While figures are still being tabulated, almost $13,000 was taken in as a result of “Tables du Jour” 2014. This total includes more than $4,000 generated in the silent auction and nearly $1,000 in outright scholarship donations. After expenses are deducted, the net amount raised will be distributed for use by the music department at Mayville State University. The funds will be available for scholarships or other various needs of the department.
The date for the 2015 Mayville State University “Tables du Jour” has been set for Saturday, April 18. If you are interested in serving as a table designer for this, please contact Kim Lauf (701-788-4271) or Shireen Grinager (701-788-2494).
Captions for Photos Above:Top - Tables du Jour guest, Zoa Barker from Buxton, was excited to see the “Day at the Derby” table. During the table viewing time, she approached Debbie Hagen, one of the table’s designers, and told her that she is affectionately known as a Kentucky Derby baby. She was born in Louisville, Ky. on the day of the Kentucky Derby!
#2 - Heidi Krivarchka and Linda Olson’s table, “Babishka’s Ukrainian Easter” was covered in all kinds of Ukrainian heritage.
#3 - Donna Olson and her niece Barb Kram designed and were hostesses for the “As Time Goes By” table, which featured clocks. Even the designs on the plates were the faces of clocks.
#4 - Barb Kram designed the “Petal to the Metal” table, which contained many re-purposed metal pieces. The table’s centerpiece, an old tricycle, was Barb’s aunt, Donna Olson’s as a child. Notice the metal disc blades, which are being used as chargers, and the mattress springs, which are holding cones filled with treats.
#4 - Tables du Jour chairwomen, Kim Lauf (left) and Shireen Grinager (right), are pictured with Mayville State’s director of music, Mike Bakken. All funds raised through Tables du Jour are used for the benefit of the Mayville State music department. #5 - Susan Cordahl is pictured by the table she designed and hosted, “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket.” The table centerpiece, a chocolate fountain, was also the vehicle for the featured dessert, August Gloop’s Chocolate Falls.
#6 - The First & Farmers Bank of Mayville and Portland sponsored this table, “Proceed to Party,” designed by Michelle Braaten and Loree Stenehjem. Appropriately, Red Solo Cup Cakes were served for dessert.
