You’re gonna have a ball!

PEF Region 8 members Jade Stevens, Anna Schrom, Pamela Karsfeld and Patricia Mason have been named 2009 Women of Merit by the PEF Region 8 Women’s Committee.

Stevens works at the state Office of Temporary Disability Assistance, Schrom works for the state Health Department, Karsfeld at the Capital District Developmental Disabilities Services Office, and Mason at the state Insurance Fund.

The winners will be honored at a Champagne and Chocolate reception at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, at the Italian-American Center, 257 Washington Ave. Ext. in Albany and at the PEF Region 8 Membership Conference coming up November 13-15 at the Gideon Putnam Hotel in Saratoga Springs.

The PEF Region 8 Women’s Committee is chaired by Maddie Shannon-Roberts.The Women of Merit Sub-Committee members are: Evarist Nicholas, Doris Shannon, Angela Batorsky, Mary Brady-Murray, and Deborah Bush.

Remember Fred Astair singing, “I’m puttin’ on my top hat, tyin’ up my white tie, brushin’ off my tails!” from Irving Berlin’s 1935 hit musical film “Top Hat?”

Follow Astair’s lead when he sang, “I’m steppin’ out, my dear, to breathe an atmosphere that simply reeks with class,” and order your tickets now for the Black and White Ball in honor of the 30th anniversary of the Black Caucus of PEF.

The ball is at 7 p.m. Saturday, October 24, at Antun’s Queens Village, 96-43 Springfield Boulevard in Queens Village.

Presentation of the caucus’ annual Vivian Birdsong Monsanto Scholarships will be the highlight of an evening filled with music, dining and dancing.
All PEF members and retirees are welcome. Tickets are $75 per person. To reserve yours, contact Cynthia Saunders-Perry at (212) 961-8091, Sakinah Black at (718) 642-8621 or Peggy Moore-Carter at (518) 272-1988. For hotel reservations, e-mail Debi Chowdhury at debichowdhury@yahoo.com

PEF Jewish Committee
meeting at PEF Convention
The PEF Jewish Committee invites all PEF convention delegates to a kosher wine tasting at the group’s annual general membership meeting.
The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, at the 31st Annual PEF Convention in Niagara Falls.

For more information about the PEF Jewish Committee, please contact its chair, Rich Nebb, at richnebb@att.net.

– Sherry Halbrook